Which tripod for Leica M7 night/long exposures?

[psychokiller]

Hi all,

I'm seeking a light, compact tripod/ ball head combo which is stable enough for me to shoot some longer evening exposures with my M7.

Price is not necessarily an issue. I am seeking a nice balance between stability and portability. I already have a Gitzo for Medium format/4x5 but it is too heavy for a Leica. Any Gitzo (or other) recommendations?

FWIW, I will be using a 35 or 50mm Summicron lens.

Thanks.

Happy New Year to all.

 

[35mmdelux]

Gitzo G1228 MKII is my favorite. Solid support for expensive camera.

 

[FPjohn]

Any work alike of the Leitz tabletop or it itself might suit you. I use a Minolta/Polaroid and a RRS BH25.

Have a good New Year.

yours
FPJ

http://en.leica-camera.com/photography/m_system/accessories/tripod_accessories/2200.html

 

[eli griggs]

"I already have a Gitzo for Medium format/4x5 but it is too heavy for a Leica."

Unless you just want a lighter tripod or your current Gitzo is too heavy to carry for this shoot, I suggest you use it, perhaps with the addition of a Leica or other ball head to the existing camera mount screw.

IMO, longer exposures at night do not call for light gear. Quite the contrary, you should consider adding more weight from the center post, either a loaded camera bag or purpose carried sandbag. You really need to weight that rig down so there is no possibility of movement.

You can always buy a lighter tripod but lightweight is simply not a good choice for long exposures, especially outside.

Eli

 

[peter_n]

Gitzo G1228 MKII is my favorite. Solid support for expensive camera.

I also use the G1228, overkill for a Leica but that's what you want in a tripod. Eli's post above makes total sense - why not use your current tripod?

 

[psychokiller]

Thanks for your comments/ advice.

I have the GITZO 2350 (which I think is the new version of the 1228) with a Markins M20 ballhead....definitely overkill for the Leica for stability as well as portability....but having a look at other Gitzo tripods, I think I will use my current tripod after all and just buy a Leica plate for the ballhead.

Cheers.

 

[psychokiller]

....just one more question...is anybody using a particular plate for their ballhead? I note that RRS has a plate which centres the camera. Is the camera unbalanced on the tripod if it is not centred?

 

[peter_n]

Oh definitely, that's a great rig you have there. I replaced the center column on my G1228 with a Markins tripod base and I have a Markins clamp on my ballhead. They make good stuff. I recommend the ClearSight Leica/Arca-Swiss plate. It is thinner than all the others and works fine with the Markins QR clamp. Mine has been in use for about three years without any problems.

 

[ferider]

The RRS B30 plate is great. Centering is useful when using bigger lenses on the tripod. What works well too, is a grip and a standard plate underneath. Cheers,

Roland.

 

[psychokiller]

Thanks for your additional advice...I will choose either of the two plates recommended.

Cheers

 

[Al Kaplan]

Hanging your camera bag from the center post is the traditional way to add to stability. It works! The off center tripod bush on the base plate doesn't seem to be a problem, even with the heavy 135/2.8 or my weighs-a-ton old 85/2 Nikkor. Get a Gitzo tripod with one of their pan/tilt heads. Both should be big, not the smallest. At least the new carbon fiber models are lighter than the aluminum, but as was previously said, weight equals stability. Then there's also the possibility that at some point in the future you might be seduced over to The Dark Side and want something that'll hold a big DSLR with one of those crazy huge white zoom lenses, or read some Ansel Adams books and pick up a 4x5 view camera.

If you really want something tiny see if you can get a Leitz table top tripod with the small ball head. You might feel silly using it on a table but it works. You can also put it on the hood or roof of your car, press it tightly against a wall or a tree trunk, even press it upside down agains the ceiling. I've done all of those things with mine. You can even steady your camera a bit by pressing it against your chest, or leave it on the camera in the folded position to add a bit of vibration damping mass to the rig.

 

[BillBingham2]

A lot depends upon what you want to shoot and how much you want to carry. I prefer a Leica Table Top and Large Ball Head or a Minolta TR-1 (great clone). I just sold an old Gitzo Reporter for a song on EvilBay that when I wanted something higher I used. I have an old Goldcrest 679L that I used for years and love. I used AlK's idea of adding a bit of weight to the center column if I felt it needed it. I used it with LONG exposures and a 'Blad for a fun summer back in the early 70's.

B2 (;->

 

[Al Kaplan]

I'm down to the Leitz table top with a small ballhead and a Gitzo Studex with their pan/tilt head. The wife got the Gitzo Reporter and the large Leitz ball head when we split up back in '78. A good quality tripod can outlast a wife.

 

[peter_n]

One further recommendation for a universal Arca-Swiss QR center plate is the Wimberley P-5. This is just a beautifully made little piece of kit that will go on, and stay on, anything. Highly recemmended.