Cheap Tripod for large format

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Poppers

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is there such a thing as a cheap tripod for a 5x4 camera. As i'm experimenting with a loaned Toyo Monorail i don't want one that cost the earth.
 
Poppers said:
is there such a thing as a cheap tripod for a 5x4 camera. As i'm experimenting with a loaned Toyo Monorail i don't want one that cost the earth.
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Depends where you're looking and how much of a load you're willing to carry. I bought a Uni-Loc Major 1600 with Uni-Loc 60 standard ball-head and carry bag, used, for £99 a couple of years ago. It comes close to supporting my not-inconsiderable body weight, so a mere monorail camera wouldn't be a problem.
 
Now that high price tripods are carbon, that ought to buy you a used heavy aluminium Manfrotto or Gitzo - or even a current Chinese copy of the same.
 
Agreed- look for deals on second hand kit. The most important stat will be how much weight load any tripod you consider will handle. Especially with LF it's a good idea to get a sturdier tripod than you actually need. I'd assume you need one that handle at least 12-15 lbs.- and don't forget to factor in the weight of the head, even if it comes with the tripod. Scour all the usual sources of used gear around you and you should find something decent well within your budget.
 
thanks. Is there any particular model I should look out for. Are the screw sizes the same on the base of a large format camera and a 35mm camera?
 
I live in York, UK. Locally I picked up a couple of Gitzos earlier this year. One if fairly portable for field work and the other is massive. Both easily support my Sinar F

I paid £80.00 for the pair together with matched heads from http://www.collectablecameras.com/ (I have no connection or interest in that business). I know they have a lot of used tripods in stock - but they do not list them on their website - it might be worth a phone call.

Good luck
 
You don't need a massive tripod for large format if you are only mounting the camera square on top. The larger 'studio' tripods like the big Gitzo's and Manfrotto's etc. are big because they allow for off centre mounting, or accessories hung from the camera that cause instability. But you can use a much lighter 'semi studio' tripod if the weight is going to be centered at the point of the triangle. The weight of the camera then adds to the ridgidity of the tripod. But I think you need a good tripod head with as big a plate as possible to spread the load.
 
I've used a Crown Graphic with a small $ 100 Sirui collapsible tripod before with no troubles. My shutter speeds were under 2s so I had no problems whatsoever. I found that the ballhead affected my experience much more than the sturdiness of the tripod, a crappy ballhead can make your life much more difficult. I hung my bag from the hook on the center shaft of the tripod to add stability. Didn't budge at all.

It has to be sturdy enough especially when changing film holders.
 
I can say for sure that a Bogan/Manfrotto 3221 will hold a Toyo 45G. You need one of the heavier heads however. Mine has the HD 3D head on it. There is a shorter version of that tripod that would save you a buck or two, or maybe 25. I bought the one with the HD 3D head because the one I had back about 1980 with the standard 3d head would slip with a Super Technica on it. BTW, I currently have two 3221's (one has the medium ball head that I use for smaller cameras), and have owned four of them over the years, I would not keep buying them if they did not work well for me. $150'ish.

Maybe a Tiltall will work. I see the Chinese made version goes for about $100 on eBay. I have not use one myself, but back in the 60's & 70's I knew several people who used the USA made version with 4x5 cameras.
 
graywolf said:
Maybe a Tiltall will work. I see the Chinese made version goes for about $100 on eBay. I have not use one myself, but back in the 60's & 70's I knew several people who used the USA made version with 4x5 cameras.
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A Tiltall has worked well for me with a Speed Graphic and Pentax 67. I picked up a couple for mounting research equipment in the field all year, and I've been using them ever since. I paid $50 for each.
 
I was hoping I could get away with something smaller and as I will be only mounting head on i could follow V-12s instructions. Would a manfrotto 190 do it? Will the 4x5 hexplates fit all heads?
 
What model 4x5? there's a big range of sizes and weights in cameras. The Linhof Color, B&J monorails and old Calumet monorails are on the heavy side and the Ikeda and Nagaoka on the light. there's probably five pounds difference.

For a light weight wood camera a Tiltall is perfect and for a heavy one find an older Majestic single leg tripod with a gear head. Both of these will run around a hundred dollars or less.
 
Poppers said:
I was hoping I could get away with something smaller and as I will be only mounting head on i could follow V-12s instructions. Would a manfrotto 190 do it?
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Barely. I've done used one with a Cambo monorail but it was wiggly and uncomfortable to use. But it can be done if that is what you have available. For "serious work" I'm still an advocate of the heavy tripod (mine is a Bogen/Manfrotto 3051).
 
Poppers said:
I was hoping I could get away with something smaller and as I will be only mounting head on i could follow V-12s instructions. Would a manfrotto 190 do it? Will the 4x5 hexplates fit all heads?
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I would think a Manfrotto 055 series would be big enough and not too expensive.
 
I use Manfrotto 055 plus 3-way head regularly for Crown/Speed Graphic 4x5 press camera and Sinar F1 monorail camera, no problem.
 
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