Schiansky Kino-Neiger 430 tripod

[Tom J McDonald]

Does anyone know anything about this thing? I've heard it was built by Linhof in the 1960s but that's all I know. I've been looking for a heavy tripod for a 4x5 monorail camera for a while now and am in a position to get this without spending too much or travelling too far.

Just interested if anyone knows if it's suitable for 4x5. I have to travel to get it so not able to check it beforehand.

I think it looks like this:http://www.seriema.net/sell/hasselblad/thumb/DSC07180.JPG

[Vaughn]

The legs look more like Gitzo...in fact I am 99.9% sure -- but it is missing the rubber bit on the part one unscrews to loosen the column.

[Tom J McDonald]

OK, so do you know anything about the Gitzo?
Is it good enough for 4x5?

[Mark Sampson]

'Kino' suggests cinema; that looks like a movie camera fluid head on an older Gitzo Studex leg set. Gitzos are as good as they get, quality-wise. You'll probably want to use a pan-tilt or ball head (heads are interchangeable on these), but the fluid head will do for starters.

[Tom J McDonald]

Excellent thanks for that tip Mark.
When you say interchangeable, are they interchangeable with more modern heads too?

[Vaughn]

Gitzos are great pods. I can not tell from the photo what size it is -- might be either the old 300 series (Studex as Mark suggests) or possibly the smaller Reporter series. The Studex would definitely hold a heavier 4x5, the Reporter would have no problem with a field 4x5, and could be used with the heavier rail 4x5's with some care.

Yes the heads are generally interchangeable -- depends on the size of the mounting screw on the pod and the corresponding female threads on the head...typically they are the same except for a few odd-ball heads.

As I mentioned, it is missing the rubber grip for where one loosens up the column to raise it and lock it in place (it goes over that real shiny part on the column). Does not make it unusuable -- just harder to do. Make sure the legs have all their rubbers.

[Tom J McDonald]

Vaughn,
When I was speaking to the dude on the phone he said it was hard for him to pick it up with one arm. He said fully folded up it's around 4ft long, if that gives you any clues.

I'll look at the rubber (the pic I showed isn't the actual tripod for sale).

Cheers for the advice.

Tom.

[Vaughn]

Sounds like a Studex then, if it looks the same as the photo. I think my Studex was about 5 pounds without the head, but there are heavier models with more features than the one pictured (legs spread further apart).
Good luck!

PS My ex-wife's family is in Comboyne -- between Uralla and Taree as the magpie flies! Nice part of the world!

[Tom J McDonald]

Thanks Vaughn, I'll post back here for closure's sake if I get it.

Yep it's a nice part of the world. I've never been to Comboyne before.

[Vaughn]

Measured my Studex here at home -- only 27" total length when folder (no head). My Reporter is only 25" long. If the pod he has is actually 4 feet long (even with the head), it might be the next size up -- which can hold an 8x10 or bigger. Which makes sense if it ever held up a big movie camera.

Yes, post a photo of the beast if you can!

Vaughn

[Frank Petronio]

Gitzos are divided into series 1-2-3-4-5 based on leg diameter, then you can get different length sections and usually 3 or 4 section models. Then the columns come in a variety of sizes and features (geared or friction). Heads are usually mounted on top of the column, they tapped for a 3/8-16 standard screw size. Most brands of still photo heads will work on the 3/8 size.

Film-video heads have other attachment methods. They can be usually but they are bulky and more complicated so most people swap them for a dedicated still-photo head.

Measure the maximum leg diameter, length, and number of sections and we can tell you which version of a Gitzo you have and what it can do and how much it is worth. Over the years Gitzo has had several confusing! naming schemes and it still messes with me but that is why we have Google....

[Tom J McDonald]

Great, thanks guys. I will check back next week. I think I will get it, if it's no good I'll re-sell it. It's only cheap, afterall.

[Robert Opheim]

I also think highly of Gitzo tripods and have a #3 (studex ) and a #4 giant one that goes up to 8 feet in height. Closed with the #5 low platform head it only measures just under 3 feet.

[Tom J McDonald]

Well in the end I wasn't able to get this tripod, so I'm still looking!

[Bob Salomon]

Schianski was a cometitor of Linhof tripods. This is not a Linhof made unit.

[Michael Wynd]

You might want to try getting a Manfrotto art 075 with a three way head like I have. It takes the 8x10 Tachihara with no problems, so you shouldn't have any with a 4x5 monorail. I had mine for nearly 30 years with no problems.
cheers
Mike