TRIPOD

[Barney]

Hi,

Any suggestion for a tripod to take a Bronica,

I have a manfrotto 055 and 488 ball head but it's a bit overkill and would like something lighter.

Thanks

 

[zx9]

I am not a big fan of tripods but have used a Bronica SQA in the past and would have thought that the tripod and head you have would be ideal, not overkill at all.

 

[LeeRatters]

How heavy is the set up that you already have?

I have a 3LT Travis, with spikes, and that is a bit lighter than my old solid RedSnapper - That will take the A7Riii & GM lenses & the Tamron 70-180/2.8 with no issues

EDIT - RedSnapper is about 2.3kg I think. And also I think, the Travis is about 1.65kg.

 

[Barney]

Thanks for advices

current set up is approx 3 and a bit kilo

 

[LeeRatters]

I've also had the RedSnapper since about 2011 - that's been on urban exploring back in those days, thrown about everywhere, up mountains, been in the sea......

The 3LT Travis I bought in about 2018.

Both still work fine.

 

[Nod]

@Topsy (Who is IIRC a Bronica on a tripod shooter).

 

[ancient_mariner]

I used to use a bronica ETR on a lightweight slik tripod for weddings, but slow shutter speed shots were often a bit blurry, probably due to mirror slap. It was more about putting the camera in one place in order to pose people than stability.

 

[Phil V]

I used to use a bronica ETR on a lightweight slik tripod for weddings, but slow shutter speed shots were often a bit blurry, probably due to mirror slap. It was more about putting the camera in one place in order to pose people than stability.

Also an ETRS on a Slik tripod for the same reason.

And I also have a Manfrotto 055 and I used that with crop DSLR's and that was overkill (slight) I wouldn't fancy anything less for an SQA

 

[Topsy]

@Topsy (Who is IIRC a Bronica on a tripod shooter).

Indeed I am @Nod .

I use 2 tripods with my Bronica SQ-Ais & SQ-Bs depending on the situation. If I am going out with my full Bronica kit (which includes a 250mm) I will always take my main tripod which is also my preferred tripod for my Bronicas (and for my Fuji GFX 50Ss) which is a Gitzo GT3543XLS with an RRS Ballhead.





I do have a smaller tripod which I will use if I am trying to travel light but still want my Bronica along with just a couple of lenses, that is a Gitzo GT1532 with a Gitzo Ballhead fitted with an RRS Lever Clamp, it can take the Bronica with the shorter lenses but not the 250mm.



The other problem I have with the smaller tripod is height range, I often have to extend the center column toget the viewpoint I need which adds to the instability.



I have no such issues with the GT3543XLS.



Irrelevant of which tripod I an using I will always use mirror lock up and a cable relaese and both have 3" spikes on them for added stability.

 

[sk66]

I will always take my main tripod which is also my preferred tripod for my Bronicas (and for my Fuji GFX 50Ss) which is a Gitzo GT3543XLS with an RRS Ballhead.

The GT354_XLS is one of the best tripods I have ever owned, And I have owned 5 series Gitzo, as well as 4 series RRS/Gitzos, etc... the GT354_XLS is just an extremely good combination of features. I kind of regret ever selling that one.

My current tripod filling that role is a Leofoto 324CL; a little taller max height, same collapsed height, a little lighter, a bit lower load rating (15kg), and a whole lot cheaper.

 

[tijuana taxi]

I've got a Benro Tripod and one of their geared heads too.
Totally overkill, for my needs, but my daughter borrows it for her landscape forays.
Not crazy expensive and seems robust, it's one of their Mach 3 range.
The geared head is really handy for accurate adjustments with no movement.

 

[Barney]

Thank you all for advice and recommendations.

I reckon I will try my set up out a few times and see how I get on.

 

[Blue439]

I have the same Gitzo as Topsy above and it is indeed excellent. I don’t use a ball head, although I do have that very same RRS somewhere in my closet. I use an Arca-Swiss Cube C1 on it, and that’s mostly for studio use.




If you want something lighter, my workhorse is Gitzo’s GT2530 with a Benro geared head on it (just replaced by a K&F Concept geared head). It should be quite sturdy enough to support a Bronica. I’ve been using it, day in, day out, for more than 10 years, it never failed me. Rain, sleet, sand, seawater, mud, never a problem. Just hose-clean it and dried it after use.

Even lighter is my travel tripod, yet another Gitzo, the 0545T, but that would certainly be too flimsy for your camera —even though the smallest baby in the family, the Rollei Mini Traveller M1, would take it without any problem!

Here is the family —the only one missing is the big Manfrotto 161 MK2 B, on which the camera was set for this shot: