p.2 #1 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
Kind of sort of. Screws right onto a compact photo tripod rather than needing a "systematic" 75mm bowl on a video style tripod top like a "real" half-ball normally uses.
p.2 #2 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
jeffbuzz wrote:
Kind of sort of. Screws right onto a compact photo tripod rather than needing a "systematic" 75mm bowl on a video style tripod top like a "real" half-ball normally uses.
I can do that with my systematic models too. Screw right into the original platform. I just use them most of the time so mine stay and screw on the head of my choice to the leveling platform. Same as the Kirk, RRS, and most others. No real difference and lots of options.
Neither a tvc33 or a tvc24 are per say “video style” tripods. They are very versatile ones though.
Has anyone here tried the Kirk TLB-2? The only review I'm seeing is a video on the KES product page, however the TLB-1 seems to be quite well regarded (according to reviews on B&H, anyways). Strangely, the TLB-2 is smaller, lighter and cheaper than the TLB-1, yet somehow has a greater rated load capacity (30lb vs 25lb). Hmmmm…
p.2 #4 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
- remember that load capacities are relative to literally nothing in the real world.
- both of these models are based on existing designs from elsewhere (you know who with a 3 letter acronym) when theirs first one came out. of course there are minor differences in the "looks" department.
i can spit ball that possibly in the TLB-2 there was an "minor improvement" on the half ball locking mechanism thus they threw on an extra "max capacity" increase on paper. basically both models in a vertical load mode will support in excess of either rating given as long as they are attached to something else that can too. remember i mentioned the concept of that possible "minor improvement". now on a off axis loading there might be a infinitesimal difference. is it really relevant in the long run? that is up to you. are you going to put something on your tripod anywhere near the lowest overall capacity component on your tripod setup?
now if you look at the difference between the the Kirk TLB-1 (essentially the first revision of the RRS TVC2x and later their first universal version of it when the TFC series came about) and the latest RRS combined one design to cover that range TA-2U-LB the ideal was it works on many legsets in the RRS 2x series type and others in that range served to:
- create 1 SKU to work with many
- reduce original weight somewhat
- reduce the overall stack height
p.2 #5 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
Chris Court wrote:
I'm thinking the two main contenders are the RRS TA-2U and the small variant of the Acratech. Any thoughts? Other/better options?
The small Acratech is a disappointment - only 10° of movement. Currently the Kirk TLB-2 (mini) looks the best option to me. Its base diameter is 1.985".
p.2 #6 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
Chris Court wrote:
I'm thinking the two main contenders are the RRS TA-2U and the small variant of the Acratech. Any thoughts? Other/better options?
peter_n wrote:
The small Acratech is a disappointment - only 10° of movement. Currently the Kirk TLB-2 (mini) looks the best option to me. Its base diameter is 1.985".
Although I suggest the Kirk for your purpose, the Acratech is fine for the double screw type. I've used it plenty on a Gitzo 2 series a few years ago.
The 10° is not usually an issue if you have any control of the basic leveling with the legs. I rarely don't get it right within the tilt range the first time. If extreme leveling is needed, then the tripod is probably not the most stable.
My issue is that I don't like a leveling base with two threads and the Acratech tightening control force is a bit mushy. My RRS TL3 leveling base for the 75mm bowl has a nonrotating top plate clamp, because it is all RRS. My TL2 series RRS attaches with three screws to the 2 series spider. The Acratech tends to unscrew from the tripod legs and get stuck on the ball head in my particular application.
p.2 #11 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
There's a lot of copying. Usually it's the Chinese companies copying USA/European/Australian ideas and designs. US companies very occasionally engage. Leofoto is a relative newcomer and I bought their travel tripod to see for myself how it compared to my RRS and Benro travelers. It held up pretty well though not as good as the RRS; it has quality aluminum & stainless hardware and decent carbon fiber from Japan. Now they're dipping into tripod heads and have copied RRS ballheads and Arca Swiss geared heads. Europe has woken up to it and has apparently banned the Leofoto G4 geared head which is a direct copy (though not in looks) of the Arca Swiss d4. See the clip below taken from Leofoto's website and below that left side bottom is an Arca Swiss L60 leveler and above it the Leofoto copy and right side bottom is an Arca Swiss d4 with the Leofoto copy above.
p.2 #12 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
peter_n wrote:
There's a lot of copying. Usually it's the Chinese companies copying USA/European/Australian ideas and designs. US companies very occasionally engage. Leofoto is a relative newcomer and I bought their travel tripod to see for myself how it compared to my RRS and Benro travelers. It held up pretty well though not as good as the RRS; it has quality aluminum & stainless hardware and decent carbon fiber from Japan. Now they're dipping into tripod heads and have copied RRS ballheads and Arca Swiss geared heads. Europe has woken up to it and has apparently banned the Leofoto G4 geared head which is a direct copy (though not in looks) of the Arca Swiss d4. See the clip below taken from Leofoto's website and below that left side bottom is an Arca Swiss L60 leveler and above it the Leofoto copy and right side bottom is an Arca Swiss d4 with the Leofoto copy above....Show more →
The Leofoto G4 head works like a charm. It is extremely well made.
I cannot find any evidence of the Leofoto product being "banned" in Europe or anywhere else. According to patents.google.com there is an active US patent (US8628258B2) on the Arca Swiss D4 design but the German one (DE102010036405A1) has been withdrawn. So if patent infringement was at play it would seem more likely the Leofoto head would be unavailable in the US rather than in EU.
p.2 #13 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
Then why is the Leofoto G4 "unavailable" in the EU as they state on their website? Not just Switzerland and France but the whole EU. Patents are not the only way to protect intellectual property either; you can trademark or copyright your IP. Maybe they've filed a lawsuit against Leofoto.
Arca Swiss is a tiny family run company in a small town on the Swiss border with France. Their products are designed in Switzerland and manufactured just over the border in France. They have a long history of sterling innovation including the dovetail clamp and plate connection system we all use that they developed back in the 1990s. They can be quirky - they got very upset with RRS way back; litigated and lost. I was told that the American lawyers were better than theirs.
p.2 #14 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
I stopped using leveling base when I got a RRS panning clamp.
To me it's a great solution for panos, and is simple to set up.
You can also easily swap it between heads, and pack it by itself so it doesn't bulk up your travel tripod head (like for instance with my Gitzo 1544T where the legs fold back over the head).
I tried an Arca Po with their panning clamp on my TQC-14 and returned it after a couple days.
I switched back to a BH-40, and have used the RRS panning clamp on it when needed.
p.2 #16 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
yetiman wrote:
I stopped using leveling base when I got a RRS panning clamp.
To me it's a great solution for panos, and is simple to set up.
So you level with the ballhead and pan with the panning clamp? The problem with that setup is you are restricted to panos with the horizon dead center. Essentially the same limitation as I currently have with my reverse-mounted Acratech ballhead (and the P0).
The setup I have on my large tripod is close to ideal for me… an Acratech Long Lens Head (with nodal rail), sitting on a leveling base. I'm basically wanting a smaller, lighter version of this for the 1 series (will likely stick with the ballhead though, as it seems redundant to have two Acratech LLH/Pano Heads).
It seems like my best options at this point are the small Kirk and the (slightly larger) small Leofoto.
p.2 #17 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
I don't know why it is unavailable. I could not find any indication that there is a "ban" or pending litigation to prevent it. Maybe they don't have a distributor for it yet. Maybe their margin is too low and the currency imbalance is unfavorable. Maybe they can't build enough.
The Linhof 3D and Leofoto G2 sure look like the Arca C1, but apparently Linhof and Leofoto are selling their versions in the EU.
If you want to find out about banned products, next time you're in Paris ask for a Mountain Dew.
peter_n wrote:
Then why is the Leofoto G4 "unavailable" in the EU as they state on their website? Not just Switzerland and France but the whole EU. Patents are not the only way to protect intellectual property either; you can trademark or copyright your IP. Maybe they've filed a lawsuit against Leofoto.
Arca Swiss is a tiny family run company in a small town on the Swiss border with France. Their products are designed in Switzerland and manufactured just over the border in France. They have a long history of sterling innovation including the dovetail clamp and plate connection system we all use that they developed back in the 1990s. They can be quirky - they got very upset with RRS way back; litigated and lost. I was told that the American lawyers were better than theirs....Show more →
p.2 #18 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
yetiman wrote:
I stopped using leveling base when I got a RRS panning clamp.
To me it's a great solution for panos, and is simple to set up.
Chris Court wrote:
So you level with the ballhead and pan with the panning clamp? The problem with that setup is you are restricted to panos with the horizon dead center. Essentially the same limitation as I currently have with my reverse-mounted Acratech ballhead (and the P0).
The setup I have on my large tripod is close to ideal for me… an Acratech Long Lens Head (with nodal rail), sitting on a leveling base. I'm basically wanting a smaller, lighter version of this for the 1 series (will likely stick with the ballhead though, as it seems redundant to have two Acratech LLH/Pano Heads).
It seems like my best options at this point are the small Kirk and the (slightly larger) small Leofoto.
Exactly. The value of the leveling base is that it quickly levels the ball head, so the pan is made using the base of the ball head and the user is free to control the elevation of camera/lens with the ball.
p.2 #19 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
Chris Court wrote:
The setup I have on my large tripod is close to ideal for me… an Acratech Long Lens Head (with nodal rail), sitting on a leveling base. I'm basically wanting a smaller, lighter version of this for the 1 series (will likely stick with the ballhead though, as it seems redundant to have two Acratech LLH/Pano Heads).
C
Chris I have the same set up for my travel and long hikes
Instead of Acratech LLH I have a Leofoto VH-20 (works like your Acratech LLH) with Leofoto LB60N leveling base
I use a RRS Leveling base and Manfrotto fluid head on my large Gitzo
I use a Markins ball head with a Leofoto LB65 leveling base on my medium tripod
Have used my DSLR and 150-600 on all without any issues.
