The Best Tripod Ever

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

@sireath,

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:

https://www.amazon.com/Dutch-Hill-Surveying-Fiberglass-Surveyors/dp/B07D6VF87J/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=dutch+hill+carbon+fiber+tripod&qid=1590776988&sr=8-11

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.

@john-putnam

exactly my experience as well

Posted by: @rover83

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.

@dave-karoly

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

@jph

NOW GET OFF MY LAWN

Wow, everyone likes the GST20's. I'll have to give them a try, as soon the three Dutch Hill's i've used daily since 1999 wear out.

@oldpacer

In about 1999, our company replaced bushings and fittings, with kits from Leica, for about a dozen sets of GST20s, several of which had been in the company for 20 years already. I know for a fact that at least two of those are in use today in SoCal.

I have never laid hand on a Dutch Hill unit in my 48 years, that I know of, so I am not able to compare. That clamp system looks intriguing.

That being said, I don't believe I could have derived more value from a tripod than the GST20. I was never let down by one.

I have two 9 year old GST20s that should get me through my next 48 years, with a few bushing kits.  

Leica tripods have always been priced at a premium and I don't know what a Dutch Hill unit was selling for in 1972. If they were spendy, only those with the most critical needs or "lucky", if you get my drift, users would likely sample examples of that brand. 

Continued good luck with your DH tripods and stay well.

JA, PLS, SoCal

@andy-j

@plumb-bill  Is that the Dutch Hill CF tripod? I always wondered if the lighter weight would still be as stable as the heavier models.