Thanks for your replies, they have given me a few things to look at and think about.
At this stage, I am thinking of buying a CF tripod. Not the cheapest route, but there certainly seems to be a significant weight saving when I will be regularly carrying a large format kit for a couple of hours at a time.
I'm looking for a tripod which will last me many years, so I am OK with spending a bit of money, and will probably buy used to fit my budget. I once had a decent tripod fall over on flat ground with a 35mm camera mounted. I don't want this to ever happen again, especially now I am using 4x5 and will probably try 8x10 in the future. I am more concerned with stability and reliability, even if the cost stings now. An Arca on the ground would sting more!
The head is part of the center post, it has fore and aft and left to right "tilts".
Google it, and you'll have a better idea than I can give you. I use (for the past 24 years) a Marchioni Tiltall for 35mm, Rolleis, and 4x5(Linhof STIV). I even put a Deardorff V8 on it for my very first 8x10 sheet. Make sure the spikes screw out of the ends of the legs and that the leg locks work properly.
I've never even considered switching tripods.
One man's Mede is another man's Persian.
http://tiltallsupport.blogspot.com/
Google is your friend!
One man's Mede is another man's Persian.
Thanks for you suggestions, I ended up goin with a bit of an unknown, a Really Right Stuff TVC-33. I have just received it, and it's really fantastic. Very well built, and very stable.
That's probably the best photo tripod made right now, not inexpensive but you can't second-guess it ;-) I think they make a new model that is heavier/taller, that's be the one I'm taking to Valhalla.
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