Ries for Linhof TK45S

[LFdelux]

I just acquried a Linhof TK 45s and now in the process of buying tripod. Considering Ries legs and Ries double tilt head.

Cam weights about 6-1/2 lbs. Would like to take on short treks, such as hiking down down (and up) the hill off Calif/Oregon coast Hwy 1. Also using cam for portraits.

Ries legs/ head would come in at about $850.

Your suggestion please? tks - Paul

[Peter Lewin]

There are quite a few tripod threads, I would suggest you use the site search engine. As a very general response, Ries tripods are beautiful, but you can get equal rigidity for less weight from any of the modern carbon fiber tripods. Gitzo and Feisol seem to be forum favorites, but there are a number of other brands as well, Enduro is new to the market and Midwest Photo seems to like them. There is an ongoing "debate" on whether the Gitzo "2" series and equivalents are sturdy enough, or whether to go for the slightly heavier/more costly "3" series. You will also find a lot of discussion of heads, geared, pan-tilt, or ball. Again, if you just do "forum popularity" you find votes for the Bogen410 (their lightest geared head), the Arca ballheads, and recently the Markins ballheads. As a last suggestion, if you find the Magnachrome site, I believe issue 5 had a review of a large number of ballheads.

[Michael Kadillak]

I only dream about my TK45S checking in at 6.5#. It is more like 9-9.5#. Hopefully you already have the camera to check this variable yourself. I will leave it at that.

As a result, I would suggest a compact carbon fiber and a simply 3 way head. You already have a compliment of bubbles for leveling on the camera.

Cheers!

[Ron Bose]

I'm a self-confessed tripod junkie, and a TK-45S owner and also own a Ries J-100-2 and J-250 double-tilt head.

The Ries is truly a beauty, but weight and cost is a huge consideration.

If I knew back then what I knew now and wanted a woody, I'd get a Berlebach. If I wanted a Gitzo CF, I'd buy a Feisol.

In the end I found myself a Linhof Twin-shank (in black) and a 3-way leveling head, this is my favorite set up.

[Ron Bose]

Another thing, I really dislike my aluminum Gitzo's leg-twist clamps ... the rubber always seems to burn my palms !

[David A. Goldfarb]

I didn't like the old Gitzo twist locks either, but the new ones on my GT5540LS legs are MUCH improved.

[Bob Salomon]

I only dream about my TK45S checking in at 6.5#. It is more like 9-9.5#. Hopefully you already have the camera to check this variable yourself. I will leave it at that.

As a result, I would suggest a compact carbon fiber and a simply 3 way head. You already have a compliment of bubbles for leveling on the camera.

Cheers!

Michael,

A factory packaged TK45S weighs exactly 8.15 lbs including the styrofoam packaging material, plastic bags, warranty booklet, brochure and the TK sleeve and the paper wrapping and tape.

The TK45s without lensboard and fresnel weighs 7.45 lbs.

[Bob Salomon]

Paul,

As I noted to Michael, your camera is heavier then you think - exactly 7.15 lbs. The Linhof Twin Shank tripod, 003317, the Berlebach Report tripods and the Giottos Professional and the Giottos Classic Tripods in carbon fiber, aluminum or Lava can all support the TK properly.

[LFdelux]

Now that you mention it does appear heavier than 6-1/2 lbs. If I want to long hikes I'll have to do like Robert Adams and get a Tach or Shenhao.

Nevermind that. The construction on this 45S is remarkable and a far cry from my old busted Calumet monorail cam I picked up long ago. In those days a Calumet Legend was but a dream.

[Michael Kadillak]

Michael,

A factory packaged TK45S weighs exactly 8.15 lbs including the styrofoam packaging material, plastic bags, warranty booklet, brochure and the TK sleeve and the paper wrapping and tape.

The TK45s without lensboard and fresnel weighs 7.45 lbs.

Then for all legitimate purposes it is an 8# camera and not a 6.5 pound one. That is the point that I wanted to make.

I have a Canham MQC 5x7 that is about 6 3/4# and when I hold it in one hand and the TK45S in the other the difference is readily apparent. My Linhof TK45S tips the scale at a solid 9# so maybe some components have lighter specs on newer cameras.

That said it is a great camera. I just want to make sure that participants on this forum have all of the practical information to make informed decisions that suit them.

Cheers!

[John Powers]

If you do macro or telephoto you may want to add the aluminum tele/macro bracket which will add more weight, but lots of stability. Then of course if you want to go wide you will want the bag bellows and have to take it off the rail or you will get the front porch of the rail in the picture. I have a TK45 (the predecessor of the S) on a Gitzo 1570M, three way tilt head, on an old Gitzo Studex2. It is rock solid even with a 450mm Nikon M, but it is heavy.

My 8x10 Phillips weighs less. I gave it the Ries.

John

[naturephoto1]

I only dream about my TK45S checking in at 6.5#. It is more like 9-9.5#. Hopefully you already have the camera to check this variable yourself. I will leave it at that.

As a result, I would suggest a compact carbon fiber and a simply 3 way head. You already have a compliment of bubbles for leveling on the camera.

Cheers!

Hi Michael,

You are quite high on the weight of a TK45S and the OP is a bit low. My camera weighs including the Fresnel in at about 7.5 pounds. I had alerted Bob Salomon of HP Marketing about this in 1994 so that Linhof could update their specifications. I believe that that is the weight including the Fresnel (about 7.5 pounds) that is normally accepted for the camera weight. That weight does not include the Lens Board.

Rich

[Bob Salomon]

"Then for all legitimate purposes it is an 8# camera and not a 6.5 pound one. That is the point that I wanted to make. "

No it is a 7.45 lb camera. What it weighs with a lens can be more or less then 8 lbs depending on the lens. But the camera itself is less then 7.5 lbs.

[Michael Kadillak]

Thanks guys. We have accomplish the stated objective for the collective audience.

But what is a half pound in a photographers traveling backpack among good friends?....


Cheers!

[naturephoto1]

Thanks guys. We have accomplish the stated objective for the collective audience.

But what is a half pound in a photographers traveling backpack among good friends?....


Cheers!

Hi Michael,

That is quite a bit when I want to travel really light and I use my Toho Shimo FC-45X which in a stripped and modified form weighs in at 2 lb 12oz. ;)

Rich

[LFdelux]

I decided to give Berlebach another try and purchased the Arca Swiss Z1 ballhead as well.

The Berlebach three-piece leg looked good and could be broken down fairly short for travel. Cost savings over Ries was good too.

Ballheads, I analyzed lots of them and in the end decided to go with the Arca Swiss and QR plate w/ clip. Some of the other ballheads I liked didn't have the QR plate and that additional cost would have brought them within Arca Swiss cost range.

This is my best shot for now and I realize that alot is trial and error until the photog feels his gear is correct for his style of shooting.

Thanks all. Paul