[LargeFormat] Tripods - the way forwards? (was Re: Large Format in Rome)

[Brock Nanson]

| I share your views about carbon fibre tripods but have never used one,
| simply played with one in a photo store :-)

A friend has one... it was interesting to look at until I heard the price...

| I guess that field and travel photography is all about compromises.  There
| are not many people that will throw a studio Sinar P2, set of lenses and
| big Manfrotto tripod in the back of a four by four and take off up a
mountain.

Ouch!  It was actually an F and the tripod is a Bogen (still a Manfrotto to
me!).  Not a truck, but a Pathfinder which at least keeps the dust out of
the gear!  Having a friend with a key to the cat-track gate at the ski hill
has its advantages, especially at wild flower time! ;-)

Sadly that vehicle has been sold... a casualty of poor safety ratings,
children and high fuel prices...  A guy up the river from me has an old
Unimog with oversize tires and an industrial Mercedes 6 cylinder diesel
engine... the ultimate beast to get into the tough areas if you aren't as
fit and eager as Dave!

Brock