Which Tripod?

[lostlandsuk]

You know that is perfect - wonder if we'll see them for sale at Robert White's anytime soon
Maybe Gitzo could start a new accessory range . . . they could have a different series alarm of varying intensity depending on the value of your tripod.
Or how about just forgetting about people taking tripods and having large concrete blocks with threaded top plates at popular tripod ruts. would save a lot of effort on everyone's behalf!

[joolsb]

Or how about just forgetting about people taking tripods and having large concrete blocks with threaded top plates at popular tripod ruts. would save a lot of effort on everyone's behalf!

In that case, I'm off to put in a bid to supply the one for Rannoch Moor. I could make a fortune selling advertising space....

[lostlandsuk]

Just off to Buchaille this weekend with 2 tons of cement, a mixer, some Alsatians and some of those old fashioned cinema tickets on a roll, oh, and not forgetting my armband and official's hat

[PAUL O]

Maybe I could set up a burger van I'll split the profits 50:50!
I could call them Buachaille Burgers

[lostlandsuk]

Sounds perfect . . . I'll just run it past the committee.












They've agreed - see you up there!

[Patrick Dixon]

A couple of questions back OT if I may ...

Everyone seems to recommend the 055XPROB, but just how useful is the quick-change centre column feature for LF? Wouldn't the plain 055XB which is slightly lighter and more compact be better?

The 190 is a decent amount lighter than the 055 - but is it too much of a compromise for a light 4x5 camera?

On heads, I note the (universal) recommendations for the 410, but I don't want to carry anything that big or heavy (it was the photo of it dwarfing a Rolleiflex that really put me off). Again, has anyone tried the 460MG with a light 4x5 and had good or bad experiences?

[timparkin]

A couple of questions back OT if I may ...

Everyone seems to recommend the 055XPROB, but just how useful is the quick-change centre column feature for LF? Wouldn't the plain 055XB which is slightly lighter and more compact be better?

The 190 is a decent amount lighter than the 055 - but is it too much of a compromise for a light 4x5 camera?

On heads, I note the (universal) recommendations for the 410, but I don't want to carry anything that big or heavy (it was the photo of it dwarfing a Rolleiflex that really put me off). Again, has anyone tried the 460MG with a light 4x5 and had good or bad experiences?

Hi Patrick,

I think the value of the rotating column is probably minimal for large format use. Also, the love of the 410 isn't universal; some leading (and not so leading) large format photographers prefer ball heads, especially regarding the weight and reliability (I think Joe Cornish has had a few 410 failures- then again he does punish them). I was looking at an interesting new company called Cullman who make small ball heads .. their Magnesit 25Nm ball head looks pretty damn good and I might be combingone one with a gitzo 1541 for a leightweight trekking setup..

Tim

[Joanna Carter]

Everyone seems to recommend the 055XPROB, but just how useful is the quick-change centre column feature for LF? Wouldn't the plain 055XB which is slightly lighter and more compact be better?

I don't think there is any specific requirement for the ProB version, it's just that it used to be easier to obtain than the XB.

The 190 is a decent amount lighter than the 055 - but is it too much of a compromise for a light 4x5 camera?

From my POV, the 190 is just a tad too lightweight and wibbly for the average LF camera and lens weight.

On heads, I note the (universal) recommendations for the 410, but I don't want to carry anything that big or heavy (it was the photo of it dwarfing a Rolleiflex that really put me off). Again, has anyone tried the 460MG with a light 4x5 and had good or bad experiences?

The 460MG is a beautiful little head but, at a target load weight of 3kg as opposed to the 410, I would think it could be not quite up to the job.

Yes ball heads are lighter and smaller, but they can be more difficult to set up if you want perfect levelling for architecture. If you plan on doing the big rock in the foreground, exagerated by back tilt, then I see no problem

[Patrick Dixon]

Tim,

Gitzo seem unbelievably (and in my case unjustifiably) expensive. What's so special about them? There's also an outfit called Red Snapper who make a couple of 'gitzo' looking tripods.

Cullman aren't exactly a new company. I've had a fold up tripod (Magic) of theirs for at least 25 years although it's only useful as a monopod these day because one of the leg twist locks broke. I still have the ball head, but it's not up to LF I'm afraid.

Joanna,

How heavy is an Ebony? A Pressman/Ektar is around 2kg and an Arca-Swiss monorail around 2.5kg (with a standard lens). 3kg ought to be within bounds, especially given that these ratings usually seem quite conservative.

[Joanna Carter]

Gitzo seem unbelievably (and in my case unjustifiably) expensive. What's so special about them? There's also an outfit called Red Snapper who make a couple of 'gitzo' looking tripods.

My only point of reference to cheaper CF tripods is when I compared the Gitzo 2530LVL to the Manfrotto 055 CF; the Gitzo is solid, the MAnfrotto is definitely "wibblier". I suspect that, as with many things, you pays your money and you takes your choice

[lostlandsuk]

Ever thought about the FLM heads sold by speedgraphic
http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/cat.asp?c ... %26+Socket
load capacity seems outrageous for their size and weight!

[Patrick Dixon]

I'm sure you're right re money and choice, but I'm a great believer in the 80:20 rule and I'm looking for 80% of the performance for 20% of the price

The trouble with these things is that you're never quite sure of performance until you've tried it out for real.

I like the idea of a PT head without those annoying long levers, because with ball heads a small adjustment always seems to end up completely reframing. I suspect mostly, I'll just want to level side to side and then tilt and swivel without messing that up.

[Joanna Carter]

How heavy is an Ebony? A Pressman/Ektar is around 2kg and an Arca-Swiss monorail around 2.5kg (with a standard lens). 3kg ought to be within bounds, especially given that these ratings usually seem quite conservative.

My Ebony SV45Te (folding) weighs 3390grams with the QR plate attached; then you would need to add around half a kilo for a decent lens, not forgetting the weight of a filter holder, filters and, possibly, a lens hood; then you've got the weight of the focusing cloth plus any forces exerted by the wind, etc.

I would agree that, in practice, the capacity of Manfrotto heads is under-rated but, I have found that even the 410 exhibits some flexing when manipulating the camera, so I would not be too confident in a head with any lesser capacity; and sometimes wish I could find a more rigid geared head at the same or less weight and size. But that could well be a tad too Utopian.

[Patrick Dixon]

Ever thought about the FLM heads sold by speedgraphic
http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/cat.asp?c ... %26+Socket
load capacity seems outrageous for their size and weight!

Yes, I'm looking at the catalogue page right now. Anyone tried one out?

[Joanna Carter]

Ever thought about the FLM heads sold by speedgraphic
http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/cat.asp?c ... %26+Socket
load capacity seems outrageous for their size and weight!

My main concern with any ball head with a small "platform" is whether the camera fixing plate would flex any more than it already does with the Manfrotto RC4 QR plate that comes with the 410.