Carbon Fiber Tripod for 8x10

Hi all,

Wading into the tripod conversation: I’ve got a Sinar Norma, and currently use an old aluminum Gitzo, which is plenty sturdy but both heavy and miserable to use in the cold. I’m looking at the Gitzo offerings, and my first question is whether or not a series 3 can support the Norma, or if I should bite the bullet and go for the larger series 5? I know the FLM tripods are very popular on here, but I’ve never seen one in person—how does the build quality compare? I suppose the CP38-L4 would be the one I’d want.

I’m hoping to be able to hike farther with my camera—I’m not looking for a wooden tripod as I’m hoping to lighten my load, not increase it. (And to that end, will probably update my camera in the next couple of years, too.) Thanks!

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Originally Posted by MCohn

Hi all,

Wading into the tripod conversation: I’ve got a Sinar Norma, and currently use an old aluminum Gitzo, which is plenty sturdy but both heavy and miserable to use in the cold. I’m looking at the Gitzo offerings, and my first question is whether or not a series 3 can support the Norma, or if I should bite the bullet and go for the larger series 5? I know the FLM tripods are very popular on here, but I’ve never seen one in person—how does the build quality compare? I suppose the CP38-L4 would be the one I’d want.

I’m hoping to be able to hike farther with my camera—I’m not looking for a wooden tripod as I’m hoping to lighten my load, not increase it. (And to that end, will probably update my camera in the next couple of years, too.) Thanks!

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I have worked with a myriad of tripods over the years including Gitzo, Ries, Linhof, Manfretto, Majestic with my 8x10, 8x20 and 11x14. I can honestly say that once I started hiking it was only then that I appreciated the lower weight, the functionality and the capacity of the line of FLM tripods. They have an internal pressure relief valve that makes set up a breeze and lock down solid quickly. As a result I ditched my Gitzo and have two FLM's. Although I do not know what the weight of a Sinar Norman camera tips the scale at, I would think that it is possible to drop down a model number in the FLM line and do the CP34-L4II (which I have and use with my 32# Deardorff V11) and have no problems with it at all and it would save you some $. Talk to Ari on this forum as he is the Canada FLM distributor.

I use a Gitzo series 3 with three leg sections for an Arca Swiss F-Line that I can configure for both 4x5 and 8x10. I think that the series 3 is O.K. for the 8x10. I don't know how this would translate for a Sinar Norma. A few months ago, I decided to get an additional tripod, and in carbon fibre was leaning toward a series 4 if not a 5. In the end, I wound up with a wooden tripod so didn't have to make a decision about carbon fibre.

Ben Horne has both a series 3 and a series 5 for his Arca Swiss 8x10 F-Line. You might find it helpful to see what he says about this. His comments sound about right to me: https://www.benhorne.com/tripods-heads Horne might also discuss the issue in one of his YouTube videos.

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Originally Posted by Michael Kadillak

Talk to Ari on this forum as he is the Canada FLM distributor.

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I think that he's the distributor for both Canada and the U.S. I'm not keen on tripods with more than three leg sections, and my reservation about FLM is that they don't appear to make a 3-section tripod. If I can ask, what's your view on that in relation to FLM?

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Originally Posted by r.e.

I think that he's the distributor for both Canada and the U.S. I'm not keen on tripods with more than three leg sections, and my reservation about FLM is that they don't appear to make a 3-section tripod. If I can ask, what's your view on that in relation to FLM?

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I pulled my CP34-L4II tripod out of the closet and it surely is a three section tripod (ie three leg sections with compression tighteners) so I am a bit confused about your question. What I like about the FLM tripods is 1) the sections open and close very quickly because of the designed pressure relief valve that the Gitzo does not have and 2) the tightening collars are just superior to the Gitzo. They are just quicker and easier to engage than the Gitzo in addition to being much higher.

I’m currently planning on getting the Arca Swiss, so this is very helpful! Thank you! I’d seen Horne’s post—I might reach out to him directly.

I have my 8 x 10 Linhof on a very lightweight video tripod and it's quite sturdy - I like the half-bowl leveler. I've got my M679 on a Gitzo 3 CF - it's fine - small but quite heavy camera. I think if I were to get another tripod it would be an FLM. Talk to Ari - he knows the products and he's a straight shooter.

Leofoto.

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Originally Posted by Michael Kadillak

I pulled my CP34-L4II tripod out of the closet and it surely is a three section tripod (ie three leg sections with compression tighteners) so I am a bit confused about your question..

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I'm attaching a screen capture from FLM's US website called "Tripod Buying Guide". See the first horizontal column called "Leg Sections". They are all 4 or 5 sections. Anyway, my understanding is that FLM will customise to a degree. Ari is certainly helpful.

Attachment 244248

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Originally Posted by MCohn

I’m currently planning on getting the Arca Swiss, so this is very helpful! Thank you! I’d seen Horne’s post—I might reach out to him directly.

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I expect that he'd be happy to discuss it. You could also contact John Sanderson via personal message or his website. John also uses an 8x10 Arca Swiss, but I don't know which tripod he's using at the moment. This is his website: https://www.john-sanderson.com

I have purchased several Chinese carbon fibre tripods and the quality is excellent and their price is a fraction of the others. Of the Chinese brands, Leofoto is the most expensive; I have a couple of Innorel tripods and they are almost as good but half the price. Another that I have experience with is Artcise; these and many other brands seem to be cosmetic variations of the same product, possibly out of the same factory.

For 8x10 I'd recommend a tripod with either 40mm or 42mm top leg diameter. These are the Innorel RT90C (40mm) and Innorel ST424C (42mm). Both have 4 section legs, both have optional centre columns if that's your thing, both can take half-bowls or flat plates, so there are a heap of options. A novelty of the ST424C is that one leg unscrews to become a monopod, I haven't used it that way yet.

Regarding heads: here it gets difficult and expensive. I have a Luland version of the Ries head which cost more than the ST424C tripod it sits on. It's great, but I'd really like a pan plate on the top. Otherwise a big ball head or geared cube or whatever, to taste.

Innorel RT90C tripod on Aliexpress

I cannot find a link to ST424C but there is another tripod, the KT404C, with 40mm leg in a "compact" design: flat plate only, no bowl or centre column.

Innorel KT404C tripod on Aliexpress

I have no affiliation, get no commissions etc, but am a happy customer.

Note that when buying, read the descriptions very carefully and check exactly what you're getting. I just saw a BEXIN ST424C tripod which infers it's a 42mm 4-section leg tripod, but is in fact a variation of the Innorel RT90C 40mm leg tripod.

CP34 L4II tripod from FLM will do the job. I rarely use all four sections because it is so tall plus I get some height from the 3 way head I use. 2.5 sections is where I tend to use it, but have used it fully extended with no problems even on my 5x12. If you don't want a head, get the leveling ball option and put a large quick release system on it. Another advantage of the long legs, when you are shooting on a slope you can drop one or two legs down the hill for more stability. I use it with spiked feet 99% of the time.

Talk to Ari, knowledgeable and FLM makes a great product. I use the CP38-L4 II for 8x10, couldn't be happier

Ditto

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Originally Posted by Bob Wagner

Talk to Ari, knowledgeable and FLM makes a great product. I use the CP38-L4 II for 8x10, couldn't be happier

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Originally Posted by Michael Kadillak

I pulled my CP34-L4II tripod out of the closet and it surely is a three section tripod (ie three leg sections with compression tighteners) so I am a bit confused about your question. What I like about the FLM tripods is 1) the sections open and close very quickly because of the designed pressure relief valve that the Gitzo does not have and 2) the tightening collars are just superior to the Gitzo. They are just quicker and easier to engage than the Gitzo in addition to being much higher.

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HA! Learned that my tripod has a whole other dimension than I previously either was not aware of or did not use. Four sections instead of three. Every day we learn something new.

Many years ago, I bought a Dutch Hill carbon fiber tripod that looks more like a surveyor's tripod vs a typical camera tripod. I originally used it with my Pentax 67, but some years ago I bought a Gitzo G1570M head to go on it and this setup easily handles my 8x10 Deardorff with any heavy lens attached to the camera. Within the past couple of months, I replaced the Gitzo head with a Luland LD115 (a Ries A250 knockoff) because the quick release system makes it so much easier to mount/dismount a heavy camera. Anyway, thought I'd offer up an idea totally different from the mainstream.

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Originally Posted by Vaughan

I have purchased several Chinese carbon fibre tripods and the quality is excellent and their price is a fraction of the others. ...

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One still needs to be wary. I bought a small CF tripod, Chinese made, here on the forum. "Pro Photo" "Pro Gold" Model PT024. It is okay so far, but the rubber on the knobs can self-destruct. Holds up the Rolleicord.

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Originally Posted by MCohn

I’m hoping to be able to hike farther with my camera—I’m not looking for a wooden tripod as I’m hoping to lighten my load, not increase it.

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There's a British, Paris-trained photographer named Christopher Broadbent who lives and works in Italy. An art gallery in Venice has several examples of his work on the following page: https://www.bugnoartgallery.com/christopher-broadbent/ If you do a Google image search, you'll find more examples.

Chris, who is now 87, used to participate in this forum. He shared examples of his commercial work for high-end clients and his distinctive personal still lifes. According to the gallery, he didn't hold a personal exhibition until 2013.

Chris doesn't use a tripod head. He levels from his tripod legs. That saves a lot of weight and bulk, and he contended that it is just as efficient as using a head. He and I exchanged several personal messages about this. He successfully convinced me to abandon a tripod head for a combination of levelling from the legs and a levelling base. I took his advice, and haven't regretted it. These days, I also use a Blackmagic cinema camera. I use a Miller fluid head with that camera, and sometimes with my large format camera, but that's another story.

I might add that a Gitzo levelling base is a lot cheaper than a good tripod head, is so simple that there's nothing to go wrong and require repair, and that 75mm half bowls for Systematic tripods are all the same*, including some that are a lot cheaper than Gitzo's.

* Gitzo's Systematic specifications are complied with by most major tripod manufacturers. Novoflex tripods may be an exception.

Christopher Broadbent
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Further to the above post... Sorry for taking this off-topic a bit, but this is cool. At 87, Christopher Broadbent's website is active, with "New Prints for 2024". I like the photograph of his studio.

https://cbroadbent.net

The Harold Luntz Gallery in Palm Beach also represents him, and offers this biographical sketch and appreciation at https://www.holdenluntz.com/artists/...her-broadbent/:

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English born photographic artist Christopher Broadbent’s body of work is focused on capturing mood in romantic still lifes. He stages his pictures carefully, and pays the utmost attention to detail in artistic composition and technical execution. His photographs are carefully lit with natural light using long exposure as a tool to increase drama and dynamic range. Broadbent has a strong background in film. He studied cinematography and photography in Paris a the Institut des Hautes Etudes Cinèmatographiques (IDHEC), and secured an early career in Rome shooting documentaries. From there, he moved to Milan to direct commercials. But as many artists do, Christopher grew, matured, and changed. By the eighties, he found tremendous success shooting editorial and advertising pictures for which he won numerous awards and tackled campaigns in both Italy and America. It was a niche that would inform his current work and give him a stronger foundation.

It is a cinematic experience to view the work of Christopher Broadbent. Time seems to slow down and unfold in a single frame perfectly capturing how a flower droops and light from a window fades. His pictures lengthen the moment before a table is cleared as a solemn ode to the closing of the day. These images are calm and romantic in a way that asks the viewer to reminisce and hear the echo of laughter from departed company. They have a strong sense of culture and elegance and elevate classical genres to new heights. The selection of objects are humble and honest and appear more as memories than they do real things. Christopher’s work excels at making the viewer pause and be thankful for beauty in a transient sense, but reminds us it is easily found if we take a moment to look.

Christopher currently lives and works in Milan, most recently exhibiting at Locandina Senigallia 2021-22, “Rimasto nell’Ombra” 2022 Palazzo Baviera, Senigallia, and “What’s Left” 2021 Palazzo Parasi, Cannobio.

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Thank you for sharing the link to about Christopher Broadbent; a delightful surprise to become aware of him, and see some of his images. And to realize he’s still doing such photography at 87 was inspiring.

Thanks for the info about Christopher. I’ve missed him and his work here.

I have a 3-series Gitzo with an Arca ball head that I use for medium format and smaller—mostly Pentax 645Z and 67. It’s light and stiff and if there are tripods with easier or quicker leg collars, buy them. It was expensive even preowned. I’d be happy using it for my 4x5 Sinar F or P on a Sinar tilt head. I might want something stiffer for an 8x10 on a windy day, but sans wind it would be fine.

My Sinars current live on large and heavy Manfrotto legs, but I certainly don’t carry that stuff far.

I’ve never handled FLM so I can’t speak to a comparison. The Gitzo legs fit in a checked bag if I pop off the ball head, which is quick and easy to do. A Ries won’t do that, but I’d certainly consider one as an alternative to the Manfrotto legs.

Rick “liking the maintainability of Gitzo” Denney

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Originally Posted by Lachlan 717

Leofoto.

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Have to agree with Lachlan here, I have a Leophoto tripod that cost under $300 that gives a Really Right Stuff a run for the money at $600 to $700 less.

I guess I’m in the minority here. I bought a RRS TVC-34L used. Still cost more than imported tripods are new but I have never regretted the purchase. Tripod works great and I would spend the money again given the same choice.

Yes, thank you for sharing Christopher's work! It's lovely.

And I appreciate all the feedback. It seems if I were to go with a Gitzo a series three might be marginal. Rick, your mention of maintainability raises a good point: I'll have to ask Ari what kind of support/parts there are in the US in case something needs replacing or repair. Because I'm wary of gear that I can't fix. As much as I love my old cameras, I don't enjoy being out of luck/having to scour eBay for replacements when something goes awry.

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Originally Posted by WBYonder

I guess I’m in the minority here. I bought a RRS TVC-34L used. Still cost more than imported tripods are new but I have never regretted the purchase. Tripod works great and I would spend the money again given the same choice.

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I have the same tripod as you and it is indeed an excellent, excellent tripod. Just saying that the Leofoto equivalent is pretty good at a very reduced price. Oh, I still use the RRS tripod and carry the RRS on my photo trips, but I tend to pull it out the Leofoto as it gives me another foot or so of height which comes in handy at times.

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Originally Posted by r.e.

There's a British, Paris-trained photographer named Christopher Broadbent... He successfully convinced me to abandon a tripod head for a combination of levelling from the legs and a levelling base.

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I second this, a panorama quick release base on a half bowl levelling thingy is light, compact and sturdy. The ONLY limitation is when there is a need to adjust the camera angle to significantly more than 15 or 20 degrees, say when doing macro work from a high viewpoint, or when rise or fall is insufficient. For these cases something like the Reis/Liland or a ball heard are better suited.

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Originally Posted by Jim Becia

Have to agree with Lachlan here, I have a Leophoto tripod that cost under $300 that gives a Really Right Stuff a run for the money at $600 to $700 less.

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Could you please share exact model of Leofoto and setup which are you using? Thanks a lot.

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Originally Posted by notorius

Could you please share exact model of Leofoto and setup which are you using? Thanks a lot.

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The model that I have is LS-324CL. It's a very nice tripod for the money.

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Originally Posted by notorius

Could you please share exact model of Leofoto and setup which are you using? Thanks a lot.

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LM-404CL with an Acratech head.

Also have the Manfrotto MT057C4-G that has a Majestic head on it. I use this for 8x10 and 7x17.

Might swap the heads, now I think of it…

Attachment 244400

Attachment 244401

I've obviously preached going "headless" for large format work for a long time. But if I did need something relatively stable in between the tripod platform and the camera bed itself, those half-ball leveling devices make a lot of sense, in the field, at least.

While I tend to prefer solid maple Ries tripods in general, I wisely acquired one of the beefiest Feisol CF's as an alternative solution for 8x10 on longer walks, and for sake of advancing age. These are Chinese made, but quite well so.
Having sold domestic survey tripods, and seen horrific Chinese knockoffs of those, there is no shortage of my complaints on that front; but that doesn't mean things made in China are inherently substandard. Take, for example, Chamonix cameras. Even Nikon optical builder's auto-levels are made in China, but according to tight specifications. So it all depends on the intended market, and who authorized the manufacture. And I've been entirely satisfied with the Feisol brand product. On the other hand, I have seen leg failures in current Gitzo CF's, which I've never encountered in my older Gitzo CF, the original CF version of the Reporter tripod series (suitable for MF and 4x5, but not 8x10).
So it all depends.

In any event, if I were still shopping for one, I'd want to test it in person with my own camera, and demand a right of return if it didn't work out. Going by mere paper specs and alleged duty weight ratings doesn't cut it.

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Originally Posted by Jim Becia

The model that I have is LS-324CL. It's a very nice tripod for the money.

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I have many Gitzo's, both aluminum and carbon fiber. They're all gathering dust, though. I use the LS-324CL for everything from digital to 8x10. I love the increased height available over my other tripods.

I highly recommend the Feisol 3372L tripod legs, which is the long version of my Feisol 3372. Really beefy legs and lightweight.

Here are the specs:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...ING.html/specs

The 3372L is the long version of my 3372 and weighs 4.8 lbs. (Mine weighs 3.9 lbs.) Kerry Thalmann carried these, and he sold me some of his last remaining stock. (So glad that he did.) Either has a maximum capacity of 66 lbs. I've used mine with a Deardorff 8x10 with no problem at all. I was at a Sexton workshop, when Sexton considerately suggested that I use the upper segments versus the lower segments of my tripod legs for improved stability. But the fact was, my lower segments were more beefy than the upper segments of his Gitzo CF tripod. So, I had all the stability that I needed.

I use my Feisol 3372 with an Arca D4 head which, although expensive, is a terrific combination. The two together weigh 5.7 lbs; the D4 has a maximum capacity of 75 lbs.

The Feisol 3472(L) has four leg segments (versus only 3), and it's possible to purchase this tripod with a leveling head. But with mine, I keep it simple. Besides, my D4 head has leveling capability.

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Originally Posted by neil poulsen

I highly recommend the Feisol 3372L tripod legs, which is the long version of my Feisol 3372. Really beefy legs and lightweight.

Here are the specs:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...ING.html/specs

The 3372L is the long version of my 3372 and weighs 4.8 lbs. (Mine weighs 3.9 lbs.) Kerry Thalmann carried these, and he sold me some of his last remaining stock. (So glad that he did.) Either has a maximum capacity of 66 lbs. I've used mine with a Deardorff 8x10 with no problem at all. I was at a Sexton workshop, when Sexton considerately suggested that I use the upper segments versus the lower segments of my tripod legs for improved stability. But the fact was, my lower segments were more beefy than the upper segments of his Gitzo CF tripod. So, I had all the stability that I needed.

I use my Feisol 3372 with an Arca D4 head which, although expensive, is a terrific combination. The two together weigh 5.7 lbs; the D4 has a maximum capacity of 75 lbs.

The Feisol 3472(L) has four leg segments (versus only 3), and it's possible to purchase this tripod with a leveling head. But with mine, I keep it simple. Besides, my D4 head has leveling capability.

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I’m just going to say that the D4 is an excellent geared head but it definitely cannot handle 75 lbs unless it’s perfectly vertical (no roll/pitch). So that’s a bit of a deceiving spec (that Arca Swiss advertises). Otherwise it will yield. I find it can handle a light 8x10 fine, but if the camera/lens combo approaches 20-25 lbs or more… well, just don’t try if you don’t want to cry. For such heavier cameras, a Gitzo 1570M is the way to go (even if you give up the geared control). Or you can go down to a 1370M if it’s less than ~20 lbs.

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Originally Posted by Kiwi7475

I’m just going to say that the D4 is an excellent geared head but it definitely cannot handle 75 lbs unless it’s perfectly vertical (no roll/pitch). So that’s a bit of a deceiving spec (that Arca Swiss advertises). . . .

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Not surprising. I wondered about that spec as well. But, I would be comfortable using this head with a light-weight 8x10. I have a light 8x10, and the two work well together.

It is indeed a geared head; but releasing the friction locks, it operates effectively as a ball head as well. That's one of the reasons I sprang for this head.

I use it primarily with my 4x5 Arca hybrid camera, my Mamiya Universal Press, and 35mm film and digital cameras.

My Feisol for 8X10 usage is a CT 3472. The 3372 seems just too light 8x10 (my 8x10 is a Phillips folder). And center columns? -anathema. I remove those.