bessa/tripod marriage issue

[barefoot]

I haven't found much in the way of tripod discussion in regard to this, so I'll post up here to see if anybody has any experience to lend:

What I found with my Bessa R4a and CV40/1.4 is that with a normal sized tripod attachment, it fouls the focus tab and prevents it from using the full focus range. (I suspect this will be the case with any tabbed lens)

Can anybody recommend a tripod ball head with a small enough attachment plate/area/thingy so that this is not a problem? Or should I just get a Leica body with the offset attachment location?

 

[ferider]

Reallyrightstuff has some quick release plates that can be shifted back enough so that your problem will go away. You can then pick any fitting head.

The other option might be a Bessa grip, lifting the body far enough. Not sure about this, don't have my Bessas anymore to try.

Roland.

 

[newspaperguy]

OMG - don't do that! (Just kidding)

But that off-set screwhole is a bitch (not kidding)

What kind of a head are you using now? Which tripod?

I think ferider has the right approach - any of the small quick release mounts will probably take care of the problem.

 

[barefoot]

Actually, what I used was one of those flexible minipods - the heavy-duty one made for dslr's.
@ferider: I don't really like quick release plates (what if I have two bodies?), but if that's the only way .... surely that's not the only way.
@newspaperguy: Why is the offset difficult? (I see a Leica body at some point in my future anyways).
Thanks for your responses!

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Funny, hadn't noticed it as I don't use a tripod much. Just checked my R4A on the two tripods I have.
The older (Velbon) tripod has a slotted plate that allows the camera to be moved to the end of the slot and it clears the tab. Downside is that you're using the tripod head at 90 degrees to what was intended but it's manageable.
The newer tripod has the quick mount plates and it (just) clears the tab but it's not that convenient either.

There must be a tripod head around that would work. I have a rather old tripod head attachment that is simply a ball and socket and a clamp that works on the ball. The support plate is no wider than the base of the camera and would work fine in this situation - maybe that's what you need to look for. (The side of the socket is slotted so that you can move the camera to vertical format).

Suggest you cruise the internet and look at the range of tripods offered by the major manufacturers such as Manfrotto etc. find what you need, then look for the USA distributor to make further enquiries.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

@ferider: I don't really like quick release plates (what if I have two bodies?)

Duh! Buy an extra plate! I have an R4A and R3A and that's what I did.

 

[newspaperguy]

barefoot: the off-set is awkward. You swivel too fast one way, too slow the other (or too wide & too tight). Many (some) users opt for a plate they attach to the body to center the tripod. Nikon & Canon both made these for their offset models. Dunno Leitz. I used a Nikon plate designed (I think) for a N-2020.
PS - Extra QR plates are cheap. Get several.

 

[barefoot]

There must be a tripod head around that would work. I have a rather old tripod head attachment that is simply a ball and socket and a clamp that works on the ball. The support plate is no wider than the base of the camera and would work fine in this situation - maybe that's what you need to look for. (The side of the socket is slotted so that you can move the camera to vertical format).

Yeah, that's kind of pod head I was thinking about. Was hoping someone here with Bessa experience could point out a specific model.

Suggest you cruise the internet and look at the range of tripods offered by the major manufacturers such as Manfrotto etc. find what you need, then look for the USA distributor to make further enquiries.

Well, it's hard to tell from the pictures how large the mount area is, but I'll continue on that course.

 

[barefoot]

Duh! Buy an extra plate! I have an R4A and R3A and that's what I did.

Hm - that thought had occurred to me, but I've never seen quick-release plates sold separately. Still not my favorite option because it adds bulk to the body (especially a small body like the Bessa) and makes camera-case ingress/egress more difficult. (yeah, I guess I want it all, and world peace, too)

edit: And perhaps, I just haven't seen what y'all are working with - all the QR plates I've seen are large and clunky. I'll look around, but let me know if I'm overlooking a specific product/solution.

 

[VictorM.]

The Nikon FE had a similar problem so Nikon included a rubber spacer along with the body. It's 48mm in diameter and 2.5mm thick. It fits over the tripod screw.

 

[JFH]

I asked pretty much the same question some time ago.. There's not much available out there, so I made my own plate attachment for a Manfrotto plate which raises the camera and moves it forward.

Pics are here:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52984&page=22

See message #545. One of my rare and apparently not terribly significant contributions ot this board. this didn't seem to arouse much interest at the time, which may indicate that not too many members here use tripods, or that not too many consider this to be a problem.

Nonetheless, on the rare occasions when I've used a tripod with this camera, it's worked well.
JFH