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Tripod Setup

rnapz

By rnapz
in Leica M9 / M-E

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rnapz

rnapz

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Hi Everyone,

 

I am finally looking to putting together my tripod setup. I am looking to mostly do landscape, architectural mixed in with quite a bit of low light photography. Hand is just not steady enough so I think its time to do this. I do require something light but functional. My current setup is M9 with the following Leica lenses: 35/2.5, 50/1.4 and 90/2.0. Looking to add either a 28/2.0 or a 24/1.4.

 

From the research I have done here, some of the components that stand out the most and what I am considering purchasing are as follows:

 

RRS BM9-B-L - for the base plate

Markins Q-Ball Q3T w/ lever release - head

 

Then one of these two:

Gitzo 1541T

Feisol CT3442

 

These seem to be very popular choices though my local camera shop warned about having a short tripod my wear me out over extended use. They are both about the same maximum height so it does worry me a bit.

 

I am open to all and any suggestions. If you are not convinced with any of the products I mentioned, please advise. Also, on my tripod selection, I really need guidance on whether what my local guy advised on. If I need to be a bit taller with it (I am 5'8" / 172.7cm), then please suggest something light weight that'll add maybe another foot in height.

 

Thanks you in advance for all of your recommendations and comments...they are very much appreciated.

 

Best Regards,

Ramon

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-ph-

-ph-

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Hi Ramon,

 

according to my passport I am 0.7 cm smaller than you :). For my M9 I bought the Gitzo 1541T with the RRS BH 30 ballhead and I also have the RSS baseplate. With the column fully extended the M9 is exactly on my eye level. I did not have the chance yet to put it through very challenging shots with the M9 so far, but my experiences are very positive. I would not like to have any lighter tripod for stability, yet it is still very lightweight (2 pounds without head). It pales a bit compared to my Gitzo 3530 LSV + BH55 setup, but it does so both in performance and size :D. I did shot the 1541 with a 150 mm lens on my Olympus E-P1 successfully (equivalent to 300mm on full frame), so any M-setup should work nicely with it.

 

Peter

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tdtaylor

tdtaylor

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I have your listed RSS base/Markins QT and Gitzo. I often find it to be a little on the short side, by the time you inevitably have to lengthen a leg or two to adjust to the terrain. But I use this setup when I travel. I don't tend to use a tripod a lot, and for the hour or two at each location I can endure it being on the short side in exchange for the short folded length and lightness (just over 2 lbs.). When local or working out of my car, I have a larger 2 series (and 3 series for my 200-400/600mm) which is much more comfortable for longer sessions- but then I don't like the weigh and length it imposes for travel.

 

If you do much landscape work, consider the pano setups with RSS- first rate.

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Your Old Dog

Your Old Dog

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I have the Gitzo G1325 and RRS BH-55 ball head.

 

The Gitzo G1325 when fully extended puts the camera at eye level for me. I do not have nor want a center column as they defeat the purpose of a tripod in part. They do not add to the stability of the sticks and in fact do the opposite. (It's about moment of arc I think they call it)

 

I have a BH-55 and love it. It's a bit bigger then the other one recommended here but offers a couple of advantages. First of all both are pricey units, may as well go all the way. Second, the BH-5 has an extremely effective friction drive that the others do not have. So when following action you can pan smoothly with it. Fourth, if you ever decide to put a really long heavy lens on it such as the Nikko 70-210 VR, the larger ball develops far more holding power. I used to close up the legs and carry it over my shoulder with my large lens and it never moved, the little ones won't do that, they come loose. And lastly, I believe you'll find the BH-55 has more supporting accessories then the others.

 

I believe the G1325 has been discontinued but I have no idea why. It is three sections and fits in a carry on suit case diagonally with the ballhead removed.

 

Carbon Fibre is much lighter but also very comfortable to carry in cold weather.

 

BH55PCL.jpg

 

The large knob on the right is the sensitive friction control. Get the BH-55 and never look back :D

 

I bought the L bracket and finger control for mine but could have done without the L part of the bracket. It adds too much bulk to this trim camera and the camers strap has to attach to it. Just get the bottom part without the verticle bracket as the BH-55 head will flip the camera vertically. It is in the foreground of this image. The part on the right end of the bracket is what I don't think you need. Note it comes with a new camera baseplate so you can keep the one that came with the camera perfect!

 

4865700030_1fc209e46d.jpg

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Your Old Dog

Your Old Dog

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I have the Gitzo G1325 and RRS BH-55 ball head.

 

The Gitzo G1325 when fully extended puts the camera at eye level for me. I do not have nor want a center column as they defeat the purpose of a tripod in part. They do not add to the stability of the sticks and in fact do the opposite. (It's about moment of arc I think they call it)

 

I have a BH-55 and love it. It's a bit bigger then the other one recommended here but offers a couple of advantages. First of all both are pricey units, may as well go all the way. Second, the BH-5 has an extremely effective friction drive that the others do not have. So when following action you can pan smoothly with it. Fourth, if you ever decide to put a really long heavy lens on it such as the Nikko 70-210 VR, the larger ball develops far more holding power. I used to close up the legs and carry it over my shoulder with my large lens and it never moved, the little ones won't do that, they come loose. And lastly, I believe you'll find the BH-55 has more supporting accessories then the others.

 

I believe the G1325 has been discontinued but I have no idea why. It is three sections and fits in a carry on suit case diagonally with the ballhead removed.

 

Carbon Fibre is much lighter but also very comfortable to carry in cold weather.

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FrankJ

FrankJ

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To gain more height in comparison to the Gitzo 1541T, take a look at the GT1541 (without the T). One gains 25cm for the fully extended tripod but it is also larger with closed legs. I have used the 1541 (without T) for more than a year with the M8/M9 for landscape und find the max. hight just perfect. (Note that the ball head adds a few cm.)

 

The G1325 was a great tripod. It is replaced by new models (with 6x carbon fiber tubes). One can choose between 3 and 4 section models. They also have LS and XLS versions for some models. For my DSLR+70-200/2.8 I use a GT3541LS which is similar to the old G1325.

 

Just looked up the numbers (max. height without ball head and hight with closed legs):

 

GT 1541T 113cm/41cm 1.0kg

GT 1541 138cm/54cm 1.12kg

GT 3541LS 146cm/55cm 1.7kg

 

With the GT3541LS + Markins ball head and DSLR, the viewfinder is 164cm above ground. This is roughly eye level for me. However, for the M9 I think the 3541 is an overkill and I am always using the 1541.

 

PS: I agree that center columns should not be used/considered. Often I hang my bag on the (supplied) hook under the base of the tripod.

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vladik

vladik

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Hello Ramon,

Re: Ball head for M9: In my experience you do not need monster ballhead like RRS BH-55 for your M9 setup. It is a fantastic ballhead if you are to use it for 'heavy altirelly' 400 mm + lenses with heavy DSLR body. I had one and sold it and got a RRS BH-40. Even this one is a overkill, so I am using old light Schianski ballhead. If I were you I would get a RRS BH-30 Pro with B2 mAS. That and a RRS M9 baseplate would make a great combo. Tripod? Get a carbon fiber one that suite your height, central column is not a sin as long as you take precaution i.e. not extending it fully with your heavy lens in windy condition.

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Manolo Laguillo

Manolo Laguillo

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In my opinion the central column is a must have. With it you can fine tune the height quickly, without it you arrive at the height you want only by extending more or less the legs. Okay, spreading them out or bringing them together is another way of finely adjusting the camera's height.

I worked for decades with view cameras, which means exposure times of 1/10 or longer in the outside with cloudy weather, and all my tripods had always a central column. The only thing is to avoid using the column fully out, as Vladik states.

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rnapz

rnapz

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Thank you everyone for all of your suggestions. I went ahead and picked up the 1541T + Markins Q3T (red with lever release) and the RRS base plate only (no bracket). Seems to be a pretty solid combo all around. I am only shooting with the M9...no DSLR's here so I am not to concerned with handling too big of equipment.

 

Again, thank you for all your responses.

 

Best Regards,

Ramon

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geesbert

geesbert

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I confess: I have too many tripods.

 

I don't really want to count them, but it must be close to ten. I earn my livelyhood with my camera mounted on a tripod.

 

I started cheap and, of course ended up buying the good stuff after realising thet the cheap stuff doesn't cut it.

 

today I use three tripods:

 

for the big cameras i use a Gitzo 3541XLS with a geared column and a photoclam multiflex. Contrary to what is written so often on the web, my experience tells me that having a 4-section leg and an extendable centre column is very advisable, because when you need it you have it, but when you want absolute stability, do not extend it and use a sandbag on the centre column hook, so it gets rock solid. Of course this setup is total overkill for the M.

 

on the opposite side of the size spectrum I have a 1541T with a RRS BH-25 head with classical screw mounting. It is totaly useless for any DSLR in my opinion, but works very well for the M in landscape orientation, not so well in portrait. I always use a cable release or the self timer. its portability really makes me grab it more often than my mid size setup:

 

a Gitzo 2830 Basalt with a RRS BH-40, with a Arca-style clamp and the RRS generic L-plate which fits the M just perfectly. I think the BM9 adds bulk without much advantage, the generic one is good enough. all my other cameras have the fitting RRS L-plates.

 

If I had only one setup, I'd go for the last one, its a perfect allrounder.

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k-hawinkler

k-hawinkler

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I have two tripods:

 

• Gitzo GT3541XLS tripod with RRS BH-55 ballhead

• Gitzo GT-1541T Traveler with RRS BH-30-Pro

 

The first one is heavy but rock solid. The second light and easy to carry.

I happen to prefer the GT3541XLS, even for the M9, if I don't have to carry it too far (less than 30 minutes one way).

 

I just ordered the Walkstool recommended in thread #13.

 

K-H.

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