[Leica] Re: Tripod no myth

["Michael D. Turner" <mike@lcl-imaging.com>]

Jim Brick wrote:

> I love the self proclaimed expert. It doesn't take much research to see
> that the high level tripod industry has PROVEN that this is NOT a myth. For
> instance, go to  http://www.ocon.com/brochure/b-08.gif  and check out
> OConnor camera supports (tripods.) These are the multi-thousand dollar
> professional TV camera, IMAX camera, etc, tripods. They make BOTH aluminum
> and carbon tripods. They state, and I quote, "Carbon fiber is three times
> stronger and four times lighter than aluminum. It doesn't rust or corrode,
> is thermally stable, and has SUPERIOR DAMPENING CHARACTERISTICS."
>
> Ilford, in an article referenced by Erwin Puts, stated that either a wooden
> or carbon (I don't remember which they said) was superior in dampening
> camera vibrations. It was NOT a metal tripod.
>
> It does not take very many synapses to cogitate the reason for this
> pheromone, that a wood or carbon fiber tripod will dampen vibrations far
> quicker than a metal tripod.
>
> Metal vibrates at a resonant frequency (based upon many factors, density,
> length, etc.) and continues to vibrate for an extended period of time. Wood
> and carbon fiber are self dampening. In a nut shell, their molecular
> structure prohibits "ringing" (continued vibrations) and therefore, as most
> tripod manufacturers know, have a tendency to kill camera vibrations that
> resonate through metal tripods.
>
> Used any good wooden or carbon fiber tuning forks lately? How about a
> wooden glockenspiel?
>

Right, no myth. Well, hardwood does resonate nicely, as any musician will
attest, but the real issue is damping, which wood also does nicely. This is
something that anyone can easily test. Mount a camera and long tele or a
telescope on the pod. Focus on a distant object. Tap a leg of the tripod and
measure the time it takes for the oscillations to die out...
- -Mike