[LargeFormat] Carbon Fibre tripods

[Clive Warren]

At 6:30 pm -0800 8/3/02, Achal Pashine wrote:
snip
>Related question about CF tripods, I think I asked in my last unanswered
>post, is how exactly CF's light weight and hardness translates to making a
>good tripod? It will not be broken by bullets but can be toppled easily
>because of lightness by wind?
>Haven't used them but will like to know more,

Thanks for that Achal, that's really the interesting question.

I still think that despite the materials used, the important factors 
in the design of the ultimate tripod relate to stability in terms of 
leg bracing. A carbon fibre tripod will have similar problems to an 
alloy tripod if the legs are not braced in relation to each other and 
the central column.

One of the best tripods for large format use in terms of stability 
and adjustments in my view is still the old Majestic tripod. I am 
happy to be pointed to a contemporary tripod that competes with this 
old design.

As for wood, I have read all of the comments about vibrations and the 
dampening effect of wood. Given that most large format cameras/lenses 
do not have large flopping mirrors nor shutters having components 
with a lot of inertia, then we are in the realms of reducing 
vibration caused by passing Elks and Polar bears travelling to work 
at soft drinks factories ;-)

Cheers,
        Clive