Tripod replacement

[butterfly]

Hi everyone, seasons greetings.

Well, I am moving out of studio into the world with large format 4x5, and have an Ebony 45SU on order (my very own 50th birthday present!). Having sold the Arca, it's time to think of a tripod before I sell my current one.

I have a Gitzo G1504 aluminium at the moment, but it is so heavy that the other week venturing out with it, even carrying it a few hundred yards strained my arm so bad it's still recovering (wimp). I have an Arca B2 which I think will be fine for the Ebony, but what I would like is a tripod, obviously lighter in weight, so my question is, what is the lightest I can get away with and still have a stable set up? The Ebony weighs 2.6Kg and the Arca head 1.7KG and the lens another 1Kg, totaling 5.3 KG.

I need one that isn't too long collapsed, at least able to strap it to a rucksack. The Gitzos CF are great but so expensive, whilst the Manfrotto ones almost all don't seem to be specified for the load, yet some of them look to be well made and strong? Are there any alternatives to the usual Gitzo CF recommendations?

Opinions and advice welcome.

Regards

Steve

[Eric Biggerstaff]

I would look at the Giottos line of tripods. More features than the Gitzo, come in CF and the Lava series, appear to be well made and are far less expensive then the Gitzo. There are many models to choose from and may fit your budget better.

They are distributed by HP Marketing and you can check them out on the HP Marketing site or the Giottos site.

I use the Gitzo CF and it is a great tripod but if I had known about the Giottos that would of been a serious contender.

Hope that helps.

Eric

[stompyq]

I have a velbon EL 640 tripod. I use it with a graf studioball for my wista 4x5 as well as my digital SLR's. It's about half the cost of a comparable Gitzo (i must have paid $260 new) and came with a carring case and pan and tilt head. It's very light and has not given me a single issue in over 2 1/2 years of constant use. I think it came with a life time warrenty too. You might also want to consider the Feisol CF line. I've heard nothing but good things about them. If you are considering Gitzo then i would wait a few months untill the new models are released (you can pre order though).

Personally when i was shopping for tripods i got comments about how i eventually would buy a gitzo and that i am wasteing money. Well up to now no regrets with my Velbon.

[Dave_B]

Steve:
You bought an Ebony because you wanted the best camera you could afford. It was a present to yourself for a lifetime of hard work and accomplishment. No way you "needed" the camera. You "wanted" it. Why would you now want to save a couple of hundred dollars on a cheap tripod? Your Ebony will be new, very nice and very expensive. Buy a tripod that will allow your camera to work as well as it can. Go for the Gitzo 1325 CF tripod and a Manfrotto 405 head. Anything else will bother you and you'll eventually buy the Gitzo anyway. Save the $$$ you will spend on the cheap stuff and get what you really want. Ask yourself the following question. If you did not buy it and you found out that production had been discontinued and you were never going to be able to buy a Gitzo tripod, how would you feel? My prediction, angry with yourself for not having bought it when you could. If that is the answer, buy it now and enjoy using it for the rest of your life. The Ebony/Gitzo/Manfrotto combination will make you smile every time you think about the fact that it is yours and that you earned it.
Cheers,
Dave B.

p.s. I just turned 55 and for my "double nickels" birthday I bought an Ebony as well. I can't wait to see how it will look on my Gitzo/Manfrotto tripod/head. We're all going to be dead for a long time. Might as well enjoy life while we can.

[Amund BLix Aaeng]

While maybe not as compact as you want, a Berlebach 3032 is the best tripod I`ve ever used.. Don`t even need a tripod head


I haven`t used my Gitzo 1325 since I got it. If you`re considering a 1325, you must modify it with spikes or it will wobble on top of everything but solid ground.

[Deniz Merdanogullari]

I have a Berlebach 3022 in custom dark brown and height marks on the legs. It supports my 8x10 tachihara with big heavy lenses and does a great job on both smooth and rought surfaces.
It is pleasent to hold in the cold and compliments the camera nicely. sure its not feather light or easy to pack but not so bad that i dont take it with me.
having said that, it may be too much of a tripod for a 4x5 setup. I never use it with my 4x5 ikeda. Strictly a 8x10 tripod.

[Michael Graves]

Nice to see the comments on the Berlebach. I've been seriously considering one of those. I was interested in the 3042 model. Thanks for posing the question, Steve. You helped us both.

[Henry Ambrose]

I have a little 503 Hakuba carbon fiber tripod that came complete with 3 way head for under $300. I've shot my 8x10 off it but that's pushing it a bit. I regularly use it for my SW45 Ebony which is the baby brother to your camera. Its completely good for a 4x5 field camera. You might challenge it a bit in a high wind and/or at maximum extension but unless you do that all the time it'll be a fine choice. The Hakuba tripod and head weighs 3.9 pounds total and will support your camera nicely for most useage.

I wouldn't bother with your Arca head for as much as it weighs much less that its a ball head - which if you come from the studio you're gonna hate pretty quick. (I could be wrong but you couldn't chase me down and make me use one)

Here it is:
http://www.hakubausa.com/csite/c_pro...p?cc=10&cs=110

[Greg Lockrey]

I have a Feisol 3471 that will fill your needs and at half the cost of a comparable Gitzo. They are great people to deal with and will have your tripod (with carrying bag) plus any add on featutres that you like in about 4 days. At least that's how long it took to get mine to Michigan. The 3471 is a 4 section with the largest leg 37mm in diameter. Folds up very compactly and is extremely light weight. Don't let anti Chinese prejudice influence your desision. They will eventually own the world I remember when I got my first Gitzo on how the French were the new upstarts too. BTW mine holds a Sinar P that is married to a Canon 5D.

[Sheldon N]

I've done the tripod upgrade path myself recently as well - Bogen to Feisol (smaller CT-3301) to Gitzo 1325. Save yourself the trouble and get the Gitzo 1325. It really is a great tripod, and with a little hunting can be found at a reasonable cost ($425-450 used).

A good source is the Nikonians forum - they're all Gitzo nuts and they have an active buy/sell forum.