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