Hi,

I need to solve a problem buying a tripod, because mine is very old and ready to be put out to pasture. I like urban, travel, street, low-light,landscape and portrait photography. From what I have been reading it seems that the Gizto carbon-fiber tripods with an Arca Swiss B1 quick-release is a combo that many people seem to like with an SLR/Rangefinder combo.

I have read about the Really Right Stuff plates and I am not sure if I need separate plates for a Contax N1 SLR and a Leica M6 rangefinder. Equipment that is lightweight, flexible and give no back problems are key. I don't want to buy something and then re-buy something better in six months. What would you recommend as a total system with everything included including plates or even center columns? Thanks.

Eddie

-- Edward Steinberg (es323@msn.com), July 15, 2001

Answers

The Gitzo/Arca religion is responsible for as many bad choices as any other religion. I've watched people struggle with Gitzo leg locks, clearly in need of something easier, but unwilling to change because of its status. You should try a variety of tripods and heads and decide what you like

For what it's worth, I use Linhof pods. I don't think they're made anymore, but they have flip locks, are easier to clean than Gitzos, have a better low angle solution than any other tripod, and cost more than a house. But you may be able to find them used.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), July 15, 2001.

I had the good fortune to find a local store that had a few dozen different tripods and heads, and spent an hour there playing with many of them. I ended up with a Hakuba (parent company of Velbon) Carbon Fiber tripod that I liked better than the Gitzo and Bogen and cost about 1/2 as much. Model number is HG-6230C. I opted for the 3 section instead of 4, as I found that it was sturdier and went up a few inches higher. It is so light weight! The head I got is made by Velbon and is very strong and compact. Model number is PH-163Q and it comes with a superb QR plate with built in anti slip pad. The plates are made out of Titanium. I use it more with my Pentax 645 and Nikon than I do with the Leica. B&H sells this stuff at heavy discounts.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), July 15, 2001.

I agree with Jeff (?!) about both the Gitzo and the Linhof, but don't like the head on either of them. I do like the Leitz large ball head instead, but can't recommend any of the quick-fixers.

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), July 15, 2001.

I agree re Linhof,-I use a Combi-U which has 3 sections. Very fast in setting up, with the flip-lock mechanism. A bit short at full extension but very workable with the centre post a bit extended. I don't like the Leitz large ball head, it's OK for horizontals but verticals are a pain, unless you tighten the mounting screw very very tight. I am fairly happy with a small Gitzo #275 ball/pan head. it has a larger contact/friction area agaainst the camera bottom.

I use a Gitzo 1228 carbon for large format- the too many twist locking collars per leg are a nuisance. But the low weight-for-it's- height makes up for it, I tell myself.

-- Hans Berkhout (berkhout@cadvision.com), July 15, 2001.

I have a veritable forest of tripods standing in my home and office and I can tell you that no one single tripod is going to be ideal for "urban,travel,street,low-light,landscape and portrait photography" and with Leica M and Contax N1. What is also missing from the equation are the lenses you're planning on using and your height. For a great deal of urban, travel, street and low-light shots, the Leica table-top tripod is really ideal. You can almost always find someplace to set it on, or brace it against vertically...trees, lamp-posts, walls, door-jambs, fences, ledges, the list is endless. It fits in a pocket or your bag and weighs little. With the right ballhead (I use an older 14121 Leitz or a Slik Compact) and with the legs set correctly (long leg parallel to lens axis)it holds my Hasselblad with a 150 Sonnar. It wouldn't be good for a long, heavy tele without a tripod collar, but that's about all it's not suitable for. For landscape and posed portraits, the ideal is the lightest tripod that extends the viewfinder a few inches past your eye-level, with the head attached but flipped for a vertical composition, without extending the center column more than about 4", and you can't see the image jump when you tap lightly on the front of your longest lens while looking through the finder. That's why unless your lens arsenal and height are known, it's impossible to cite any particular model as being *the* tripod. I have a Gitzo 1228 carbon-fiber, with Arca B1 head. It holds an F5 with a 300/2.8 solid as a rock, so it's overkill for a lighter outfit, and yet if you're over about 5'10" it's too short without extending the column. If you're standing uphill of the tripod, you need more height than you think! When I use the same combo with teleconverters, for up to 840mm, I use a Gitzo 320 with an Arca B2. For landscape work and posed portraits, quick leg locks aren't that much of an issue. I keep a piece of rubber kitchen glove in my bag always, it works to quickly loosen many stubborn things, from tripod legs to filters. Another thing to look for are legs whose angles can be set independently at various clickstops, and if you do macro work, the closer you can get to the ground the better. Inverting the center column is *not* the way to do it...the legs have to do the splits. You really need to go to a store and try out various tripods and heads, it's as individual as buying a suit. As to the RRS or Kirk plates, you don't *have* to buy separate ones for the N1 and M as there are some that might fit both sort-of, but those custom-made do fit better. I'm not sure if either company has a custom-fit plate for the Contax yet. You are also not limited to the Arca or Kirk ballheads, as both Kirk and RRS sell the QR clamps that can be attached to any head, either temporarily, semi- permanently (with blue Loc-Tite) or permanently (red Loc-Tite).

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), July 15, 2001.

Just one more vote for something already mentioned: flip locking devices are the thing to go for. Best of luck and have fun.

-Iván

-- Ivan Barrientos M (ingenieria@simltda.tie.cl), July 15, 2001.

I love my carbon-fiber Gitzos, and I've used almost everything else at one time or another. I use the 12 series for 35 with the center colum in, and the 13 series for LF (including 8x10) with the top plate installed and no center column. I've gone away from the RRS QR plates for 35, and just use the 1/4 x 20 standard screw on a Gitzo 2 series ball head with the 12 series. However, I do use the RRS plates with an NPC prohead on the 13 series for the bigger gear. Yes, the leg rings are a pain, but they lock-down solidly even when they're wet, and they never, ever slip. Plus, these 'pods go real low (flat) with the top plate installed.

However, more to the point I believe the whole purpose of the M is defeated when you attach it to a tripod. (Unless it is for the occasional time exposure while traveling.) If you're going to go to all the bother of the tripod (read: being slowed down and constrained by it), you might as well strap an MF or LF system to it and get the bennefit of the larger negative.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), July 15, 2001.

I am a trekker and this is the combination tripod-ball head I use for my Leica SLR outfit. Gitzo 1128 + Giottos medium size head (do not confuse this tripod with the Gitzo 1228). I also use a Giottos round the plate-release. I use this for landscape and close-up photography. My biggest lens is a 100 mm macro, but I am totally sure that this tripod and head can hold solidly heavier lenses. Pros: a very sturdy combination; a good compromise between stability and weight; locks will never break or get entangle in tree branches when attached to the ruck-sack or entangle in your gear when you pull it out from the inside of your ruck-sack; the Giottos plate-release is round so you can set it up very fast in any position of the head; the Giottos plate-release is bulky so it can be set up with cold hands or wearing gloves, it aslo stay in place even if you forget to tight the lock; Giottos ball-head works smoothly; Giottos stuff is affordable and well made. Cons: Gitzo thread-locks are not the fastest to use; thread-locks get sand when used in beaches; Gitzo 1128 is expensive; Giottos round plate-release is bulky and heavy when compare with flat ones. I hope this helps.

-- Javier (j_perezbarberia@hotmail.com), July 16, 2001.

For years I have being using a made in Japan 12 section stainlesss steel Deluxe FlatBoy tripod. It lays flat, not triangular, hence the name, o boy, it is so compact, I put the whole tripod inside a Blacks's camera belt case and attach it to my belt. It has a built in swivel head, allow for portraint/landscape mode with minor adjustment, not a full ball head. It extend to about 1 m.

Recently at a weekend trip to Niagara's wine region, I went to the Red Barn Antique store, I found a made in Germany ball head tripod five section, all brass, extended to more then 4 feet.

For urban and weekend trips to surrounding areas I bring the Germany 5 section tripod.

When travel abroad, nothing beat the compactness of the Japan 12 section Deluxe Flatboy. And when put out, the cool stainlesss steel looks pretty

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), July 16, 2001.

Another vote for Gitzo (1201 Reporter) plus a Giottos medium ballhead. I've used Manfortto (Bogen to some) and personally didn't like the lever locks because they tended to loosen at the most inappropriate times and needed a special socket to tighten them (though I understand this problem has been rectified). The Gitzo seems strudier, size for size, and works great. I agree though that I don't carry this around very often when I'm using my rangefinder. But my Leica large B&S head plus legs go everywhere.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), July 16, 2001.

i have the bogen 3001 pro legs and proball head and for the cheap price, i couldnt be happier with the performance and quality workmanship.

-- Tristan (tristan@tristantom.com), July 17, 2001.

Hi,

To answer Jay's question I am 5' 11" inches.

Well, I am certainly glad that I did not order a tripod without first checking it out in person. From my reading the Gitzo G1227 was at the head of the pack. For me, that would have been a huge mistake. The legs drove met nuts. According to the sales person, you have to open the smaller ones first and get the order right to make it work properly. I am certain that I could get the hang of it, but why?

I tried out the Manfrotto 441 carbon fiber. The Manfrotto has simple leg locks, a level and some other features if I want to do macro. The Manfrotto is considerably easier to operate, although I am quite sure that Gitzo quality is at least as good. With that said, Gitzo's out.

Thus far I have been unable to get my hands on an Arca Swiss B1 or Kirk head. No one in South Florida have the other tripods mentioned above. I am flying up to NYC on Saturday, so on Sunday I will go to B & H to scope out the options. A sincere thank you for your help thus far.

Eddie

-- Edward Steinberg (es323@msn.com), July 17, 2001.