Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/12/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 9:39 AM -0500 12/20/99, Dan Cardish wrote: >I much prefer the twist locks of my velbon (similar to Gitzo's, I believe) >to my Manfrottos (bogen) lever-locks. I've broken those damn Manfrotto >levers on at least two occasions, and they continually become too loose. > >Dan C. > >At 08:58 AM 20-12-99 -0500, Skip Williams wrote: >>The one I saw is not on either the B&H catalog or on Manfrotto's web site >>at www.manfrotto.com. Maybe it's a new model? The locks for the legs are >>Gitzo-like, traditional twist-locks, NOT the lever-locks like many other >>Bogen models. They grips were about 4-5" long though, very comfortable. >> >>Hmm, regarding your Gitzo, you should call the importer. They shouldn't >>bind. Maybe they have dirt in them? The two lubricants I would consider >>are Talc and powered graphite. Gitzo is a top quality product. I have two >>sets of traditional Gitzo legs and a monopod, one set I've have for 20 >>years! Once I sent it back to the importer in NJ for replacement of the >>leg seals, and it' been much better since. The lever locks on the Manfrotto 441 and 440 Carbone (.n.or was that Carbonara?) that I saw locally were adjustable for wear and tension. However, they definitley were not as stable as the Gitzo 1228. I was not impressed by the Manfrottos. There was also a thin-walled Slik carbon available, and while it was no more stable than the Manfrottos, at least is was noticeably lighter than the Gitzo or Manfrottos. I've had the 1228 Gitzo for about 3 years, and it has become my most used tripod. I only wish they had made each section about 5cm longer, so the total height would be 20cm higher. Then it would be well-nigh ideal for Leica M's, Mamiya RF's, Noblex 150's and lighter 4x5's. Pentax 67's still require Gitzo 5 series close to ground level. For Leica M's, I think my choice now would be the Slik, as long as I could take care of it properly (I slipped and popped the diaphragm on my new Nokton, as well as misplaced a prism in one M6 and bending the rewind crank in another!). Thin snow on thin ice is a nasty combination I've grown unfamiliar with. This was in John Collier's neighbourhood, but believe me, I'm not blaming him. He was a most gracious host and once again proves the outstanding merits of this group. * Henning J. Wulff /|\ Wulff Photography & Design /###\ mailto:henningw@archiphoto.com |[ ]| http://www.archiphoto.com