any good tripods?

[Drew Wiley]

If you want sturdy cheap, get a fiberglass clad mid-wt wooden survey tripod. Maybe $150
for domestic mfg (avoid Chinese). Repace the 5/8-11 thumbbolt with 3/8-16 and a few other minor tweaks and you're ready to go. No new camera tripod for that kind of price
will be as sturdy, though you might be lucky and find something worthy used.

[ROL]

I keep a light CF tripod for longer walks, too. I have a little tarp with grommets in each corner that I can set below the tripod, fill with dirt, rocks, or even water and pull it up on a cord so most of the weight is hanging under the center column. It helps a great deal with wind by effectively adding mass to the whole deal but with a total addition of around an ounce of carry weight.

Me too – that's what the hook (if present) at the bottom of the column is for. Except I use a very light draw-corded net bag. But mostly, I use the hook to hang my camera or day bag, which doesn't need to be filled with anything to increase its weight.

[Thebes]

I'm quite happy with my Berlebach.
It dampens vibration well, holds plenty of weight, and is light enough to carry in the field without it become a physical test of my failing endurance.
I'd like to have a Majestic at some point, but I'd never take it more than a hundred feet from a car.

[Ari]

Induro AT413, around $210 new, maybe less if you shop around.
I'm happy to plug it, as it has served me very well for almost two years now.

[bobwysiwyg]

I'm quite happy with my Berlebach.
It dampens vibration well, holds plenty of weight, and is light enough to carry in the field without it become a physical test of my failing endurance.

+1

[LaurentB]

+1

+1 (does it make +2 ?)...

Berlebach with levelling head is great.

[George E. Sheils]

+1 (does it make +2 ?)...

Berlebach with levelling head is great.

+ 1 here aswell !

That makes it +3.

Berlebach is the business. I have the 3032 Report.

[Tony Karnezis]

Another vote for Majestic. I picked mine up off craigslist for roughly half of what you have budgeted.

[E. von Hoegh]

Another vote for Majestic. I picked mine up off craigslist for roughly half of what you have budgeted.

Ummm, yeah. The OP is using a press camera, not an 11x14 Sinar.

[Alan Gales]

I just recently bought a Crown Graphic and am using a Ries J100. Why? Because I already own it.

If I was buying a tripod specifically for my Crown I would buy a Tiltall.