Good tripod for 4x5 monorail AND DSLR

[dh003i]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a good tripod for both my LF and DSLR. I currently have a Bogen 055XPROB, which has a center column. For the most part, I HATE the center column. It prevents the tripod head from getting to the ground, and the only way to get the DSLR really low is to hang it upside down via the center column, or flip the column on the horizontal plane (so it is sideways). This is "ok" for DSLR's (but still not ideal), and seems like disaster for LF.

I also have an 50-year old Linhof tripod that I bought online; that purchase was a mistake. It is rugged when the legs are collapsed, but wobbly when they're extended. It's also a PITA. (my mistake not listening to others who warned me against it).

Re my Bogen 055XPROB, the center column has been useful sometimes, for weird angle shots on hills or whatnot, but is usually just a pain when I want to get low.

So I'm considering two options: (a) Buy a "short" center column, almost 7" long, which means he camera is about 11" off he ground optimistically; (b) Get a tripod without a center column.

I lean towards (b). I never use he center column for precise adjustments of height, as I worry about it's stability. I'm considering the Berlebach 4002 wooden tripod (2in to 64 in height). 64" translates to 5.33 ft. I notice that the Manfrotto 055XPROB specs say max height without center column up is 4.66 ft. This seems wrong to me. With the legs at the narrowest angle, and extended all the way, the max height is at eye-level for me or higher (that's 5.5 or more feet). Do they specify "maximum height" at something other than the narrowest lockable position?

Also, what do you guys recommend for a 3-way pan-tilt head that will work with both my LF (4x5, heaviest lens is Nikkor 90/4.5) and DSLR (Oly E3 + heaviest lens 70-300/4.5-5.6).

[John Kasaian]

The center column on my old tiltall can be reversed (the camera then can be suspended upside down, underneath the tripod in order to get ground level. It handles a GraphicView II nicely I think I paid about $70 for mine used.

[Peter De Smidt]

You might try looking at the Feisol tripods at www.Reallybigcameras.com . The proprietor, Kerry Thalmann, is a very experience large format photographer, and he is a member of this forum. I haven't bought a tripod from him, but I did buy a feisol rotator from him. The quality was very good, the price was fair, and Kerry's service was first rate.

[Archphoto]

2 Things: for the 055 you can buy a Low Angle Adaptor from Manfrotto: you take out the center coloumn and replace it with the LAA: it gets you as low as you want. Cost: € 7,-
I have one and it realy works !

For the head: try the 410 geared head, together with the 055 it is a great combination.
I use this setup for my Olympus E520 + 7-14mm, RB 67 upto my Shen Hao 4x5".

Peter

[dh003i]

John,

Yea, my centercolumn can be reversed and hung upside down too. That worries me even with my Olympus E-3 DSLR, nevermind a 4x5 monorail! (and it is also a PITA).

Then again, that's with a Bogen 3030 pan/tilt tripod head with a QR plate.

Peter,

Thanks for the suggestion of the Feisol tripods. However, all of them say, "The specification and dimension of our leg tubes are very precise that, when extending out or pushing in leg tubes, air can form an airtight chamber inside the leg tubes and make it hard to push in or pull out. Therefore, when extending or collapsing leg tubes, it will take a few seconds to counter air resistance." IOW, slow setup.

Archophoto,

Thanks for the low angle adapter suggestion. Re the 410 geared head, does that allow for free-flow composition also, like a ball-head? My Bogen 3030 allows all of the locks to be semi-disengaged, so I can freely position the camera along all axis. For quick shots of fast-moving things, I don't even need to lock the axis, because the positional support given is enough.

[dh003i]

Also, what about these tripod 3-way heads:

Bogen 3039 (or then Bogen 229), with QR plate:
http://www.adorama.com/BG3039.html

Bogen 3057
http://www.h1photo.com/3057.html

What's the deal with all of these "rapid connect mounting plates" for the 3057?
http://www.adorama.com/searchsite/de...earchinfo=3057

Also, for these tripod heads, the screw that connects the head to the camera, it would be nice if so for the 3039 hexagonal mounting plate, I could get one with 1/4 and 3/8 in screws. I currently use a 3/8" knob to mount my 4x5 to the 50-year old Linhof tripod. I like this better, seems more sturdy.

Although the heads are rated for 20+ lbs of weight, are there any problems with the QR plates?

Any heavy-duty 3-way pan/tilt heads that don't use the QR system, but something that's at least as quick to setup as the 3/8" knob I use to screw into 4x5 through my old tripod?

[Archphoto]

Regarding the 410: on each axis you have a knob that you can turn to free the fine adjustment of that axis, works realy fast and great. After that you fine adjust that axis.

Mind you: you don't lock any of the axis, they stay in place and fine adjustable, even with a heavy camera mounted like the RB67.

The connection with the tripod is 3/8, for the cameraplate you get both the 1/4 and the 3/8, one of them can be stored on the head when not used.
The camera plate has a safety lock with the head.

Peter

[dh003i]

I wonder if the 410's 10 lbs of support will be enough to sturdily hold my Linhof 4x5...

My Bogen 3030 is rated at 13.3 lbs, and I don't have extreme confidence mounting my LF on that. An Amazon.com reviewer said he'd be worried about putting a LF on the 405, despite being rated for 7.5 kg (~15 lbs), and that it is a fragile head. Same re the 410 here: http://photo.net/large-format-photography-forum/004Ciy

I'm worried about the thing breaking, then me having to spend as much as the initial cost to get it fixed.

[Archphoto]

It depends on the Linhof you have: a Master Technika would be no problem at all on the 410, my Sinar P2 4x5" I will test on it when I am back in Holland in July.

For my Sinar P2 4x5" and 8x10" I use a Gitzo Studex Performance (30 years old) with the heaviest 3 way head Linhof ever made.
There is on the Gear-section of this forum a thread about the 410, together with a photo of the 410 next to a Rolleiflex 2.8F : nothing "Junior" about the head.

If you want to go heavier you can have a look at the Manfrotto 405 geared head.

Peter

[timparkin]

I wonder if the 410's 10 lbs of support will be enough to sturdily hold my Linhof 4x5...

My Bogen 3030 is rated at 13.3 lbs, and I don't have extreme confidence mounting my LF on that. An Amazon.com reviewer said he'd be worried about putting a LF on the 405, despite being rated for 7.5 kg (~15 lbs), and that it is a fragile head. Same re the 410 here: http://photo.net/large-format-photography-forum/004Ciy

I'm worried about the thing breaking, then me having to spend as much as the initial cost to get it fixed.

I beleive David Ward has a Linhof Technikardan that he uses with little trouble on a 410/Gitzo Combo..

Tim