{"id":547,"date":"2007-08-17T13:17:54","date_gmt":"2007-08-17T04:17:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2007-08-17\/547"},"modified":"2007-12-18T23:34:26","modified_gmt":"2007-12-18T14:34:26","slug":"tripod-by-gitzo-and-really-right-stuff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2007-08-17\/547","title":{"rendered":"Tripod, by Gitzo and Really Right Stuff"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n

(Note: this post will be of interest only to camera geeks)<\/b><\/p>\n\n

<\/a> My New Tripod<\/span> <\/div>
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Among the camera toys I picked up recently are the components needed to\nmake a really<\/span> great tripod. The components, from top to bottom, are:<\/p>\n\n

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  1. Clamp<\/b> — Really Right Stuff PLC-1<\/li>\n
  2. Head<\/b> — Really Right Stuff BH-55<\/li>\n
  3. Column<\/b> — Gitzo GS3510S<\/li>\n
  4. Legs<\/b> — Gitzo 3540XLS<\/li>\n
  5. Quick release plates<\/b> — Really Right Stuff (not shown)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    (mouseover the items above to highlight them in the image at right)<\/small><\/p>\n\n

    I'll talk about each of these below.<\/p>\n\n

    If you're new to serious photography, as I have<\/span> been during the last few\nyears, Thom Hogan's writeup on the\npsychology of tripod purchases<\/a> is a must<\/span> read. Some of his specific\nproduct recommendations are now a bit<\/span> dated, but overall, it's a great<\/span>\nwriteup with advice that makes a lot<\/span> of sense to me.<\/p>\n\n

    In short, Thom says that the common path for many photographers to a\ngood<\/span> tripod is through a number<\/span> of ever-more-expensive intermediary tripods\nof increasing (but still lacking) quality, until they finally lay out the\ncash for a good<\/span> tripod. So, why not avoid spending the money on the\nintermediary junk and get something good right off the bat?<\/p>\n\n

    My first tripod was an ultra<\/i>-light Velbon ULTRA MAXi F<\/b> (described here<\/a>) that is\nbetter than nothing, but woefully flimsy\/inappropriate for a big<\/span> SLR with\nan even bigger lens like my Nikkor 70<\/span>-200 f\/2.8<\/a>. Its small<\/span> size and light weight keep\nit appropriate for some occasions, but for my first serious tripod, I thought<\/span> I'd take Thom's advice and buy quality stuff the first time.<\/p>\n\n

    Before looking at the individual components, here's a shot<\/span> of them with\nmy Nikon\nD200<\/a> and Nikkor 17<\/span>-55 f\/2.8<\/a>...<\/p>\n\n

    <\/a>\nKodak DX6490 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>500 sec, f\/4.5, ISO 80 —\nfull exif<\/a><\/span>\nNikon D200 on my New Tripod<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    The Legs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The leg component is the Gitzo\nGT3540XLS<\/b> Series 3<\/span> Systematic 6X Carbon Fiber 4<\/span> Section G-Lock Long\nTripod<\/a>, and at $750, is the most expensive part of the setup.<\/p>\n\n

    These legs are fairly tall (maximum height to the base is 6' 6” \/\n198cm),<\/span> which suits my 6' 4” height.<\/span> However, due to the “6X Carbon Fiber<\/a>” they're still fairly light. The “G-Lock<\/a>” leg locks (for lengthening and shortening the leg\nsections) are very cool and fast\/easy to use.<\/p>\n\n

    I do have one caution about them: it's all too easy to pinch the heck\nout of your hand if you don't pay attention while handling them.<\/p>\n\n

    The picture below shows the joint where the leg joins the base, with the leg only partially deployed. As the legs<\/span> are deployed apart, the\n\n gap between<\/span>\nthe leg and base closes until the\n\n adjustable stop<\/span> meets the base.\nWith legs more\nthan six feet long, that's a lot<\/span> of leverage conspiring to crush\nthe fleshy parts of your hand.<\/p>

    Be careful.<\/p>\n\n

    <\/a>\nNikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f\/2.8 @ 55mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>640 sec, f\/4.5, ISO 250 —\nfull exif<\/a><\/span>\nPartially Open Leg Joint (Gitzo 3540XLS)<\/span>\n