p.1 #1 · tripods and some general questions (gitzo and RRS content)
Afternoon all, Bare with me on this as it's probably going to be a long one.
I'm about to make the jump to a good quality tripod coming from a cheap and cheerful one so first a little background:
I currently have a Canon 400d with 50mm 1.4, 17-55 and 28-128mm and as soon as Canon announce the 5d replacement will more than likely be making the jump to it. Most of my photos can be shoe horned in to, Landscape, cityscape, macro and street candid of which the latter does not have much call for a tripod and I can not see a need for a lens over 200mm (at least in the foreseeable future). I am 6 feet tall.
After a lot of confusion, reading, toing and froing, seeing tripods being discontinued I think I've settled on the following:
Gitzo GT2531
Really Right Stuff BH-40 LRII head/Clamp
Really Right Stuff L Plate
Choosing this set up in an effort to keeping the total weight of the tripod in or around the 4lbs mark which not sacrificing too much what it can carry.
Now after all that reading the questions
1) I'm a little confused about the RRS clamping systems, I see there are two types the B2 LR II and the B2 AS II. Am I correct in saying that I essentially don't need to worry about this and if I buy the Package Deal from RRS I'll get what I need. Can any one give a quick synopsis of the differences, it's a little unclear from their site.
2) Does size matter, . My last tripod was probably only around the 4foot mark and the GT2531 is only about 5feet 2in fully extended (the EX version get a few more inches but adds 1lbs of weight or the 2532L but not sure of the benefit of leveling vuersus stability trade off.). First off how much extra height will the camera and clamp add to the set up and secondly if there any benefit in getting a tripod that goes to eyelevel, I'm failing to see much benefit other than less of a need to squat slightly to look through the VF.
p.1 #2 · tripods and some general questions (gitzo and RRS content)
1.) The B2 LR II lever clamp has a 3/8-16 female threaded hole for mounting to the ballhead. The B2 AS II is designed for a metric M6 connection or 1/4-20 connection. That's essentially the only difference.
2.) The thickest part of the RRS clamp is about 1/2"...going from recall here. I'm sure that the RRS site provides dimensions. However, the area where the camera would secure into the clamp will be a bit shallower, but we're not talking about a great distance (most likely about 1/4" less). As far as the height of the camera goes, measure the distance from the base of the camera to the viewfinder. If you're using a battery grip, factor in that height as well. Add all that up and then add to the leg height/head height for the total height.
Also, if you're not totally set on the BH40 head and looking to get additional height, consider the Markins M10 ballhead with the TB20 base...it may be somewhat taller than the RRS counterpart. I'm using this combo on my Gitzo GT2540, along with the RRS B2 LR II lever clamp.
p.1 #4 · tripods and some general questions (gitzo and RRS content)
for me, there is a tradeoff between tripod height and ease of use/setup. My tripod (Feisol 3342) when fully extended w/ ballhead, leveling base, clamp is simply too tall for me to reliably use the leveling bubbles, I can't focus my eyes that closely anymore Nor can I see the top deck of the camera and the buttons & top LCD, I end up tilting the camera back on the tripod legs to see the buttons.
If I do not extend the lowest leg section, the height (up to the clamp platform) is 44" and then add another 3.5" for the camera. Thats a little low. I could use another few inches so I often lock the lowest leg to something like 4-5" (to fit in the bag) and then just retract the upper legs.
If the tripod is too high, you won't be able to properly sight the level on the B2 clamp (you'll be viewing obliquely). Som other people may have a bigger issue w/ crouching though. it's all a trade-off.
p.1 #5 · tripods and some general questions (gitzo and RRS content)
howardm4 wrote:
If the tripod is too high, you won't be able to properly sight the level on the B2 clamp (you'll be viewing obliquely). Som other people may have a bigger issue w/ crouching though. it's all a trade-off.
Yeah, it's all fun trying to decide. Unfortunately it I don't have a dealer close by so it's going to be a mail order special. I think at this stage it's going to come down to the gt2531 at 5 feet 2 inches and the gt2531L at 5feet 7 inches. Me being 6 feet.
p.1 #6 · tripods and some general questions (gitzo and RRS content)
on my setup, it's 9.5" from top of tripod platform to camera viewfinder (that includes 1.75" for leveling base, then add a Markins M10 & RRS B2 clamp & Nikon D300).
the tripod itself max's out at 56" and like I said, that along w/ the rest of the 'stack' is several inches too tall for me if standing on level ground.
p.1 #7 · tripods and some general questions (gitzo and RRS content)
Ah that's good to know. I've yet to work out how much the head + camera adds. Seems your set full set up is about 2" more than the gt2531 fully extended on its own.
Seeing as my last tripod probably didn't break 48" extended, the 2531 may very well be enough. I'm still young enough to crouch a little with out many problems
p.1 #8 · tripods and some general questions (gitzo and RRS content)
2540 + TB20 + M10 puts the plate at around 54.5" and the viewfinder at around 58.5. I'm just over 6 feet this works well for me. I wouldn't bother with the leveling, the same can be achieved using some RRS pano clamps and at least these are modular, I.e. you can pick and choose when to use them without being forced to always carry around the additional weight.
. My last tripod was probably only around the 4foot mark and the GT2531 is only about 5feet 2in fully extended (the EX version get a few more inches but adds 1lbs of weight or the 2532L but not sure of the benefit of leveling vuersus stability trade off.). First off how much extra height will the camera and clamp add to the set up and secondly if there any benefit in getting a tripod that goes to eyelevel, I'm failing to see much benefit other than less of a need to squat slightly to look through the VF.
Nor can I see the top deck of the camera and the buttons & top LCD, I end up tilting the camera back on the tripod legs to see the buttons.