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pjviitas · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Baffin Island

I have just procured a crown graphic special and am almost finished getting it tuned up for use as a field camera. Unfortunately, I don't have the ability of going to a camera store to try out some tripods.

Any ideas on something sturdy enough for my camera as well as economical. I will be using the camera almost exclusively for landscapes. Weight should not be too much of a problem but size might be since I will be spending alot of time covering rough terrain with other gear besides a camera.

Hedgehog

ImageMaker · Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 93 Location: North Carolina

Don't know what you can get on the edge of nowhere, but I use a Porter Cable surveying tripod (reasonably light, very sturdy, collapses to just over 3 feet tall and has a carrying strap, or expands to put the camera as much as 6 feet off the ground with a good leg spread) that cost just over US$100, and on it I have mounted a "Bogen by Manfrotto" head with pan and 2-way tilt for which I paid $25 in "shopworn new" condition. Does a fine job with my 4x5 Anniversary Speed on it, and fits all my lighter cameras as well. The tripod itself you can probably buy from a catalog or web page; the head, you'll have to shop around a bit for.

BTW, the Porter Cable tripod is unusual, in having a standard 1/4-20 mounting screw; most survey tripods have 5/8-13 mounting screws and won't take photographic gear.

_________________
Is thirty-five years too long to wait for your first Speed?

pjviitas · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Baffin Island

Thanks for the help.

After looking around at some other posts I ended up going with a Bogen 3001N legs from for $99.99USD and a Bogen 3030 head for $59.75USD. I found both items on E-bay.

I also found a 15mm circular bubble level for $6.99USD on E-bay.

Hopefully this set up works.

Best Regards, Peter

newspeedgraphicuser · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Kansas

I'm afraid you're going to be dissappointed in the 3001 series for large format. I have owned them in the past and currently have one and use it for 35mm or video with small camcorder. I currently use a 3011 with 3028 head and love it. I used to have a 3021 which allows legs to be moved out for lower height but with my Speed Grafic the 3011 with set leg adjustments is going to do just fine. The combo is really light. No need for a quick disconnect head either. The 3001 whill be needed to set at the heighest position and since the center post will be up all the way for that it's not going to be very stable. But in the past I did use a 3001 with 3025 head for my Mamiya C330f TLR for a number of yrs and got by.