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Riccis
9-Feb-2011, 17:55
Ok, kids... So I finally got my hands on a Dorff and now I'm looking to buy a Ries tripod. I called them today asking for help selecting the right one and they were not helpful at all... So which one should I get, the A100 or A900?

Cheers!
Mark Sawyer
9-Feb-2011, 18:57
A-100. It's the classic, and for good reason. All of them are nice, but that's the one people think of when they hear "Ries". And in my mind, the short break-down of the 900 doesn't fit. The Ries is made to throw over your shoulder with the camera on it for short hikes, and the longer 100 does that better. If you're doing serious back-packing, you don't want either. The Ries is big, whichever you chose.

Just my own prejudices, though!
c.d.ewen
9-Feb-2011, 19:09
Riccis:

My V8 rides an A100, with no regrets.

If you go that route, read this thread (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=53847&highlight=ries) and pick up an excellent, cheap carrying bag for the Ries.

Charley
Riccis
9-Feb-2011, 19:29
Mark - I will be shooting people, and not doing any backpacking, so this will work.

Charley - Will do, thanks for the suggestion.

Thanks, guys!
Riccis
9-Feb-2011, 19:30
Oh, another question... Do I really need a head?

Cheers!
Ben Hopson
9-Feb-2011, 20:14
Oh, another question... Do I really need a head?

Cheers!

I think you will definitely find a head necessary. I have the A100 tripod, A250 head and Deardorff 8X10. Great combination.

Ben
c.d.ewen
10-Feb-2011, 07:54
Charley - Will do, thanks for the suggestion.

As Ben does, I use the A100, A250, V8 combo. Note that if you do pick up one of those bags, the head has to be tilted all the way for it to fit.

Charley
Mark Sawyer
10-Feb-2011, 08:19
You can "get by" without a head if you don't tilt the camera much. You can get little adjustments by moving a leg in or out, but bigger adjustments mean bending over a ways to adjust leg length. Having a head makes it much more convenient, and you can watch the ground glass as you adjust it.
John Kasaian
10-Feb-2011, 09:06
The A100 is a classic match for a 'dorff V8! The Ries head is extremely useful as well.
JosephBurke
10-Feb-2011, 11:13
The Ries heads are very nice and I have an A250 head but I prefer My Gitzo 1570M over the Ries head. If you wanted a J-Series Tripod I could hook you up with a nice one--and a head.
--Joe Burke
c.d.ewen
10-Feb-2011, 13:37
Riccia:

Be aware that the 'dorff uses a 1/4"-20 mounting screw. Heads commonly accept 3/8"-16 screws, so the A100 is usually provided with that. AIR, Ries will customize it anyway you wish, but if you subsequently want to mount a head, you'll need an adapter (cheap and widely available).

Charley
Riccis
10-Feb-2011, 19:38
The Ries heads are very nice and I have an A250 head but I prefer My Gitzo 1570M over the Ries head. If you wanted a J-Series Tripod I could hook you up with a nice one--and a head.
--Joe Burke

The J-Series is not suitable for an 8x10, correct?
Riccis
10-Feb-2011, 19:39
Riccia:

Be aware that the 'dorff uses a 1/4"-20 mounting screw. Heads commonly accept 3/8"-16 screws, so the A100 is usually provided with that. AIR, Ries will customize it anyway you wish, but if you subsequently want to mount a head, you'll need an adapter (cheap and widely available).

Charley

Thanks for the heads up.

Cheers!
Alan Gales
11-Feb-2011, 17:31
The J-Series is not suitable for an 8x10, correct?
Good Question!

I recently purchased a used Ries J100 with J250 double tilt head. Both the head and tripod are rated at 16lbs. Ries is very conservative with their ratings and their tripods and heads are known to hold more than they are rated at.

I have had a Wehman 8x10 on it and the J100 handled it with no problem. The Wehman weighed 8.7 lbs camera alone.

What does your Deardorff weigh? I'm guessing about 12 lbs plus your heaviest lens and a film holder.

The A100 is a fantastic tripod, that is until you have to pick it up. If you could get by with the J100 it would really save your back!

Has anyone out there had any experience using a J100 with a Deardorff V8?
Keith Fleming
11-Feb-2011, 21:33
I have a J 100-2, which has the J 100 yoke and the legs of an A 100, and Ries says it supports cameras up to 16 pounds. I use a J 250 double tilt head also, and Ries rates it for 16 pounds of camera. This combination has worked well with my Deardorff 8X10. Even so, the Ries A-series tripods and heads look great, but I'm just going with what I've got now.

Keith
Alan Gales
12-Feb-2011, 10:46
Thanks for your input, Keith!
Vaughn
12-Feb-2011, 11:20
I use an A100 and A250 head to help maintain my upper body strength. ;)

The pod also has to support a good proportion of my considerable body weight (along with the camera pack that would be 275lbs) while hiking/climbing. On my recent trip to Death Valley I had to use it many times to help lower myself (w/ pack on) down vertical drops (4' to 8') while photographing in narrow canyons. Probably not the recommended usage of the pod!LOL!