travel tripod for Rolleiflex 2.8E

[Roger Hicks]

I haven't got a french anectote at hand, but I also recommend the Gitzo traveller carbon - look if you find it second hand. No matter how much you will fool yourself, carbon tripods are the only ones that break the rule, that a light tripod is useless. In case of the Rollei, with the Rolleifix, the camera is easy to mount, and the weight is very well centered above the head of the tripod, moreover, if you are using the classic WLF, you do not need the tripod to be very high.

Not entirely true. If you don't mind light and bulky, you can get very stable lightweight tripods. I have an MPP with 'crutch'-style legs (wood above, light alloy below) and no centre post. It weighs a kilo (2.2 lb), and it supports any reasonable 4x5 inch camera easily, though a full-house Gandolfi Variant Level 3 is right at the limit.

The drawback is that it's about 33 inches/84cm long when collapsed and 54 inches/137cm high fully extended. All figures (weight, length collapsed, height) exclude whatever head I choose to put on it.

Oh: and it cost me a tenner, call it $15, in the 1980s. That was complete with head. It was probably made in the late 1950s or early 1960s.

Cheers,

R.

 

[kanzlr]

that. I have a pretty light Gitzo GT1830 Basalt. Not the lightest, not the most compact, but it IS light and stable 🙂

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Thanks for the suggestions folks - right now anything Gitzo is out of my budget unless I manage to find a used one that someone inherited and doesn't know what they've got (I should start trolling Craigslist more zealously). The Sirui looks promising - I want something I can attach to my bag and carry without it sticking out past the ends of the bag.

 

[crispy12]

Thanks for the suggestions folks - right now anything Gitzo is out of my budget unless I manage to find a used one that someone inherited and doesn't know what they've got (I should start trolling Craigslist more zealously). The Sirui looks promising - I want something I can attach to my bag and carry without it sticking out past the ends of the bag.

It's worth finding a store that sells it locally to compare between the models. The mid range models are very stable, but the one I linked in the picture might not be the most stable tripod ever,if you use something like a full frame DSLR with 70-200mm lens on a very windy day using a 1 minute exposure.

However for a similar size, the only other alternatives I could find is the crappy Gorillapods or assorted table top tripods so it was definitely very attractive as a travel tripod.

 

[maddoc]

EDIT: I just found the info in your flickr !

Sorry for hijacking the thread ... but I am looking for a bag that could be used to carry my Technica IV + some holders and a small tripod.... Is yours the Domke F2 in the photo ?

+1 from me too. I have two models, but I like the smallest compact version called the T-005. It's aluminium and actually fits in my Domke F2, and almost fits in my Domke F3/Billingham Hadley (top sticks out by an inch). Much more stable than a 'foot cord' and works very well for smaller cameras. I got mine for about $100.

The other model I have is the T1204X. Much sturdier but more pricey and larger as well. Link here. I got it on sale at about $170.

Here's a photo of the T005 for scale. Haven't read much about this brand online but I'm a huge fan. The tripod mount is arca swiss so you can easily get multiple base plates.

🙂

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

It's worth finding a store that sells it locally to compare between the models. The mid range models are very stable, but the one I linked in the picture might not be the most stable tripod ever,if you use something like a full frame DSLR with 70-200mm lens on a very windy day using a 1 minute exposure.

However for a similar size, the only other alternatives I could find is the crappy Gorillapods or assorted table top tripods so it was definitely very attractive as a travel tripod.

I found another option on FeePay -

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Horusbennu-...80911544385?pt=US_Tripods&hash=item4167a20041

HorusBennu seems to be making carbon fiber tripods at very reasonable prices. This one is the "hobbit" model - gotta love how they explain Hobbits in the description though 🙂

I'm looking for something that will handle the Rolleiflex 2.8E or my Contax G2, and be small and light enough I'll carry it with me without worrying about it banging into things or weighing me down. I agree, a Gorillapod isn't going to cut it for almost anything I want to do with my camera, so that was never in serious contention.

 

[crispy12]

Yes that looks quite good, looks very similar to the Benro and Sirui tripods. My CF Sirui tripod also came in a padded bag just like that, the quality of the bag was good with thick, spongey padding.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I ended up getting an Induro A013 (three section aluminum legs, 3 lbs+/- with my Gitzo ball head on it). While not as compact as the other ones, it is still very light, reasonably compact, AND it was $100. And the Gitzo ballhead makes it a bad-ass club if needed.

 

[peter_n]

Congrats! The Induro brand is a Benro label; superficially slightly different but many parts are interchangeable. Your tripod should provide durable and reliable support for years.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

One of the reasons I picked the Induro is that I already have a bigger carbon-fiber one that supports my large format cameras - it's a C314 I think. Great tripod, but a bit bulky especially if your destination has an inbound weight limit.

 

[crispy12]

Do you have a link? Where did you buy it from?

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I bought the Induro from Penn Camera here in DC (aka Calumet Photo).

Here is the one I bought - http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/induro_at013_alloy_8m_tripod/id00132

and here is the one I already had:
http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/induro_ct314_carbon_8x_ct_series_tripod/id23142