Which Tripod?

[Ole Tjugen]

I originally made an enquiry about Stabil tripods in Sweden and phoned the chap who makes them but since his English was as good as my Swedish we just couldn't get the deal done. The Stabil tripods are made of American Oak and metal and look quite sturdy. Ole Tjugen swears by them.

They are sturdy, and very versatile. It's my first choise unless I need something more compact, in which case I'll use the 055CF. Or if I need a BIG plate to put a BIG camera on, in which case I'll use a Gandolfi.

I use a big Uniloc ballhead on mine, and a more modest-size Giottos head on the 055CF. Which reminds me - it's time to decide which camera and tripod to pack today.

[Keith Tapscott]

I have a large Uniloc Ball & Socket head on my wooden MPP Tripod, hopefully it will fit the Giottos Tripods too.
I am wondering which model would be the closest in specification to the Gitzo tripod that Joanna uses?

[Keith Tapscott]

It's time to decide which camera and tripod to pack today.

How many Cameras do you have?

[Ole Tjugen]

It's time to decide which camera and tripod to pack today.

How many Cameras do you have?

At last count, "more than 14".

The decision today is between A) Speed Graphic 4x5", B) Carbon Infinity 4x5", C) Gandolfi Traditional 7x5", D) Gandolfi Traditional 8x10" and E) Unnamed German 13x18cm plate camera.

I would have packed the 7x5" Gandolfi - if I could only find the last two lens boards. I feel severely limited without #2 and #1 lens boards - can't use the 165 Angulon, the 240 Symmar, the 210/6.1 Xenar, or even the 210/9 G-Claron.

The Speed Graphic has a universal lens board, so anything up to #2 slips right in. And the lenses needn't have shutters either - most of the pictures I've taken with it have been with barrel lenses.

I have enough lens boards for the Carbon Infinity, but it's a bit larger than most of the other cameras. Not so easy to fit it all in one pack for the overhead compartment on the plane...

I'm going to northern Norway where the lanscape is colossal. So the 8x10" is an option - I've fixed my self an universal lens holder for that too, and a small stack of second-hand Sinar boards. but I have few holders, and 8x10" is difficult to change in a changing bag.

The old plate camera is an option because that, too, has a universal lens mount...

[Joanna Carter]

I have a large Uniloc Ball & Socket head on my wooden MPP Tripod, hopefully it will fit the Giottos Tripods too.
I am wondering which model would be the closest in specification to the Gitzo tripod that Joanna uses?

From a quick comparison, I would say that the MT 8261 is the closest spec.

But the "features" stack up like this :

Code: Select all

Tripod        Gitzo 2530        Giotto MT 8261        Manfrotto 055MF3
weight          1.4Kg                 1.9Kg                        2Kg
load             12Kg                  8Kg                         7Kg
max height       161cm                163cm                      169cm
min height       33cm                  25cm                       11cm
folded           65cm                  65cm                       64cm

I have the 2530LVL which has a levelling yoke and that still only weighs 1.6Kg.

The Gitzos will also go lower than 33cm, they just don't have a locked leg position after that and until they are completely flat.

The Manfrotto 055ProB weighs 2.4Kg, so it could be said that the difference between that and the MF3 isn't that much but I would say that even 400g is noticeable and the 800g difference between the ProB and my Gitzo 2530LVL is definitely something that I appreciate

As to the use of a ball head for LF work, I would suggest you give serious consideration to a geared head like the Manfrotto 410; the likelihood of forgetting to lock off the head is reduced to nil but you still have a quick-release in all three axes so you don't have to wind all the way to a new angle. It weighs 1.22Kg which is not much different from the Uniloc 60.

[Nigels]

Just my twopennarth;
I replaced my aweful Benbo (not even Barbara Woodhouse could have got it to sit). I bought a Manfrotto Carbon 443 which has a load rating of 6kg. I use my old Benbo ball head and a manfrotto QR plate. This lot weighs almost spot on 2kg. It works well for my Ebony RSW.

[Keith Tapscott]

...I would suggest you give serious consideration to a geared head like the Manfrotto 410...

I will definately go for a 410 geared head, although of course another item to purchase.
Thanks for the `Tripod Specs`.

[Keith Tapscott]

Just my twopennarth;
I replaced my aweful Benbo (not even Barbara Woodhouse could have got it to sit). I bought a Manfrotto Carbon 443 which has a load rating of 6kg. I use my old Benbo ball head and a manfrotto QR plate. This lot weighs almost spot on 2kg. It works well for my Ebony RSW.

I used to have a similarly designed Uniloc of which I retained the Ball & Socket head, the Tripod broke when I was on holiday in the Lake district in 2003. I would never go back to one of those.

[Aynsley Cooper]

if its of any help - for the last 20 years or so the manfrotto 055 with 141 or 410 has proved essentially indestructible in pro. use with the clumsiest of users...

[Joanna Carter]

if its of any help - for the last 20 years or so the manfrotto 055 with 141 or 410 has proved essentially indestructible in pro. use with the clumsiest of users...

If weight isn't an issue, I would agree; it was certainly good enough for me for some considerable time.

[Aynsley Cooper]

trust me, I am clumsy, but I know others who are a great deal worse - did I ever mention the two ball bearings story?

[Aynsley Cooper]

I gave them an 055 (one ball bearing) and a 141 (the second) - I got one back broken, and one, lost...MY 410 is still mint after all this time...

[Keith Tapscott]

I gave them an 055 (one ball bearing) and a 141 (the second) - I got one back broken, and one, lost...MY 410 is still mint after all this time...

I bought a 055 PRO and MN410 geared head today, which I have ordered from Warehouse Express.
This should arrive on Monday.
Thanks to everyone who replied.
Cheers,
Keith.

[Tim Myers]

I bought a 055 PRO and MN410 geared head today, which I have ordered from Warehouse Express.

It's a great combination - you won't be disappointed!

[Apple]

Keith, you've got a good setup there... I've got the 055 CLB and 410 head.

I don't know which feet the PRO models are supplied with but one worthwhile upgrade (if necessary) is to get a set of spiked / rubber feet to replace the push-on plastic ones. These are a lot better at gripping outdoors on soft / uneven ground.