Lightweight travel tripod - Gitzo carbon fiber

[k_l1]

I need a lightweight travel tripod that's sturdy enough to support a M6, Contax G1 & T3 If possible, I'd like to get

something that comes up close to eye level (about 5'8", in my case). I'm thinking a lightweight Gitzo carbon fiber G1127 and appreciate some suggestion on which type of head ball in this situation.

 

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Also, can anyone point me to a web resource for translating all these tripod model numbers into sizes, prices, etc.?

[geddert]

KL,

 

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I would go with the lightweight Gitzo CF's... and I have a G1128

(four leg sections instead of 3 on the G1127) that has never been

taken out of the house... i intended to use it with small cameras,

but have found that i only need a tripod for my SLR system... if i

need a small camera i don't want a tripod. Thus I am selling mine...

and will be selling it on Auction for America (all proceeds go to the

Red Cross)... if you are interested in buying it, it is truly in new

shape (only used around the house a few times) for testing with the

original box and all that. I have found that a Leica large ball and

socket is the best ballhead for this legset (which has a socket that

can be reversed for this smaller size as well as the normal one -

i.e. Arca Swiss B1). The Leica Large ball is the best lightweight

ballhead you can buy (in my opinion)... the only disadvantage is that

it doesn't have tension, which really isn't much of a problem unless

you are shooting animals or sports with long tele lenses. If you want

to dontate $450 to the Red Cross, i will ship it to you in the

Contitnetal US (please only do this if this is above and beyond what

you would have donated to charity anyways... otherwise the charity

simply looses out on the value of the tripod)... i have references in

photo.net's User Recommendation section. Gitzo's website is at

www.gitzo.com... prices can be found at the standard in US

photographic suppliers: www.bhphotovideo.com... or also

www.robertwhite.co.uk, which tends to have good prices (i bought mine

there, but you have to remember to add shipping - about $60 - and

import fees, which vary with the value of the order).

 

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If you have any more questions please don't hessitate to ask.

 

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Matthew

[michael_kastner]

Just a few other tips as I like carrying the same type of thing on

my bike for the best shots early in the morning or late in the evening

and I don't have any 'luxes and I don't like high speed films. If you

really need a Gitzo carbon, get one. For me they are, yes, very light,

but too expensive and not especially small (for my back-pack). I once

had a Gitzo, which always hurt my hand while screwing the legs (oops)

but traded it in for my present day Manfrotto 290. Height about 5 feet

plus topping, my favourite of which is Linhof's Profi Ballhead II.

Check out <U><FONT COLOR="#3333FF"><A

HREF="http://www.manfrotto.com">http://www.manfrotto.com</A></FONT></U

>. They too make carbons. If you're really interested in really small

pods, I can't help recommending you also check out Leica's own

Tablelap tripod (14100) plus head (14110). See <U><FONT

COLOR="#3333FF"><A

HREF="http://www.leica-camera.com/produkte/msystem/m6ttl/zubehoer/stat

iv/index_e.html">http://www.leica-camera.com/produkte/msystem/m6ttl/zu

behoer/stativ/index_e.html</A></FONT></U>. It's amazing how solid and

universal this baby is, against your chest, against the tree, on the

fence etc etc. It's expensive because it's Leica. Also don't forget

Really Right Stuff's Body Plate B30. Mounts your M6 dead center. Best

quality and best service. See <U><FONT COLOR="#3333FF"><A

HREF="http://www.reallyrightstuff.com">http://www.reallyrightstuff.com

</A></FONT></U>

 

<P>Lot's of luck. Mike

[glenn_travis]

One of the best lightweight tripods I've found is the Gitzo 026. It's

next in line after their tabletop. And a Gitzo 1175 Ballhead. Once

you learn to use this combo, it's very lightweight, compact, and

rigid. Total should run you about $200.

[javier]

Most of my photographs are taken during trekking in remote areas, so

weight and portability is an issue for me. You can get any small

tripod if you only want to hold the camera, but if you need a serious,

flexible and portable support I have found that Giottos 1128 is

excellent (but expensive). It is tall enough under most circumstances

and also very solid and flexible if you want to take macro pictures or

mountaineering pictures in extreme slopes or for photographing small

waterfalls if you have to be into the water and with rocks around you.

I use this tripod for my R6.2 and my only two lenses (50mm 2f and

100mm APO 2.8f) but it is solid enough even for medium format (I

believe). I also use Giottos MH1001 ball-head and Giottos

plate-release, they are well made, solid, reliable and they will not

ruin your account. I have removed the tension knob of this ball-head

because I do not find it useful, so you could go for a Giottos

ball-head without tension knob which is slightly cheaper.

Some people say that click leg stops are faster than screwed legs, I

find screwed legs more reliable and compact and not a problem once you

get use to them.

For my sort of photography (90% of my trekking photos are taken with

tripod and many kilometres away from transport) a tripod like this is

convenient, but before buying such an expensive toy, first think of

what you require.

[timothy_nelson]

Here's an alternative suggestion: instead of a monopod or small tripod

for travel, consider packing a beanbag. There's almost always some

solid support you can locate to plop it on. I used to bring a small

tripod for travel, a table top tripod when cycling, etc. However, I've

found if I can just squash a side or corner or bottom of the camera

onto a vibration-damping beanbag, long exposures are no problem.

Probably at least as steady as a monopod, which you need to hold steady

in any case. If there is no obvious support around--a tree, a bench, a

fence, a wall--you can just cushion your camera against a beanbag on

your chest or face. I know it sounds silly, but the inertia of the bag

still does the job. I make "beanbags" filled with linseed, dry lentils,

or small grain--it's easy to tell when the material damps vibration.

The bag packs anywhere, of course.

[jeff_stuart]

FWIW, with the M6 and other light gear I use the Linhof Universal

Ballhead-I ($93) with the Really Right Stuff (805-528-6321) B2 clamp

($76) and B30 plate ($73). (Prices are approximate + shipping.)

 

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The UB-I ballhead is smaller than the Profi�s (which are also a nice

ballheads.) It is inexpensive, smooth, locks solidly and pans with

the ball locked. It is not for heavy cameras or long lenses though.

 

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Good luck, happy shooting,

Jeff

[jackflesher]

I use a Gitzo 1248 - it is only a few ounces heavier, extends taller,

and supports significantly more weight than the 1128, yet still fits

in a standard 22" carry-on. For the head, I use a Gitzo 2 series

ballhead, which is also very lightweight.

[jay_.]

I also use the Gitzo 026 for the Leica M. The only problem with this

tripod is that to reach eye-level requires extending the two-section

center column, which almost equals again the height of the legs up to

the yoke. Thus, you have to use a cable release and block any wind

with your body, or make like a wildlife photographer and keep your

face in contact with the camera and left hand resting passively on

top, to absorb any vibrations. Many times I get away with not

extending the center column at all, and just get down on my

knees...this provided nothing is blocking my view from that low

height. I also always carry a Leica table tripod, which except in

rural areas, I always seem to be able to find something to brace it

against or set it on. I own a Gitzo CF 1228, but I have never used

it with Leica M, nor would I ever consider carrying the two

together. If I have the gumption to carry a full-sized tripod, I'll

carry a 35mm SLR at the very least.

[javier]

Sorry for the above mistake, I meant "Gitzo 1128" instead of "Giotto

1128"!!