Lightweight Tripod for Large Format Recommendations

[sanchak]

Hi,

I am looking to replace an old Manfrotto aluminium tripod (5.5 lbs) with a lightweight one. Just that the combination with the old style Arca Swiss ballhead (1.9 lbs) while very steady is becoming too much to carry and hindering me getting out. I am looking at the Gitzo 1545T. At 2.3 pounds and 22 pounds weight capacity will it be ok for a 4x5 / 8x10 usage if the total weight of camera plus lens is less than 10 pounds. Longest lens used will be 450mm/19in.

It would be wonderful if you could make alternative suggestions as well if you think getting the 1545T for LF work is being too optimistic.

Shan

[Peter Lewin]

My own "lightweight" CF tripod is a Gitzo 2-series for my Canham DLC 4x5, so the 1-series may be a bit less stable than you want as an "only" tripod. But my travel tripod is an FLM Traveler, which is probably similar to a 1-series, and I've been very happy with it, albeit I've never tried it in heavy winds, or with anything heavier than my Canham. I suggest you send a PM to "Ari" (Ari Tapiero) who is the North American importer of FLM tripods; Ari has always been exceptionally responsive to tripod questions.

[prado333]

Berlebach

[JMO]

Really Right Mark 2 CF tripod; expensive, but well made and last legs you may ever buy.

[lcpr]

I’ve been happy with my Gitzo 1542T + Arca P0 with my 4x5 cameras (was a Tachihara and now a Linhof Tech V) but it definitely isn’t enough for 8x10. You have to factor in the weight of the film holders and the leverage a dark cloth will have over the head/legs. I use a 3 series Gitzo for my 8x10 instead, no complaints there. I suppose you could get away with a super light 8x10 like an Intrepid though.

[Pere Casals]

a lightweight one.

With light tripods... from time to time place a toy laser pointer in the front standard, it will tell you the vibration, the wind effect and the time you have to wait since you insert the holder until vibration stops

[rdeloe]

My 2 cents: you're unlikely to find a one-size-fits-all solution that works equally well for 4x5 and 8x10. The most stable option is likely a tripod that doesn't have a centre column, with the camera mounted directly to the tripod (so no head). However, that's not very flexible. A geared head is generally more precise and stable than a ball head, but also much heavier. Some people will tell you a ball head can't possibly work, but others make them work.

I haul around a Toyo D45M, which is a rail camera. My longest lens is 300mm (not telephoto) so at infinity it's a relatively long setup.

I have a Manfrotto 410 geared head which works well but is so heavy. I'm happy with my Acratech GP-SS head mounted in the upside down position on a Feisol CT-3441T carbon fibre tripod. The tripod has a centre column, which works very well for my digital setup, but is not great with my 4x5. The problem isn't that it makes it less stable. Instead, the camera puts so much torque on it that it doesn't stay locked. It's a minor frustration that doesn't get in the way often. This makes for a very light setup, which is important because my camera bag minus the tripod weighs 25 lbs and carrying that around for long distances is not easy for me anymore.

[Audii-Dudii]

Making a stable, rigid, well-damped tripod is a tough enough task, but also making it compact, lightweight, and affordable complicates matters considerably.

Although this site has only begun to scratch the surface with its review coverage, there are a lot of useful insights about tripod design and manufacturing to be gathered here: https://thecentercolumn.com/ ... check it out!

[seezee]

I’ve been happy with my Gitzo 1542T + Arca P0 with my 4x5 cameras (was a Tachihara and now a Linhof Tech V) but it definitely isn’t enough for 8x10. You have to factor in the weight of the film holders and the leverage a dark cloth will have over the head/legs. I use a 3 series Gitzo for my 8x10 instead, no complaints there. I suppose you could get away with a super light 8x10 like an Intrepid though.

I carried my Reis J100 with a Manfrotto 438 leveling base, Manfrotto 410 geared head, & Hejnar Photo extended plate with F63 Arca-type clamp thru the Wichita Mountains (https://mercury.photo/trekking-thru-the-wichita-mountains-wildlife-refuge-with-a-4x5-field-camera/) for an entire day. About 12 lbs / 5.5 kg. Not fun, and overkill for 4×5.

I have the identical Gitzo/Arca combo as you (https://mercury.photo/hands-on-with-the-arca-swiss-p0-tripod-head-panning-system-slidefix-qs-quick-release/) and the next time I go shooting in the wilderness I'll be carrying them instead. Unless it's very windy.

[seezee]

I have the identical Gitzo/Arca combo as you (https://mercury.photo/hands-on-with-the-arca-swiss-p0-tripod-head-panning-system-slidefix-qs-quick-release/) and the next time I go shooting in the wilderness I'll be carrying them instead. Unless it's very windy.

One of the nice things about the Gitzo 1542 (and others in the series) is they have a hook on the bottom of the center column. Carry an empty sandbag, fill it with rocks or dirt, and hang it from the tripod to dampen vibrations. Dump it and move on the next subject.

[Jac@stafford.net]

I do not mean to be impolite or unhelpful, but this exact question has been asked so often, and even very recently that I'm encouraged to answer, "Use the search feature!"

[Audii-Dudii]

One of the nice things about the Gitzo 1542 (and others in the series) is they have a hook on the bottom of the center column. Carry an empty sandbag, fill it with rocks or dirt, and hang it from the tripod to dampen vibrations. Dump it and move on the next subject.

Nah. Assuming you're photographing in a place where driving a tent stake into the ground isn't prohibited, a much better solution is to carry a tent stake and a stout piece of cord, and run the cord from the hook on the bottom of the center column through the hole in the tent stake, pulling firmly upward on it to compress the tripod against the ground for each exposure. Then you can relax and leave it loose while you compose your next photo. When it comes time to move on, assuming you've chosen the right sort of tent stake, you can easily pull it out of the ground, brush the dirt off, wrap the cord around it, and toss it back in your pack.

The benefit of this approach is that it's not only cleaner -- no need to be getting your hands dirty playing in the dirt all day -- but usually lighter to carry and, perhaps most importantly, also far more effective at stabilizing the tripod, since a cord pulled taut doesn't swing in the wind as a bag full of dirt does, adding more energy into the system that the tripod will subsequently need to dissipate.

Edited: If you're photographing in a place where using a tent stake is prohibited or impossible, you can simply forego the stake and step on the cord with your foot, pinning it to the ground. You adjust the tension by adjusting the position of your foot along the cord ... works great!

[Vaughn]

The "hanging" of a bag (of rocks or whatever) below the tripod should be done with the bag solidily touching the ground -- not swinging.

[Audii-Dudii]

The "hanging" of a bag (of rocks or whatever) below the tripod should be done with the bag solidily touching the ground -- not swinging.

Yes, this is clearly a better approach.

But even so, the bag will still function as a sail compared to a piece of cord.

[sanchak]

I’ve been happy with my Gitzo 1542T + Arca P0 with my 4x5 cameras (was a Tachihara and now a Linhof Tech V) but it definitely isn’t enough for 8x10. You have to factor in the weight of the film holders and the leverage a dark cloth will have over the head/legs. I use a 3 series Gitzo for my 8x10 instead, no complaints there. I suppose you could get away with a super light 8x10 like an Intrepid though.

.Your first hand experience is very useful to know. And that your traveler holds the Tech V steady should mean that a 8-9 pound weight is fine on those legs. What is the longest lens that you have used with this setup successfully?

[sanchak]

Thanks Chris, Vaughn and Audii. I will look into a cord and a long enough bag to transfer vibrations to the ground.

[sanchak]

With light tripods... from time to time place a toy laser pointer in the front standard, it will tell you the vibration, the wind effect and the time you have to wait since you insert the holder until vibration stops

So I have done this for close subjects. The thing with distant subjects is that it becomes hard to observe or track the motion of the spot. So the way I do it now is to put on a longish lens, start up live view and magnify to the max and observe how much the image moves. With the aluminium there is a fair bit of ringing visible for distant subjects and a 200mm focal length. But it will be an interesting exercise to do it with the LF gear at close range and extrapolate the results to long distances. Thanks.

[lcpr]

.Your first hand experience is very useful to know. And that your traveler holds the Tech V steady should mean that a 8-9 pound weight is fine on those legs. What is the longest lens that you have used with this setup successfully?

The longest I've used on that setup is a 210mm, I do have a 300mm but that's more for my 8x10. I also use the 1542+P0 with my Pentax 67 kit and I use the 200mm on that quite regularly.

[seezee]

Nah. Assuming you're photographing in a place where driving a tent stake into the ground isn't prohibited, a much better solution is to carry a tent stake and a stout piece of cord, and run the cord from the hook on the bottom of the center column through the hole in the tent stake, pulling firmly upward on it to compress the tripod against the ground for each exposure.

Brilliant!