I'm fed up with this tripod

[roteague]

Go for the gusto.... get a carbon fiber tripod !!!

[richard ide]

I bought a wooden Wild tripod for a theodolite for a hundred dollars. Sturdy enough to park a car on. Good for muscle toning as well. I made a tilting head from aluminum structural channel. I use it with a Cambo 4 x 5 and 8 x 10

[eddie gunks]

buy the 3051 from CGross! i just got mine on e bay. it was listed as broken. i got it, call manfrotto, and got the parts to repair it for $7! works like new. the best part is you can just hit the button and adjust the legs. you do not have to bend over or tighten any screws...it is automatic.

eddie

[walter23]

Manfrotto 055B Pro with a sturdy 3-way head is my weapon of choice. It will even support my 8x10 conley (which is a pretty lightweight 8x10), though it's more suited to my 4x5 and smaller cameras.

I think it's called the 3221B Pro in other countries (like the USA).

What I like about it? Quick setup, high flexibility (inverted or sideways column), not too heavy, sturdy, tall enough to get things about up to my eye level (I'm 6'2).

I've put the column sideways to shoot straight down with my 4x5 and while it's a bit prone to vibration, with some care it works very well. You can hang the camera upside down between the legs as well, which is great for low-angle shots and macro of ground-level things.

They have a lightweight composite version of the same tripod, don't remember the model with certainty - "MF3" maybe.

[c6h6o3]

I'm a big Ries fan when it comes to the 8x10 for sure, but with the 4x5 I really like my Berlebach 3032 with it's built in ball head. I've dropped it 10 feet onto rocks with a korona view attached and it came away with only a few scratches. Good luck!

Since you seem to have both, how does the Berlebach compare to the Ries in terms of workmanship and overall quality? The legs at least look to be a Ries knockoff. Can you use a Ries head with Berlebach sticks?

The price of a Berlebach is certainly more attractive than that of a Ries.