any recommendation of tripod for M6, I prefer some compact and light weight one, ideally should be Gitzo

-- kl (klrltl@yahoo.com), November 26, 2001

Answers

Gitzo tripods are extremely good; they are also expensive. So I infer that you're looking for a top-of-range tripod.

I can't be sure, though, how heavy a tripod you're willing to carry. However, this summer I went to the Heather Angel nature photography workshop run by Grays of Westminster. The participants (mostly Nikon users) all had top-of-range tripods (mostly Gitzo, Bogen/Manfrotto and Benbo) which all seemed to weigh about five pounds (about 2.3 kg). Is that sort of weight OK?

The Leica M6 has its tripod socket at one end of the base, right? That implies you would benefit from a quick-release plate that re-centres the socket: good ones are available from Really Right Stuff (RRS) and Kirk. I can strongly recommend getting a catalog from RRS, as it contains a lengthy overview of the subject of tripods as well as details of the company's products.

Most of the folk at the workshop were using ball heads rather than pan-and-tilt heads. In particular, if you are female, you should note that Heather Angel has said she prefers them because pan-and-tilt heads bump her "chest". Good ball heads come from Arca-Swiss, Foba, and (saving a few ounces) from Linhof; the new Acratech head also looks very interesting.

A bit more than a year ago, I chose to use an Arca-Swiss Monoball B1 and a Gitzo G1228, which has proved to be stable in the field with a Nikon F3 and lenses up to 300mm. It weighs 4lb 14oz (2190g) and costs about USD 700 from Robert White in Poole, Dorset. Are this weight and price what you hoped for or are willing to pay?

(Most of these companies are easy to find on the Web. If you have any trouble, let us know by posting a follow-up question.)

All this treats an M6 like any other camera. Which it isn't. With no need for a mirror box, it can be smaller, lighter and quieter, and can have less vibration. So M6 photographers tend to eschew flashguns and tripods in favour of the rapid reaction possible with fast lenses and, if need be, fast films:

• a pure M6 solution would be to buy a fast lens instead of a tripod;
• a pure tripod solution would be to use an SLR from Nikon (or even Canon :-) instead of a rangefinder.
  Have you considered these options too?

  Later,

  Dr Owl
  
  -- John Owlett (owl@postmaster.co.uk), November 26, 2001.

you paid $700 for a gitzo 1228 from robert white? sounds like a rip- off. i bought a gitzo 1227 from robert white for well under $400, including shipping, handling, and import fees to get it here in the U.S. do they charge more for actual U.K. customers or what?

-- josh (aceofspades002@yahoo.com), December 01, 2001.

oops, you must mean $700 for the whole kit g1228+B1. it all makes sense now. sorry, disregard my previous comment

-- josh (aceofspades002@yahoo.com), December 01, 2001.

For time exposures you defenitely need a tripod.Gitzo is ok but not neccesary. Did you consider a monopod? With my Leica I mostly use a monopod.Available light, candid, streetphotography, you name it. Leica M + monopod make impossible situations possible. Good Luck

-- peter koning (pekoni@xs4all.nl), June 04, 2002.