Tripod for 8x10...your thoughts

[Dorothy Blum Cooper]

A photographer I know has highly recommended a Gitzo carbon. Said he's used it with his camera and that it's great for the long haul plus it can carry the weight. He has a Master View as I do.

I understand higher pricing for quality products, but I'm on a tighter budget and would like to know of any other recommendations you may have. I had someone else tell me to look into the tripods used by surveyors. What are your thoughts on that? Still shopping them so I'd love to know what you think!!

[bobfowler]

I use a big 'ol Bogen 3036 with a Majestic head. It weighs a ton, but about the only thing that's going to shake it is an earthquake! I've never been a fan of light tripods though...

[df cardwell]

How tall are you Dorothy ? THAT is what makes the difference.

AND, will you shoot primarily on carpet, grass, wood floors ???

[herb]

I have been thru the wars on tripods. Until I had an instruction session from
Michael Smith, I though REIS was a pain, now it is what I use most.

I have a gitzo 1338 cf tripod and found it painful to use in winter-without
gloves, you have to unscrew the leg extension collars and that is unpleasant in cold weather.

On the other hand the cf folds up to a very short package.

I think if I was studio only, that would be a monster aluminum tripod. In the
field, reis.

[colrehogan]

I shoot with a Manfrotto 475 and a Manfrotto 3047 head. My camera is an 8x10 Ansco which is about 12 lbs. The tripod is about 9 according to the specs on the Manfrotto site.

I use mine in the field. Had it out in the snow yesterday with the 8x10.

[Jeremy]

I use a Bogen 3050 w/ 3047 head for my 8x10 Deardorff.

[Chazzy]

I'm curious whether people doing 8x10 and ULF at home or in a studio think it makes more sense to dedicate a heavy tripod to that purpose, or to use a camera stand?

[bob01721]

"... I had someone else tell me to look into the tripods used by surveyors. What are your thoughts on that...?"

That's what I use. You're right—they're much less expensive and sturdy as a tank. But they're nowhere near as elegant as the high-speed, low-drag Gitzos and the handsome Reises. They also have a 5/8" stud and no head, but I figured out a way to mount one.

My brother (a former surveyor) suggested it to me when I first got into large format. Our thinking was... if it can hold a forty pound transit steady in the wind, it oughta hold a 4x5 camera. So I decided to buy a used one to play around with because—since it was so cheap—I could toss it away if it didn't work out. Well... it did work and it's what I still use.

I'm sure it's much heavier than the carbon fiber pods, and it doesn't collapse down as compactly as a pod with three leg sections, so it's certainly not for everyone. But I can set it up and level it in no time, so it works for me.

[resummerfield]

I have a Gitzo 410 with an Arca B2 for my 8x10 and 7x17, and it just doesn’t work very well outside. Inside is fine, but outside it's not sturdy enough, and subject to tipping. I also have a wooden Sokkia tripod used for land surveying. It has large metal spikes that I can sink deep in soft ground, which makes it very sturdy and solid. So I made a wooden plug and metal plate to adapt the Arca B2 to the Sokkia. This hybrid system is the best LF tripod I’ve ever used outside. I’ve been in some retty strong winds, and the 8x10 has remained rock solid. Look for a top of the line wooden Surveyor tripod, not an aluminum or fiberglass one.

[matt miller]

I'm very satisfied with my Berlebach 3032 and Bogen 3047 head. The Berlebach is wooden, rated for 26lbs, and comes with a 30degree leveling ball. It can be purchased new for about $200. Some find the leveling ball adequate, and use it without an additional head.