I shoot 4X5 portraits mostly indoors, often with a 300 mm lens, on a tripod without a centre column. I use a 300 series aluminum Gitzo tripod without a centre column.
The finicky adjustments when making a tight portrait often involve camera height, and adjusting three tripod legs is sometimes frustrating. Using a geared centre column for small height adjustments would be much easier.
I was taught to avoid tripods with centre columns due to rigidity concerns. Would a geared centre column on a Gitzo 300 series tripod offer good stability, or is it best to avoid using a centre column?
I am not overly concerned about the added weight. I am only interested in function and rigidity.
Bookmarks