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eskil_hess

By eskil_hess
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eskil_hess

eskil_hess

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<p>Hi guys!<br /><br /><br />I was going to buy myself a Manfrotto yesterday, but then my dad said to me: why aren't you using my tripod? It's a good one!<br /><br /><br />So now I wonder if I can trust this tripod with my expensive equipment. The name is LEICA Goodman SLIK.<br /><br /><br />There is some kind of thumbscrew that you screw up your camera, and then this is like "docked" in to the tripod.</p>

<p>Here is two pictures</p>

<p>http://i.imgur.com/I3jwF.jpg<br>

<a href="http://i.imgur.com/qYt0z.jpg">http://i.imgur.com/qYt0z.jpg</a></p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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Andrew Garrard

Andrew Garrard

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<p>I defer to those with experience of this tripod (it didn't occur to me that I might hear "Leica" and "Slik" in the same sentence), but it's rare for a tripod to be so inept that it'll actually drop equipment, if we're talking "trust". (It's only really expensive Gitzos that do that, as far as I can tell!) I don't see any harm in trying it and seeing whether it'll hold everything.<br />

<br />

What's your equipment? "Really expensive" might mean a Leica M + noctilux (I'd be astonished if this tripod wasn't perfectly adequate) or a single-digit DSLR with an 800 f/5.6 on it (I'd be astonished if this tripod <i>was</i> perfectly adequate, although it's a bit hard to tell scale).</p>

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Andrew Garrard

Andrew Garrard

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<p>My Google-fu is failing to find any existence of this tripod - so I'll be interested in knowing about its history. The red spot on the head is a nice touch...<br />

<br />

I'd suggest that you might find the pan-tilt (video-style) head a little frustrating after a bit, and it does look a little flimsy, but if it's free then I don't see any harm in trying it out. I've used a ZipShot that I'm sure is far more flimsy with a big DSLR and lens, although very carefully and in good conditions (and I kept the strap around my neck just in case). I'd doubt it's going to drop your camera, the worst that <i>should</i> happen is that it'll produce blurred images because it's not stable enough.</p>

 

<blockquote>My equipment is from Canon.</blockquote>

 

<p>That, unfortunately, doesn't narrow it down much. This tripod should easily hold an s100, I'm sure it would be fine with a G12, it'd probably be okay with a low-end DSLR with the kit lens, I think you'd be asking for trouble with a 5D + 70-200, I'd not go near it with a 600 f/4. What's the biggest camera/lens (if they're separate) combination that you're thinking of putting on it?</p>

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Matthew Currie

Matthew Currie

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<p>First of all, if I'm looking at the pictures correctly, this tripod has a 3/8 inch screw for old Leicas, probably why it's relabeled. You'd need an adapter for modern cameras, and that will add to the instability. </p>

<p>I have an old tripod very similar to this, except with a standard screw. As others have said, I don't think it will actually drop your camera on the ground if you're careful, but it will be poor support, and because the head is a video style head you will need to adjust the tripod legs themselves to get a level horizon. That can become frustrating in a hurry if you move around a lot. </p>

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eskil_hess

eskil_hess

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<p>Okey guys, I have taken some more photos. Looks very good to me. I am sorry, it is a SLIK GOODMAN DELUXE, not a Leica. </p>

<p><a href="http://i.imgur.com/32kwn.jpg">http://i.imgur.com/32kwn.jpg</a><br>

<a href="http://i.imgur.com/38AeK.jpg">http://i.imgur.com/38AeK.jpg</a><br>

<a href="http://i.imgur.com/wK15h.jpg">http://i.imgur.com/wK15h.jpg</a><br>

sorry about the second picture, sucky quality. </p>

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Andrew Garrard

Andrew Garrard

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<p>That's less confusing, although still interesting to know that the Leica exists!<br />

<br />

Well, it looks like it's holding your camera without dropping it - although a 70-200 f/4 is on the upper end of lenses that don't have their own foot, so I'd be careful it's locked down tightly before leaving the head to hold it. If it lets go, my experience of these things is that it's likely to sag gently (slip rather than break), so hopefully nothing should be hurt.<br />

<br />

I do agree that you might get frustrated by the choice of head quite fast, though. Whether you want an upgrade depends how much time you spend using a tripod - perhaps try it for a bit and see how you do?<br />

<br />

Tip (unless you just staged this for the photo): it's normal to have the panning handle on the head pointing towards you, the opposite way from the lens. This looks as though, on that head, it might be more stable (the centre of gravity in your first shot is quite off to one side) - it also stops the handle being in your shots, and means you can reach it from behind the camera. The trick is not to stab yourself with it when trying to look through the viewfinder.<br />

<br />

Otherwise, a 055 is a very good tripod (I have a 055CXPro3 - the carbon ones are a bit stiffer as well as being lighter, but the metal ones are pretty good too and half the price). Budget for a good head for it. I'm currently getting around to giving a Triopo ball head (very cheap and solid, but I can't vouch for the ergonomics, especially until I've put a proper quick-release on it) a proper review, but I suspect most cheap ball heads are okay (and better for photographic use than a pan/tilt) if you don't mind a little sag and never put anything enormous on it. I spent a long time being reasonably happy with a Giottos head, whose ergonomics I preferred to the Manfrotto equivalent, but YMMV. See <a href="http://www.bythom.com/support.htm">Thom's</a> article on tripods if you'd like to be scared about larger equipment. I didn't believe him, and should have done.</p>

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Andrew Garrard

Andrew Garrard

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<p>Peter - it's true that this is sometimes a problem. I've had star photos where I've had to do this with the semi-pan/tilt head that came on the Manfrotto Modo - though I was usually using a long enough lens that the handle wasn't in the shot. I've no idea whether some pan/tilt heads have a more symmetrical range of movement. Generally, though, it goes the other way - it's intended to give a nice long lever for smooth panning of video shots. For still images, you've got a perfectly good grip on the camera that you can use for pointing the thing (especially if you use a collar on the lens), and handles just get in the way.<br />

<br />

Eskil: Feel free to ask questions, that's why we're here. And I don't claim to be an expert, just someone who saw the question and thought "I might be able to contribute here". I suspect it's a very poor head clamp if it's possible for the camera to fall off it in normal use (with the Gitzos I mentioned above, the whole apex plate can fall off if you put the tripod on your shoulder and let the camera dangle - you probably shouldn't try that with yours, but it's not "normal use"). I might worry about the tripod overbalancing (does it have a hook so you can tie a weight under it for stability?) or rocking in the wind, but actually letting go of your kit seems unlikely. However, you have access to the tripod, so you may see a point of weakness that I don't - and it's not my equipment that's at risk!<br />

<br />

So the tripod may not be <i>effective</i>, but I think it'll be <i>safe</i>, at least if you make sure it doesn't overbalance. I'm sure it'll be better than nothing. I'd be surprised if a 055 + a decent head wasn't better, but it's up to you to decide where you want to put your money!</p>

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Andrew Garrard

Andrew Garrard

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<p>Hi Eskil. I'm not sure that's the same tripod, I'm afraid - I wouldn't read too much into whether its specs match yours. Still, for what it's worth, most tripods will go <i>way</i> over their stated weight limit before actually collapsing, so I still think your kit will be safe.<br />

<br />

The 055XProB is a decent (and popular) set of legs - it was what I was considering until I tried the carbon fibre version next to it and decided that it was worth the premium (possibly a mistake now I'm looking at spending even more on a yet bigger tripod).<br />

<br />

I've no experience of the 498RC2, but I'm sure it'll be fine with the kind of load you're considering. I have a <a href="http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-giottos-mh1311-652-ball-head/p1523315">Giottos</a> system that doesn't seem to be listed on B&H, just because I preferred the ergonomics to the Manfrotto heads when I tried them - it would certainly hold your camera, although like most cheap heads it sags a little when you tighten it on a heavy load. If you con stretch to them, B&H has equivalent Giottos heads that use Arca-Swiss-compatible plates [the closest to mine is #GIMH1300657, though #GIMH55501 is very similar and cheaper], which you might find useful for compatibility if you extend your system, but they carry a bit of a premium unfortunately - though you can always get an Arca-compatible clamp from ebay and replace whatever's on it separately. I'm still awaiting such a clamp for my Triopo, after which I'll have a better idea of whether to recommend it (without the QR clamp, I really don't). But, as I say, I have no reason to think the 498RC2 wouldn't suffice, at least on specs.</p>

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