Need Sound Tripod Advice

[Andrew O'Neill]

This is something that I have avoided like the plague. Searching for and buying a light weight tripod, that will support my 8x10, and my "she ain't pretty she just looks that way" 14x17. For the past 30 years, I have been using a big, heavy Gitzo. I love it, but it's just too heavy for trudging in the bush (I'll be 60 next year ). It really is. Light weight means carbon fibre. No centre column. I'd love another Gitzo, but I'm not willing to lay down that much money. I know, I know... I'm cheap. What is out there? What are you using? Anyone have experience with those Chinese carbon fibre tripods? Thank you!!

[Tin Can]

I bought 2 FLM supports from a Canadian biz run by a member here, Ari

I have no regrets, German design Made in China

I like the 100mm bowl tops

https://www.flmcanada.com/

[Andrew O'Neill]

I bought 2 FLM supports from a Canadian biz run by a member here, Ari

I have no regrets, German design Made in China

I like the 100mm bowl tops

https://www.flmcanada.com/

Thank you! I'll check it out.

[Tin Can]

I bought this some years ago

I wanted tall for gimbal birding

https://www.flmcanada.com/product/fl...-l4-ii-tripod/

[Leszek Vogt]

Andrew, I have doubts that you can get around the cost. Top carbon-fiber tripods are Gitzo, ProMedia and RRS and neither of them are cheap. Forgot about Foba....and wouldn't mind seeing how this performs. FLM would be great if made in Germany. After 8yrs I'm still using Feisol, but I'm looking.....

[Bob Salomon]

Andrew, I have doubts that you can get around the cost. Top carbon-fiber tripods are Gitzo, ProMedia and RRS and neither of them are cheap. Forgot about Foba....and wouldn't mind seeing how this performs. FLM would be great if made in Germany. After 8yrs I'm still using Feisol, but I'm looking.....

Have you looked at the Novoflex TrioPod system? By far, the most versatile.

[Ari]

Andrew, I have doubts that you can get around the cost. Top carbon-fiber tripods are Gitzo, ProMedia and RRS and neither of them are cheap. Forgot about Foba....and wouldn't mind seeing how this performs. FLM would be great if made in Germany. After 8yrs I'm still using Feisol, but I'm looking.....

Les, the FLM tripods that were made in Germany were good tripods, but the ones made in China are superior to the German tripods by several orders of magnitude.
Much better QC and manufacturing consistency than the Germans ever had.
And FLM is still the only tripod that comes with a 10-year warranty.

Our ball heads are still made in Germany, but the Germans no longer want to make them, and apparently no one in Europe wants to work any more.
So, one day, our ball heads will be made in China, and these by robots. No more human error, calling in sick, refusing to show up, etc.
Crazy world we live in, eh?!

[Elcan]

I haven't seen many people mentioning tripods by Foba.
There is currently only one model ALFAE in its catalogue. The price showed on the BHPHOTO is insane, but in the EU is not that high, at the same level of a Linhof professional tripod.

May I ask if someone has experience with Foba tripods?

[Hugo Zhang]

I haven't seen many people mentioning tripods by Foba.
There is currently only one model ALFAE in its catalogue. The price showed on the BHPHOTO is insane, but in the EU is not that high, at the same level of a Linhof professional tripod.

May I ask if someone has experience with Foba tripods?

I bought a FOBA tripod from their online shop in the EU a few months ago. Less than half price than their USA price. It is made of aluminum, heavier than carbon fiber ones. Extremely steady and well made. It handles Chamonix 11x14 camera with ease.

[Elcan]

Thanks for the reply.

Do you use the geared column?

I wonder how it compares to the aluminum gitzo tripods, such as 4 or 5 series models.