Tripod for Pentax 67?

Dunn

Dunn

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Hey y'all!
I've never bought a tripod before. But, now I've found myself with a Pentax 67 and wanting to do some work that I think warrants me investing in a decent one. I've been doing a little research, but it's pretty overwhelming.

I basically just want a tripod that can handle the Pentax but is pretty small and light. I don't want to lug around a big one because I don't think I'm going to use it THAT often. Mainly indoors for portraits or maybe some nature stuff.

The MeFOTO Road Trip is the way I'm leaning.
Anyone used this with the Pentax? Any other suggestions? Trying to keep it under $200.

Also, my 67 doesn't have mirror lock up? Will this cause any trouble with shots under 1/60?

I appreciate any help/advice!
Thanks!
Ben
 
Get an old Linhof tripod, with the aluminum rail design. The name is profil something. Get a Linhof big ballhead with it.
Those can be had for like 50 bucks or 100 with the ballhead and it is the most study tripod I have ever used for its weight. I prefer it over my Gitzo and I use an RB67 on it. It's excellent.
 
Get the biggest one you can carry. And then it'll probably still vibrate when the mirror flips (since you don't have MLU) if you are in the danger zone of ~ 1/4 to 1/15 shutter speeds or so. Have fun!

Seriously, the tripod I use for an 8x20 ULF camera doesn't keep steady with my Pentax 67. I rest my whole body weight on the camera when shooting on the tripod at those speeds to dampen it. Just get a decent tripod that isn't too heavy for you to actually use and it'll be about as good as anything else.
 
I second the Linhof suggestion posted earlier.

When I had my Pentax 67 (many years ago..), I also used to use a Manfrotto 055 Pro which worked well - so another option might be looking into a used one of those?

John
 
I've used the MeFOTO with a Bronica SQ-Ai, it held up fine as long as you didn't extend the thinnest sections. I had the P67, but for the life of me can't remember if I used it on this tripod or not. If mirror slap is your concern, no tripod will help you steady it. But from my experience it isn't a concern unless you handhold and disregard YOUR minimum shutter speed you can get away with. Remember, internet is full of i-read-someone-post-so-i-am-writing-it-like-i-know-what-i'm-talking-about.
 
I am using a old aluminum SLIK with my RB67 and prefer a three way head rather than a ball head, with a bigger camera I like the control of a three axis head YMMV. Can't pack the SLIK in a suitcase but it's doable particularly indoors or when moving around by car. Cable release for sure..

I try to minimize use of the center post...

Edit: three way head also for panorama (stitching)...
 
Any midweight Bogen will do. But the Pentax 67 is a heavy beast. It is really the tripod head you want to consider. Make sure you have something solid so all that camera doesn't flop forward on ya!

The one I have now sells for an ungodly amount of money, but this looks OK.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1034870-REG/manfrotto_mhxpro_3w_3_way_pan_tilt_head.html

manfrotto_mhxpro_3w_3_way_pan_tilt_head_1393822736000_1034870.jpg
 
+1

Benjamin Marks said:
It is really the tripod head you want to consider.
Click to expand...

I have been looking at the Manfrotto MHXPRO-3W for a long time... my 190CXPRO4 has the 486 ball head and I have been looking to upgrade... I am a little concerned that the friction knob design won't secure the head as my manual torque-ing power is growing weaker ; )
 
Please look up tripods for Pentax 6x7.
The main problem is vibration*.. a ball and socket basically no good.
Tripods with a large plate to rest the body, that has sufficient movement.
It ought to be heavy and hanging a heavy bag from center a good idea.
I used a large 4x5 tripod similar to Linhof.
Vibration only occurred at 8th and 15th, if i remember.
I used tripod very rarely, mostly on landscapes and some pro work in macro.
When one uses filters, (25A deep red) and polarizer,
even 400 speed is at 1/4 sec with reqd depth of field..
I do remember complaining about not being able to close down more than f32..
 
too light a tripod & you'll be picking up pieces of glass. I could never get sharp images with my 67 with the 200 or 300 even locked up. The focal plane shutter gives quite a whack. I did better hand held with the short lenses.
 
> Also, my 67 doesn't have mirror lock up? Will this cause any trouble with shots under 1/60?

Yes, and no. As the exposure time gets longer any vibration effect from the mirror up will get less relevant.

Note that it is mostly the giant focal plane shutter moving about that needs to be kept in check, and not the mirror.

The long-running "Pentax 67 Gas!" thread has some tidbits about vibration.
 
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