as i said, you haven't tried it. if your tripod is only a few degrees off level, no-one will notice. if you correct anything obvious using the collar or set the collar to achieve a certain tilt, as soon as you pan on the Wimberley, everything will need to be readjusted. with a leveling base, there is a good chance you won't have to adjust anything as you pan.
Herb, I don't have to readjust as soon as I pan or move the Wimberley Head.
But let's stop it here You have told me in 6-7 posts that I must have the Gitzo leveling base. And I have told you that I will probably not buy it.....
It looks like the GS5120LVL is for the newer Systematic series tripods. The older G1321 is for the previous series 3, 4, and 5 models only. I imagine the G1321 will be phased out as stock is depleted.
A nice feature of the 1321 that I wasn't aware of until the guy in the brown shorts brought it today is the easy-release lock lever for the ballhead. Actually makes it feasible to take the darn thing off occasionally.
I'm about to order the Gitzo 3530 and was going to get the SwissArca head until I found out that it doesn't have a levelling bubble. The SwissArca head is on sale at B&H so it's quite a bit cheaper than the RRS BH-55 which does have the levelling bubble. I really don't know a lot about this 1321, but it would seem even after adding this thing, I'm still cheaper than the RRS BH-55. I don't suppose someone would like to explain in newbie terms, how this thing mounts and what I could do with it?
For what it's worth, I photograph birds almost exclusively. I actually use two leveling heads depending on the circumstances. For "spotting and stalking" birds I use the Gitzo 1321 leveling base. It is quick to set up and I really don't use it so much to level the head as I use it mostly for balancing the Wimberley head better if I have to set up the tripod quickly on very uneven terrain.
If I know I am going to be photographing waterfowl or shorebirds or I am going to be working from a blind, I use the Bogen / Manfrotto 3502 Compact Levelling Head. It is heavier than Gitzo 1321 and a bit more finicky to set up but it doesn't have the handle that sticks below the tripod base. This allows me to place the tripod right at ground level for very low angle perspectives that make for very attractive waterfowl and shorebird images. I will level the tripod base with the leveling head and then level the camera in the Wimberley head and lock it all down tight. As long as I don't reposition the tripod I make all the exposures I want without worrying about the camera being off-level.
In short, I wouldn't go out photographing birds without one.
fredjlord wrote:
It looks like the GS5120LVL is for the newer Systematic series tripods. The older G1321 is for the previous series 3, 4, and 5 models only. I imagine the G1321 will be phased out as stock is depleted.
Anyone know if the GS5120LVL will work with a Gitzo 1548? If not I'd better order a 1321 soon.
You have told me in 6-7 posts that I must have the Gitzo leveling base. And I have told you that I will probably not buy it..... 