I know this is kind of a silly topic but... What do you think is your all time favorite tripod? Excluding the new, latest and greatest ones, which are of course excellent.
If you could only use one tripod for general, all-purpose use, and you could select any one you've ever used, which would it be? In other words, what is the Wild T-2 of tripods?
Leica GST20 with self closing legs. Had enough time with shitty aluminium legs to switch over. Also had old timber tripods which weighed a tonne.?ÿ
Those are good legs, but I like the quick clamps so much better now. Tri-max are really nice, but heavy - but I find that I can live with that, I'm usually carrying only one set at a time.
GST120 hands down.?ÿ I started out with them but switched to Tri-Max when I was adding crews.?ÿ Over the years I have found that the GST120s are considerably more stable and have been slowly switching back to them.?ÿ I still have 5 or 6 Tri-Maxs that are just sitting around.
Another vote for the GST120, the price has doubled over the last 5 years but it's by far the best tripod for stability, weight and quality.
If you're on a tight budget, the CST/Berger Dual Clamp tripod is good for robot work where your're not carrying long distances.
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Trimax with the quick locks are my favorite.?ÿ I appreciated the weight when using my Geodimeter Robot and later the S6.
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Dutch Hill has a nice stable design and is much lighter
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last place is any of the older style tripod with crappy screw clamps.
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Andy?ÿ?ÿ
Lietz/Sokkisha/Sokkia Aluminum tripod. Not sure of the model number but it has the gold tubes for the upper part of the legs and it has screw clamps. It's not the best tripod for all purposes but it is my favorite for many purposes. I hate the quick lock on any tripod.
I am also a fan of the TriMax, specifically the dual locking version. For robotic work, I want the quick clamp plus the screws - so the TriMax barely edges out the GST120 for me.
Someone mentioned those god-awful aluminum tripods...ugh. Never again. The only time I was OK with using them was in deep woods when I didn't need any better than a couple tenths' precision. Heard some stories about wind creating vibrations in them that would render a static session worthless. I just never trusted them to stay upright in winds above 5mph.
These are my favorite, but are expensive:
They seem to be way better made than the trimax in terms of overall quality and fit/finish.?ÿ Which causes me to enjoy using them a lot more.?ÿ Not to mention they're about half the weight.?ÿ And at least as if not more stable.
Leica all the way, but it is nice to have a single pair of trimax in the truck if you are going to be humping the whole show, sometimes the weight savings are worth it.?ÿ
Recently tried the NEDO wood legs, and after a healthy trial period I can say that I do not like them; too heavy, the feet are too big and the bell housing screw like to scooch the tribrach on tightening, which the trimax does also.
Someone mentioned those god-awful aluminum tripods...ugh. Never again.
I agree with you on that. I never liked them god-awful aluminum tripods either. Just the good aluminum tripod! 😉 ?ÿ
One thing I have noticed about large head tripods such as the Trimax crew members will get sloppy about trying to center the tribrach over the center of the head. If I come across a setup on flat pavement with the tribrach way off to one side I think that's like a cabinet maker leaving a quarter inch gap in the cabinet fit.
Every tripod will be more stable with the instrument centered.
Take pride in your work, be a craftsman not a hacker.
That's probably what the old-timers who used fixed height tripods, think about us using adjustable legs.
@dave-karoly I agree, if I am deep in the woods working solo, I will not accept me setting up with the tribrach hanging over the edge.
Ed
