retinax
Well-known
As of late I've convinced myself I need a tripod, mostly for medium format use, but occasionally a 135 camera might end up on it. The longest lenses I use are 100 mm in 135 and 150 mm on 645. This is a bit of a summary of my current thoughts on tripods, as well as a casual, preliminary review of the two I now have. Maybe it's of interest to some who are setting out on the same journey, maybe it's just a starting point to discuss all things tripod all over again.
As I researched my options, I soon understood what everyone who's been there will tell you, it's all about compromises. I came to the conclusion that I probably would need one tripod for higher performance, and a eventually a lighter one for travel. I didn't want to spend a lot of money and even more, wanted to be able to sell again without much loss in case it would turn out to be less than ideal, so waiting for a good price on something used was my game.
A little while ago I snatched a Gitzo 1227 Mk 2 for a price I couldn't refuse. That's an older carbon fiber 3 section tripod which weights about 1.5 KG and goes tall enough, with the center column, that a reasonably tall person doesn't need to bend down to look through an eye level finder, and with the center column down, it's still too tall to use a waist level finder comfortably. So it's not super compact, but pretty light weight to carry around (which was important because it will be carried on foot and on bicycle a lot) while it should be stable enough for medium format with not too long lenses. I'm very impressed with the build quality. The crinkle paint finish on the alu parts is to die for. I like that it only has 3 leg sections. The savings in length/volume with the 4 section sister model 1228 wouldn't be much, but that has thinner bottom leg sections, and one has to operate three more leg locks! This tripod doesn't have interchangeable feet, so no option to mount spikes or even simply replace the hardened rubber feet. That's the only negative I've found so far. That, and that it sheds some carbon fibers through the tiniest scratches and dings; there isn't much of a protective coat over the CF. These fibers sometimes cause some itching in my hands. Maybe I'll put some tube insulation on the top sections, that will also cushion them when carrying it on my back.
Then I've snatched a Sirui T1204X for a travel tripod. It obviously wasn't urgent, I'm not traveling any time soon, but I fished it from the bay at a great price. It arrived in the mail today, so everything here is just preliminary, I haven't used it yet. It's only about 800 g. This one isn't made any more, the current 1204 is heavier, as are all the current models compared to their numerical predecessors; I assume they're also more stable, so one could move down a size, but that will also be a shorter tripod! Compared to the Gitzo, it feels like a toy. Not only is it lighter, it also feels a lot more plastic-y. Part of that is thanks a protective coat over the CF, yay! Of course it's a lot more wobbly as well. This isn't one of the super tiny travel tripods they also make, at least the bottom leg sections on this one are 15mm. I don't want to know what those with 9-13mm sections feel like. Its size is such that without center column extended, it has the right height for WLF use. I'll need to explore if extending the center column is more stable than extending the thin bottom leg sections. This tripod has some cute functions, the leg angle adjustment is spring loaded, which makes it quicker to use than the Gitzo, but that's also much more needed, as the logs fold over the head for compact transport, which itself is pretty neat. The leg locks work well, and the legs don't rotate, so one can tighten one of the lower sections while the upper sections are loose. The locks contain a plastic sleeve that looks and feels a little fragile.
This one also doesn't have interchangeable feet, on a travel tripod I think that's fine, I suspect with spikes one might run into trouble trying to take it as cabin luggage anyway.
I think I can trust this one with TLRs or shorter lens 135 stuff as long as there isn't much wind.
I'm not sure if this one will see much use, maybe I'll even sell it again. I'll use mostly MF if I carry a tripod already, and only the bigger, heavier tripod is high enough to comfortably use an eye level finder, which is all my 135mm cameras have! I might accept bending down on 135 if I want to save weight, but mostly I'll continue to use 135 hand held and use the light tripod only for TLRs, if at all.
Now here's a little comparison of the leg locks. Note that this doesn't necessarily apply to current models.
Gitzo's are clearly better, even if they don't have the anti-rotation feature. They're much smoother, and the bushings seem more stable than the plastic parts in the Sirui. Although they also contain two parts that will wear and eventually need replacement, they seem to me like they'd last much longer. That being said, both types are easy enough to open and clean for the user, without tools. The lack of anti-rotation is a non-issue on 3 section legs, but for more sections I think I'd still prefer the locks on this older Gitzo (newer ones have anti-rotation, and probably still all the good things about mine apply to them). I wouldn't put any weight on anti-rotation locks when deciding on a tripod, but apparently some people hate twist locks and for those people, the anti-rotation feature could be an improvement. But I think it's more likely those people have never used really good twist locks. Maybe I have never used good lever locks, but I much prefer twist locks over those I have used. The Sirui leg locks can be opened quickly by gripping them all and turning in one motion. Nice, but doesn't save that much time, considering the tripod legs fold over the head which also takes time, and the whole thing doesn't inspire confidence that it could handle general rough treatment that would involve this kind of quick setting up. The locks crackle and squeak a bit, which I'm pretty sure is harmless and probably comes form the anti-rotation feature.
The legs on the Sirui extend and collapse from gravity quickly, with a loud "clunck!". The Gitzo legs do, too, but very slowly. That is mostly because air can't escape or enter the tubes quickly, and the tolerances are a lot tighter, so some dirt might block the gravity extension. Somewhere in the middle would be best.
Yesterday I did some shooting with the Gitzo and my Autocord. It went very smoothly, the tripod did everything I wanted without issue and seemed stable enough in gusts of about 3 bft. I'm a little worried about the camera itself, it has the problem I understand all TLRs share, the tripod hole is integrated in the film door, which has to be hinged, so there's some play.
I rigged up a solution to carry the Gitzo on my back, long gun style, for cycling. Two paracord loops, one around the center column lock, one for the feet end, and a strap from a bag. Works pretty well, although the feet end is a bit fiddly. I will have to rummage around cabinets and drawers for a slightly lighter strap. Please let me know how you all carry your tripods!
Stay tuned for my explorations of ballheadland, which are to come, but not before something I desire comes my way for a price I can't refuse. I'm a poor and mostly patient man and have borrowed a ball head that works ok, but is on the heavy side and doesn't have adjustable friction, which I'd like.
As I researched my options, I soon understood what everyone who's been there will tell you, it's all about compromises. I came to the conclusion that I probably would need one tripod for higher performance, and a eventually a lighter one for travel. I didn't want to spend a lot of money and even more, wanted to be able to sell again without much loss in case it would turn out to be less than ideal, so waiting for a good price on something used was my game.
A little while ago I snatched a Gitzo 1227 Mk 2 for a price I couldn't refuse. That's an older carbon fiber 3 section tripod which weights about 1.5 KG and goes tall enough, with the center column, that a reasonably tall person doesn't need to bend down to look through an eye level finder, and with the center column down, it's still too tall to use a waist level finder comfortably. So it's not super compact, but pretty light weight to carry around (which was important because it will be carried on foot and on bicycle a lot) while it should be stable enough for medium format with not too long lenses. I'm very impressed with the build quality. The crinkle paint finish on the alu parts is to die for. I like that it only has 3 leg sections. The savings in length/volume with the 4 section sister model 1228 wouldn't be much, but that has thinner bottom leg sections, and one has to operate three more leg locks! This tripod doesn't have interchangeable feet, so no option to mount spikes or even simply replace the hardened rubber feet. That's the only negative I've found so far. That, and that it sheds some carbon fibers through the tiniest scratches and dings; there isn't much of a protective coat over the CF. These fibers sometimes cause some itching in my hands. Maybe I'll put some tube insulation on the top sections, that will also cushion them when carrying it on my back.
Then I've snatched a Sirui T1204X for a travel tripod. It obviously wasn't urgent, I'm not traveling any time soon, but I fished it from the bay at a great price. It arrived in the mail today, so everything here is just preliminary, I haven't used it yet. It's only about 800 g. This one isn't made any more, the current 1204 is heavier, as are all the current models compared to their numerical predecessors; I assume they're also more stable, so one could move down a size, but that will also be a shorter tripod! Compared to the Gitzo, it feels like a toy. Not only is it lighter, it also feels a lot more plastic-y. Part of that is thanks a protective coat over the CF, yay! Of course it's a lot more wobbly as well. This isn't one of the super tiny travel tripods they also make, at least the bottom leg sections on this one are 15mm. I don't want to know what those with 9-13mm sections feel like. Its size is such that without center column extended, it has the right height for WLF use. I'll need to explore if extending the center column is more stable than extending the thin bottom leg sections. This tripod has some cute functions, the leg angle adjustment is spring loaded, which makes it quicker to use than the Gitzo, but that's also much more needed, as the logs fold over the head for compact transport, which itself is pretty neat. The leg locks work well, and the legs don't rotate, so one can tighten one of the lower sections while the upper sections are loose. The locks contain a plastic sleeve that looks and feels a little fragile.
This one also doesn't have interchangeable feet, on a travel tripod I think that's fine, I suspect with spikes one might run into trouble trying to take it as cabin luggage anyway.
I think I can trust this one with TLRs or shorter lens 135 stuff as long as there isn't much wind.
I'm not sure if this one will see much use, maybe I'll even sell it again. I'll use mostly MF if I carry a tripod already, and only the bigger, heavier tripod is high enough to comfortably use an eye level finder, which is all my 135mm cameras have! I might accept bending down on 135 if I want to save weight, but mostly I'll continue to use 135 hand held and use the light tripod only for TLRs, if at all.
Now here's a little comparison of the leg locks. Note that this doesn't necessarily apply to current models.
Gitzo's are clearly better, even if they don't have the anti-rotation feature. They're much smoother, and the bushings seem more stable than the plastic parts in the Sirui. Although they also contain two parts that will wear and eventually need replacement, they seem to me like they'd last much longer. That being said, both types are easy enough to open and clean for the user, without tools. The lack of anti-rotation is a non-issue on 3 section legs, but for more sections I think I'd still prefer the locks on this older Gitzo (newer ones have anti-rotation, and probably still all the good things about mine apply to them). I wouldn't put any weight on anti-rotation locks when deciding on a tripod, but apparently some people hate twist locks and for those people, the anti-rotation feature could be an improvement. But I think it's more likely those people have never used really good twist locks. Maybe I have never used good lever locks, but I much prefer twist locks over those I have used. The Sirui leg locks can be opened quickly by gripping them all and turning in one motion. Nice, but doesn't save that much time, considering the tripod legs fold over the head which also takes time, and the whole thing doesn't inspire confidence that it could handle general rough treatment that would involve this kind of quick setting up. The locks crackle and squeak a bit, which I'm pretty sure is harmless and probably comes form the anti-rotation feature.
The legs on the Sirui extend and collapse from gravity quickly, with a loud "clunck!". The Gitzo legs do, too, but very slowly. That is mostly because air can't escape or enter the tubes quickly, and the tolerances are a lot tighter, so some dirt might block the gravity extension. Somewhere in the middle would be best.
Yesterday I did some shooting with the Gitzo and my Autocord. It went very smoothly, the tripod did everything I wanted without issue and seemed stable enough in gusts of about 3 bft. I'm a little worried about the camera itself, it has the problem I understand all TLRs share, the tripod hole is integrated in the film door, which has to be hinged, so there's some play.
I rigged up a solution to carry the Gitzo on my back, long gun style, for cycling. Two paracord loops, one around the center column lock, one for the feet end, and a strap from a bag. Works pretty well, although the feet end is a bit fiddly. I will have to rummage around cabinets and drawers for a slightly lighter strap. Please let me know how you all carry your tripods!
Stay tuned for my explorations of ballheadland, which are to come, but not before something I desire comes my way for a price I can't refuse. I'm a poor and mostly patient man and have borrowed a ball head that works ok, but is on the heavy side and doesn't have adjustable friction, which I'd like.
