biswasg Posted December 6, 2011 Share #41 Â Posted December 6, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am considering the. Giottos MT-8240B carbon-fibre primarily for its attractive price, half that of Gitzo 1542. Would appreciate if anyone who has experience using it with a Leica. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 6, 2011 Posted December 6, 2011 Hi biswasg, Take a look here Help Please with Tripod Recommendations. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Studio58 Posted December 6, 2011 Share #42 Â Posted December 6, 2011 Gitzo make a great tripod. I purchase one recently for my video work, attached is a Sachler head. The sticks are carbon fibre as I wanted to keep the weight down. It is so well made and the carbon fibre construction seems to significantly reduce the weight (relative to similar non carbon models). Hey, when you are lugging these things around all day, + cameras... every ounce makes a difference. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted December 6, 2011 Share #43  Posted December 6, 2011 I am considering the. Giottos MT-8240B carbon-fibre primarily for its attractive price, half that of Gitzo 1542. Would appreciate if anyone who has experience using it with a Leica.Giottos make nice stuff but I can't find the spec of the tripod however it is 23.3" folded without a head on it. That's terribly long. I would look for a quality folding tripod; my carbon fiber Benro is 17.5" long with a Markins Q3T ballhead on it. It's more than stable enough for a Leica, weighs only 2.7 lbs and takes standard 3/8-16 threaded spikes from Benro, Gitzo & RRS. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/165990-help-please-with-tripod-recommendations/?do=findComment&comment=1863742'>More sharing options...
biswasg Posted December 6, 2011 Share #44 Â Posted December 6, 2011 I can't find the spec of the tripod however it is 23.3" folded without a head on it. Â The folded length of the Giottos is 52cm (21") still longer than the Benro, but weighs only 1Kg (.22Kg or 1/2lb) less than the Benro. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted December 7, 2011 Share #45 Â Posted December 7, 2011 Gautam I got the folded length from on online source (B&H?). The weight is good but that probably also means smaller diameter leg sections all other things being equal. I use Leica, Rolleiflex, Fuji and Fotoman 617 panoramic cameras on my travel tripod which has pretty beefy legs as you can see from the pic. There's a theory that if you have a light camera you can use a light tripod but I've not found that to be the case. I actually use a Leica on a Gitzo series-3 systematic sometimes. The camera looks absolutely ridiculous sitting on top of it but very long exposures at night are perfect! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
biswasg Posted December 7, 2011 Share #46 Â Posted December 7, 2011 The weight is good but that probably also means smaller diameter leg sections all other things being equal. ..... There's a theory that if you have a light camera you can use a light tripod but I've not found that to be the case. I actually use a Leica on a Gitzo series-3 systematic sometimes. Â Dear Peter, I very much appreciate your comments which are very pertinent. I already ordered teh Giottos MT8240B yesterday primarily for its price and weight. I already have a Gitzo 3 series systematic- the 3540 probably. I was looking for one primarily for some night shots during my travels and something that will fit in my carryon baggage. Let me see if it is worth its weight and price! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantice Posted December 8, 2011 Share #47  Posted December 8, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) This won't help Stephen, but it may help some of youin the future. Really Right Stuff is introducing a new smaller, lighter weight tripod (probably) for Christmas.  Its the TQC-14. It weights 2.6 pounds and its four sections extend to 59 inches, without a head. It folds to just under 18 inches. Yes, it's Carbon Fiber and supports up to 25 pounds. The price hasn't been announced yet but its in their RRS 2012 catalog on pages 12 & 13. http://reallyrightstuff.com/mmRRS/Others/ReallyRightStuff2012.pdf  Thanks for the info~! I have been using TVC-24 lightly and found their tripod to be very robust.  Hopefully this series-1 can be a break-through in terms of stability - otherwise It make more sense to get other cheaper brand if stability is approximately the same and get RRS for more heavier duties (I use it for Leica R) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted December 8, 2011 Author Share #48 Â Posted December 8, 2011 Just a quick note that I am loving my Gitzo 1542. It's strong and light, and the locking rings are robust, solid, and operate freely. Â My only small complaint is that I also purchased the Gitzo GC1201T case, which is extremely well made but too small. It will only just hold the tripod, without ball head. There is an external pocket, but it is too small for anything except a handkerchief. Â Stephen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbroad@777 Posted December 8, 2011 Share #49 Â Posted December 8, 2011 Quality wise go for Gitzo. I used until now solid but lighter weight Gitzo G1227 carbon fibre tripod. Gitzos are super sturdy it can hold my biggest view camera solidly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billib Posted December 8, 2011 Share #50 Â Posted December 8, 2011 Just a quick note that I am loving my Gitzo 1542. It's strong and light, and the locking rings are robust, solid, and operate freely.Stephen Any photos with your M9 mounted on top??? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted December 8, 2011 Share #51  Posted December 8, 2011 Just a quick note that I am loving my Gitzo 1542. It's strong and light, and the locking rings are robust, solid, and operate freely. My only small complaint is that I also purchased the Gitzo GC1201T case, which is extremely well made but too small. It will only just hold the tripod, without ball head. There is an external pocket, but it is too small for anything except a handkerchief.  Stephen  I use the Tamarac tripod case, I believe it was the medium sized one, from B&H. It holds even my 254X Gitzo with RRS head attached. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted December 10, 2011 Share #52  Posted December 10, 2011 I already ordered teh Giottos MT8240B yesterday... Let me see if it is worth its weight and price! Good luck with your purchase, Gautam! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your Old Dog Posted December 14, 2011 Share #53  Posted December 14, 2011 Well, I'm tall in China!!! Actually I'm 5'8, so I imagine that I don't need the world's tallest tripod. I do agree that "stooping" (is that a real word?) isn't much fun.  At this point I'm really leaning toward the Gitzo traveler 1542, but I have no idea which ball head to get. The arca-swiss P0 has been mentioned several times, but seems like overkill for the M9 (and also seems on the large size). Rick has suggested the "standard" Gitzo head, and I'm thinking this might be the best way to go.  Honestly, I'm really confused by all the different models of ball heads. It seems the major differentiator is weight capacity, but as the M9 doesn't weigh much I'm concerned my choice is going to be "overkill". I see now why people buy the Benro. It's carbon, comes with a reasonable ball head, and at a good price. It's the easy choice, but my gut feeling is that it's not the best choice in the long run. I just need to figure out what to put on top of the Gitzo...  I really appreciate all the comments so far. I'm close to a decision, just trying not to make the wrong one. I don't think I will go wrong with Gitzo 1542 and...what ball head???  Stephen  I have the BH55 on my Gitzo. I bought it when I was shooting a Nikon D200 with 70-200 lens and it worked great. I'd like to get a BH30 for a better match with my M9 but I don't get enough use out of it to justify the expenditure. I now shoot a Canon 5DII with a 100-400 and I know my BH55 will once again earn it's keep. It's an awesum setup for heavy camera/lens but overkill on the M9. If you don't also have a big clunky SLR I'd go with the BH30 and an L bracket. JMHO  FWIW, the BH55 does have a clutch type setting so you don't have to keep unlocking the head to readjust and it's a really nice feature. You can readjust the camera, let go and it stays there. I don't think you can do that with the BH30? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted December 18, 2011 Share #54 Â Posted December 18, 2011 It's an awesum setup for heavy camera/lens but overkill on the M9.I don't believe there's such a thing as overkill when it comes to support systems. My favorite rig for long exposure night-time shots with an M is a series-3 Gitzo systematic with an Arca-Swiss Z1 on it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
seezee Posted August 30, 2012 Share #55  Posted August 30, 2012 BTW the Gitzo bag is really cheap, it's almost paper.My 1542T came with what appears to be a Tyvek bag — lightweight & thin, but strong. BTW, I want to throw in with those who recommended the Gitzo 1542T + Arca-Swiss P0 combination. I've reviewed it here. Comments welcome. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted August 30, 2012 Share #56 Â Posted August 30, 2012 I don't believe there's such a thing as overkill when it comes to support systems. Â Oh ? May I introduce to my super LF pod? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted August 31, 2012 Share #57  Posted August 31, 2012 I just checked this thread and I'm amazed that there are that many people here that do use (and carry!) tripods. I have not used a tripod since I stopped using medium format cameras. If necessary, I steady my camera with the strap – I learned to use sling support during my sniper training.  But up along the Lapland trails, we could spot a German hiker at a mile because he was carrying a tripod. Nobody else ever did. So there's a market …  The old man from the age of the Black Focusing Cloth Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpattison Posted August 31, 2012 Share #58  Posted August 31, 2012 Hey Lars, I hope you weren't spotting him through your gun sight  John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted August 31, 2012 Share #59 Â Posted August 31, 2012 Those surprised that so many still use tripods probably limit themselves to relatively faster shutter speeds, or they would understand the need for stability at slower shutter speeds. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted August 31, 2012 Share #60 Â Posted August 31, 2012 I have two tripods. I used to have three but my Cullmann Magic with twisty telescopic-legs was stolen during a burglary in my Sarajevo apartment. Can't say I miss it because it wasn't very stable. Â Currently I have a Manfrotto 055 XPROB and a Manfrotto Digi 724B (I also have a Manfrotto Monopod 434B but I never use it). Â The 724B is fairly light and small (1,3kg and 48cm folded), made of aluminium with clip-locks. I don't believe that the head is removable. With an M it would be stable enough but for the EOS equipment I used when I bought it (a 1N, sometimes with booster, plus long primes) it was inadequate. Â The 055 is a bigger tripod which is very versatile. It has a center column which can be placed horizontally and thus extend the camera away from the center of the tripod. The legs can be split very wide to allow ground-level (10cm) shooting. I find this a sturdy tripod. The legs also have pre-set angles which makes it even sturdier. It is aluminium, 68cm closed, and weighs 2,4kg. Â I will use a tripod when shooting studio work at home but I never bring them with me when I go out to photograph. I brought one with me to Africa a few years ago and it stayed in the Land Cruiser all the time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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