Which Gitzo CF?

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I'm in the market for a new tripod and I wanted to find out what everyone thought. I'm just getting ready to make the plunge into LF. I haven't purchaced my camera yet but ATM anyway I'm leaning towards a Toyo 45AX. I'm going to purchace a tripod before my camera because I need a tripod now. I'm leaning towards the G1227 beacause I'm planning on doing some backpacking and it's lighter and it's also *coughcoghcheapercough*. But I don't wanna find out later that it's just too marginal for a 6lb camera and that I should have just gone with the G1325.I have read through the posts and 6lbs seems to be right inbetween the lightweights people feel OK with a G1227 and the heaver monorails that would be better with the G1325. Thanks for the input.

-- Ed Candland (ecandland@earthlink.net), February 18, 2002

Answers

Ed:

I have a Toyo 45A and its a fine all-round camera. I use it (and my other cameras) with a 1325. I started with the 1227, but really prefer the 1325 for two reasons. First, because the legs open to a slightly wider angle, and the top plate is larger, the whole thing is more stable. Second, I really prefer no center column. This seems to be the point of most flex in tripod systems. The extra 1.3 pounds is a reasonable price to pay. At Robert White, the difference in cost between the 1227 and 1325 is only $69. Just my experience!

-- Glenn Kroeger (gkroeger@trinity.edu), February 18, 2002.


Get the 1329 from Robert White. You get the column AND a std. flat plate - you get to decide which one you prefer for the shooting that you'll be doing. Check to make sure that you still get both options, I think that I remember reading somewhere that Gitzo was changing their lineup somewhat and it may no longer be the case (got mine a year ago). I also have the 1227 but only use it for digital and 35mm - it's probably stiff enough for 4x5, but it weighs less than the head that I use, I never notice the extra weight of the 1329.

-- Wayne DeWitt (wdewitt@snip.net), February 18, 2002.

Hi Ed, I use a 1349 with my EBONY!!!!!!!! Thought I'd just give the camera a mention! Superb quality, nice and light and very well made...and the tripod's not bad either!!!!! But seriously folks....as yet there is no competition when it comes to CF tripods. But Gitzo are now offering the legs and columns as separate items, but try Robert White as he may still have some of the original leg/column set ups at good prices.

-- paul owen (paulowen_2000@yahoo.com), February 18, 2002.

Ed, I have the 1325 and use it with everything including a Toyo 45 AII and a Pentax 67 It works very well and when shooting flowers at ground level I am very happy not to have a central column.

-- Jean-Marie Solichon (jmsolichon@mairie.mc), February 18, 2002.

The three section 1325 is analogous to a Morris Mini Minor at 100 k/h: it's maxed out at any reasonable height. The 1348 on the other hand has stability to spare. I am 6' tall and typically set up my 1349 with the top two sections extended all but 6" and the smallest section extended only 6". Stability decreases significantly if any section (of any tripod) is extended all the way because nesting one section inside the one above it creates more friction and decreases lateral play. Extended all the way the sections are closer to merely being butted end to end; it is more like the sections are balancing on top of each other rather than tightly grabbing each other.

Ditto the suggestion to buy from Robt White.

-- John Hennessy (northbayassociates@earthlink.net), February 18, 2002.



I use the 1325 with 4x5 (6 1/2 lb Linhof Technika) and 8x10 (12 lb Deardorff). It works fine for both. I never use a center column with large format so it made no sense for me to buy a center column I'd never use. I'm 5' 11" tall and the 1325 isn't fully extended with either 4x5 or 8x10 at eye level. There's probably another foot to go with 4x5. I've really enjoyed using the tripod. At some point Gitzo changed the locking collars from the ones used on my older metal Gitzo, which were kind of small and difficult to twist, to the larger ones used on the 1325 and presumably other tripods. I find the new version much easier to use than the older version, which has eliminated the objection I used to have to Gitzo tripods.

-- Brian Ellis (bellis60@earthlink.net), February 18, 2002.

Thanks everyone for all the input. It looks like a 1325 for me. I was planing on buying at Robert White. If I had to pay US prices my tripod most likely wouldn't be made out of CF ;-)

-- Ed Candland (ecandland@earthlink.net), February 18, 2002.

I bought and then sold (at a horrific discount) a G1227 to go with my Wisner 4x5 Traditional (6lbs.) The G1227 was light enough but it did feel quite marginal. I am now awaiting shipment of a G1325 from Robert White, plus a G1321 leveling base.

-- (jdivack@worldnet.att.net), February 19, 2002.

You'll like the levelling base - in most cases I can get away with using the base without a head.

-- Wayne Dewitt (wdewitt@snip.net), February 19, 2002.

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