Gitzo systematic tripods

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Archive 2008 · Gitzo systematic tripods

andrewd01
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p.1 #1 · Gitzo systematic tripods

I rarely use the centre column of my tripod, so am thinking of getting one of the systematic tripods from Gitzo as my next tripod. These have no centre column. Can someone explain how you attach a ball head to these tripods? A photo of the top of the tripod without head would be helpful.

I am thinking of the 3531LSV with Markins M20

Nov 22, 2008 at 05:37 PM

sjms
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p.1 #2 · Gitzo systematic tripods

you have a top plate with a built in 3/8" threaded stud. just screw it down and start playing

Nov 22, 2008 at 05:55 PM

Smiert Spionam
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p.1 #3 · Gitzo systematic tripods

Here's the top of my 1410, which I recently replaced with a 3541LS. I can strongly recommend the 3-series CF legs -- really amazing.

The 3530LSV is a bit of an oddball, in that it comes standard with a video bowl. It's supposed to also include a flate plate, but you should check to make sure.

I suspect you're interested in the 3-section legs for stability, but my initial reactions -- and lots of more extensive reviews -- suggest that the 4-section legs are just as stable. I prefer the shorter collapsed leg length both for carrying and for low-level shooting (macro, etc.).

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Nov 22, 2008 at 05:57 PM

andrewd01
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p.1 #4 · Gitzo systematic tripods

Thanks, I think I got confused because I was looking at the wrong model on the Gitzo web site. I was looking at the LSV model which is for video. I should have looked at the 3531S

Nov 22, 2008 at 06:00 PM

Lars Johnsson
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p.1 #5 · Gitzo systematic tripods

Here is the GT 3530 LSV.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Nov 22, 2008 at 06:13 PM

andrewd01
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p.1 #6 · Gitzo systematic tripods

I also prefer 3 section because of the quicker set-up time. The folded length difference is only 6cm, which isn't a big concern.

Nov 22, 2008 at 06:14 PM

andrewd01
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p.1 #7 · Gitzo systematic tripods

Lars, what sort of head is on the first pic? The second rig is pretty sweet too!

Nov 22, 2008 at 06:17 PM

Lars Johnsson
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p.1 #8 · Gitzo systematic tripods

It's the RRS BH-55 head

Nov 22, 2008 at 06:30 PM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #9 · Gitzo systematic tripods

It is RRS BH-55 with a lever clamp. In the meantime, I replaced my clamp from the picture with the same clamp as Lars'. I added a leveling base on my tripod for the gimbal setup, it makes leveling a breeze.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Nov 22, 2008 at 06:33 PM

andrewd01
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p.1 #10 · Gitzo systematic tripods

Thanks for the info. What do you think is best out of BH-55 or Markins M20?

I know both are considered very good, Markins is lighter. How does the lever style QR compare to the screw type?

Nov 22, 2008 at 06:57 PM

Lars Johnsson
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p.1 #11 · Gitzo systematic tripods

Both ballheads are very good. And I prefer screw type QR most of the time. I would probably recommend the M20 with screw QR. The price is also lower on that one

Nov 22, 2008 at 07:23 PM

pixNW
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p.1 #12 · Gitzo systematic tripods

I was doing some outdoor product type shooting with my BH-55 and the RRS lever type QR clamp. I was going from portrait to landscape a bit, and was using a short lens, so was mounting via the RRS L plate on my camera. For that scenario, I really enjoyed the lever clamp for the speed. With the lever in the half closed position you can still slide the plate within the mount. With it full open it's easy to drop right down into the clamp. If you're mostly using collared lenses and mounting that way, or not changing orientation much, the screw type is probably superior.

I also don't use a center column a lot. I recently bought a GT3531, and it has the rapid column. It comes out pretty easily and converts to use without a column pretty quickly. I especially wanted the column for when I'm shooting with the tripod in the middle, lower position. It makes getting the right height a bit easier. If you ever use a column, it may be another way for you to think about going. After having been a Bogen tripod user for quite a while I can't see myself ever going away from Gitzo now.

Nov 22, 2008 at 07:39 PM

Roland W
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p.1 #13 · Gitzo systematic tripods

The Gitzo S series tripod legs have a removable top area where you can mount the flat plate to use various heads directly, or buy a column assembly that mounts where the plate normally goes. This allows easy changing between both methods of use. The non S series have a column mounting system built in. The new series do have a way to remove the column, but it leaves the full column nut and clamping system in place, and is not quite as rigid as the S series when in the non column mode. Also, the non S units with the column removed do occasionally work loose in the field, so you need to keep an eye on them and keep them tight.

I would strongly recomend the S series to give the best stability for no column, and with the full versitility to add a column to the legs if you want it. You get a faster and easier change between column and no column, and you also can add a Gitzo leveling head to the S series.

Screw clamp vs lever clamp is a personal choice, but I find I really like the RSS lever clamps for speed and ease of use. Lots of opinions both ways, but you will find each works very well.

Nov 23, 2008 at 04:23 PM

BennyR
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p.1 #14 · Gitzo systematic tripods

Lars, those are great set ups. I'm leaning towards a BH-40 rather than the 55 although not for sure yet. I think the 40 handles 18 pounds if I remember, that's seems enough. My question in the meantime is how "straight up" can you can that set up with the long lens? I'm other words, could you shoot the moon if it was almost directly overhead?

Nov 23, 2008 at 09:42 PM

Lars Johnsson
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p.1 #15 · Gitzo systematic tripods

Nov 23, 2008 at 09:54 PM

mgipe
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p.1 #16 · Gitzo systematic tripods

BennyR wrote:
Lars, those are great set ups. I'm leaning towards a BH-40 rather than the 55 although not for sure yet. I think the 40 handles 18 pounds if I remember, that's seems enough. My question in the meantime is how "straight up" can you can that set up with the long lens? I'm other words, could you shoot the moon if it was almost directly overhead?

I just traded out a BH-40 in favor of a BH-55 for a reason that my be relevant to you. While the BH-40 is a very fine product and works well, I found that as a result of being shorter and narrower, and using a rotating lever instead of a large knob, it had limitations on tilting. Whenever I needed a higher tilt, it seemed that the clamp would bump into the lever or a tripod part and I would have to rotate the whole head to find a spot where I could get full tilt. With the BH-55, the controls are more recessed and the whole ball/housing is wider, resulting in fewer opportunities for interference.

BTW, RRS was fantastic to deal with. Just about the best customer service anywhere.

--Mike

Nov 24, 2008 at 09:56 PM

andrewd01
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p.1 #17 · Gitzo systematic tripods

Roland W wrote:
The Gitzo S series tripod legs have a removable top area where you can mount the flat plate to use various heads directly, or buy a column assembly that mounts where the plate normally goes. This allows easy changing between both methods of use. The non S series have a column mounting system built in. The new series do have a way to remove the column, but it leaves the full column nut and clamping system in place, and is not quite as rigid as the S series when in the non column mode. Also, the non S units with the column removed do occasionally work loose in the field, so you need to keep an eye on them and keep them tight.

I would strongly recomend the S series to give the best stability for no column, and with the full versitility to add a column to the legs if you want it. You get a faster and easier change between column and no column, and you also can add a Gitzo leveling head to the S series.

Screw clamp vs lever clamp is a personal choice, but I find I really like the RSS lever clamps for speed and ease of use. Lots of opinions both ways, but you will find each works very well.

Thanks, really helpful post. I am leaning towards a lever clamp, as I like the idea of rapid switches to vertical shooting. Sliding the dovetail in at the end of a screw clamp sounds fiddly to me. The S series legs also sound like the best way to go. I can't remember the last time I used my centre column. I am generally not that fussed about the rig being eye level. If I have to stopp a few inches then so be it.

Nov 24, 2008 at 10:38 PM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #18 · Gitzo systematic tripods

Andrew,
I wouldn't trust the lever clamp if I had to leave a heavy lens (anything heavier than the 300mm f/2.8 plus a 1D series body) and if I had to carry the tripod with the gear on it on my shoulder but I would do that with a sturdy screw clamp. Except for that kind of situation, the lever clamp is really convenient to use. Changing from vertical to horizontal and vice versa is a snap.

Nov 25, 2008 at 12:55 AM

andrewd01
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p.1 #19 · Gitzo systematic tripods

AGeoJO wrote:
Andrew,
I wouldn't trust the lever clamp if I had to leave a heavy lens (anything heavier than the 300mm f/2.8 plus a 1D series body) and if I had to carry the tripod with the gear on it on my shoulder but I would do that with a sturdy screw clamp. Except for that kind of situation, the lever clamp is really convenient to use. Changing from vertical to horizontal and vice versa is a snap.

Thanks, I am planning this particular setup mainly for wide to short telephoto landscape use. It would see an 70-200 f2.8 at most. When I am lucky enough to be in a position to get a 300 f2.8 I will probably also get a separate tripod for this with wimberly type head.

Nov 25, 2008 at 09:09 PM

Tamerlin
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p.1 #20 · Gitzo systematic tripods

Stability isn't a problem with RRS products, though I wouldn't recommend the BH-25 to anyone using an SLR.

BTW, you CAN get RRS clamps to put on ballheads from other brands, including Markins.

Nov 26, 2008 at 08:28 PM

Lars Johnsson
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p.1 #21 · Gitzo systematic tripods

Tamerlin wrote:
BennyR wrote:
Lars, those are great set ups. I'm leaning towards a BH-40 rather than the 55 although not for sure yet. I think the 40 handles 18 pounds if I remember, that's seems enough. My question in the meantime is how "straight up" can you can that set up with the long lens? I'm other words, could you shoot the moon if it was almost directly overhead?

I use a BH-40 and an RRS Ground Pod as my hiking setup. This http://www.pbase.com/tamerlin/image/98904550 is a 1-second exposure... with a 500 mm lens on a 6-pound 4x5. I've been able to use my 720mm lens on it, which makes the setup close to 18 inches long. That ballhead is very underrated, and next to the BH-55 it looks too puny to be a 40mm ballhead

Stability isn't a problem with RRS products, though I wouldn't recommend the BH-25 to anyone using an SLR.

BTW, you CAN get RRS clamps to put on ballheads from other brands, including Markins.

You can of course use that ballhead with any lens if you like that. But it's not a nice and comfortable head when used with a 500 lens, and even less when using extender on the lens. And RRS also say it should be used with smaller lenses

RRS quote
"Our BH-40 is our mid-sized ballhead and is perfect for popular light to mid-sized gear such as 70-200mm/f2.8 and 300mm/f4 lenses"

And RRS also show pics that they use the BH-55 ballhead on the ground pod when using a 500mm lens

Nov 26, 2008 at 08:50 PM

HerbChong
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p.1 #22 · Gitzo systematic tripods

i regularly carry my 600/4 with extenders and body attached over my shoulder with a RRS lever clamp. i have an old 400/2.8 which weighs even more that i also have carried that way. people who think it is less secure have never tried it. the clamp is designed to hold way more than anything most people can ever put on it. all of my clamp failures have been only with screw clamps that felt tight but were not clamped properly.

Herb...

AGeoJO wrote:
Andrew,
I wouldn't trust the lever clamp if I had to leave a heavy lens (anything heavier than the 300mm f/2.8 plus a 1D series body) and if I had to carry the tripod with the gear on it on my shoulder but I would do that with a sturdy screw clamp. Except for that kind of situation, the lever clamp is really convenient to use. Changing from vertical to horizontal and vice versa is a snap.

Nov 26, 2008 at 09:01 PM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #23 · Gitzo systematic tripods

Herb, you may have a point. Let me tell you the reason why I rendered my opinion. I have different plates made by different manufacturers (on my camera bodies, various lenses and replacement feet). Although all of them uses the Arca style plates but they are not the same and the double dove tail specs vary somewhat. So, some are clamped more securely than others. The RRS lever clamp is indeed sturdy on some of them but less so on others. Using the screw clamp, you just tighten the screw until tightly secured.

Nov 26, 2008 at 09:28 PM

Tamerlin
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p.1 #24 · Gitzo systematic tripods

AGeoJO wrote:
Herb, you may have a point. Let me tell you the reason why I rendered my opinion. I have different plates made by different manufacturers (on my camera bodies, various lenses and replacement feet). Although all of them uses the Arca style plates but they are not the same and the double dove tail specs vary somewhat. So, some are clamped more securely than others. The RRS lever clamp is indeed sturdy on some of them but less so on others. Using the screw clamp, you just tighten the screw until tightly secured.

Then use only RRS and Wimberley plates, and you'll be fine

Nov 26, 2008 at 09:38 PM

Tamerlin
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p.1 #25 · Gitzo systematic tripods

Lars Johnsson wrote:
And RRS also show pics that they use the BH-55 ballhead on the ground pod when using a 500mm lens

I'm well aware of that, it's why I have a BH-55 on my Gitzo

I only use the BH-40 for its weight; otherwise, I'd only have a BH-55. (I like hiking

).

Stability isn't a problem with the BH-40 and my setup, even though it's a pretty massive rig with the 500 or 720mm lenses mounted and focussed. I'm not kidding about the 18 inch bellows extention!

The difference is that a bigger ballhead makes it easier to move around a larger, heavier rig with better damping if you set a bit of tension. That makes it easier to make small adjustments with bigger lenses. In the end it's a tradeoff of convenience vs size + weight (as well as cost).

I have one of each, so I've been able to compare pretty directly between the two ballheads, and though I prefer the BH-55, the BH-40 still gets the job done.

Nov 26, 2008 at 09:48 PM


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