Pentax 67 II tripod

I have a variety of tripods. If something needs really good solid support I use my Cullman CT40 Titan. I also have a Unilock -- a copy of the Benbo -- but sadly one of my crew drove a Landrover over it so that it's boom arm is now a little bent

K.

Glad to hear the Cullmann is still giving good service Kris, seriously strong bit of kit and can add my recommendation for it

Reckon the Landrover would have come off worse if it had run over the Titan

As Pentax medium format user, I would suggest to buy Gitzo 5x series carbon tripod (used!)

It is purchase for liftime! Because there is option to easily disassemble every piece of plastic and clean it time by time. And if something wears out user can easily buy spare parts.

I had two manfrottos before and both died. Shortest life was with Manfroto uber smart NEOTEC. It was submerged into Baltic sea water, and then started to corode (aluminium inside), when I wanted to disassemble it, I discovered - it is just toy, made from pressed together parts. After some three months legs were not fixable at all. So I dissasembled it and... decided to go expencive way. Bought gitzo 3530s. Man!!! It is so much more sturdy, reliable. I have it now for 3 or 4 years, and it is like new. But I use it for sandy Baltic sea photography, sand is inside tubes, making noise, I am dissasembling and cleaning it time by time, but it still works like new. And looks like new.

Although I know two fellas and they went that hardcore rote, buying Gitzo 5541LS ones. I little regret that I didn`t bought thing like this - so huge and stable!

Although with 3531LS you will be really fine (it does not have central column - more stability, it has three steps legs - thicker tubes, less joints - more stability).

Head.
I bought huge and heavy head Graf Studioball on ebay for 400$. It is something like 1.5 kilo! But I have tried Arca Swiss b2 (or how it is called), Graf is better, smooth and rock solid!

The hardest thing at this point is...
When it dissapeared from BHphoto.com, where it was for 480$... After some time on ebay these appeared for really cheap price, like $250... And nobody was interested... Then prices stabilised under $200. At the moment there is exactly three heads - really undrpriced. These are much more worth than their price on ebay Grab one and you`ll newer regret!

Andv try to search for 5x used gitzos (although they are almost the same price like new ones - because they are reliable for many, many years).

Thank you for sharing your experience Vaards!

So far I have purchased an old inexpensive Gitzo Rational 4 (3-way pan tilt head) from KEH.com. I have not received it yet, but I believe it is quite heavy and robust and will serve my Pentax 67 system well. I have read that it has a max load capacity of 12 kg. I am planning to test this head with my Manfrotto 055xprob, before I have saved enough funds for a new tripod, and then use it with a better tripod in the future.

I have read reviews about the Gitzo 5541LS, and that would be a perfect tripod for me except that it is far too expensive right now. I have not seen many of them second hand either, the people who buy them seem to keep on to them.

I have also been looking at the Gitzo G1500, which could possibly be within my economic range in the near future. The aluminum G1500 is obviously a heavier tripod to carry around (4.4kg) than a carbon tripod, but it seems robust and has a max load capacity of 20kg. Currently I have a three prime lens combination for my 67ii: 45mm + 105mm + 165mm, but with the G1500 I need not buy a new tripod if I were to invest in some 67 tele lenses in the future.

For now I have loaded the 67ii with 400ASA film and shoot hand held My first films will be processed next week, so it will soon be apparent how successful this has been

But already I can say that the 67ii is really a wonderful camera to use, I am "all smiles" when I walk around with it!

Bjørn

It sure is. I mainly use it with the Horseman, but sometimes with the SMC 'K' 300mm lens which is a tad on the heavy side!

K.

There will be a GT5541LS in the market place soon as soon as my 'focus' purchase arrives!

Really? What on earth have you bought that can better that?

Er.....

One of the things I wanted to see at Focus was the re-design of the systematic range and ask the staff why their new catalogue says that the 5 series would now be available in an extra long 4 leg version (giving a top plate height of 2M versus 1.5m of my current model and 2.75m of the Giant) yet I could not see it in the model list. It was the 1st time anyone pointed it out to them and they were confused!

Their European product manager turned up in the afternoon and when I showed him, he agreed that it would make sense and fill a gap in the range. Of course this may never happen but would be ideal for me as at full height it would be perfect to point the 600 up into trees without having to crouch down to see through the viewfinder.

So it was suggested that I look at the 'Giant' but I said 'not at over £1100!' So I was promptly dragged over to Speed Graphic who do good show prices and they were doing it at £899. Spent the rest of the day mulling it over, worked out what I would have to sell to cover it and when Fiona offered to pay for it and I would pay her back when I sold the rest off, the order was made!

It will probably end up having the bottom 2 sections removed so I can use it as the tripod I originally wanted and getting the giant now will probably end up cheaper than the 5 Series XLS should it ever get released.

So it all makes sense! Honest!

I have Manfrotto 058 and 405 geared head , both bought of unlocker. I find it perfect for stability and walking around hill and dale with.
Regards Geoff Capes

You will have to ask here link

I've got a Unilock 1600 (as previously mentioned similar to a Benbo). I don't know how much weight it can take, but up to about 80cm high you can drop the lower end of the centre column to the ground for a 4th leg.

Of course I wish I'd bought the 1700 which had much thicker leg sections.