[Leica] Tripods.... how to lighten up..... ( way too nerdy for most, , , read at your own risk)

[Doug Herr]

I’ve replaced my old aluminum Series 5 Gitzo (a hand-me-down from a friend) with carbon fiber, but at 6.9 lbs without head I’m not sure it qualifies as lightweight.  GT5543XLS.  Enough leg extension to put the camera at eye level even on the side of a cliff, solid enough for a really big lens.  I’m using the Acratech long lens head, a pan/tilt head that relies on the lens’ rotating tripod mount for the third degree of freedom.  Unlike a ball head it doesn’t flop to the side when I adjust the tilt.  It handles a 600mm f/4 easily.  1 lb.  There’s no way I’d have carried the old aluminum model as often or as far as I’ve carried the CF.

My smaller tripod (also a hand-me-down) is suitable only for seated-level use, extending the legs or raising the center column makes it far too wobbly.  It also has an Acratech long lens head.  It’s due for replacement and carbon fiber is the most likely candidate.  I use a sidekick when I want a gimbal mount.

One disadvantage of CF is the manufacturer’s recommendation to never leave it in the car’s trunk especially in hot weather.  More stuff to transport between the house and the car.

Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/>


> On Jun 14, 2020, at 2:25 PM, Frank Filippone via LUG <lug at leica-users.org> wrote:
> 
> If you think my lens tests are nerdy, this one is way nerdy.  But it has information that others can use to help purchase a light weight tripod.
> 
> I know that many think that a tripod is anathema to Leica use, but maybe there is someone who uses a tripod with their Leica,. or maybe has another camera setup that uses a tripod.... in any event.....
> 
> As we get older, or because we have a bad back, or just because, we want to lighten up our tripod, we need to get a lighter tripod.   I have done some research into what makes a tripod heavy...
> 
> Where are you taking this tripod?  Backpacking?  Day shooting a few meters/miles from the car?  Next to the car?  Travel, which means carrying it aboard a plane in a suitcase where length, folded up is THE most important spec... it has to fit? Pick something you are willing to carry for weight.... the further the distance to your shooting location, the lighter the tripod may be... ( or you are a 20-something, and weight does not matter!)
> 
> First off, do away with the steel frame legs.  Ditto the Aluminum legs.  Ditto the wooden legs.  Get Carbon Fiber.  yes, it is more expensive, but not that much more.  It is THE lightest of the available materials.
> 
> Next: What diameter legs do you need?  Want?  This is a personal choice, since most legs will hold up an enormous weight, compared the the weight of any rational or other camera. Start considering with leg diameters in the one inch range.  Go up or down from there to meet your expectation.  remember that more diameter = more material = more weight.   I tried out several legsets and found one that seemed to meet my expectations....
> 
> Next, what height is right for you?  Are you 6'4 " tall?  5' 5" (I am)?  The base of the column must be comfortable for your height, your camera mounted on top, and your subject material... ( Shooting flowers, a low level activity, does not usually require as much height as a landscape shooting style, which requires more height.  Other reasons too... like do you use the LCD on the back of your camera for framing?  A view camera?  That requires more height....Do you use a Rolleiflex TLR?  that is a waist level camera - lower height). Do you want or need a column that goes up and down?  Reversed ( upside down for real close to the ground shooting)  In any event a VERY personal choice.
> 
> I have a Carbon Fiber tripod that I have used the last few years.  it is a bit too wobbly, so I decided to pursue a new tripod with better features.  I had a Zomei 888C.  $129, 3.3 pounds with supplied Ball head.
> 
> For me, the Gitzo GT2540L was about the best choice. 3.3 pounds without head.   There is a lighter series, the 1540 series.  the 1540 is a bit lighter (2 pounds w/o head), not as tall as I wanted, and not quite as rock solid.
> 
> I wanted the extra height.
> 
> After all that, all you got so far is a set of legs.... you still need to put a tripod head on top..... which is the biggest problem to date.....  they all seem to be made from Steel, or are chunky and heavy aluminum.  Magnesium or Titanium is lighter. Potentially.
> 
> Tripod heads were, a few years ago, all 3 way heads with 3 separate "stalks" that controlled the axes... front/back tilt, up/down tilt, left /right rotation.  Heavy.  Very controllable. Awkward to carry.  Cheap.
> 
> Then some genius designed the Ball head.   A bit less "accurate" but significantly lighter, smaller, and cheaper to build.  Most of those on the market were/are designed to have the left/right rotation at the bottom of the head, nearest the legs.  the chief problem with this is that you level the camera above the rotation axis.  Which means when you want to rotate for a panorama for instance, the camera is not level through the image range and you go about fiddling forever to get the legs set right so that the rotation is always level in the camera plane.  My older ball head favorite was a Arca B1.  The combination with my old legs weighed 6.5 pounds.
> 
> Arca Swiss B1, a really good head, weighs 28 ounces.  The Markins Q3i Emille weighs 13 ounces, with quick release.  Probably the best value, light weight, precision choice ($300) for a traditional Ball head.
> 
> RRS charges $380 for the BH40 with screw type quick release. Weight is 16 ounces.  Heavier than the Markins.  Specs seem to the the same.
> 
> If cost is really no issue, you could get a Markins ball head that is made from Titanium.  ( $1300).  Good movements.  HEAVIER than the aluminum Q10 at 19 ounces.  Not svelte. But you got bragging rights.
> 
> But the problem with them all is that when you level the tripod using the head to do the leveling, the plane of the head is NOT parallel to the earth. Panoramas will require constant re-leveling as you pan.
> 
> Then the geniuses at Arca Swiss fixed this ( at least I think they invented the idea, but not important) ... they put the rotation parts ABOVE the leveling parts... You set the legs down any which way.  You level the camera on top using the ball feature, and, because the rotation axis is ABOVE this point, you can rotate anywhere and the horizon is always level... pure genius.  These are the P0 and P1 ball heads from Arca.  Weight is 11 ounces.
> 
> There is 1 problem.. Arca wants you to use their Slidefix proprietary mounting plates.  Not so many are offered, and those that are, at prices at 10x what they should. They sell a version without a QR, it is model 801211.
> So I went looking for a good Arca quick release.. something that would fit on top of the head ( 60mm) and round.  The solution is the SunwayFoto DDY60P0.  ( Amazon, $39) Fits and looks like it was made by Arca.
> Why pick this combination?  Because it is THE lightest prscision ball head and quick release you can buy. It weighs, together, 154 ounces.  426 grams. By comparison, the Arca B1 head weighs 27ounces, and has a traditional ball head design.
> 
> Well, not really, ARCA offers a geared head called the Cube ( and another that is a bit less big). These heads do the same thing by geared movements... they cost, for the head only, well in excess of $1,000.00.
> 
> 
> Remember that all this started when I went looking to cut weight from my tripod... This is the best solution I have found.... Total weight of MY combination of legs, head and quick release is 67 ounces, about 4 pounds 3 oz.
> 
> -- 
> Frank Filippone BMWRed735i at gmail.com
> 
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