I'd like to buy a carbon fiber tripod before I go travelling this summer. I notice Slik has a couple of reasonably priced models ($299-$329 at B&H). Anyone have any experience with them? Any other recommendations?

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), May 05, 2000

Answers

I don't know about carbon fiber, but for A LOT less money you can get a Tiltall for about $100.I've used my Tiltall for 30 years, in the studio and out in the field, for 35MM, 6X7 and even a Linhof Tecnicka 4x5 with excellent results. It is made of lightweight aluminum to a very unique design. The only thing it dosen't have is a geared center column which I have never missed. I notice B&H has them.

-- Robert Orofino (rorofino@iopener.net), May 06, 2000.

I am familiar with the Tiltall, but I am still looking to buy a carbon fiber tripod for hiking and backpacking. Any help would be appreciated.

-- (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), May 09, 2000.

I found a bunch of comments on carbon fiber tripods in the Medium Format forum. It seems the Gitzo Mountaineer 1227 and the Velbon Carmagne 630 and 640 are in the running. Information indicates that carbon is 30% lighter than aluminum and absorbs vibration like wood does.

-- (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), May 09, 2000.

I did some research on the B&H site and it seems to me that the Slik 803 may well be the best buy at $269.95. It is over $100 cheaper than the Velbon Carmagne and weighs slightly less (2.6 pounds to 2.93 pounds). It does not go as low as the Velbon (7.9 inches to 5.8 inches) but the difference is minimal for my purposes, and it extends to 60.2 inches. The Gitzos are all much heavier and about twice the price. I understand the Hakuba is comparable to the Velbon, but don't yet have any stats for it.

To top it off, so to speak, the best lightweight head appears to be the Bogen 3437 Magnesium, which weighs 1.1 pounds and costs $86.50-- it is cheaper and lighter than the Velbon magnesium head.

This combination of the Slik 803 and the Bogen 3437 would weigh a total of 3.7 pounds. Total cost would be $356.45.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), May 09, 2000.

I haven't seen the Slik, I went tripod shopping last year, and my local store didn't have the Gitzo I wanted in stock, so I picked up the larger of the two Mamiya Carbon Fiber tripods they had in stock. I've been really happy with it so far.

If you've got anywhere local that stocks a good selection of tripods, I'd recommend going there to try them out, the leg locks are different for each brand, and you'll probably be happier if you play with one in the store for about 15 minutes.

Paul

-- Paul D. Robertson (proberts@clark.net), May 15, 2000.

I received the Slik 803 tripod, and I love it. The Bogen Magnesium head turned out to be defective (pan lock didn't lock) and I returned it. Instead, I bought a Bogen Medium ball head, which is perfect for my Mamiya 7 camera. The tripod and head combination weigh 3.2 pounds. This is a very light combination to carry and very fast to set up and use.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), May 23, 2000.