A Hassebald 501CM dropping from the sky

I had actually previously ordered a 501CM from KEH in EX condition, however the film advance knob had clearly been over torqued (it was very loose) and there was a big gouge on the bottom on the camera body.  So I sent it back and traded up (for $50) for another 501CM in EX+ condition.  This camera body was very clean and obviously had hardly been used.  It was well worth the $50.  I also bought two very clean A12 camera backs and a beautiful 120mm T* CF Makro-Planar lens from KEH.

I have been lugging around a massive Manfrotto tripod for years to use with my LF equipment.  I finally decided to shed the beast and upgrade to a modern carbon fiber tripod.  After borrowing a friend’s FEISOL, I ordered a FEISOL Tournament CT-3342 tripod with their CB-50D ballhead.  This tripod tips the scale right at 1kg, and can easily support a 4×5 field camera or any ‘blad that might drop your way.

FEISOL Tripod inverted around the FEISOL CB-50D ballhead

This head and tripod were designed together so that the tripods legs can invert safely around the head without damaging the carbon fiber legs.  In this configuration the head and tripod (with 3 sections) is just under 2′ long.  The tripod construction looks first rate and the leg clamps are rubberize and very fast to release or tighten.  I tend to be very hard on equipment in the field so we’ll see how it holds up.  The tripod also came with a nice padded case, useful for traveling.

The new outfit!

I’m really looking forward to trying out this new equipment in some Hawaiian botantical gardens.