Promaster Epoch 328/4W Retro Style Tripod Kit

The ProMaster Epoch 328/4W Tripod Kit is what happens when somebody makes a tripod that actually looks right underneath your vintage camera without forcing you to use a 50-year-old tripod.

Inspired by classic photographic equipment, the Epoch combines its black-and-silver retro styling with a thoroughly modern tripod underneath. Its three-section legs are constructed from high-strength, thin-wall aluminum, giving them the appearance of an older stainless-steel tripod while keeping the complete kit to a much more manageable 5.3 lbs. The machined aluminum leg locks even borrow their styling from the scalloped focusing rings found on classic camera lenses.

Basically, your Hasselblad doesn't have to sit on something that looks like it escaped from a gaming PC.

Made for Film Cameras, But Definitely Not Stuck in the Past

The Epoch is an especially natural match for medium-format, large-format, and heavier 35mm film cameras. With a 22 lb maximum load capacity, it has plenty of headroom for substantial camera and lens combinations.

Think Hasselblad 500-series, Mamiya RB67 and RZ67, Pentax 6x7 and 67, Bronica SQ and ETR systems, Rolleiflex TLRs, Mamiya C-series TLRs, and Fuji medium-format rangefinders.

It's equally at home underneath bigger 35mm cameras like the Nikon F2, F3, F4 and F5, Canon F-1, Canon New F-1, Nikon N90/F90 series, or a motor-driven professional SLR with a larger lens.

The 22 lb capacity also makes the Epoch a compelling option for many 4x5 field cameras, including cameras from Linhof, Wista, Horseman, Toyo, Intrepid, Chamonix, and similar systems, provided the complete camera and lens combination remains within the tripod's rated capacity.

In other words, this isn't a retro prop. It's a modern support system that happens to look fantastic underneath the cameras we actually like shooting.

Precise 4-Way Pan/Tilt Head

Instead of a conventional ball head, the Epoch includes ProMaster's 4-way pan/tilt head, giving each axis its own independent adjustment.

That deliberate control feels particularly appropriate when working with medium and large-format cameras, where carefully leveling the camera, adjusting one axis at a time, and then leaving everything exactly where you put it is often preferable to quickly repositioning a ball head.

The head provides 360-degree panning at both its base and top, making it useful for precise composition, panoramas, architectural photography, landscapes, macro work, and other applications where small adjustments matter.

Also a Great Option for Video

That independently controlled pan/tilt design also makes the Epoch useful for video and hybrid photo/video work. The ability to isolate camera movement to individual axes and pan through a full 360 degrees gives you much more deliberate control than a typical photography ball head.

For locked-off interviews, studio work, product videos, static compositions, and controlled camera movements, it's an especially versatile setup. For filmmakers who primarily need continuous fluid pans and tilts, a dedicated fluid video head will still be preferable, but the Epoch's head makes it considerably more video-friendly than the average still-photography tripod.

Modern Features Where They Matter

Underneath the vintage styling, the Epoch has the conveniences you'd expect from a contemporary tripod.

The legs can be independently positioned at different angles for uneven terrain. Its two-piece reversible center column can be extended for additional height or shortened for ground-level shooting. A weight hook underneath the column lets you add extra stability when needed.

There's also a 3/8"-16 accessory connection built into the tripod collar for attaching accessories.

The head uses a modern Arca-type dovetail quick-release system, so you aren't locked into some obscure proprietary vintage tripod plate. It works with the included ProMaster plate as well as a wide range of compatible Arca-type plates and L-brackets.

Specifications

Maximum Height: 6.4'
Minimum Height: 11"
Folded Length: 30.25"
Maximum Load Capacity: 22 lbs
Tripod Weight: 5.3 lbs
Leg Sections: 3
Head: Epoch 4-Way Pan/Tilt Head
Quick Release: Arca-type dovetail
Accessory Port: 3/8"-16
Cold Weather Performance: -4°F / -20°C

What's Included

ProMaster Epoch 328 Tripod Legs
ProMaster Epoch 4-Way Pan/Tilt Head
ProMaster 1816 Arca-Type Quick Release Plate
Hex Wrenches
Padded Canvas Storage Bag

Condition

NEW

This ProMaster Epoch 328/4W Tripod Kit is brand new.

The Epoch hits a pretty unusual sweet spot. You get the looks and tactile feel that make sense alongside a classic film camera, but without inheriting the weight, weird proprietary plates, worn-out locks, and questionable stability of an actual vintage tripod.

Put a Hasselblad, Pentax 67, Mamiya RB67, Nikon F3, or your favorite 4x5 field camera on top and the whole setup just looks right. More importantly, underneath the vintage styling is a genuinely capable modern tripod built to go out and make photographs.