Where to find Large format Camera Tripods on a student budget?

[tripspud]

Hi! I use the Tiltall with an 8x10 Eastman 2-D. It's been modified with BOTH handles
(vertical and horizontal) LONG. This makes it way easier to adjust.

[faberryman]

Get the best tripod you can afford and don't worry about it. You have the rest of your life to acquire the coveted Ries. In the meantime, work on your photographic skills.

[BetterSense]

I did the survey tripod thing, trying to be cheap. It was a waste of money. I ended up having to buy a proper tripod anyway. I got a 3047 head and some matching legs...maybe 055? It is more than sturdy enough for even my heavy long rail Calumet monorail, overkill for my RB67 even, and much more usable than the surveying tripod was. The survey tripod was just rattly and only had one extension section, and spike feet...

[LabRat]

Really look around swap meets, CL, classified ads, camera shows, antique stores/malls, online, etc... There are MANY oversized tripods out there, and probably where you live... Sooner or later one will come your way (even locally without shipping charges), but for the time being a survey tripod (if you insist on an 8X10) can work...

Nobody wants/needs large tripods (except the nuts that do LF), so hem & haw if you find one, and say it's too big for you, and see what kind of deal they offer you so they can unload it on you... Say you are a student, you need a tripod, this is a little overkill for you, and you don't have much money, and see what they say... (Be nice AND confused...)

Good Luck!!!

Steve K

[Willie]

"Key word student budget."

Takes in a lot of territory.
Harvard?
Stanford?
Crabtree Corners Teachers College?
Bo Diddly Tech?

A dollar amount makes sense here.

[Eric Woodbury]

I use a Bolex Paillard tripod for my 8x10. Ditch the head and put on something you like. Not too heavy. Solid. Sometimes you'll find them for $75 at garage sale, but I haven't bought one in years. The head will cost more than the legs.

[chassis]

Years ago I made my own Ries-inspired tripod and head. Still have it. It works and probably cost less than $50 in materials.

[joselsgil]

Considering that this is a 4 year old post. I hope that the OP has a moved on from his "student budget", to something better