Want to Buy WTB - Really Big Tripod

illumiquest · Mar 2, 2018

Looking for something to hold a 45lb 16x20 monorail camera. I've tried the Majestics and they flex too much. My workflow kind of necessitates a raisable center column which nixes the wooden ones.

Any suggestions?

johnielvis · Mar 2, 2018

saltzman--probably two saltzmans---16x20 monorail will have very large extensions and almost certainly require two tripods to prevent resonant frequencies of sway up down and left right. Experience from 11x14 monorail....if you use 2 tripods, you can get away with a lot less "heavy" in the tripods--so try to 2 smaller tripods.

mshchem · Mar 3, 2018

I have a Saltzman, it will handle a 8x10 Deardorff perfectly, a 11 X14 nicely as long as you keep the bellows extention under 3 feet. 16 x 20 ? Maybe, but that's a damn big camera . You need to find some sort of old video , tv camera rig. They had some massive stuff.
Saltzman made massive camera stands, so did Deardorff, hard to find.

David A. Goldfarb · Mar 3, 2018

On the odd occasion that I’ve maxed out the 40” bellows on my 8x10” Sinar P2, I’ve used two tripods, heavier one in back, and the front with a ballhead to make it easier to set and stabilize the whole setup.

johnielvis · Mar 3, 2018

Looking at my saltzmans I see that one of them with a larger base plate attached to the existing base plate might work pretty good--so long as you get two points of attachment that are far apart enough. So saltzman with a larger baseplate--a larger plate bolted to the existing baseplate would work. say one that's about 1.5 - 2' in length-then you can attach the monorail at 2 sections at either end of the larger plate to provide the stability--the large udder gear of the saltzman will provide adequate tilt control like a regular camera stand--they are very sturdy and lock down tight.

btaylor · Mar 3, 2018

O’Connor Hydro-ped. There is one on eBay now. mshchem got me thinking, motion picture stuff would be a good way to go. Big hydraulic column, lightweight. The thing will hold Mitchell BNCR steady.

Rick A · Mar 3, 2018

Which Majestic model did you try? I used to have a #4800 leg set with #1900 geared head for my 11x14, I think would easily have handled your camera. The 4800 has a 1 7/8" geared center column and can rise to 8 feet with legs and column extended. Here's a photo of a similar one, not mine. If you don't extend the legs, it won't flex, I've climbed on mine without it moving, I'm 200+ lbs.

choiliefan · Mar 3, 2018

Is a Quickset Hercules a possibility?
They're quite massive with huge pad feet, geared head, etc.
http://www.moogs3.com/products/tripods/hercules.html

Mr Bill · Mar 3, 2018

Just looking around on the internet I find a Davis & Sanford rated at 60lb. Currently listed on Tiffen website. It weighs 30lb, list price about $1,300. Pretty limited in height capability, roughly 31 to 47 inches.

http://www.tiffen.com/displayproduct.html?tablename=davissanford&itemnum=PSGAIRLIFT60B

Personally I think I might be inclined to build my own stand for it, but it'd probably depend on the exact usage you have in mind. If it has to be pretty, as well as easily adjustable, commercial may be the best solution.

But if you only need a couple of different working heights, a couple of rigid "spacers" of different heights might suffice on top of a rigid platform. Perhaps you build an asymmetric 3-wheeled cart with a platform that accepts some sort of camera mount... People tend the think that a camera stand must be extraordinarily heavy-duty for heavy cameras, but I think a lot of this is brought on by the desire to have a single, relatively skinny post to be the sole connection between camera and tripod. A lot of effort goes into making that post be able to resist side forces.

awty · Mar 4, 2018

Maybe a surveyor tripod?

Fritzthecat · Mar 4, 2018

How about this
http://www.tiffen.com/displayproduct.html?tablename=davissanford&itemnum=AIRLIFT

illumiquest · Mar 6, 2018

Heres the camera and myself if that gives you some idea of size. The main rail is 4' long so it's quite long and this makes most tripods and heads less that ideal.

Ces1um · Mar 6, 2018

illumiquest said:
Heres the camera and myself if that gives you some idea of size. The main rail is 4' long so it's quite long and this makes most tripods and heads less that ideal.

have you considered just pouring a block of concrete everywhere you want to go and just putting that NASA grade camera on top of that? That's one large, heavy duty camera! (insert that's what he/she said joke here). I'm wondering if maybe a tripod built for a large telescope may be in order given the size/weight?

http://www.jimsmobile.com/buy_wheeley_bars.htm
photo taken from same website.

seriously though, tell us more about that camera.

Rick A · Mar 6, 2018

Have you talked to the folks at Ries Tripod or Berlebach about it.

ArtScar2 · Mar 9, 2018

PM sent with idea

destroya · Mar 9, 2018

look at a telescope stand

choiliefan · Mar 10, 2018

You really should look at the Quickset Hercules tripod. The legs are rated at 150lbs. The geared head has a 4.5 X 4.5 inch plate which is dovetailed. I paid $20 for the whole enchilada at a yard sale a couple years ago. It is one heavy duty SOB. Remove the 4" diameter pad feet and add spikes and you are good outdoors as well.

guangong · Mar 10, 2018

I have a massive friction headed cinema tripod that Ken Hansen just wanted out the door that I used for my Arriflex that I was going to suggest but after seeing your camera, I would listen to those suggesting a couple Saltzmans.

btaylor · Mar 10, 2018

A big cinema tripod would easily handle it, but there is never a center column on them. There are however risers in different heights which are very rigid, but not adjustable. I have Mitchell style heads, risers and tripods. Guangong reminded me of a big Mitchell friction head I have, certainly good for 150lbs.

daleeman · Mar 27, 2018

A HumV with a M60 gun mount might allow you to drive right up to where you want to go and get those remote landscapes.

Do let us know what you find. I think the telescope rigs with the tracking motors is the best answer, other than a HumV.

You could yell “Fire in the Hole”

Want to Buy WTB - Really Big Tripod

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