Peak Design Travel Tripod for LF?

[ruberretu]

I noticed that Peak Design features a 4x5 in the video for their new travel tripod:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/peak-design/travel-tripod-by-peak-design

It doesn't seem like this tripod is suitable for LF, but I have minimal experience with lightweight travel tripods and I've recently started shopping for one. How are they getting away with mounting an LF camera on a tripod this light? Would a counterweight be enough to compensate?

[Bob Salomon]

It isn’t. Most of that leg design is a copy of a light weight Giotto’s tripod design called the Bazooka. It also was no good for LF or, for that fact, mf.

[Peter Lewin]

I looked at the Peak tripod at the Photo Expo in NYC last year, with the same question in mind, and decided that it was not a good fit. Let me start off saying that I think Peak products are arguably the best designed on the market, and I use one of their backpacks for my “travel kit” of 4x5 equipment that fits under an aircraft seat. But specific to this tripod, the center column is of such small diameter that I wouldn’t trust it with my view camera, and the supplied head did not seem strong enough for view camera use. (These were visual impressions, I didn’t have a view camera to actually try on it.) Once you mount a more traditional view camera head, you start to lose the Peak design benefits of lightness and compactness. My own alternative is an FLM Traveler tripod with FLM’s 38mm ball head, which may not be quite as compact, but fits in my carry on luggage (not the backpack) and works well with my Canham 4x5.

[Drew Wiley]

I wouldn't consider it realistic for any kind of camera I ever use.

[ruberretu]

So is the FLM CP26 still the gold standard for travel tripods? Does anyone know the difference between the CP26 Series I and Series II?

[Pieter]

So is the FLM CP26 still the gold standard for travel tripods? Does anyone know the difference between the CP26 Series I and Series II?

The tripod review/testing site "The Center Column" gives high marks to Leofoto tripods, apparently Chinese clones of RRS. https://thecentercolumn.com/tripod-reviews/leofoto/leofoto-ls-284c-review/

[Drew Wiley]

I don't get the notion of novelty. I bought the very first CF tripod model offered : A Gitzo 3-ply Reporter; modified it to a platform top and threw away the useless center column. It fits in a regulation airline carry-on; so I guess that qualifies it to be a "travel tripod". Around 2-3/4 lbs as modified. Stronger than their current equivalent. That Leofoto looks like a Feisol clone. I have a large Feisol CF for sake of 8x10 and long MF telephoto work; but it's a bit too long for airline travel unless set in front of the cabin in its own provided bag, just like they let people do with golf clubs.

[jeroldharter]

I really hate ballheads for large format first of all. The ballhead is integrated on the PD travel tripod. You can get an optional kit to use your own head which I suspect would be heavier and make the tripod top heavy. About the only large format camera I could see on the PD tripod is a Gowland.

[Ken Lee]

What Jerold said !

One of the magical powers we get when using a tripod-mounted view camera is control of alignment and position along the X, Y and Z axes. Ball heads can make this much harder than other solutions.

We can save weight here and there when using a view camera, but where to lose features in exchange for portability is a personal decision. I personally prefer to exchange other features than careful position and alignment.

[Drew Wiley]

I classify ballheads as "wobbleheads". All of your probably know by now that I don't use any kind of head with view cameras, bolting them directly to the tripod top platform itself, and adjusting the legs as needed - intuitive after a bit of experience. But if I did choose a head, a ballhead option wouldn't ever make it to the list of possibilities. But with respect to saving weight you can have your cake and have it too by foregoing a head - lose its own weight, while at the same time achieving a more stable situation.

[Ari]

So is the FLM CP26 still the gold standard for travel tripods? Does anyone know the difference between the CP26 Series I and Series II?

Thanks for calling us the gold standard :)

The following changes were made to the FLM Series II CP26-Travel tripod in order to improve its stability while not making it too light or flimsy:

no center post
legs cannot fold backward
milled apex
last 2 leg sections at the bottom are thicker than before
re-designed leg angle locks
10x carbon fiber
re-designed rubber feet for better balance at all leg angles (with standard 3/8" mount)


There is also a new CP30-M5 Hybrid tripod coming out next month that I hope will hit a sweet spot for better-than-travel-tripod-stability and portability.

I hope that helps.

[Tin Can]

We look forward to 20.2.2020 new FLM products

[Corran]

I'm not a fan of ballheads either but I would like to try the PD tripod. Perhaps in a store or something.

My current favorite 4x5 tripod would be classified as much to small/flimsy for LF by most here but IMO it works fine...for me and the conditions I'm generally in. So perhaps the PD could work for me and give me an even lighter/smaller/more compact option.

[dodphotography]

I mean... ball heads work if you have the right one. A BH55 does the trick but it’s huge and expensive ... so yeah, there’s that.


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[dodphotography]

I'm not a fan of ballheads either but I would like to try the PD tripod. Perhaps in a store or something.

My current favorite 4x5 tripod would be classified as much to small/flimsy for LF by most here but IMO it works fine...for me and the conditions I'm generally in. So perhaps the PD could work for me and give me an even lighter/smaller/more compact option.

I assisted for someone once who had an 1114 drilled out Dorf on a series 2 gitzo.. the negs were sharp! So... yeah, people do crazy things and if it works it works!


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[Kiwi7475]

I mean... ball heads work if you have the right one. A BH55 does the trick but it’s huge and expensive ... so yeah, there’s that.


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+1

I use the BH55 and is rock solid. The ability to adjust all rotations adjusting the friction and then just lock it in is great and provides incredible versatility and speed.

It’s a bit heavy but I hike with it and my gitzo 3.

[esearing]

Giottos MH3000 never let me down even with big DSLR and 400mm lens, I even added a video 4" QR system for additional support and safety. But once I tried a lighter 3way head for LF I haven't gone back.