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Thread: Bogen 3205 tripod seems wimpy under 3047 head

  1. #1

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    Bogen 3205 tripod seems wimpy under 3047 head

    Please advise me about a tripod that will work better.... I have a Bogen 3205 tripod with an adjustable Bogen ball head, all supporting a 4x5 Tachi. I replaced the ball head with a Bogen 3047 head, and now the tripod is actually slightly top-heavy and (perhaps) under-sized. While I still have my nylon net bag to fill with rocks for stability on location, this works best for rocky places, not plentiful in the Heartland.

    I'm thinking I should be on the lookout for another, better tripod for sale. But, what would be better? And--is it better to have a light-weight set-up (and maybe bring rocks), or does your experience suggest alternatives I should consider?

    Merci mille fois--
    Peter Collins

    On the intent of the First Amendment: The press was to serve the governed, not the governors --Opinion, Hugo Black, Judge, Supreme Court, 1971 re the "Pentagon Papers."

  2. #2

    Join Date
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    Bogen 3205 tripod seems wimpy under 3047 head

    Bogen 3205 Tripod
    Supports 9.9 Lbs
    The lightest and smallest tripod in the Bogen line.


    The advertising would seem to agree with your assessment of the problem! I have a 4x5 Tachi, which I support on a Bogen 3401 (now 3021 Pro) legset and 3030 head; it's rock solid. I recommend the 3021Pro legset if you also shoot 35mm or if you ever need to get an extremely low point of view; by placing the center column horizontally and then doing some contortions with the legs I can actually get a camera slightly below ground level. Not that I can see through the finder.

    It's better to have light weight while you're schlepping it. For the camera, however, bigger is better. I think the 3021 series is a good compromise. I used my current tripod for a while with a 4x5 monorail, much larger and heavier than the Tachi; it was usable but marginal for that camera.

    If you can't find rocks, just hang your camera bag under the tripod...

  3. #3
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    Bogen 3205 tripod seems wimpy under 3047 head

    I have a Bogen 3021 leg set, as well as both the 3047 and 3029 three-way heads. The 3021 legs are a good match to the 3047. That combination would certainly provide very solid support for a 4x5 Tachihara, and would be reasonably well-balanced.

    Depending on your picture taking habits, it may be overkill, though. These days, on the rare occasions when I go out with my Horseman VH or my 4x5 Nagaoka, I've given up lugging the 3047, and instead use the 3029 head to save a bit of weight. It's a bit dainty by comparison, but under most circumstances I think it's adequate for a lightweight 4x5 with small lenses. If I were shooting 4x5 under really challenging conditions - long, heavy lenses, not-so-calm weather - I woudn't be using a lightweight woodie anyway.

  4. #4

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    Bogen 3205 tripod seems wimpy under 3047 head

    I have a 4x5 Tachihara and use a Bogen 3001 with a 488RC2 ballhead. This set up is a little heavy to carry, but pretty steady.

  5. #5

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    Bogen 3205 tripod seems wimpy under 3047 head

    Chalk in another vote for the 3021/3047 combo... if you are not backpacking this is a pretty good combo for a balance of price/weight/support.

  6. #6
    Jon Wilson's Avatar
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    Bogen 3205 tripod seems wimpy under 3047 head

    For my Tachihara 4x5 and 5x7 extension back, I use a Bogen/Manfrotto 3221w legs with a Bogen 3262 head and a 3270 plate. It is an older set up and the plates are usually fairly inexpensive, i.e., $10 each when located. The set up is used on 35mm and MF when needed, but mostly used for my Tachihara. This set up works for me w/ 90mm thru 300mm lens. I did try it with a 5x7 Korona and 375mm Ilex, but it just was not sufficiently stable and had to go with a beefier rig, i.e., majestic, although it is overkill for my little 5x7 Korona.

  7. #7

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    Bogen 3205 tripod seems wimpy under 3047 head

    I also use Bogen's 3221. The head is a 3047. It works great and did not cost much.
    Bill McMannis

  8. #8

    Bogen 3205 tripod seems wimpy under 3047 head

    I have a 3021 with actually the 3030 head, and that's just fine as far as I can tell; it's very stable. Replacing your legset with the 3021 and keeping the 3047 would probably work very well.

  9. #9

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    Bogen 3205 tripod seems wimpy under 3047 head

    A really nice combination for the Tachihara and smaller lenses if you don't do much architectural or product photography is the 3021/3221 (same tripod legs, 3021 is chrome, 3221 is black) and an Arca Swiss ball head. I no longer have my Tachihara and switched to a three way pan-tilt head when I started doing more architectural work but for landscape/general purpose photography the Arca Swiss ball head on a 3021/3221 is a very nice combination with a lighter camera such as the Tachihara.
    Brian Ellis
    Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
    a mile away and you'll have their shoes.

  10. #10

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    Apr 2004
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    Bogen 3205 tripod seems wimpy under 3047 head

    I am using a Bogen 3221 with either a Markin M10 ballhead or the Bogen 3047 3-way pan head to support my Shen Hao 4x5. The 3221 with the M10 is the lighter setup of the two, but it is still quite sturdy for the Shen Hao 4x5. If I remember correctly, the Tachihara is very similar to the Shen Hao. Keep in mind that my Bogen 3221 is about six-year old. I am not sure what the equivalent of the tripod is today.

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