Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/09/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In a message dated 9/20/99 1:36:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time, jimbrick@photoaccess.com writes: << I chose the 1228 over the 1227 because when collapsed, it will fit "inside" carry-on luggage. This is very important to me. For use with a small 35mm camera, I personally do not believe there is a "sturdiness" issue. Jim >> While travelling a few years ago I used the 1228 with an Arca B-1 to support an F4s with a 400 f3.5 and 1.4x, with no discernable vibration blur. Of course the center column was not extended at all, so the only drawback was the need to bend over almost double to use it. Normally I use a 320 with the legs fully extended but no column lift, which brings the camera to a more comfortable level for me. Even with an M6 the height might be an issue for some people. Another issue with the carbon-fiber tripods is stability. I would recommend hanging the camera bag from an eye-bolt in the underside of the center column. The CF tripods are so lightweight that a good gust of wind or a glancing blow from a careless elbow can topple it over easily. I've found that the less mass you've got over the legs (i.e. an M6 vs. heavy SLR) the more likely this is. One last word of caution re. the CF tripods is, when you work the leglocks for the top section, grip the leg itself with the other hand, not the yoke or head. I managed to twist loose the leg sections from the yoke. Bogen recemented them at no charge and they said the problem's been fixed on later models, but I still adopted the hold-it-by-the-leg routine. The advantage of CF diminishes with the size of the tripod. A 30% weight saving is more noticeable on an 11 lb tripod than a 4 lb one.