I searched the archives looking for suitable advice on a tripod for my M6. There is a fair bit of stuff there but I had to sift it carefully to get enough info to go shopping intelligently.

My starting place was GITZO 12 series. On advice from a few posts I had to make sure among other things that it would go high enough (I'm 5'11"). Also that I liked locking collars instead of the flip up locks.

Of course no one tripod suits everyone. I want it for domestic and "around the place" locations (ie. not running, swimming, mountaineering or riding a bike) I have found tripod nirvana albeit at a price...er half price actually as it turned out -but that's another story.

GITZO 1222. 2.42kg + ball head. The little extra weight gives you a seriously steady and adjustable platform.

The head? GITZO 1275M (Off-set ball head .54kg) This is on order and I'm hoping it will be what I expect - in particular that I can slide the mounting screw to one side so that the M6 is supported for a substantial length of its base - therefore no need for adaptors.

The whole set up is so clean and neat - ie. no winders or panning handles etc. I'm thrilled but I'm afraid my family says kindly things like "that's nice dear" read - 'there he goes again'.

I hope this is of help or at least of interest for those thinking about what might be their ideal general purpose tripod. It's a start anyway. What do you think? It's about time tripods got another run.

-- Tim Gee (twg@optushome.com.au), February 09, 2002

Answers

I have a Gitzo 1228 left over from my Canon setup, works quite nicely with the light M6 and lenses. I am overkill with the head, an Arca Swiss B1 ballhead. What a hunk of ballhead nirvana, but probably a smaller ballhead would be better. Maybe Kaiser? I love the Gitzo, talk about light, compact, tall, and super high quality.

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), February 09, 2002.

If I follow your email and you are getting one of those funky offset Gitzo heads, you might want to reconsider for the Arca Swiss mentioned above. Those Gitzo heads are awful to work with, since you are off axis with any swivelling. We used to joke that Gitzo pods were designed by twins, one a genius (the legs) and one an idiot (those funny ball heads). I say, cancel the order and go with an AS or the new smaller Kirk Ball head.

Good luck!

-- charles mason (c.mason@uaf.edu), February 09, 2002.

You may want to consider the Leica 'grip' accsesory, which centres the tripod hole on the camera lens axis.Its not very expensive as Leica bits go, about £49, and can be left on the camera if it does indeed improve the ergonomics, its doesn't for me though.

-- Steve Barnett (barnet@globalnet.co.uk), February 09, 2002.

James and Charles, Thanks for the input on the GITZO off-set ball head and sugesting the other brands. I will investigate.

I'm not committed to the Gitzo head and so would appreciate further coment from others.

Steve, thanks for the advice but I have lathes/mills etc. and can custom make any adaptors if necesary. I use a LUTZ sling so don't need the grip as a grip. Cheers

-- Tim Gee (twg@optushome.com.au), February 09, 2002.

I agree with everyone on the Gitzo legs. I too had an Arca Swiss and found that a)it was overkill for the IIIg and even for the R3 w/35-70 and b)it even kind of made the tripod top heavy. I settled on a Giottos head. They make three of them (1000, 1001, and 1002) which are knockoffs of the Arca, having both the tightening and tension knobs (as well as the panning knob). The smallest is great for a rangefinder only, the middle (I settled on this one) holds the R3 or a small medium format. The 1002 is about the size of the Arca at about hafl the price. The quality looks as good as the Arca...about the same as a Hexar RF vs M6...just about but not quite. The only downside is that on the smaller ones you'll have to use an accessory quick-release if you like them...only the large head has this option. I too have tried the Gitzo offset head and find it not very user friendly. Sort of like a Benbo tripod... I just don't get them.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), February 09, 2002.

I currently use 2 tripods, neither of which am I in love with;Bogen 3221 with one of the Gitzo offset ballheads and Bogen 3001 with Bogen medium ball head. The both work adequately and get the picture but the 3221 is heavy and the 3001 is a little short and neither head is optimal. Next tripod purchase when I can is a Gitzo Carbon Fiber either 1227 (3 sections) or 1228 (4), light, stable and warm to the touch in cold weather; and either the Linhoff Profi II ball head or the Kaiser (6011 or 6017) ball head

http://www.photobooksonline.com/gear/kaiserBH.html http://www.hpmarketingcorp.com/linhof.html

which I think will solve most of my tripod needs for a long time. Gitzo has one ball head that looks promising - the G1377M. good luck.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), February 09, 2002.

i have one of these offset ballheads, g1276, and it its not too bad. one thing though is i wouldn't buy it again due to the small size of the ball (ball size matters!!) the movement is not so smooth after a while in use. the friction of the whole thing is a bit difficult to adjust, it is either too strong or too weak.

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), February 09, 2002.

I don't use a tripod much myself, but my wife uses a novoflex mini magic ballhead or some such which is very neat. Small and very positive, although heavy. She also has a gitzo head which is pretty mediocre as far as I can see, but it was one of the cheap ones. The gitzo legs are excellent.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), February 09, 2002.

I also have the Gitzo 1228. I use a Kirk BH-1 head. I like the combination. The BH-1 isn't light but it is a great head. The 1228 is small, light and sturdy.

-- David Enzel (dhenzel@vei.net), February 09, 2002.

I use the Manfrotto 055 with the older 108 ball head. Works fine with my M3.

Regards,

-- Alan Purves (lpurves@mnsi.net), February 11, 2002.

Roger W. Hicks had a test report in the March 2002 Shutterbug on the new Velbon MAXi343E. "Is it the ultimate lightweight tripod?" For $89.95 at Adorama in New York, I figured that after reading this great report, I would give it a try. It is perfect for a Leitz M camera, weighs 32 1/2 oz. (0.925 kg)and is really sturdy and well- made. I have a Gitzo as well as a few of the other name brands...but this one is so small, light and useful, I do not shy off taking it with me, which is half the problem with using a tripod.

-- Maurice J. Tepper (judiknit@earthlink.net), February 13, 2002.