Classic Tripods

Just picked up a delightful classic tripod, the Linhof Report, which

looks to be from the 1950s from the classic black and chrome styling.

It folds flat to 17 inches with the three tubes side by side in a

line, instead of in the usual way, and extends to four feet in four

sections. It has retractible rubber tips with metal spikes inside and

the sections of tubing snap into place, so there is only one rapid

locking collar to deal with for each leg, rather than one for each

section, making for very quick setup. It looks like it's designed to

be used without a head, since it has black leatherette on the top

surface and no head, but I may add a ballhead for convenience. Also

no center column.

 

It's solid enough without head for my Tech V 4x5" camera, though in

general I'd use something a little bigger for that, like my Tiltall.

There's not enough surface for a very large head, so with head I would

say the limit would be medium format. It's perfect for a classic

folder, as a travel tripod, or as a tripod that could be carried in a

larger camera bag.

 

I've seen them go for over $100, but eBay prices lately seem to be

around $50. Here's the ad with a picture:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43479&item=2959248673

I've got an art-deco Bilora I bought for $5 at my local camera store, it's one of my favorites. The legs extend and collapse without any complicated twisting or locking mechanisms, it's solid as a rock. Took the OEM single-axis tilt head off, added a case-hardened 3/8" bolt and attached a Bogen medium ballhead.

My favourite classic tripod is a made in Germany three section brass

tripod with ball head, it is very solid and sturdy, extended to 130 cm. Much easy to use then many tripods today, to use those, one has

to open and close six locks, or twist open twist close six screws, rather clumbersome.

When I want to go light, I carry a made in 1950 pocket tripod. It is

8" long, weight only 4.5 oz. It came even with a cable release tugged

insde one leg. It can support compact camera such as Rollei 35, Minox GT-E, Contax T3 etc.<div></div>

My SUSIS tripod is 5 section, not 3 section.

Another classic tripod I use often is a made in Japan 12 section stainless steel Itorex Flatboy tripod

<p> Measurement 7 3/8" x 2 3/8" x 7/8" <p>Extended to 40"<P>weight about 2 lb.<p>

<p> Horizontal and penendicular positions allow 5 degree tilt, not

a full ball head<p>

Support firmly a SLR with zoon lens<p> I usually put it in a long camera case and attach it

to my belt<p>

<center>

<img src="http://www.photo.net/bboard/image.tcl?bboard_upload_id=8498984">

 

</center>

Wow, I didn't know my "light" tripod was a classic -- I thought it was just old, cheap, and lightweight. I've got one of these "fold flat" type tripods, an Excelsior ("Made in West Germany"); the mounting screw is on a ball joint with a screw stud to lock it, and the legs pull out in eight sections, with rubber feet at the bottoms. It holds my Seagull 4B-1 very nicely, and fits in the bottom of the converted handbag that i use to carry the Seagull, Wirgin, and Speedex Jr.

 

I bought it at a thrift store or a yard sale -- I don't recall even where, exactly, but I remember it was cheap...