Re: [Leica] RE: carbon fibre television tripod

["Joseph Codispoti" <joecodi@thegrid.net>]

Jeremy,
Thanks for the education on tripods. I have always held that the heavier the
tripod the better the photo. I just could not figure out the connection with
the fluid head.
Thanks again.
Joe

- -----Original Message-----
From: jeremy.kime@bbc.co.uk <jeremy.kime@bbc.co.uk>
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Date: Monday, July 27, 1998 3:54 AM
Subject: [Leica] RE: carbon fibre television tripod


>
>Joseph,
> I work in television (as a producer/director) and can talk with some
>knowledge of carbon fibre tripods.
> They are rigid, but rigidity is not everything, if you work in windy
>conditions you need wieght as well, and the carbon fibre tripod was
>designed to reduce the weight carried in a tripod whilst still offering
>rigidity. So, they're great in studios, for example, or non windy
>conditions, and there's always the argument that a traditional video
>camera is quite heavy so that helps too, BUT, most cameramen would choose
>a stainless steel tripod to use if they didn't have to carry it
>themselves, it's just so much more rigid and stable because of the
>weight.
>The weight of a 35mm camera is peanuts in comparison (to a video camera)
>and as such it isn't a great idea to stick one on an expensive carbon
>fibre tripod. Some people would suggest hanging a sack of stones from the
>tripod to increase the weight, sure, that's the best way to get the
>solidity from carbon fibre.
>The fluid head is largely irrellevant, though again it adds weight to
>decrease the risk of camera shake. The main advantage of a fluid head is
>that the camera platform can easily (in one action) be levelled in all
>planes, and then smooth pans made in all 3 planes too. As we don't pan in
>stills photography the second use is unneccersary and the first is
>arguably useful. A normal pan and tilt head is usually just as useful for
>stills photography.
>Carbon fibre is great for monopods however, when those are used there is
>pressure exerted downwards and therefore the rigidity is maximised.
>'Hope this helps.
>
>Jem
> ----------
>There is no question that good equipment is required to obtain good
>results.
>However I fail to see how a "a carbon fibre television tripod with
>a fluid head " can be better than a good conventional tripod. Do you (or
>anyone else) have any thoughts on this point?
>
>Joseph Codispoti
>