I've got a Gitzo 2-series leveling tripod, and now that I've been using it for a few years, I'd really miss that feature. Well worth the minimal penalties (weight/stability) for me. Its main use is for leveling the head/panning base for multi-shot pano's, so if that's not a priority . .
Here you can see that the built-in leveling feature changes the design of the spider a bit:
I like the Gitzo leveling base for its ease of use, but the weight of it is just a little too much for much of what I do. I have looked at an Acratech leveling base in the store, and it may be a good solution, but I have not actually used one in the field.
what do you need the base for? the Gitzo is perfect for use with a Wimberley and long lenses. if you want to do landscapes, you want something much lighter. i got the Gitzo leveling tripods because the combined weight for a head and leg set with a good leveling base is more than having it built into the tripod. of course, they're not cheap.
Looks similar to Gitzo's built-in leveling feature, which couldn't be quicker to work with. The Gitzo has a locking lever on one side of the spider, and a spirit level on the bottom of the column. How does the Feisol column lock?
I've just ordered a set of 5541 legs to use with a wimberly + 600L lens, I've read of folks using leveling bases under the wimberly, is there any point?
I can see a leveling base being very useful under a ballhead if your going pano's for example, but under a wimberly?
I don't know, but maybe there is some merit there. If your fridge isn't level, the door swings open/shut by itself, so with an off-level tripod, the Wimberly will do the same thing. Not a big deal, but the pressure you apply to aim the lens won't be as balanced, right?
"I've read of folks using leveling bases under the wimberly, is there any point?"
merv...how are you planning to level your Wimberley?, are you going to adjust each leg or something?.... Even if you leave your collar unlocked and you twist the lens to get a straight horizon, when you pan and your base plate is not level, you will not stay level and you will not get a level horizon. This rig does that (allows leveling of base plate without three leg adjustment)and allows for height adjustment without having to readjust all three legs...
I have been corresponding with Feisol to add a spirit Level to their centering column mounting plate ( the only shortcoming). for now I've added my own on the Wimberley Head.
Getting level when using a Wimberley is very useful. You have the balance issue, which will tend to apply different forces sideways on your rig as you point in different directions if you are not level. You also have the level horizon issue, as mentioned above. The horizon issue depends a little on what you are shooting, and if you can easily do post corrections for the errors. The Gitzo leveling base is much faster to adjust to level than adjusting legs, but you also get used to doing the leg adjustment fairly fast. Some of what I shoot only requires setting up in one location for the whole day, so leveling the legs is easy. For me it comes down to the weight as to if I want to haul along the Gitzo leveling base for either the Wimberley or for ball head shooting.
All good points! i've only used the wimberly a few times, and so far, I'm doing better with a good monopod than I am with my manfrotto 055 legs + wimberly. I'm blaming the legs not being quite stable enough, and hoping the gitzo 5541 legs will solve that problem. I think I'll try it without the leveling base, and get one later if I need / want it. I'm not over concerned with weight, This is mainly a car or jeep transported rig to a static spot. I'm not great at the idea of hiking for miles after images :-)
I have the RRS BH-55 and a Gitzo 320 tripod. Instead of buying leveling base (which adds weight), I purchased my BH-55 with the PCL-1 panning clamp. The great benefit of this clamp is that I can rotate for panoramas when the clamp is leveled with it's own bubble. Even when the tripod is not level the PCL-1 will still give perfectly level panoramas.
If you add a leveling base under the BH-55 you will have to level the base and then level the clamp (whichever one you have) on the BH-55. With the PCL-1, I can level very fast in only one step.
You can order the BH-55 with the PCL-1 or you can buy the clamp separately if you already have the BH-55.
I have owned two good quality leveling bases - sold one and sent the other back.
