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	Username   Password FM Forum Rules FM Forums | General Gear-talk | Join Upload & Sell    Search Used end    Archive 2009 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541

bpham Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #1 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541 Hi, I have received the Gitzo 2541. Beautiful legs! However, the instruction is not too clear (may be to me...). I have a question about the platform on which the ball head is supposed to be mounted on: There are two small screws and the flat form and a marking "safety lock" with the arrow pointing clockwise, what are they for? Please see the image here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/binhpham15/4112659304/ Also, one of the legs is very tight when opening or closing, I tried to use the supplied key to open it, but the screws on both sides of that leg is so tight that I'm afraid to strip the heads. I tried to look up Gitzo supports to call but just provided email communication. If I'd need the tripod serviced in the future, what is the best way to contact them? Can you give me some pointers? Thanks. Nov 17, 2009 at 04:15 PM

plubbry Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #2 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541 My GT3541LS has a similar screw. I presume they are just set-screws that you can tighten up against the bottom of your head to provide additional security and assurance that the head wont loosen-up from the legs. I don't know if the 'safe lock' is referring to the set screws or the newly added rubber pad which also helps keep the head from loosening up. FWIW, I don't use the set-screws and haven't had any problem with my head rotating loose. Regarding the stiff leg: mine were rather stiff when the tripod was new. However, they were all about the same stiffness and have begun loosening up slightly with use. Nov 17, 2009 at 05:19 PM

Roland W Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #3 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541 The small set screws are to lock a ball head or other head on to the plate after you have screwed it on. You tighten the ball head on firmly, and then secure one or both set screws to keep the head in place. Gitzo supplies the two Torx key wrenches with their tripods to allow you to adjust the screws at the top of the legs. It sounds like one of your legs is too tight. If you use both of the key wrenches, one on each side, you should be able to loosen the screws of the leg that is too tight. Try it on one of the other legs first if you want. As long as you push in on the wrench to hold it in place while you are using it, you should have no problem with stripping a Torx fastner. Once you get it loose, tighten it again with less force and see if you can get the leg adjusted the way you want it. If you can not, or if the stiffness does not stay set, you may need to have Gitzo look at it. The "SafeLock" label refers to the thin non metalic surface that is on the plate. It is designed to increase the friction to keep the head on better, and also they claim it will dampen vibration slightly better than a metal to metal connection. Nov 17, 2009 at 05:33 PM

MSC Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: On p.1 #4 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541 Roland W wrote: The small set screws are to lock a ball head or other head on to the plate after you have screwed it on. You tighten the ball head on firmly, and then secure one or both set screws to keep the head in place. Gitzo supplies the two Torx key wrenches with their tripods to allow you to adjust the screws at the top of the legs. It sounds like one of your legs is too tight. If you use both of the key wrenches, one on each side, you should be able to loosen the screws of the leg that is too tight. Try it on one of the other legs first if you want. As long as you push in on the wrench to hold it in place while you are using it, you should have no problem with stripping a Torx fastner. Once you get it loose, tighten it again with less force and see if you can get the leg adjusted the way you want it. If you can not, or if the stiffness does not stay set, you may need to have Gitzo look at it. The "SafeLock" label refers to the thin non metalic surface that is on the plate. It is designed to increase the friction to keep the head on better, and also they claim it will dampen vibration slightly better than a metal to metal connection. Don't have the safelock on mine, must be a new feature. Sounds like a good one and good explanation! Nov 17, 2009 at 05:56 PM

sjms Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: On p.1 #5 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541 "safety lock" has been around for the last 2 generations of gitzo updates Nov 17, 2009 at 06:13 PM

bpham Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #6 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541 Very good answers and they clarifies what I wanted to know. Also when I removed the center column and just mount the ball head mounting platform back on, to make it tight against the rotation cup, I have to rotate the cup against the mounting platform, is this the right way of doing it, or is there another way? The other question is I looked at Gitzo.com and the only way to communicate with them is through email. Is there any Gitzo distributor phone number in the US that I can call if I have issues or questions? Thanks again for all your input and help. This site is the best among other photography related sites! Nov 17, 2009 at 06:58 PM

GFountain Offline Upload & Sell: On p.1 #7 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541 Congrats on the 2541. I have the same one and love it. Enjoy Greg Nov 17, 2009 at 11:04 PM

jhom Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #8 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541 bpham wrote: Very good answers and they clarifies what I wanted to know. Also when I removed the center column and just mount the ball head mounting platform back on, to make it tight against the rotation cup, I have to rotate the cup against the mounting platform, is this the right way of doing it, or is there another way? The other question is I looked at Gitzo.com and the only way to communicate with them is through email. Is there any Gitzo distributor phone number in the US that I can call if I have issues or questions? Thanks again for all your input and help. This site is the best among other photography related sites! I have the 2530. I don't use the center column and have replaced it with a Markins tripod base. A major reason I bought the tripod base was that I did not like the coupling of the center wing nut with the Gitzo platform base as you described. The Markins tripod base provides a more solid coupling of my ballhead with the Gitzo. Nov 18, 2009 at 12:17 AM

MSC Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: On p.1 #9 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541 Jim, did the exact same thing, works like a charm. Nov 18, 2009 at 03:49 AM

jhom Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #10 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541 MSC wrote: Jim, did the exact same thing, works like a charm. Great minds think alike ... Nov 18, 2009 at 04:28 AM

bpham Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #11 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541 I will probably get that same setup. Nov 18, 2009 at 06:28 PM

bpham Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #12 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541 Anyway, anyone knows the best way to contact Gitzo just in case I need it in the future for questions or issues? Currently the only way I know of is thru email. Nov 18, 2009 at 06:29 PM

jhom Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #13 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541 bpham wrote: Anyway, anyone knows the best way to contact Gitzo just in case I need it in the future for questions or issues? Currently the only way I know of is thru email. Bogenimaging.com. Bogen is the US distributor of Gitzo. Jim Nov 18, 2009 at 07:38 PM

bpham Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #14 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541 Jim, Thanks! Nov 20, 2009 at 02:07 AM

MSC Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: On p.1 #15 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541 And best to call Bogen...they are not very good with email. Nov 20, 2009 at 02:17 AM

bpham Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #16 · Techincal questions on the Gitzo 2541 Just had a chance to use both the 2541 and the Arca-swiss Z1 in 3 day trip to Death Valley. Put both my 1ds Mk3, lenses, gitzo/Z1 through sands and dusts... I'll post my experiences and questions with the 2541 and Z1 later... Overall, it was a good trip and got some good pictures too! Nov 23, 2009 at 05:50 PM

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