If you could buy any tripod ...

[Paul O]

which one would you choose ... must be able to cope with 5x7 and 10x8 formats, useful for landscape photography. That's it! Carbon Fibre, wood, it's your choice let me know!

[Frank Petronio]

Buy it once and be done with it:

Gitzo GT5561SGT

"The strongest and most accurate tripod in the world, recommended for medium and large format or DSLRs with 400 mm and longer lenses. Exceptionally rigid and resistant to torsion, but, thanks to the new Carbon 6X ALR tube, surprisingly light and fast."

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...specifications

[William McEwen]

Paul, are you likely to be photographing inside, too?

[Mark Sawyer]

I think it was Shakepeare who said:

"That which we call a Ries by any other name would hold an 8x10 as sweet..."

[Steve M Hostetter]

Gitzo, G1325 which is now mfr# GT3530S

max load: 39.6 lbs

max height : 50.8"

weight: 3.7 lbs

material: 6X carbon fiber

price: around $650.00

[Doug Dolde]

I have a Gitzo 1325 that I bought in 2001. Use it with the leveling base. It's the only piece of photo gear that I haven't had the need or urge to swap for something else.

[percepts]

I have a Gitzo 1325 that I bought in 2001. Use it with the leveling base. It's the only piece of photo gear that I haven't had the need or urge to swap for something else.

doesn't say much for your choice of equipment

[percepts]

Like everything else in photography, its a question of using the right tool for the job and what caveats you put on your choice. Carbon is light but is also brittle so dropping it on a rock might shatter it whereas it would only put a small dent in aluminium.

So you better start giving some criteria about what you really want otherwise you'll you'll just get a list of highly expensive wish I could afford one of those tripods instead of what are practicle workhorse tripods. But who knows, that may be what you want.

[John Kasaian]

Ries. The 8x10's best friend.

[dwhistance]

For 10x8 a Gitzo 1548 (not the current number) is hard to beat. Its not much heavier than the 1325 but is larger and more stable.

David Whistance