[Leica] Re: Useful tripod ?

[Jim Brick <jimbrick@photoaccess.com>]

I've owned and used every tripod known to man. Everything from a Majestic,
Sanford-Davis (sp?), Tiltall, Cullman, Velbron, etc, etc, etc. Even an 026,
which is basically a toy. There are occasional situations where it could be
useful.

After fifty years of this stuff, I have arrived at what I consider to be
the two greatest tripods available today. They are v-e-r-y light weight and
v-e-r-y steady.

For 35mm I use a Gitzo 1228 carbon tripod. I have a small Gitzo pan-tilt
head (old version of the 1171) and a B1 ball head. Sometimes a situation
calls for one over the other. I also have a Gitzo shoulder strap attached
for easy unobtrusive carrying. Carry it with the head (heaviest part) down.

For 4x5, I have a Gitzo 1349 carbon tripod. I use a medium Gitzo 1371
pan-tilt head.

These two tripods are very light weight, very sturdy, and actually help
dampen camera shutter and mirror vibrations where rigid steel tripods tend
to, many times, amplify the vibration. See both George Lepp's and Erwin's
comments on carbon fiber tripods and wood. After using them, since their
inception, I'm a true believer.

If you want to make big prints AND use slow shutter speeds, you have to use
a tripod.

Jim



At 12:33 AM 6/15/99 -0700, you wrote:
>4season wrote:
>> 
>> Me, I'd rather have an itty-bitty Gitzo 026.
>> 
>> Jeff
>

>That's a little small. Ever use it? Much more usable for a camera with a
>waist level finder.
>You think you're going to crouch down? No. Your not going to use the
>tripod. At that size you might actually have it with you as it attaches
>to the bottom of your camera bag. But use it? As a table top maybe. 35mm
>cameras are primarily eye level cameras, and as such though smaller than
>other formats require a tripod that will be steady at eye level. That's
>darn high. Waist level is way lower than that. That 0## series Gitzo of
>yours is perfect for a Rolleiflex believe it or not and I'm not
>forgetting this is my opinion.
>My contention is this: it's easy to make a tripod that only has to
>suspend something 30 inches in the air. 60 inches in the air is two
>leagues away. Not an easy job. I think you can get by maybe with a 1##
>series Gitzo tripod for a once in a blue moon shot. A 2## which I
>believe is the "Reporter" size is much more real world usable.
>Ah to be Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec!
>You'd save money on tripods and have better luck with women!
>Mark Rabiner