Tripod Recommendation for 4x5?

John Koehrer · Mar 31, 2008

Marco B said:
18 kg is the weight of a small child... No ordinary photography tripod can carry that! Just imagine a 5-year old toddler sitting on top of your tripod

Golly! only 18kg. Iremember the day when Lester Bogen ran advertising pictures of himself seated on 3056 legs.
Must not have been OSHA compliant.

NavyMoose · Apr 8, 2008

junqbox said:
Hi, I've been using a Manfrotto 190 for years now with Nikon 801, Toyo studio 4x5 and new D300 and never had a problem. nice light and compatc to carry as a bonus.

Cheers,
Brett

I have a Toyo 45C and a Manfrotto 190XB. I honestly didn't think the legs were strong enough to support the LF camera. Which head are you using? I've got a 3 way head for this tripod.

Navy Moose

Fotoguy20d · Jun 4, 2008

Thanks for all the input. I ended up with a lightly used (from the photos)3021/3047 from ebay for reasonably under $200. It should be arriving on Friday. I'll post more once I've tried it out a bit.

Dan

Kilgallb · Jun 4, 2008

JBrunner said:
A small caveat. I have found carbon fiber tripods to be unstable in wind with the sail a field camera creates. I actually prefer a heavy tripod for the 4x5. (until I have to carry it )

I agree with JBrunner. I have managed to aleviate the effect somewhat by suspending a rock from the middle column of the tripod. I put a rock in a mesh bag ditty bag like you get at the camping store and tie the pull string to the column. It adds mass to the system so the tripod will not move.

Chazzy · Jun 4, 2008

Kilgallb said:
I agree with JBrunner. I have managed to aleviate the effect somewhat by suspending a rock from the middle column of the tripod. I put a rock in a mesh bag ditty bag like you get at the camping store and tie the pull string to the column. It adds mass to the system so the tripod will not move.

But if you have to carry a rock around, what's the point of having a carbon fiber tripod?

Kilgallb · Jun 4, 2008

Chazzy said:
But if you have to carry a rock around, what's the point of having a carbon fiber tripod?

Well, thats why I shoot in the ROCKY Mountains

bobwysiwyg · Jul 17, 2008

I'm considering a Berlebach tripod. I found a general reference to them in this thread by name. The tripod I'm now using is fairly solid for 35mm, etc. but not really suitable for my 4x5 (Cambo). I'm having something of a tough time deciding between models. I like the idea of the models that already incorporate a leveling head. Does anyone have any experience with specific models or have recommendations? I'm looking at the first four columns below. Thanks in advance for your input.

http://www.photobooksonline.com/books/chart.html

jeroldharter · Jul 17, 2008

bobwysiwyg said:
I'm considering a Berlebach tripod. I found a general reference to them in this thread by name. The tripod I'm now using is fairly solid for 35mm, etc. but not really suitable for my 4x5 (Cambo). I'm having something of a tough time deciding between models. I like the idea of the models that already incorporate a leveling head. Does anyone have any experience with specific models or have recommendations? I'm looking at the first four columns below. Thanks in advance for your input.

http://www.photobooksonline.com/books/chart.html

I have a Berlebach tripod with two piece legs (i.e. 1 knob) and the leveling head. I like the leveling head but it is not a good replacement for a regular tripod head. It would work in a pinch but does not have a full range of movements. I looked into getting a quick release adapter for it and the cost of it plus the quick release plate resulted in the purchase of an Acratech ball head.

I like the two piece legs for ease of setup but it makes the folded tripod long so it does not easily fit into regular padded cases. I bought a long model of a case and still have to remove the head from the tripod.

The tripod itself is excellent and I would buy it again.

bobwysiwyg · Jul 17, 2008

Jerold,

Thanks for the quick reply. Based on what you wrote, would it make sense then to get a model without the leveling head and just provide my own ball head?

jeroldharter · Jul 17, 2008

bobwysiwyg said:
Jerold,

Thanks for the quick reply. Based on what you wrote, would it make sense then to get a model without the leveling head and just provide my own ball head?

That is what I would do because it is lighter. As I recall, my center post came in two pieces but I removed the bottom piece and never raise the remaining short post. That reduces the weight a little bit.

I like the Acratech head for the money. It is by far the lightest out there. I have not had any problems with it. I read about problems with "flop." I tighten it down solidly, but not heroicly, and it works fine.

Peter De Smidt · Jul 17, 2008

JBrunner said:
A small caveat. I have found carbon fiber tripods to be unstable in wind with the sail a field camera creates. I actually prefer a heavy tripod for the 4x5. (until I have to carry it )

I agree! I have a 1227 carbon fiber Gitzo, and I almost never use it. I'd much rather use my Gitzo tele Studex, even with 35mm.

John Kasaian · Jul 18, 2008

Another vote for an old Tilt All.

I've got one for my Graphic View II and the aluminium makes for a nice match as well as being a very sturdy combination. I even use it with a 5x7 Speed Graphic and an 8x10 Gowland Aerial with no worries.

The Camera cost $110, tripod $60, an original case $10 and three Riteway holders for $9 (I already had a 162mm Velostigmat and 203 Ektar mounted on "c" boards as well as a few Baco holders) I look on it as kind of an insurance policy for when I'm too old to lug the 8x10 'dorff around!

bobwysiwyg · Jul 18, 2008

John Kasaian said:
Another vote for an old Tilt All.

John,

What model Tiltall? The ones I've seen seem to be rated for a max. of 7.7 lb. load. I think my Cambo would be pressing that a bit.:confused:

Bill Mitchell · Jul 18, 2008

The "standard" for Tripods is the classic 6 pound TILTALL (including built-in pan/tilt head) made for several years by E. Leitz. It is the best combination of quality/price/weight/usability. They are available used on ebay for under $100, and seem to last forever.
You can get lighter carbon fiber pods, but they will cost a lot more, and the built-in head is as good or better than most $150 seperate heads.
Currently they are made in China, but the quality has gone down.

Fotoguy20d · Jul 18, 2008

I've now had my 3021/3447 for a month or two and have used it extensively with GVII (photo attached) and Canon DSLR. It's been performing great - solid, stable, easy to adjust. My only issue with it is the size and weight - wish it were lighter. And, I've had several occassions (such as shown) where I only extended one portion of the legs and used the center column or it would have been too tall.

Dan

Peter De Smidt · Jul 18, 2008

Dan, It's better to use the center column extension only if you have to. In other words, it's better to use leg extension rather than column extension. Rap on the with the center column down, and then do the same thing with it extended. Compare how large the vibrations are and how long they last.

Vanishing Point Ent. · May 12, 2009

Buy the Gold Version.

jnanian said:
beat me to it

tiltall tripods are worth their weight in gold.
john

In fact they even have a limited edition gold colored, version.

Venchka · May 12, 2009

The Tiltalls worth owning are the original, made in New Jersey models. The Leitz branded Tiltall is the same tripod. Don't pay extra for the Leitz name.

removed account4 · May 12, 2009

there is a tiltall in the classifieds right now ...

John Kasaian · May 12, 2009

Vanishing Point Ent. said:
In fact they even have a limited edition gold colored, version.

I had the gold anodized Anniversary version, but a Mathematics Professor at CSUF borrowed it and never returned it!

I replaced it with a "silver" one I got off ebay for $50---it's a much better match with the GVII anyway

Tripod Recommendation for 4x5?

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