keith_laban
Member
She looks absolutely delightful Sinuhe.
Glad you've reached a solution that you're happy with.
Glad you've reached a solution that you're happy with.
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Best lightweight tripod for 500 series Blad
- Thread starter Swissblad
- Start date
michaelhcothran
Member
I bought a heavy Gitzo (400 series) back in 1985. Still own it and still use it mostly. However, for longer hikes or all-day outings, I bought a lighter weight Gitzo (before the Carbon Fibers became popular), and with no center column.
A technique I use is to wrap my left hand around the tripod head and apply downward pressure on the tripod while making the exposure. Works fine for me. Oftentimes, for shorter exposures especially, I'll cup my left hand over the prism area, then apply downward pressure.
But Paul is right, in my opinion - nothing supports a camera better than a heavy-weight tripod. If you choose something lightweight, either use the hand technique, or hang your bag from the middle. The hand is better though, as you can apply any amount of pressure necessary.
A technique I use is to wrap my left hand around the tripod head and apply downward pressure on the tripod while making the exposure. Works fine for me. Oftentimes, for shorter exposures especially, I'll cup my left hand over the prism area, then apply downward pressure.
But Paul is right, in my opinion - nothing supports a camera better than a heavy-weight tripod. If you choose something lightweight, either use the hand technique, or hang your bag from the middle. The hand is better though, as you can apply any amount of pressure necessary.
I too take the light approach - ultralight in fact. Before I returned to a 503CW (no winder), I had been using my Gitzo G1158 Mk II Mountaineer Sport tripod (carbon fiber) with the small G1275M offset ballhead for a Sony R1. I've now tried the 503CW and 50/80/120 lenses on the tripod - at least in an urban environment, it works fine for me - better than handhled for tight macros of flowers!
...gregg
...gregg
wbulte
Active Member
Short of running into trouble with maximum checked luggage weight limits, I have a rather simple tripod. A Slik 444-Sport II (what a name, marketing sniffing controlled substances I imagine..) aluminium tripod. It's original panohead has been replaced by a Manfrotto 488 ballhead.
It all works rather nicely, it had its feet in swamps, in desert sand as well as on canyon rims. Keep in mind that basically every tripod is better than none at all.
Wilko
It all works rather nicely, it had its feet in swamps, in desert sand as well as on canyon rims. Keep in mind that basically every tripod is better than none at all.
Wilko
polypal
Active Member
True wisdom!
Keep in mind for exposures up to 1 second the camera can be hand operated.
For longer exposures a cable or remote controlled device to trigger the camera is needed.
erie_patsellis
New Member
I have found the original Tiltall to work quite well, as well as being pretty light, I use it with my 8x10 field camera when hiking. The later Leitz and Slik version seemed to have become cheapened, if you can find an original (Marchioni) version, they're well worth the $50 to $75 they command used.
Now having said that, I always keep a Gitzo TeleStudex without center column and a Graf Studioball in the trunk of the car, it holds everything I can throw at it, except for my 20x24 camera.
erie
Now having said that, I always keep a Gitzo TeleStudex without center column and a Graf Studioball in the trunk of the car, it holds everything I can throw at it, except for my 20x24 camera.
erie
wbulte
Active Member
Well.. when I take the effort to carry a tripod I definitely also carry a cable release. Actually the cable release lives in my backpack by default, along with some stuff like a spare battery for the exposure meter, a small screwdriver etc.
MLU and the cable release are for me a natural complement to a tripod.
In a pinch I will hand-trigger the camera on a tripod. Not carrying a cable release whilst carrying a tripod is a bit dim in my opinion.
Wilko
blowupster
Member
I like the 10 sec delay that my 202FA offer.
BTW a tripode is not only for the long exposure, it's also usefull for eazier focussing.
BTW a tripode is not only for the long exposure, it's also usefull for eazier focussing.
vandevantersh
Member
I have used a Feisol CT-3401 with a CB-50H ballhead for a couple of years. I'm very happy with this combo. In the US it costs $219 + $159 (ballhead). I ordered mine directly from Taiwan to Sweden and it arrived to my post office within a week. Feisol have since evolved several variations in this range of tripods (around 1 - 1.3 kilo tripod plus the ballhead, which weigh in at 591grams), which all seem very affordable and still capable.
The only time I'm a bit concerned is when I use my 350mm lens, as the ballhead feels a little bit too small for that kind of load. (My 350 C lens doesn't have a tripod mount (I don't think any Hbl. 350mm lens have a tripod mount.), so the CoG is quite a bit forward of the center of the ballhead.) But this concern is more about the 350mm lens than the ballhead.
I also bought a Feisol 3371 tripod for my Sinar camera. I'm equally pleased with that purchace. Very light and portable, yet very sturdy.
I havn't tested other comparable tripods from other manufacturers, but I recon I would feel very comfortable with a modern Gitzo, as I found them very trusty when I used them when I was younger (and stronger etc.
). I just didn't feel like paying 2-3 times the money I paid for the Feisol tripods.
//Björn
The only time I'm a bit concerned is when I use my 350mm lens, as the ballhead feels a little bit too small for that kind of load. (My 350 C lens doesn't have a tripod mount (I don't think any Hbl. 350mm lens have a tripod mount.), so the CoG is quite a bit forward of the center of the ballhead.) But this concern is more about the 350mm lens than the ballhead.
I also bought a Feisol 3371 tripod for my Sinar camera. I'm equally pleased with that purchace. Very light and portable, yet very sturdy.
I havn't tested other comparable tripods from other manufacturers, but I recon I would feel very comfortable with a modern Gitzo, as I found them very trusty when I used them when I was younger (and stronger etc.
). I just didn't feel like paying 2-3 times the money I paid for the Feisol tripods.//Björn
Just a sidenote: yes, the C 5,6/350 and the CF 5,6/350 do not have tripod mounts which is indeed a challenge for tripod heads. E.g. my Arca Swiss B1 comes to the limit when I add a converter to the 350 mm C-lens.
The CFE 5,6/350 SA and the F/TCC/FE 4,0/350 have tripod mounts but these lenses are still very costly.
Ulrik
The CFE 5,6/350 SA and the F/TCC/FE 4,0/350 have tripod mounts but these lenses are still very costly.
Ulrik
Yes, those lenses were a bit out of my budget at the time. My C T* 350 came in at around €500. I would gladly swap it for an F 350
.//Björn
polypal
Active Member
Yes, those lenses were a bit out of my budget at the time. My C T* 350 came in at around €500. I would gladly swap it for an F 350
//Björn
I am sure there are more owners of a C 350 lens that would swap it for a
F(E) 350. The "E" makes the lens more interesting and more expensive.
wbulte
Active Member
Not unlike Trabi owners generally being more than willing to swap their vehicle for a Mercedes
The difference with the Zeiss optics of course being that the older lenses still are, unlike the Trabi, very desirable.
Wilko
My favorite tripods that I have used over the last few years of travel are the Gitzo 1158T or the Gitzo 1258 with the Really Right Stuff BH-40 ballhead. I use the Hasselblad quick release clamp model # 45144. I have added the Hasselbald quick release plate to the bottom of all of my cameras, including a Canham 4x5. I've found that this ballhead and quick release combination to be solid enough for my cameras and reasonably compact and light weight. The Gitzo 1158T tripod is very light weight and while I used on a trip through the Alabama Hills in the Eastern Sierra, my conclusion was that, while it was very light weight and easily carried on the airline, it was occasionally less solid that I would like on rough terrain. The Gitzo 1258 is very sturdy and is my standard tripod for most traveling with the Hasselblad or Canham.
jotloob
Well-Known Member
I use a GITZO Carbon 1228 + ARCASWISS B1 ball head when using any V-System outside my house . It is easy to carry , also with a backpack .
For my 4x5 ARCA and indoor shooting with HASSELBLAD , I prefer the GITZO 1349 + the ARCASWISS CUBE C1 . This is a very stable and handy combination .
I also use the HASSELBLAD quick release system for all my cameras on both tripods , but the ARCA coupling system for the 4x5 camera .
For my 4x5 ARCA and indoor shooting with HASSELBLAD , I prefer the GITZO 1349 + the ARCASWISS CUBE C1 . This is a very stable and handy combination .
I also use the HASSELBLAD quick release system for all my cameras on both tripods , but the ARCA coupling system for the 4x5 camera .
