ULF Dolly

[jurgenestanislao]

Hello,

I am currently shooting with a 14x17 Wisner on a Ries tripod. Quite often I use the same camera for still life images indoors.

I was wondering what dollies are out there that can carry this weight and could work well with the Ries tripod.

I believe this will make it easier for me to move the camera in my studio.

Jurgen

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

[Vaidotas]

Linhof made a dolly for their heavy duty tripods, I can’t imagine too much load for these.

[Tin Can]

Movie gear

I have Linhof. Way too rare.

[Greg]

I have Linhof. Way too rare.

Rare yes but very much worth looking for and seeking out. IMO: Linhof cameras are very rarely to be found as bargains (though I did once find and buy a circa 1960?s 5x7 Technika for $195 at a local multi dealer antique store). But Linhof tripod equipment can be had at bargain prices. I've acquired two Linhof Heavy Duty tripods (one with center column and Pro Pan head) over the years for around $200.00 each. I did pass up on a Linhof Dolly that was also FS for well under $200. I no longer did indoor studio photography, so it would have just taken up valuable space in my Condo at the time. I did once use a Linhof De Luxe Geared Dolly with an 8x10 Kardan Color and it was an absolute pleasure to use in my studio at the time. I encourage the OP to actively seek one out.

[Peter De Smidt]

There are wheeled dollies that you can attach your tripod too. It wouldn't be hard to DIY one. Other options are: getting a studio stand, using a wheeled cart, using a sturdy table.....

There are a couple of problems. First, there's getting the camera into position. Wheels make this easy, which is good for getting the camera into position, but it's bad as it's easy to move the camera out of position. So it's good to be able to lock the stand in place, and there's various ways of doing that. Second, there's changing the height of the camera. With heavy cameras, this can be a real pain. Having a geared column or lift greatly helps. Or you can simply have a set height and adjust your subject to match.

If you have space, a studio stand, like an old Century Centennial Stand, an Agfa 8x10 stand, or similar, is ideal. They're not too big, and they're easy to move around. Plus, they look nice.

[Tracy Storer]

I have used a Bogen (now Manfrotto) dolly for many years for 14x17. The one I use is the Manfrotto 181 Folding Auto Dolly. It will add to your minimum height though.
I used one of these same dollys for a Wisner 20x24, but the limited leg spacing made the camera too tall, no worries, I cut the legs of the Ries tripod shorter to suit my needs.
Height changes are a pain as others have pointed out...., but this dolly has rubber straps to captivate the legs, so, it CAN be done.

https://www.manfrotto.com/us-en/automatic-folding-dolly-181/

[Daniel Stone]

A 4x4 sheet of 3/4 hi-grade plywood and 3 3-4" casters from Home Depot would be perfect for making a dolly from. You can cut it into a triangular shape if you should wish to limit the weight and/or extra bits sticking out.
Larger size casters will roll easier, and you can drill holes in that same triangular(120* between lines radiating from center) pattern. If you need a larger "spread" then making a larger platform can be done as well.

If you're looking for an off-the-shelf option, there are the older Bogen studio bases that work with most tripods.

-Dan

[r.e.]

I was wondering what dollies are out there that can carry this weight and could work well with the Ries tripod.



The footprint of a Ries tripod is variable, but what's the footprint the way that you plan to use it indoors? Put differently, what dolly platform dimensions would you need?

[brucetaylor]

I agree with Mr. Can. Movie gear- high quality ones are inexpensive used and they will usually have some type of strap arrangement to hold the tripod feet secure as well as wheel locks. I have the heavy duty Linhof tripod and dolly, but I find them awkward in a smaller studio space.

[r.e.]

I gather that this is the Linhof dolly that some are talking about:

229461

[Tin Can]

Yup!

My dolly was in Michigan

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51599491838_e5fa28ab9c_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/gp/tincancollege/260048HwE4)Big Boy Linhof 8X10 1 of 3 (https://www.flickr.com/gp/tincancollege/260048HwE4) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50831570032_5acbeb9c7a_z.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/gp/tincancollege/64w50w19vS)Linhof Kardon 5X7 with Linhof tipod and dolly (https://www.flickr.com/gp/tincancollege/64w50w19vS) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr



https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50830756508_acd74da945_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/gp/tincancollege/34HJ6B1C6G)Linhof 8X10 Kodak 405mm f4.5 Portrait lens (https://www.flickr.com/gp/tincancollege/34HJ6B1C6G) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

[r.e.]

The tripod dolly design that Tracey Storer talks about in post #6 is for still photographers who want to roll their camera around on a smooth floor. Well-made versions of this design aren't cheap. The one that he uses sells for just under US$500.

Some of the posts above refer to dollies used in film production. Filmmakers use dollies to make shots in which the camera moves. Outfitted with wheels appropriate for the surface, the dolly can be used directly on a floor or pavement, but often it's outfitted with longboard wheels* and runs on a track made of steel or PVC pipe. Off the shelf, these dollies are expensive. For that reason, there are a lot of discussions on the internet, and several videos on YouTube, about making your own. Basically, you need a plywood platform that's thick enough for the weight of the tripod and camera, and large enough for the diameter of the extended tripod legs. Add wheels (for still photography, ones that can lock) and a handle to push and pull the dolly around.

This 2010 YouTube video by Tom Antos may give you a few ideas:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa9qsy3i2Es

* Longboard wheels are larger, have more give and are quieter than standard skateboard wheels.

[Tin Can]

30 years ago I bought a Sachtler 150mm bowl wood tripod and a great dolly with 6' wheels

Huge, perfect

Garage sale $15

Sachtler (https://www.sachtler.com/en/sachtler/products/tripods/c-26/c-83)

No not LA, Illinois

I didn't know what is was, but sure seemed a bargain

I finally found a cheap bowl head adapter to fit

Nasty spikes and dolly is very wide with 6" wheels that lock 2 ways

[r.e.]

I think that Jurgen might also be able to accomplish his objective with a well-made light stand on wheels that can be locked (a roller stand) and that ends in a 3/8" screw to which a tripod head can be attached. I'm thinking in particular about a Low Boy Stand with a large footprint for stability. Assuming that he doesn't need to go really low, this would give him good control over height and excellent mobility. It's also a relatively inexpensive option, especially used.

He'd need a tripod head that can pan and tilt and the usual saddlebags to weigh down the stand's legs.

Below is a Matthews Junior Low Boy (https://www.msegrip.com/products/low-boy-junior-double-riser-rolling). The footprint is 1.5m. Minimum height is 1m. Maximum height is 2m. Weighs 6kg. Maximum load is 25kg. There are many variations on this theme, and a number of companies make stands that are cheaper than what Matthews and Avenger sell. For example, check what Kupo offers, or in the US B&H's house brand Impact. Just do a search for "roller stand". Pretty easy to find stands like this used as well.

This is a "Combo stand", meaning that there's both a Junior female receiver (diameter 1 1/8") and a pop-up 5/8" pin at the top. For this application, I would use the Junior receiver with a male pin that ends in a 3/8" screw.

229462

[Tin Can]

Depends

I have 3 leveling c-stands with Junior pin adapters and Baby

Great for lighting, but not for camera stand

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Avenger%20Light%20Stands&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&ap=Y&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_viWBhD8ARIsAH1mCd5cgn-0_nqR26XFPrfgRVaJLuqDPMcD3Wbb9yYy6x7WfxZS7GnpdH4aAqJDEALw_wcB

[r.e.]

Depends

I have 3 leveling c-stands with Junior pin adapters and Baby

Great for lighting, but not for camera stand

I'm not talking about a C-Stand, which I would not use for this.

I'm talking about a robust stand with three proper legs, and a wide footprint, on wheels.

[Tin Can]

Show and Tell

Time



I'm not talking about a C-Stand, which I would not use for this.

I'm talking about a robust stand with three proper legs, and a wide footprint, on wheels.

[r.e.]

Further to post #14, this is a Kupo video on its "High Roller Stand". This stand is similar to the Matthews in post #14, except with three rather than two risers. This means that it has greater maximum height, although this particular stand goes much higher than Jurgen is likely to need. Note what the presenter says at 1:50 about lowering the risers to create a fourth point of contact with the floor/ground:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5fnQtFsbgA

[Peter De Smidt]

I used to use a Junior rolling stand as a camera stand back when I had a small studio, but I didn't try it with a big camera.

[Tin Can]

I want one but don’t need it

I have wall booms for studio flash

next life



Further to post #14, this is a Kupo video on its "High Roller Stand". This stand is similar to the Matthews in post #14, except with three rather than two risers. This means that it has greater maximum height, although this particular stand goes much higher than Jurgen is likely to need. Note what the presenter says at 1:50 about lowering the risers to create a fourth point of contact with the floor/ground:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5fnQtFsbgA

[r.e.]

This Kessler Crane part (https://kesslercrane.com/products/3-8-16-to-female-baby-male-junior-pin-adapter) would fit the Junior receiver and has a 3/8" thread at the other end. A version of this with a plate may be available off the shelf. If not, I don't imagine that it would be unreasonably expensive to have one made:

229464


EDIT: What gives me pause about pop-up Baby Pins on Combo stands is that the Baby Pin is offset from centre. However, some stands with the general design shown in post #14 and #18 terminate directly in a 5/8" Baby Pin. I think that these are a possibility, although note that their footprint is smaller than stands that terminate in a Junior receiver, a bit over 1m instead of 1.5m. Female Baby Pins terminating in a 3/8" thread are readily available.

[Peter De Smidt]

I have a Kupo part that goes from Junior receiver to a 3/8" camera stud. It wasn't expensive. Let's see: Kupo KS-097 Unscrew the knob, and the adapter fits a junior stand receiver. I really like using the junior stand with full frame digital. I'm a little leery of using it for a heavy camera....but maybe with a little bracing it'd be ok. The advantage over a real studio stand is that it can be broken down quickly, and they are more compact to store.

[r.e.]

I have a Kupo part that goes from Junior receiver to a 3/8" camera stud. It wasn't expensive. Let's see: Kupo KS-097 Unscrew the knob, and the adapter fits a junior stand receiver. I really like using the junior stand with full frame digital. I'm a little leery of using it for a heavy camera....but maybe with a little bracing it'd be ok. The advantage over a real studio stand is that it can be broken down quickly, and they are more compact to store.

Turns out Kupo and Matthews both make Junior receiver to 3/8" thread adapters with a plate. Not only that, B&H at the top of the second screen capture reminds me that I purchased the Matthews in June of last year :)

Kupo:

229467


Matthews:

229468

[r.e.]

With one caveat, I wouldn't have reservations about mounting a 14x17 camera on a steel stand that has a 1.5m (5') diameter footprint. I don't know what the specs are on the Wisner, but the Chamonix 14x17 is a bit under 11kg (24lb). The Chamonix is lighter and less bulky than some of the filmmaking lights that require a Junior receiver, and way under the weight capacity of these stands.

My caveat is that I'd want the Junior pin terminating in a 3/8" thread to be made of steel (the Kupo and Matthews pins are aluminium), and I'd be happier if there was a plate under the tripod head. If this isn't available off the shelf, I imagine that Modern Studio or S.K. Grimes would make it to order, but a local source would probably be cheaper.

It would be interesting to know whether Hugo Zhang has a suggestion. According to the Chamonix website, their next shipment of 14x17 cameras is next month.

In post #6, Tracey Storer says that he's using, and is happy with, the Manfrotto with his 14x17. There's something to be said for a proven solution :)

[Peter De Smidt]

You can add castors to something like this: https://kupogrip.com/kupo-short-3-sct-wind-up-stand/

For a big camera, I'd add an adjustable strut from the leg pointed at the subject to the camera platform.

[Leszek Vogt]

Just saw Proaim dolly, which suppose to support 1000 lbs or 500Kg (as per specs) and for about 1/2 the price of Manfrotto.

[r.e.]

Just saw Proaim dolly, which suppose to support 1000 lbs or 500Kg (as per specs) and for about 1/2 the price of Manfrotto.

Proaim has a few interesting takes on the tripod dolly: https://www.proaim.ca/collections/tripod-dolly

For those who aren't familiar with Proaim, it's a company just outside Vancouver, British Columbia. It makes filmmaking gear and has been expanding rapidly in the last few years. I think that it has production facilities in India, which might explain how it's able to be quite competitive on price.

[Tin Can]

As I recall dollys are limited by doorway size

Some like to roll the camera through a door

I have set up roller trac and pushed a dolly while a naked lady emoted

[Leszek Vogt]

Proaim has a few interesting takes on the tripod dolly: https://www.proaim.ca/collections/tripod-dolly

For those who aren't familiar with Proaim, it's a company just outside Vancouver, British Columbia. It makes filmmaking gear and has been expanding rapidly in the last few years. I think that it has production facilities in India, which might explain how it's able to be quite competitive on price.

No true way of knowing, but aren't items made in China and then assembled by Manfrotto in Italy in the same configuration ? Except they don't relent the 'competitive price'. Indeed, global economy is fun to watch.....and I don't wish to say more, since it tends to kill the thread (pol.....) as it involves governments and business.

[Dugan]

How about using the chassis from a dead lawnmower?