I’m in what’s probably a unique situation and need some tripod buying advice. I’ve searched the forum and read most of the previous posts about tripod advice, but couldn’t find anything that suits my situation.

I’m a one-man-band using a full-sized camera, a Panasonic P2, which weighs around 25 pounds. I’m in news. Right now I’m using a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod. However, I’m having the same problem with the leg locks that a lot of you have had–one of the joints sticks and it’s very difficult to get it loose and collapse the leg.

After more than a year of the problem, I’ve now developed a painful condition in my wrists and thumbs from having to work so hard to loosen the legs. (It’s called De Quervain’s tenosynovitis. Some of you may have or have had it in the past without realizing it, if you want to look it up online.)

So now I’d like to ask my boss for a new tripod that’s easier to raise and lower, one that doesn’t have joints that stick like my Gitzo. I’d like to be able to go to him with a specific tripod and price, if possible.

But here are my unique variables:

I’m about 6’2" and most of the tripods I’ve seen, other than the Gitzos, don’t go up that high. I don’t want to be shooting all my standups with the camera looking up my nose, and I like to shoot standing interviews with the camera at eye level, if possible. A lot of my interviews are standing.

Since I’m a one-man-band shooting news (wearing a suit), it needs to be lightweight.

And it needs to have a locking mechanism that does not involve gripping something and twisting, as the Gitzos do, which is what caused my current injury.

The Sachtler Speedlock legs sound great, but the ones I’ve looked at online don’t go up very high. I think most go up to only about 5’3".

I appreciate any help and advice.

I’m in what’s probably a unique situation and need some tripod buying advice. I’ve searched the forum and read most of the previous posts about tripod advice, but couldn’t find anything that suits my situation.

I’m a one-man-band using a full-sized camera, a Panasonic P2, which weighs around 25 pounds. I’m in news. Right now I’m using a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod. However, I’m having the same problem with the leg locks that a lot of you have had–one of the joints sticks and it’s very difficult to get it loose and collapse the leg.

After more than a year of the problem, I’ve now developed a painful condition in my wrists and thumbs from having to work so hard to loosen the legs. (It’s called De Quervain’s tenosynovitis. Some of you may have or have had it in the past without realizing it, if you want to look it up online.)

So now I’d like to ask my boss for a new tripod that’s easier to raise and lower, one that doesn’t have joints that stick like my Gitzo. I’d like to be able to go to him with a specific tripod and price, if possible.

But here are my unique variables:

I’m about 6’2" and most of the tripods I’ve seen, other than the Gitzos, don’t go up that high. I don’t want to be shooting all my standups with the camera looking up my nose, and I like to shoot standing interviews with the camera at eye level, if possible. A lot of my interviews are standing.

Since I’m a one-man-band shooting news (wearing a suit), it needs to be lightweight.

And it needs to have a locking mechanism that does not involve gripping something and twisting, as the Gitzos do, which is what caused my current injury.

The Sachtler Speedlock legs sound great, but the ones I’ve looked at online don’t go up very high. I think most go up to only about 5’3".

I appreciate any help and advice.