Pretty Useful Accessory - (GAS Candidate)

[Graybeard]

I've just returned from a particularly pleasant (and much too short) trip to Italy. Along with my M6 and a Horizon 202, I brought a Leitz table top tripod.

The tripod was very useful for indoor shots, especially in the Vatican and the Pantheon. Many of my shots were at 1/4 second or slower, and a camera support of some kind was clearly needed. I just set the camera and tripod on an altar rail, shelf, or ledge and took my time exposure.

I've also used the tripod outdoors at night, setting it and the camera on cafe tables and park benches. Compact, discreet, and completely functional/effective. The exposures proved to be what I'd hoped for.

The tripod fits easily into a camera bag and is something else that Leitz got right.

 

[etrigan63]

Do you have a link to the product?

 

[ferider]

Thanks for sharing ! I have always wanted one. Which head do you use ?

Thanks,

Roland.

 

[niimo]

Hmm thanks for sharing that experience, I have been thinking I need to pick one up--but then I think I need to pick up a lot of things :] When you have time, I'd like to know what model you used, too.

 

[peterm1]

I bought one many years ago when I managed to find one at a reasonable price. I had seen photos of photographers using a Leica mini tripod with a Leica SLR by resting the tripod on a bench or table or car hood to shoot when light was low or when using long lenses. Truth is though that unless you intend shooting indoors or with long lenses as you describe it is not likely to be used much. (At least mine is not) Although I have not been tempted to sell it as you never know!!! A small problem is that M cameras have the screw mount in the base offset to one side. This makes it unstable and can be in danger of tipping over if you are not very very careful. Make sure you hang onto your camera when it is installed on the tripod. They therefore work best if you have a handgrip with a centre base screw mounted on the camera. I use mine with the small Leica ball head which came with it. I think I paid $100 Australian for the tripod / head. I noticed a ball head on eBay the other day which alone had been bid up to this amount in US dollars. I do not know if it is typical however.

 

[jbf]

Man I would love to have a table top tripod like the leica, but i cant afford the price.

Does anyone know of a good solid table top tripod that is ag ood alternative to the leica version but at a fraction of the cost?

 

[Graybeard]

I bought one many years ago when I managed to find one at a reasonable price. I had seen photos of photographers using a Leica mini tripod with a Leica SLR by resting the tripod on a bench or table or car hood to shoot when light was low or when using long lenses. Truth is though that unless you intend shooting indoors or with long lenses as you describe it is not likely to be used much. (At least mine is not) Although I have not been tempted to sell it as you never know!!! A small problem is that M cameras have the screw mount in the base offset to one side. This makes it unstable and can be in danger of tipping over if you are not very very careful. Make sure you hang onto your camera when it is installed on the tripod. They therefore work best if you have a handgrip with a centre base screw mounted on the camera. I use mine with the small Leica ball head which came with it. I think I paid $100 Australian for the tripod / head. I noticed a ball head on eBay the other day which alone had been bid up to this amount in US dollars. I do not know if it is typical however.

If you mount the camera so that the long axis of the M-Leica is directly over one of the tripod legs, everything is stable and there is no problem.

 

[dlove5]

I also took my Leica table top tripod to Italy earlier this summer. It also functions quite well as a shoulder/chest brace to aid with slower handheld speeds. I have the larger Leica ball and socket head which I also like using on my monopod. I have had other table top tripods, but none have I liked as much as the Leica one.

 

[Revolucion Artistico]

I use a giotto tabletop tripod. I just looked on there site but it looks like the model I have might be discontinued. The new one looks pretty cool too though. I think it was 30 or 40 USD. I don't exactly use it all the time but when I need it it definetly comes in handy. I have also used it for flash slaves when doing studio work. A great buy in my opinion.

 

[Jason Sprenger]

JBF, I have the Bogen/Manfrotto 3007 with the 3007X extension. It rides in the inner pocket of my Domke F-5xb. B&H sells it as a kit for $78US. I don't use it much but when I need it I'm glad to have it. I don't know about the Leica tripod but this one might be a contender as an alternative.

 

[BillBingham2]

Graybeard,

Take a look here for Karen's thoughts......

http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?tripods.html~mainFrame

IMHO, the best clone is the Minolta TR-1. It's about the size of a Leitz base and the medium head (hard to find inbetween size). I got one new years ago in close out, another used on evilBay for about $25.

Keep an eye out for bargins, searching different text for combos like Minolta Tripod, table top tripod, etc.

I mount the body along the longest leg of the body and I've never had a problem.

I also have a Leica Table Top and large head I used for long lens shots in dim light. Kind of like a chest pod. They work great. I still have an old OFF OFF brand that is not worth carrying. The biggest problem is that it is not stable.

Another option is to use a cable release and a small bean bag. This helps on uneven surfaces as few of this class of tripods have adjustable legs. This works great and can help cushion equipment too. Make the bag about 4x6 inches and it will also fill the space between the bottom of the camera and the lens.

B2 (;->

 

[JNewell]

The Leitz tripods are a potential collector's field all by themselves. They've been made by Leitz since only slightly after the beginning of recorded history and exist in a huge number of variations (same is true of the Leitz heads). It's a really solid design.

 

[cmedin]

While on the topic of tripods, anybody have any feedback on the 'Gorilla' tripods with the flexible legs? They seem awfully handy... my brother gave me for xmas a pretty neat little table tripod with bendy legs but they're not long enough to wrap around say a fence post.

 

[peterm1]

" If you mount the camera so that the long axis of the M-Leica is directly over one of the tripod legs, everything is stable and there is no problem."

I still find that it is too easy to inadvertently move the centre of gravity out of alignment and end up having the camera nosedive onto a table top or worse. I have once or twice had to catch a camera in mid air to prevent this. But it is a nice bit of kit. One photo I saw of it in use had an SLR with a long focus lens which had its own tripod mount and this tripod was attached to that. In this case the user can rest it against either a horizontal surface, or with care it can even be held against a vertical surface like a wall. Of course the user has to support it in the latter case. But that arrangement still makes the whole set up much more stable than trying to hand hold a long lens at a too low shutter speed.

 

[Tarzak]

Does anyone know of a good solid table top tripod that is ag ood alternative to the leica version but at a fraction of the cost?

Got this at a camera fair on the weekend for $8 AUD.
Yashica ST-something.
Mostly plastic but well built AND comes with a handy wrist strap! The base unscrews and the legs fold up into the body.
Pretty sturdy but I would not use it with a long lens though.

For what I paid it is fantastic. No where near gitzo etc. quality.

(sorry about the image quality - mobile phone)

 

[Lance]

I have an slightlly older version of the manfrotto 709B with extension. I can recomend that. It's sturdy and can get you a bit up off the ground. Don't use it much though, but when I do I love it.

Could only find this one for illustration:

 

[Lance]

OK. How do you doo the thumbnail thing? 😕

 

[ddutchison]

No doubt, the Leitz Table tripod is a pretty suave bit of kit, but I too prefer the bean-bag.

Zero setup time, molds itself to almost any surface, kind of cradles the camera (Multi-second exposures are no problem), adds a bit of extra padding in the camera bag, makes a great elbow rest if you stop for a beer - and as mine happens to be filled with rice - will even provide an emergency ration of food should society collapse while you're out shooting

 

[ChadHahn]

Years ago I bought a no-name Japanese copy of the Leica tripod for $10 at a camera show. It fits nicely in my Domke F6 bag.

However, I don't think that I've ever had a chance to use it. My baby likes playing with it sometimes though.

 

[Krosya]

another one

another one

Here is another one little handy thing I picked up a long time ago while visiting NYC. Works as a clamp and a little tripod. Legs fit inside and screw in as needed. Works well on RF and even small SLRs and also for wireless flash too. See photos: