What makes a Ries Wooden Tripod?

In the early days of fine art photography artists were in need of a sturdy tripod and a multi tilt head to handle the large format cameras.  The Ries Brothers were the original camera operators from the beginnings of Hollywood.  They knew what movements were required to setup the camera for that perfect shot.

We’d like to tell you a little bit about the wooden tripod manufacturers, Ries.

Filming on the Universal Lot in 1925 with Park Ries at the camera. Courtesy of Universal Studios Archives

Ries History

Read and see all the amazing history of the Ries company and it’s famous customers.  You will be amazed.

Did you know that Irving and Paul Ries filmed most of World War 1? All on Ries Wooden Tripos, of course.

wooden tripod
The multi tilt head was patented by the Ries brothers in 1943

Evolution of the Ries Products

Did you know that Ries Tripod invented most of the components that are utilized in tripods and heads to this day?

The multi tilt head, The Expanding Leg Tripod and our famous Ries Tri-lock System, just to name a few?

Ries Wooden Tripods are made from tonewoods because they dampen vibration.  Mostly Hardrock Maple

wooden tripod
This is Sam. He lives on our property in Port Orchard WA

Ries Green Manufacturing

Ries started the industrial “green manufacturing” in 1963 when it moved to sourcing plantation raised woods.

Did you know that Ries Tripod is considered the greenest manufacturer in all of the photography equipment industry?

Media Gallery

Wooden Tripod

Ries Makes all the parts to our products in our state of the art factory located in Bremerton, WA, USA

Browse through our gallery of photos and videos.  Ries supports all large format, Medium Format and Digital format cameras

Ries Tripod has always been the choice for fine art and large format photography. Not just because of it’s elegance but because of it’s tonal response to vibration. For the same reasons that fine musical instruments are made from wood, we also make our tripods from wood to reduce vibration and help you create the perfect shot.