Post by davesenesac on Sept 15, 2019 8:19:23 GMT -8
Expensive gear eventually wears out and so it was with my very beat up Induro CT-113 carbon fiber tripod I'd been using for over a decade. Full eye level tripods are a heavy luxury few backpacking photo enthusiasts ever feel enough need for but is something I've carried since the early 1980s. During the 35mm SLR film era my tripods were lighter and flimsy but that ended in the 1990s when I began using a medium format Pentax 6x7 and a bit later view camera.
The Induro sometimes mounted my Wisner Explorer 4x5 camera for years and since 2014 my Sony A6000. A week ago a lower leg section broke in the middle and the feet had long been obliterated. So went out researching current carbon fiber models then ordered the below Oben CT-2361 at 2.4#. My 18.9oz Manfrotto MH054MO ball head plus 14oz Nodal Ninja 3 MKII panoramic head add another 2.1# for a total tripod plus heads weight of 4.5# The A6000 body is only 12.1 ounces sans lenses. Will remain set up and standing here in my living room until I go out for some fall aspen leaf work in about a couple weeks or so. Seems just as stable as the Induro.
The new tripod design is almost identical to the CT-113 that had the same weight with slightly narrower carbon tubes. Although few on this board given the current era of high ISO digital camera speeds probably ever use a tripod, they are essential for low ISO highest sensor quality panoramic stitch blended or focus stack post processing blended work. I still have a larger Gitzo for my view camera and a Benbo Trekker for close-up work. Note for trivial subjects I hand hold shots with my Cannon ELPH190 that while on trails and routes is usually on a lanyard from my shell coat pocket and during ski season likewise in a pocket.
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/864595-REG/oben_ct_2361_3_section_carbon_fiber.html
