What to look for when choosing a tripod

[Peter Schrager]

SLIK (from Japan)
Best tripod i ever had. Amazing customer support as well. Use it even for my 5x7 inch folding.
Its lightweight and very stable

I second the silk tripods....3 different composites with a head all for about $125; used all the way up to my whole plate camera (which is very light)
can you beat that?
also have a Slik Grand Master aluminum tripod for my 8x10 bought used on the Bay with an older Gitzo head PL55..solid as a rock
I'm never spending $600 or more for a tripod....

 

[Grim Tuesday]

I decided to take a chance on the 3036 and it arrived today. All functions work, though it's missing a quick release plate. Adorama never fails to give me a good deal but describe things slightly wrong. It is truly a monster, no one here was exaggerating. I think it will be used mostly for photographs close to the car! In the off chance that I want to carry it, it didn't come with a bag. What's the best way to do that? Hiking backpack with suspension and hip belt? Duffel bag?

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

My Mamiya RB67 medium format kit weighs 25 lbs. So another 8-9 lbs for a 79" Gitzo 340 Brevette Studex without center column but with a three-way head isn't that much. Plus I don;t hike far from the car. So it doesn;t weigh that much compared to other and it's steady as a rock. I use it now with my lighter 4x5 large format kit.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I decided to take a chance on the 3036 and it arrived today. All functions work, though it's missing a quick release plate. Adorama never fails to give me a good deal but describe things slightly wrong. It is truly a monster, no one here was exaggerating. I think it will be used mostly for photographs close to the car! In the off chance that I want to carry it, it didn't come with a bag. What's the best way to do that? Hiking backpack with suspension and hip belt? Duffel bag?

1. Strap or lash it to the camera backpack.
2. Attach a strap to the bottom and the top and sling it over your shoulder, in back or in the front. In front if you are already carrying a backpack.

 

[StepheKoontz]

You can put that same head on some bogen 3221 legs and have a more manageable setup that will work up to a small 4X5 camera.