Wonka Posted December 11, 2009 Share #1 Posted December 11, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm curious as to what types of tripods and tripod heads other forum members use with their M9. I used to use Really Right Stuff heads and plates with my "old" DSLR equipment, but I haven't yet ordered a new plate to fit my M9. Do others use this type of setup or something else that you consider more M9 friendly? One thing I don't want to happen is for one of those plates to scratch up the bottom of my M9! Also, do you prefer to use a cable release or other technique for long exposures such as the self timer? As always, thanks in advance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 Hi Wonka, Take a look here M9 & Tripods. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted December 11, 2009 Share #2 Posted December 11, 2009 Any tripod will scratch your bottom plate... It has been so since the M3...Welcome to the wonderful world of Leica M.Historically, these are not cameras designed primarily for tripod use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted December 11, 2009 Share #3 Posted December 11, 2009 For my M cameras I use a Feisol CT-344SB carbon 'traveller' tripod that is both sturdy, very light, easy to operate, tall, and packs up really, really small. I use the dedicated Feisol head that has a quick release plate and this is light and discreet enough to leave on the camera if necessary. I don't really see how it could scratch the base of the camera unless it wasn't screwed on carefully. All up its about 1.3kg so suits a Leica very well. And I use a cable release when the camera is on a tripod. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicoleica Posted December 11, 2009 Share #4 Posted December 11, 2009 If you cut and fix a piece of thin felt or baize (, or even some thin cork sheet,) to your tripod head or quick release plate, then you should be able to prevent any scrapes or scratches. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alnitak Posted December 11, 2009 Share #5 Posted December 11, 2009 On the rare occasion I have used a tripod, I have used my Gitzo carbon fiber Traveler. It's terribly compact and plenty sturdy to hold the M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke_Miller Posted December 11, 2009 Share #6 Posted December 11, 2009 I still use the arca-swiss system with my bodies. With my blackpaint M8.2 I use a Wimberly universal A-S camera plate. This has a rough rubber-like surface that contacts the baseplate to prevent twisting and has not marked it yet, even though the clear plastic baseplate shield has been removed. The RRS Universal L plate works well on my M8.2 also, but it is metal to metal contact and I would expect it it mark the blackpaint baseplate eventually. If the paint system used on the M9 bodies is more durable as has been reported, this may not be as much of an issue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted December 11, 2009 Share #7 Posted December 11, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I can't see where a quick-remove baseplate would scratch any camera body - the plate is placed flat against the body and only the screw-connection moves, no? No rubbing or twisting to produce scratches. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted December 11, 2009 Share #8 Posted December 11, 2009 I still use the arca-swiss system with my bodies. With my blackpaint M8.2 I use a Wimberly universal A-S camera plate. This has a rough rubber-like surface that contacts the baseplate to prevent twisting and has not marked it yet, even though the clear plastic baseplate shield has been removed.If you use an Arca Swiss type QR clamp on your ballhead, the Wimberley universal plate that Luke mentions is an excellent solution. It is extremely well made and works really well on just about any kind of camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagsiva Posted December 11, 2009 Share #9 Posted December 11, 2009 I use the Gitzo 1550T, and it is wonderful. Small, light and has a simple head that is more than adequate for the M9...and yes pricey, but if you're into Leica, this is a bargain Gitzo | GT-1550T Traveler 6X Carbon Fiber Tripod with | GT1550T Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcg Posted December 11, 2009 Share #10 Posted December 11, 2009 I see that Luigi is advertising a bottom plate which grants access separately to battery and SDCard wihtout having to remove the whole plate. Apart from the convenience factor it seems a good move to get one of these, scratch the hell out of it if you want and then to refit the original when time comes to sell the camera on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jager Posted December 11, 2009 Share #11 Posted December 11, 2009 I can't see where a quick-remove baseplate would scratch any camera body - the plate is placed flat against the body and only the screw-connection moves, no? No rubbing or twisting to produce scratches. Quite right. Like others, I use Arca-Swiss plates (Kirk on the M8 and M9) and ballheads. No scratches. As for a tripod, I mostly use a Gitzo Traveler GT-1540T with a Markins Q3 ball head. Light, compact, it travels well on my motorcycle trips. It's a bit of overkill for an M-camera, but then almost any decent tripod is going to be. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d2mini Posted December 11, 2009 Share #12 Posted December 11, 2009 My L-plates on my dslrs actually prevent the camera from getting scratches because when i set it down it sits on the plate, not the camera bottom. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted December 11, 2009 Share #13 Posted December 11, 2009 For travel I use the Gitzo Traveler carbon fibre tripod (1550T?) with a ReallyRightStuff BH-25 small ball head on top instead of the Gitzo screw mount head. I carry a grip base with attached RRS/Kirk plate that I can quickly swap for the standard base (no plate) that I use when the camera is nestled for walk around use in it's Luigi case. Life is too short to be screwing the camera on & off of tripods, hence the plate system approach. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
40mm f/2 Posted December 11, 2009 Share #14 Posted December 11, 2009 I use a Gitzo GT 2541EX with a Arca Swiss P1 head. I use that not only for the M9 but also for large format - so a little much for a RF but a too light tripod/head which has not enough stability is not worth carrying. The new P series is far superior to any head I know (I owned Gitzo and Arca Swiss Monoball B1 before). And now there is a smaller and lighter version of it (P0) available. http://www.precisioncameraworks.com/Media/p0-eng-web.pdf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan42 Posted December 11, 2009 Share #15 Posted December 11, 2009 It may be to late for you but you could leave the film on the base plate to protect it. I did. I also left it on my M8 so when I sold it it was scratch free. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wonka Posted December 11, 2009 Author Share #16 Posted December 11, 2009 If you use an Arca Swiss type QR clamp on your ballhead, the Wimberley universal plate that Luke mentions is an excellent solution. It is extremely well made and works really well on just about any kind of camera. Thanks. I like the idea of this particular plate since it has that nice rubber coating and alleviates the need to buy so many camera specific plates. Also, thanks for all of the other responses as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckw Posted December 11, 2009 Share #17 Posted December 11, 2009 I use a Gitzo Mountaineer carbon fibre tripod with a RRS BH-55 head (that size head is admittedly overkill for a Leica). The RRS head is equipped with a quick release clamp and, of course, I use an RRS quick release plate on the camera. That works well but, despite the fact that in theory the plate is fixed firmly to the camera, the plate will move just enough to eventually mark the base plate on the Leica. I may try Nicole's idea of putting a thin piece of felt in there (thanks Nicole)! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mc_k Posted December 12, 2009 Share #18 Posted December 12, 2009 I like two-way heads and L-plates. My RSS plate has scratched the cover near the thread; not sure how because I am really careful. Supposedly a layer of cork or felt, etc. will stress the thread on some cameras and pull it out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mc_k Posted December 12, 2009 Share #19 Posted December 12, 2009 edit: re RSS plates, I can't tell after all if the cover is scratched, but the plastic protector is really messed up. Can you buy a new plastic? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BubbaandTippy Posted December 12, 2009 Share #20 Posted December 12, 2009 Has anyone used a Q-Top quick release? I've used one for years on my Mamiya 6 without scratching the camera bottom. It's small, light, german made quality, and will never release the camera accidentally. Perfect match for a Gitzo traveler tripod. Still waiting for my M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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