Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/04/24

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Subject: [Leica] Tripods
From: billcpearce at cox.net (Bill Pearce)
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:06:23 -0500
References: <CAH1UNJ07W2g+FnojQ_8fGt-=RB4m9CK9tKEz2913FY0OQ8RPCA@mail.gmail.com> <CAG8EVmxYg95wfF4qxrz_GMriGQ=NjgN9Q+-=JKeTz4zUUgYngQ@mail.gmail.com>

Leo,

Generally good advice. I would also add that my Tiltalls have been good, 
lightweight alternatives to my Gitzo. I also agree on ball heads.

Bill Pearce

-----Original Message----- 
From: leo wesson
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 10:40 AM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: [Leica] Tripods

Jayanand,

I have used and abused many tripods, both still and video over the years.
Personally, I have owned 3 still tripods, a Star D that I got in college,
which was quickly mangled and stripped, a Gitzo that I purchased shortly
after that (which I used for 30 years) and a new Gitzo that I bought a
couple of years ago to replace that Gitzo.  Buy a Gitzo if you want to buy
only 1 tripod.

Gitzo doesn't make it easy to buy a tripod without looking at them. I wound
up buying a g1224.  It is not carbon or basalt.  You may not want a
carbon.  They might be too light for you.  I found them to be a bit "tippy"
and am glad that I didn't buy one.

Ball heads.  Don't buy them.  Get a good sturdy simple head.  No quick
release.  Since you will be mounting your lens to the head and not your
camera, you don't really need a quick release.
I have  a gitzo
2270<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/339483-REG/Gitzo_G2270M_G2270M_Magnesium_Pan_Head.html>.


The trick on Gitzos is to decide how short you want it to be and how tall
you want it to go and how big you want it to be when you travel (that helps
decide the number of leg sections).  Mine fits in my suitcase (check in,
not carry on) with the head taken off.  Do you want a crank up center
column?  Do you want a short or long center post?

Sand and dirt is the killer of tripods so you want to make sure that
whatever you purchase can be easily taken apart for cleaning.

Have fun!

Leo Wesson
Photographer/Videographer
817.733.9157
www.leowesson.com


On Mon, Apr 23, 2012 at 10:27 PM, Jayanand Govindaraj 
<jayanand at gmail.com>wrote:

> I have almost decided to invest in a carbon fibre tripod and quality ball
> head to maximize the potential of the Nikon D800e which I will buy as soon
> as it is available here. It must be compact as well for easy packing on
> photo journeys, and as light as possible. I have no idea about
> tripods/heads/QR Plates, so any suggestions? The profusion of different
> models leaves me dizzy...
> Cheers
> Jayanand
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>

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In reply to: Message from jayanand at gmail.com (Jayanand Govindaraj) ([Leica] Tripods)
Message from leowesson at gmail.com (leo wesson) ([Leica] Tripods)