Tall Large Format Shooters *(Over Six Feet) : What Tripod/Head Are You Using?

Grafmatic

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I.m getting back into LF and am looking for (amongst other things) a tripod. I'm 6'2" and am noticing that most tripods I am seeing have woefully inadequate elevation for someone my height (and 6'2' is not freakishly tall).
So...
If you're tall (over 6'), shooting LF, and have a tripod that doesn't require you to hunch over and/or run the center column way up, what is it? Any info (Make, model, photos etc) appreciated. Most ads on ebay don't contain much useful information.

Lastly. if anybody has a Linhof Record Giant tripod around the house. let me know LOL

Thanks
 

GregY

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If you want a tall solid LF tripod buy a Ries, or Berlebach or old Zone Vl wooden tripod
 

bdial

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I have an ancient Gitzo Studex that can place the camera well over my head if I wanted, and I’m 6’1”
I also have a Linhof heavy-duty Pro which can go higher, but it’s too heavy to carry around.
 

Focomatter

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You do not want your camera too high as you will want to place an eye right up to the corners of the ground glass frame (cut-out) to check for vignetting. I am 3" shorter than you are and generally do not use all of the leg extensions on my compact size Gitzo series 5 tripods when shooting 5x7 and 8x10 vertically.
 

nosmok

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I'm 6' if I stand up straight. I've got an old Graflex (Folmer & Schwing) Crown #4 wood tripod that gets the top plate to mouth level, and the top of the tilt block to nose level. This should work for you. I find that 100 years on, it's still the lightest way to get a big camera way up there. The #4 is the tallest and largest leg set, so top plate and tilt blocks will need to all be compatible if you're buying in pieces (proper top plate for #4 legs is 6" diameter; tilt block is 7" wide x 8" long).
 

Rick A

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I'm using a Benro TMA37AL Long Series 3 Mach3 aluminum leg set with an Induro PHQ 3 5 way panhead.
 
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Grafmatic

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I was including some extra to accommodate uneven terrain.
All the Gitzos I saw on Ebay were more than the camera, some substantially, This is good intel though. Somewhere there's a tripod with my name on it...
 
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F4U

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A 6'4", I use a Site Pro Salamander surveyors' tripod with no head at all, other than the top platform of the tripod itself with my Horseman 8x10 and just lengthen or shorten legs to get the camera aimed and leveled. You get used to it pretty quick, and it'll hold up a dump truck. And cheaper than some fancy photographic tripod. Of course since it has no head, I just designed a 3D print adapter to mate the camera to the tripod. Works great. For my 4x5 and smaller cameras , I just use my trusty Tiltall.
 
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Grafmatic

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GregY said:
If you want a tall solid LF tripod buy a Ries, or Berlebach or old Zone Vl wooden tripod
View attachment 393839
Click to expand...


I had a Zone VI as seen in this pic of a much younger me with my first 4x5 and the Zone VI tripod. Not to mention my Artist Face, Judging by the legs, I don't believe it was fully extended in this snap but rather was roughly centered on the painting height.
 
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Disconnekt

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Whats your budget? Leofotousa has some tripods that hit the 6 foot+ requirement, but are around the $600 dollar mark just for the tripod though (no taxes outside of louisiana & free shipping in the us), also heres a promo code for 20% off: shuttermuse20

The LMP-324CL maxes out at 79", is on sale for $566

Leofoto LMP-324CL(Long) Water-Resistant Tripod with 75mm Video Bowl and Bag

The Leofoto LMP-324CL(Long) Water-Resistant Carbon Fiber Tripod is a premium version of the standard LM Series tripods featuring new water-resistant technology and accessories such as titanium foot spikes. It is a compact carbon-fiber travel tripod made with carbon fiber and 6061-T6 aluminum...
leofotousa.com

The LM-324CLX maxes out at 77", $599

Leofoto LM-324CL X Version Tripod with 75mm Bowl+Platform

2024 New Release Reach for the top with the Leofoto LM-324CLX Summit Series Carbon Fiber Tripod. The brand-new design highlights upgraded angle stops meticulously crafted for enhanced ergonomic performance. The new angle stop design allows for one handed operation for convenience while ensuring...
leofotousa.com

The LN-404C maxes out at 75", is $649

Leofoto LN-404C Heavy Duty Tripod with 100mm Bowl+Platform & Bag

The Leofoto LN-404C Heavy Duty Carbon Fiber Tripod is our heaviest and most robust option, capable of supporting a weight load of up to 50kg / 110lbs. This makes it an ideal choice for photographers and hunters working with heavy and bulky equipment. Constructed with 10 layers of Torayca carbon...
leofotousa.com

And if you need some extra extra height, they have a LM-404CL that goes up to 84" (7 feet), on sale for $665

Leofoto LM-404CL(Long) Tripod with 100mm Video Bowl/Platform and Bag | Max Load 88 lb

Leofoto LM-404CL Long Tripod w/ 100mm Bowl and Bag Unique safety lock systemMax. height: 2135mmFolded length: 720mmLeg Section : 4Min. height: 128mmMax load: 40kgBowl diameter: 100mmWeight: 2.69kg CNC tripod , Hard anodize10X Layers Carbon fiber tubes:40/36/32/28MM
leofotousa.com
 

Vaughn

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6'3", Ries A100 for 8x10 and 11x14.
 
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Grafmatic

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About half that, which makes me think the Zone VI might be a pretty good suggestion. Trying to keep both the weight and the budget as low as feasible.
The delivery date for the camera is abut six weeks or so out, so there's time to research, The Zone VI has the advantage of being a known quantity- specs are often hard to come by. Finding the Linhof I want seems like a long shot, so we'll see. Thanks for the assistance everybody.
 
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Kilgallb

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Wait a second. The height of your tripod is not governed by how tall you are, but by the perspective you want.

I too, am 6’2” tall. I have sat on the wet ground, used a ladder to to get high enough.
 

Vaughn

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Kilgallb said:
Wait a second. The height of your tripod is not governed by how tall you are, but by the perspective you want.

I too, am 6’2” tall. I have sat on the wet ground, used a ladder to to get high enough.
Click to expand...

Or...The height of your tripod is governed by how tall you are (and/or height of one's ladder or stool) -- one's perspective is limited by how low it can go.

That's the perspective of this tall person, anyway.

But a tripod should be taller than one needs on flat ground, so it can be a reasonable height on sloped ground. Or perhaps has one leg that extends much longer than the other two.
 
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Grafmatic

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Kilgallb said:
Wait a second. The height of your tripod is not governed by how tall you are, but by the perspective you want.

I too, am 6’2” tall. I have sat on the wet ground, used a ladder to to get high enough.
Click to expand...

If I am 74” tall , and my tripod is ~60” including the center column / head (common), then I have to hunch over to use it, especially if I give up some of that height compensating for uneven ground. Not only that, but if you have to extend the center column significantly, which I have to do on a tripod with a maximum 60 inch elevation if I am using it on uneven ground, the center of gravity moves up and compromises stability. I agree with the person that said not to skimp on the tripod. I am just trying to find the unit that makes the most sense and allows me to spend money for performance, not for a ’name’. Hunching over a too-small tripod is also a recipe for back trouble. With my Linhof, I used the center column only to make fine adjustments to elevation, not to get enough elevation to shoot at all. I regret ever selling it.

I want to thank everybody who has offered help, advice, or perspective. This seems like a really lively forum, and I am happy to be a member. Looking forward to learning more and attaching my Intrepid to the top of…. something. The search continues and I have found at least a few contenders. A lot has changed since I stepped away. Thanks for helping me find my way in today’s vastly different large format world.
 

jeffreyg

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I’m only 5’11 so you have three inches on me. Some years ago I traveled twice with a Toyo 4x5 field camera, two lenses,a few filters, light meter and film and several holders. Plus a Leitz Tiltall. The lenses were a 120 and a 210. It worked fine. I didn’t use an extra head just the two way platform that was part of the tripod.
 

blee1996

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I bought an old Gitzo in BGN condition from KEH in 2023 for well under $100, and it is both strong and tall (I even used my Eastman #2 8x10 on it). And not too heavy either.

Gitzo 310 Cremaillere 3 Long Tripod Legs with Geared Column, 3-Section, 23-72 in

I think you can get good deals buying older Gitzo 3 series, Linhof, Tlitall and etc. Good tripod well taken care of can last a very long time.
 
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Grafmatic

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Thanks, will add that one to the contender list. Here is one from eBay that looks suitable. Speaking of Gitzo 3 series, he says this is from that series (But he's not sure which because the nameplate is missing. Obviously not the same one because this one has 4-section legs and no center column. Almost as tall as the door, which (assuming a standard 80" door) would probably put it at ~ 74" with no head. This is in the ballpark. I'm not sure I'll be doing enough 'schlepping' to make it worth paying the carbon fiber 'premium' but Im still on the hunt, Definitely looking before I leap on this purchase.

Tall Gitzo Series 3 Carbon Fiber 4 Section Tripod Excellent Condition | eBay

The model number is missing, but it is certainly a Series 3 tripod. With all four sections extended, this tripod reaches quite a height. The results have always been outstanding.
www.ebay.com


Note on the Zone VI: I'm not sure it occurred to Picker that some people photograph indoors, because it has spikes only IIRC
 

GregY

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Fred P also sold a baseplate that the tripod could rest on indoors.
 

Oren Grad

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I'm 6'2". For my LF field cameras up to and including 8x10 I use an old aluminum Gitzo 3-series leg set without center column (G-340) along with a Slik SH-909 3-way head. The leg set is getting a bit balky after all these years - one of the leg sections is difficult to collapse, so I leave those sections extended all around - so I might replace it at some point. I'm very pleased with the Slik head and will move it to the new leg set if and when I get one.

Good luck, and enjoy!
 

cowanw

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The nice thing about this one is that it can take a bowl head, which works well with your intention to use it for uneven grounsd

Gitzo leveling base Systematic

The Gitzo GSLVLS Systematic Leveling Base (Without Video Adapter) is a tripod accessory designed to enable photographers to set up perfectly level shots quickly and precisely with their Gitzo Systematic Tripods and heads.This model is ideal when shooting with a flat-based video head or in...
www.gitzo.com
 

Sirius Glass

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We could solve your problem if you will add 15 cm to my height and take the loss of the same. That would get rid of my height disadvantage and help you find your tripod. By the way I rarely have to duck my head for doorways and low ceilings. Are you interested?
 

BHuij

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When I got my Intrepid, I already had a good travel tripod. The Intrepid is so lightweight that I used it no problem for a while.

Eventually I got tired of stooping over while I composed, dialed in movements, and critically focused. So I bought these legs, and this head. I am 6'0", and find that with the legs, I can use it almost fully extended, with just the last 4-5 inches of the lowest leg sections not extended. That gives me perfect comfortable working height with my ground glass. Stands to reason that someone up to around 6'3" or so could just fully extend it and be good to go.

Edit: I should specify that all this is without the center column extended at all. The tripod gets stupidly tall with a two-section center column fully extended, but obviously there are tradeoffs in stability there.
 

djhopscotch

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I'm 6'3" and i use a Feisol CT-3371 with the leveling base for 4x5 and 8x10. On flat ground its taller than I need a max extension. It has 3 section leg so it doesn't compact as small as the Leofotos with 4 sections.
 
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