the search for the perfect tripod for 4x5

[BradS]

When I only shot 35mm, it seems like any old tripod would due. The Vivitar 914 I bought in High School served my every need for more than twenty years.

When I started shooting 4x5....everything changed!

I now have four (!) tripods for large format...I think that I'm converging....but, now, I wonder if there isn't some wisdom in simply buying the carbon fiber Gitzo right from the start. With what I've spent on tripods so far, I think I could have paid for that gitzo by now.

Ultimately, I want something that is light weight, less than 22 inches folded, easy to set up and use, and capable of supporting a modest 4x5 kit.

[Slixtiesix]

Gitzo is great! I had several tripods from different brands but was never really pleased with any of them. A friend always tried to convince me to buy a Gitzo but I was reluctant because of the price. Than he allowed me to use his Gitzo 2-series carbon fiber on a few occasions and I was thrilled! Bought my own Gitzo (a GT4330LS+G1570m head) within a month. Now I´m completely satisfied. Gitzos are simply so fast and easy to operate, it´s a real joy to use them.
For 4x5" I would recommend a 3-series tripod from the systematic range. The only problem would be the lenght. Most of these are around 26" folded. One of them is 24". Just have a look on their website: http://www.gitzo.com/cms/site/gitzo/...c?code=GT3531S

Good luck with your choice!
Benjamin

[36cm2]

Posted wirelessly..

You will never regret the expense on a Gitzo. I own a 1228 with a Markins top (instead of the column) and it's wonderful. Also considered a 1345, but it was a bit large for my tastes.

[Matus Kalisky]

Have a look at the Feisol carbon tripods (http://www.feisol.com/english/feisolen.htm). I got mine (Feisol tournament CT-3442 ) from Kerry (http://reallybigcameras.com - great help from them) together with the PhotoClamm ball head (PC-33).

I use it since nearly 2 years and have no complains about either of the two. The ball head is surprisingly smooth and stable (OK, only the panning movement could have better lock - requires more power than I like when mounting/unmounting the head from the tripod) for its size and price. I have not use the high-end ball heads from Kirk, RRS or Arca, but I do not feel the need for anything

This combination weight around 3 pounds and holds my Tachihara 4x5 steady up to lenses 400/8 (Osaka tele-design, 0.5kg weight). In fact - the sturdiness of the camera limits the stability - not the tripod (OK, Tachi is not the most stable 4x5 camera in the world). For heavier cameras you may want to go with stronger tripod and a bit bigger ball head (OK, depends what kind of subjects you shoot) - I wanted the lightest combination possible for travel.

For the Gitzo - it will indeed be better made than Feisol - cost also about 2x more, so that is the decision you have to make. I find the Feisol more than good enough (3 weeks in New Zealand, airplane ...) and the support from Kerry is first class.

I had a carbon Benro tripod (same class but heavier) before and I find the Feisol better built.

[lxdude]

I have the same Feisol, and it's doing great! If buying new I would have gotten a 3-section instead of a 4 section for stability concerns but I got it used with a lot of other stuff. As it turns out I have no complaints as to stability. It's very solid.

[Thingy]

I too worked through several tripods before buying my first aluminium Gitzo Studex back in 1979-80 (when they were still made in France) and a Rationelle head. There was no going back. I now own three CF Gitzo's: a GT1541 plus two which I use for LF work with an Acratech's excellent GV2 ballhead. For everyday work I muse a Gitzo Series 2: GT2541 and for windy places or when I need to stand upright due to back pain, I use a Series 3: GT3531. I did use a basalt series 2 tripod earlier but upgraded to the lighter CF tripods when I bought my Ebony. They really are astonishingly light when compared to the old aluminium Studex models. My Studex could support a MF Mamiya C330f and could cope with ocassional use of my old Linhof Colour Kardan but the might lighter GT3531 can cope with so much more - and weighs much less!

[David A. Goldfarb]

Went through lots of tripods, didn't really care for the old style Gitzo collars on the legs, but when they came out with the new style locking collars in the 6x series, I saw one and I was sold. The 5-series are stable enough for ULF or long lenses with 35mm, but at the weight of what I would previously have called a "medium weight" tripod, so when I got my GT5540LS legset, I was able to sell off various other tripods, and I have a few different heads suited to different tasks or how much weight I want to carry. Mine came with a long column that I rarely use. I often use it with the medium column for tabletop stuff or the flat plate in the field.

For a compact tripod I've been using a little Linhof Report for several years, but I think my three-year-old sat on it while it was closed, and now the legs don't move so easily (fortunately it wasn't too expensive, despite the Linhof branding), and I'm debating whether to replace it with a Gitzo Traveller or the Feisol in that size at around half the price. I'm leaning toward the Feisol, because I think I can use it with a head that I already have and like, where I'd be paying for a head that I don't need or want with the Gitzo.

[photobum]

I bought one of the early Gitzo carbon tripods when they first came out. The glue joints on the collars gave out right away, then the joint up on top. Part of my kit was sandpaper, alcohol wipes and JB weld epoxy. The gray JB looked like a pretty good match for the legs. Now that the tripod was fixed I found that the four section legs and collars made me nuts. It just took to long to set up.

It was replaced with a 6X, three leg section model. Very fast to use and a wider cross section on the lowest leg. I love this tripod. The old Mountaineer sits on a shelf waiting for somebody to come along that wants a short tripod. My advise, don't buy the shorter, older tripod. Get the 6X or keep what you have.

[Peter Schrager]

for under $130 you can buy a slik composite 500ex or something like that...I've been using mine for over two years now...triple composite metals and really lightweight
perfect for 5x7 field and down...
est, Peter

[SMBooth]

Just for the record, Im quite happy using a Velbron 630CF with a Arcatech ballhead with a wooden Wista field. Maybe a little more than 22inch but only weighs 2kg