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

Thu Jun 18 20:18:04 PDT 2020

I used a Gitzo 3 series with a RRS BH55 and a Wimberly Sidekick for many
years because that would comfortably support my Nikon D4 with the 200-400mm
lens, the heaviest combo I had. As lenses got lighter, and High ISO output
got better, I found I was hardly using this at all, mainly because it was
too heavy to carry around. A couple of years ago I started doing research,
and finally settled on the Sirui N2205x with the lightweight Arcatech GP-SS
ball head. The combo can take 11 kg, more than enough to support my longest
lenses. The Arcatech is very flexible - it can be used as a normal ball
head, a gimbal head and a panoramic head by attaching it in different ways
to the tripod, giving maximum flexibility, with a weight of only 0.4 kg.
The Sirui legs are also top notch, with fit and finish almost as good as my
Gitzo for a fraction of the price.

I am very clear in my mind that anyone looking for heavy duty tripod legs
that are not going to be used on a very regular basis should look past
Gitzo and RRS - there are manufacturers out there today that give the same
functionality and over 90% of the quality at a fraction of the price.

I still have the Gitzo+RRS combo, but it just gathers dust nowadays. Having
acquired it, and used it for a long time, I am just hanging on to it - just
in case I require that load carrying capacity in the future...

Cheers
Jayanand

On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 10:36 PM Richard Clompus via LUG <
lug at leica-users.org> wrote:

> Frank, nice analysis.  I also came to the same conclusion and use the Arca
> Swiss Monoball PO with the SunwayFoto DDY60P0 quick release.  It took me
> two orders of the Sunway QR to get the diameter right so it fits exactly on
> top of the monoball.
>
> I have one of the Gitzo traveler tripods but recently switched to the new
> Peak Design carbon tripods.  The legs are triangular in shape which allows
> the tripod to be more compact.  The legs seem thinner than Gitzo but are
> very stable with 4 min exposures with an M10.
>
> Thanks for sharing.
>
> Be well,
> Richard
>
> Richard Clompus
> California
>
> > 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 .  ( 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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>
>
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