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Archive 2007 · Gitzo Leveling base

Lars Johnsson
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Gitzo Leveling base

A couple of days ago I ordered the Gitzo GT 3530 LSV tripod and a Wimberley head II. I'm excited to get my first really good tripod setup. But asome people have told me that I should buy the Gito Leveling base also. Do I need it for sport & birds

And if I need it, which one. I can see that Gitzo has two of those that looks exactly the same.
G1321 Level Base & GS5120 LVL
What's difference between those two?

May 13, 2007 at 02:59 AM

Ariel Bravy
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Gitzo Leveling base

Congrats on the new purchase Lars!

A leveling base will help you get your camera perfectly aligned with the horizon should you want to do panoramas on uneven ground. For sports and birds, it won't help one bit so you'll be just fine without it.

May 13, 2007 at 04:05 AM

dcains
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Gitzo Leveling base

I've got a Gitzo leveling tripod, the G1228LVL, and honestly, I almost never use that function. Unless you're doing pano's, what the purpose of it? It's got a range of adjustment of ~15 degrees, but I think at that extreme, you should really be adjusting one of the legs, or else you're likely to be sacrificing stability.

May 13, 2007 at 04:08 AM

AJ Nadershahi
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Gitzo Leveling base

Doubtful you would need it for sports and birds. As already stated, it's main use is for panoramic scenery.

If you're still interested, look at Acratech's leveling base. It's probably one of the best ones in terms of usability and design.

May 13, 2007 at 05:00 AM

godfather
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Gitzo Leveling base

I had a 1321 on my tripod for awhile but I found I did not use it very often and did not like the extra weight. Some say it a nice option to have for a wimberley mount but I find it's just as easy to make the adjustments higher up on the rig.

May 13, 2007 at 07:06 AM

JohnJ80
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Gitzo Leveling base

I don't think you would need it for stills unless you are doing panoramas. If you are, then a better solution is the Really Right Stuff PCL-1 anyhow.

J.

May 13, 2007 at 10:25 AM

Sherman Zell
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Gitzo Leveling base

Can someone answer Lars question ie 1321 vs 5120?

May 13, 2007 at 11:35 AM

RamónT
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Gitzo Leveling base

Sherman Zell wrote:
Can someone answer Lars question ie 1321 vs 5120?

The only difference I can see is a shorter "handle" in the new model.

http://i.pbase.com/o6/50/276250/1/78702036.f9eUjeS2.gitzoleveler.jpg

Ramón

May 13, 2007 at 01:12 PM

BeeMan458
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Gitzo Leveling base

I always seem to be on the opposite side of the page from everybody else.

Siiiiigh!

I have and use the 1321. Can't believe one wouldn't love to have one of these things attached to their legset; extra weight aside. It's a wonderful add, which makes it easy to level the base. I like level bases and trying to level the legset via the leg locks is, to me, a royal pain. Set up the legs, level the base with a simple twist of the locking nut and "Voila!," you're good to go. So with a deaf ear I rhetorically ask; What's not to like about having a 1321 attached to your tripod?

In short, it's a personal choice kinda thing and in my case, I just can't seem to live without one attached to my 1325 as not having a leveling base seems.... well, it just seems wrong.

Hope the above helps.

May 13, 2007 at 03:32 PM

RamónT
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Gitzo Leveling base

BeeMan458 wrote:
I always seem to be on the opposite side of the page from everybody else.

Siiiiigh!

I have and use the 1321. Can't believe one wouldn't love to have one of these things attached to their legset; extra weight aside. It's a wonderful add, which makes it easy to level the base. I like level bases and trying to level the legset via the leg locks is, to me, a royal pain. Set up the legs, level the base with a simple twist of the locking nut and "Voila!," you're good to go. So with a deaf ear I rhetorically...Show more →

You are not alone Thomas... and paraphrasing you... "having a gimbal head and not having a leveling base seems... well... "

Ramón

May 13, 2007 at 04:00 PM

Lars Johnsson
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Gitzo Leveling base

Thanks everybody for advice and comments.

But I can't really understand why it's so importent to have the leveling base when shooting sport & birds

If I was shooting landscape or similar I could understand it.......

May 13, 2007 at 04:55 PM

RamónT
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Gitzo Leveling base

Lars Johnsson wrote:
Thanks everybody for advice and comments.

But I can't really understand why it's so importent to have the leveling base when shooting sport & birds

If I was shooting landscape or similar I could understand it.......

1.Because when shooting sports and birds in action you don't have the time to level the camera (I like straight horizons and straight reflexes in the water).
2.Because the gimbal heads are designed to work leveled.

(If you understand spanish I can explain you the question much better, my english is very poor as you can see)

Ramón

May 13, 2007 at 05:25 PM

HerbChong
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Gitzo Leveling base

i have a 5530S and i use the older 1321 leveling base on it. they are interchangeable as far as fitting on Systematic tripods. i don't know what the exact difference is but either will fit on any recent Systematic tripod.

as to why you need it with a Wimberley, do you like your background horizons level on capture of distant birds or do you like leveling in post processing? in the time it takes you to level the tripod after moving it, your bird/animal shot will have long gone. unless you are in a blind, you'll be moving your tripod a lot for wildlife shooting.

Herb...

May 13, 2007 at 07:07 PM

cjjmst
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Gitzo Leveling base

Leveling base is just the kind of stuff you just get used to so easily that it just becomes indispensable after a few days. I got mine packaged with a used tripod I got here. Now I just can't leave without it. I extend the tripod legs at the height I need, in just a second I level the head:
- priceless when using gimball unless you never shoot with visible horizon or water surface in the background,
- still great when using ballheads for panos.

May 14, 2007 at 10:44 PM

wtlloyd
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Gitzo Leveling base

I actually have two of the 1321 base, one for each tripod. As already stated, it's faster to make quick adjustments with.

Typically, I find it very helpful when I am quickly moving a few steps closer to a bird that has turned it's back or become distracted or put it's head down to feed....I creep forward several feet, then need to relevel the tripod head - but I don't want to make anymore movement as the bird is now eyeing me - it's very subtle motion, I don't really need to move much to adjust the level position. Other times, you run out of leg and need the additional adjustment in the leveling base...this can happen on a hillside, or on the beach or other soft surface..It's just quicker and easier to adjust the head instead of the legs.

May 15, 2007 at 12:36 AM

csm
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Gitzo Leveling base

Yes, it does help with a Gimbal head and ballhead. I just leave it on all the time for small corrections whenever shooting, very nice.

May 15, 2007 at 12:47 AM

Lars Johnsson
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Gitzo Leveling base

Thanks everybody for your input and advice. Took my Gitzo & Wimberley combo out for a test today. It's really nice to work with. And so solid, the stability is also outstanding.

http://www.pbase.com/larsjohnsson/image/78931725/original.jpg

May 17, 2007 at 11:55 AM

wtlloyd
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Gitzo Leveling base

Congrats. Enjoy your sweet setup.

May 17, 2007 at 01:41 PM

JohnJ80
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Gitzo Leveling base

well done! looks great.

J.

May 17, 2007 at 03:41 PM

BeeMan458
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Gitzo Leveling base

Sweet! But color me blind: no leveling base

May 17, 2007 at 05:42 PM

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