What tripod do you have?

[Alan Davenport]

Worst thing ever invented with respect to view camera is a ball head, esp outdoors. Given the
laws of physics and vibration, it's the weakest link to the support system.

This reminds me of Fred Picker's comment regarding ball heads "flopping around like a rag doll".

I don't use any head, just plop the view camera right atop a nice large tripod platform, just like surveyers did for decades.

This is what I use most of the time except when I need to tilt the whole contraption way up or down.

Alan

 

[Alan Davenport]

a sherpa,yeah that's what i'm missing!

How about a Wife or a girlfriend?

 

[kintatsu]

I just acquired a 1960s Linhof Rekord with mated pan/tilt head. This thing is heavy! Perfect for my 4x5. The amazing things is, I bought it at a camera shop for for 60 Euros, even though I've seen the same thing on auction sites going for 200-600 dollars!

 

[Steve Smith]

I have a few tripods but my favourite is a Linhof which I inherited from my father. It came from a studio he used to work in many years ago.


Steve.

 

[tessar]

I was lucky to find an old wooden Ries tripod with single-tilt head for the bargain price of $100. It holds my heavy 8x10 rock-solid. Used Ries tripods aren't easy to find and I don't know if you're located in or near a big city, but if you happen to run across a lighter model, I'd recommend it without question.

 

[BradS]

I have a few tripods for large format. I started out with Manfrotto 3221 legs and 3047 three way head. This is a fantastic tripod for the money but, a little heavy for the trail. Like I said, I have several others but the Berlebach 8043 Report is by far the favorite. I should probably just sell all the rest.

 

[Alan Gales]

If you want to go cheap then you just can't beat an old used aluminum Tilt-All if it will support your 4x5. I use one with a Crown Graphic with no problems.

If you want to go ultra light carbon fiber then Feisol is really nice but Gitzo is more expensive and the best in my opinion.

If you want to go wood then Berlebach is really nice but Ries is more expensive and the best in my opinion.

I use two Ries tripods (A100 and J1000) and a Tilt-All. I have owned Gitzo and Berlebach. I have never used a Feisol but have read the specs so I am pulling a Ken Rockwell here.

Someone mentioned a Majestic which is a very fine tripod but overkill for a 4x5 field camera.

 

[Alan Gales]

Sorry about that but I meant Ries J100 and not J1000.

 

[emjo]

Mine is wooden. A Berlebach 9033, take large format without a hitch. http://jabcam.wordpress.com/2012/04/14/a-wooden-tripod/

 

[mhcfires]

I have a Majestic, it is a beast, but I got it for a song, so it was worth it. I need a lighter tripod for the field, but for now the Majestic will have to do.

 

[c6h6o3]

Used Ries tripods aren't easy to find

There's a good reason for that.

 

[Shootar401]

I have a $300 Benro with a small ball head. I can't see spending more than that. It supports my Horseman 4x5 and SG perfectly.

I also have some huge Bogen 3033 tripod with a 3-way head and it must weigh 20 pounds. Overkill for 4x5 for sure. It's been in my garage for almost a year.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

I have a $300 Benro with a small ball head. I can't see spending more than that. It supports my Horseman 4x5 and SG perfectly.

I also have some huge Bogen 3033 tripod with a 3-way head and it must weigh 20 pounds. Overkill for 4x5 for sure. It's been in my garage for almost a year.

Tiltall, way under $100. Mine was $50. Ball heads become problematic, not to say dangerous, with heavy cameras. I use the Tiltall for a Linhof STIV and everything smaller.

 

[k_jupiter]

I have a Bogen 3036 with a Gitzo No. 3 head for my 8x10 work, a B&H steel tripod for my 5x7 and 4x5 work and an old StarD for anything smaller.

All cheap but used.

tim in san jose

 

[Europan]

In 1986 I bought a Universal from Sydney. One of the Miller brothers made the Universal, the other kept the family name with the business. My tripod head leaked a bit. In 2008 I sold it to a friend. He needed something professional, I was in need of cash.

 

[DavyG]

I have an old manfrotto tripod that is so worn, that I no langer can make out its name... but it has a Manfrotto #160 head.

 

[mhcfires]

I have a Majestic 3000 with a 1400 head. It is a beast, but it sure supports an 8 x 10 real nice.

 

[agman]

Vanguard Tracker IV

 

[TareqPhoto]

I have 4 Gitzo tripods models from series 1 up to series 5, couldn't be happier, i know they are very expensive, but honestly speaking, i need another head rather than a ballhead to use for large format, i like that of my Manfrotto tripod head, 804RC2, i can adjust each axes independent or individually, so i will search about a head that have that geared for axes in all direction or say 3 main direction [left/right, up/down, rotation].

 

[mhcfires]

I have a Majestic 2500 Tripod with a 1200 head. It weighs a short ton, but supports everything I have.

 

[dhosten]

Manfrotto 3046/3047 combo works for me, and is a reasonable compromise for the Sinar monorail.
Star D/Tiltall for my Super Speed Graphic and anything smaller.

 

[one90guy]

I use a Giottos with a Manfrotto head.

David

 

[Jim Rice]

I have owned a J-100 Ries and it was the perfect tripod. A bit heavy and way expensive but it held a Calumet C-1 Green Monster without complaint. I am in the market for a tripod now and will probably go with a Tiltall.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

I have owned a J-100 Ries and it was the perfect tripod. A bit heavy and way expensive but it held a Calumet C-1 Green Monster without complaint. I am in the market for a tripod now and will probably go with a Tiltall.

A tiltall might be a bit strained by a C1...

There's tripod which turns up from time to time, a "CeCo" - Camera Equipment Co, New York City. You see them in old photos with newsreel cameras atop them. They show up with a very nice pan and tilt head which weighs a ton, and sometimes with a very much lighter clamshell head. They're very similar to a Ries, but seem to go pretty cheaply.

 

[Ari]

FLM CP30-S3S; small, lightweight, and easily supports my 8x10.

I bet you knew I'd say that, though