Tripod for M9

[leica007]

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Has anyone used :

1. Gitzo GK2580TQR Traveler Series 2, or

2. Gitzo Ocean Traveler GK1581OT tripod with their M9 or M8?

 

If yes, then please share your experience.

How is the head section?

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[250swb]

I have used the #1 Traveler and it works very well with M cameras. The fact thats its light makes for advantages (like you are more likely to carry it with you), and disadvantages (like its not very good on windy days). I chose a different make of tripod for my 'lightweight' option, but the Gitzo is still very good.

 

Steve

[leica007]

Do you use the Gitzo ballhead , or have you changed it?

 

Is it, otherwise, sturdy enough?

[geesbert]

ANY Gitzo ballhead I ever used sucked. They are great in legs, but somehow don't get their act together for heads. Do yourself a favour and get something decent like a RRS or an markin.

[Alnitak]

Do you use the Gitzo ballhead , or have you changed it?

 

Is it, otherwise, sturdy enough?

 

I try to avoid using a tripod with my M, but when I have to, I have used the #1 tripod. If I was buying today, I would get the newer one you have listed as #2. The ballhead is perfectly fine; I agree with the other poster that most Gitzo ballheads are forgettable, but replacing this one would defeat some of the compact nature of this tripod, and this head works just fine anyway.

 

Jeff

[250swb]

I didn't like the ballhead either leica007, and this dissuaded me from buying the tripod. I think the legs are OK, but as I say, I found what seemed for me a better alternative (and cheaper) in the Feisol 3441SB that matches Gitzo engineering but with a dedicated ball head with QR plate thats very smooth. I think the best you could do if going for the Gitzo is buy the Gitzo legs and another make of head. Everybody looks at the pro's and con's differently though.

 

Steve

[Gentleman Villain]

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A lot of people use Gitzo tripods with RRS heads:

Really Right Stuff Ballheads

 

RRS just came up with a new plate for the M8/M9:

Really Right Stuff releases Leica L-plate design | Leica News & Rumors

 

I've ordered a gitzo tripod with RRS head straight from RRS before and had excellent service. Don't know if that helps or not, but good luck with your search.

[Doc Henry]

... me who likes macrophotography , the tripod is essential in my opinion !

I use an old Gitzo bought up in the 1980s which is still operational !

see here a picture taken with M9 and the 90mm macroElmar :

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/nature-wildlife/121937-spring-2010-m9.html

 

It requires a solid tripod, if not with the wind, your M9 (or other M and R) may be found on the floor !

Regards

Henry

[peter_n]

OP: These are two terrific tripods. I'm a Gitzo user and I have a 1541T shipping to me, should be here in the next couple days. Avoid the Gitzo ballheads and buy Markins. I use a Linhof ballhead on my regular tripod but I've equipped it with a Markins Arca-Swiss QR clamp and like the quality of the Markins products. I'm getting a Markins Q3T ballhead for the 1541T as the ballhead was designed specifically for it with a 50mm pan base diameter and special knob placement. It will probably fit the 1581OT as well. If you decide on the 2580T look at the Markins M10 ballhead. Do you really need the 2580? The 1541T is so much lighter, and if you're getting a tripod specifically for travel you want light, right?

 

If you live in the US, take a look at the Gitzo pricing at B&H in New York, they seem to be having a sale plus a rebate as the 1541T is comparatively cheap there.

[Alnitak]

OP: These are two terrific tripods. I'm a Gitzo user and I have a 1541T shipping to me, should be here in the next couple days. Avoid the Gitzo ballheads and buy Markins. I use a Linhof ballhead on my regular tripod but I've equipped it with a Markins Arca-Swiss QR clamp and like the quality of the Markins products. I'm getting a Markins Q3T ballhead for the 1541T as the ballhead was designed specifically for it with a 50mm pan base diameter and special knob placement. It will probably fit the 1581OT as well. If you decide on the 2580T look at the Markins M10 ballhead. Do you really need the 2580? The 1541T is so much lighter, and if you're getting a tripod specifically for travel you want light, right?

 

If you live in the US, take a look at the Gitzo pricing at B&H in New York, they seem to be having a sale plus a rebate as the 1541T is comparatively cheap there.

 

Well, this is great news! I have a 1541T that I love but the ballhead was not my favorite due to having to screw it in. I also was not fond of the old QR plate from RRS. This Markins head combined with the new RRS plate will be perfect for the few times I do need a tripod!

 

Jeff

[Bill W]

I use RRS ballheads on my Gitzo pods. I also have an old Linhoff. What interest me is the RRS baseplate for he M9. You could the factory one and it would remain new.

[peter_n]

Well, this is great news! I have a 1541T that I love but the ballhead was not my favorite due to having to screw it in. I also was not fond of the old QR plate from RRS. This Markins head combined with the new RRS plate will be perfect for the few times I do need a tripod!

Jeff I don't know how many different kinds of camera plates you might be using (I use plates from several manufacturers) but I have a couple of points to make about the clamp you get. First, I still don't trust lever clamps so I'll be getting a screw clamp. However many people who buy the Markins Q3T replace the Markins clamp with a RRS B2 LR II lever clamp, but the RRS clamps don't have a spring-loaded detent pin that can stop the camera from sliding out of the clamp. Also all lever clamps come with a qualifier that they don't work well with other manufacturer's plates. Here's the text from RSS: "Choose a Lever Release clamp ONLY if you have quick release plates from Really Right Stuff or Wimberley. Lever Release clamp are not user-adjustable, and different manufacturers may follow different standards when producing Arca-Swiss compatible plates. Specifically, our Lever Release clamps do not work with plates from Markins, AcraTech, Arca-Swiss, and some Kirk plates–the dovetails are too shallow. Choose a screw-knob clamp if you have plates OTHER than those from RRS or Wimberley."

 

Now the Markins lever clamp has an adjustment screw that gives it flexibility in dealing with other manufacturers plates, but Markins still cautions customers as follows: "It is known that different brands have different sizes of Arca-Swiss style plates. Though Markins' lever release quickshoe is adaptable to accommodate different brands of plates, it won't be practical to do so in the field with mixed brands of plates. We strongly recommend to use a single brand of plates with this lever release quickshoe. With mixed brands of plates, the traditional screw-knob style quickshoe will be more flexible."

 

The problem is that the Arca-Swiss QR system isn't a standard, it's just a (very good) system that has been copied by several manufacturers. The clamp/plate dovetail angles and depths are subtly different and a lot of people have run into problems mixing clamps with plates from different manufacturers. My own experience is that the Markins QR-60 clamp works fine with the RRS L-plate I have on my Fuji S5 dSLR, so the QR-48S screw clamp that comes standard on the Q3T ballhead should work with the forthcoming RRS L-plate for the M9. You might want to check with RRS though that the dovetail on the M9 plate will have identical dimensions to the dovetail on their Nikon/Canon L-plates.

 

If you don't have a bag for your 1541T Gitzo did make a very good one but discontinued it over a year ago. I found a retailer in Australia who still stock them but they only accept PayPal for international orders. PM me if you're interested.

[Alnitak]

Thanks for the tip, Peter. I generally use RRS stuff only.

 

Jeff

[tobey bilek]

Gitzo 1228 Reporter and a Leica Ballhead.

 

Buy a cheapo and you won`t use it. Leica ballheads were made for M cameras and I have found nothing that works a well. You will not need any extra plates or anything else.

[antistatic]

I use the RRS ballhead with the Gitzo GT1541T with my MP and M2. A great travelling setup. Steady enough for a M sized camera.

[vintola]

Leica has two tripods, Trima & Trica. Are they suitable for cameras or only for Televid scopes? - vintola -

 

Leica Camera AG - Sport Optics - Digiscoping

[gwelland]

Looks like a rebranded Manfrotto to me.

 

Leica make great cameras and optics - I'd put my tripod/head money with the folks who specialize in those areas.

 

Btw, the little BH-30 looks like a nice fit for the Gitzo traveller. I use the little BH-25 - I immediately removed the Gitzo head and discarded it.

[jaapv]

I use the Gitzo 1098 with an RRS ball head. I originally got a Gitzo ball head with it but removed it after using it once. Really light and stable enough.

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[Bill W]

I use the RRS ballhead with the Gitzo GT1541T with my MP and M2. A great travelling setup. Steady enough for a M sized camera.

 

Can I ask which RRS ballhead you are using with the 1541? Does it allow you to close the tripod so tat it is compact.

[k-hawinkler]

Can I ask which RRS ballhead you are using with the 1541? Does it allow you to close the tripod so tat it is compact.

 

I use RRS BH-30-Pro http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/121163-best-compact-travel-tripod-m9.html.

 

Yes.