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jim stafford · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 3:57 pm Post subject:

I want to buy an original wood tripod for my Crown 4x5. I see various models on ebay. Crown No.1, No.2, etc. I do street and field photography. Which one would be best for me?

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

I like my tripods to be able to get the camera to eye level height. That's somewhere around 64" inches on my 5'10" frame. Anything less than that I end up stooping and the photo sessions get might short as my back gives out.

No. 1 goes to "4 1/3" feet (52")
No 2 goes to 4 2/3 feet (58")

Nos. 3 & 4 go to 5 1/2 feet (65")

The 4 is a bit more robust than the #3.

While all of these are very compact to carry, none are fast to set up as you need to lock in 3 legs and then adjust each leg by itself. Getting in a hurry is a sure way to snap a leg, and like race horses, they don't mend very well.

I shot in Chicago with my Crown. Set up;shoot. Walk and repeat. I used a 3001 Bogen fully extended. A 3020 is a bit better, as would any Star D or Tiltall. If I had to fumble with a Crown Tripod, I would have missed half my shots.

Les

jim stafford · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 12:41 am Post subject:

Thanks for the tips and info Les. I'll be able to make a better choice now. Jim

troublemaker · Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 715 Location: So Cal

Like anything, everyone has thier favorite. I looked around for a while, and though i also thought about getting a vintage tripod and cleaing it up, I opted for a wooden Berlback 2042 with a swivel ball center post and plenty of height and also can be set up quite low to the ground, or on a platform etc.. I have been using it for about a year now and it is holding up well. In cold weather the wood is more forgiving to touch than aluminum for carrying and set up, and it retains a retro vintage appeal I found hard to pass up...
They have a web site that might be worth a look as a comparison of what's out there...
Have fun,
Stephen