Lightweight Professional Travel Tripod? - Page 3 at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Support Your Local Camera > Tripod Sticks & Heads
Register FAQ Today's Posts Buyer's Guides

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old January 10th, 2007, 04:44 PM   #31
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 192
Lightest fluid head for travelling?

The G2180 with carbon sticks is my favorite for hiking/backpacking. The only thing missing is a bubble level. Windy days can be a challenge, too. I'll be waiting to see your review.

Best,
Peter
Peter Rhalter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 11th, 2007, 02:29 AM   #32
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Tartu, Estonia
Posts: 579
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Rhalter
The only thing missing is a bubble level
I have several of those spare Manfrotto/Bogen Bubble Levels let`s see where to attach it...

T
Toenis Liivamaegi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 11th, 2007, 08:57 AM   #33
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 192
Lightest fluid head for travelling?

How big is that bubble level? The G2180 head is so small that it leaves a 12mm ring of empty space around it on my 75mm bowl mount. There are also levels that fit onto a camera's hot shoe, although I prefer it on the tripod.

Best wishes,
Peter
Peter Rhalter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 12th, 2007, 06:18 AM   #34
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Tartu, Estonia
Posts: 579
Peter, do you know on which thread does that Gitzo head fit? I mean if it is possible to attach it to manfotto/bogen half bowls too...

The bubble level is about 10mm in diametre.

Thanks,
T
Toenis Liivamaegi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 12th, 2007, 09:00 AM   #35
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 192
Quote:
Originally Posted by Toenis Liivamaegi
Peter, do you know on which thread does that Gitzo head fit? I mean if it is possible to attach it to manfotto/bogen half bowls too...

The bubble level is about 10mm in diametre.

Thanks,
T
Yes, it very certainly attaches to the Manfrotto half bowls as that is what I use, too.

Best wishes,
Peter
______________________
http://www.parkfilms.com
Peter Rhalter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 18th, 2007, 12:16 AM   #36
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 192
Quote:
Originally Posted by Toenis Liivamaegi
I have several of those spare Manfrotto/Bogen Bubble Levels let`s see where to attach it...

T
Toenis,

Based on your suggestion I bought one of the little Manfrotto/Bogen Bubble Levels, too. There is indeed room to mount it directly on a Manfrotto tripod. However, I chose to glue it onto a small (and cheap) hot shoe adapter which I then put on the unused hot shoe of my camera. That leaves me the flexibility to swap fluid heads without having to detach the level from the tripod plate.

Best wishes,
Peter
______________________
http://www.parkfilms.com
Peter Rhalter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 30th, 2007, 02:31 AM   #37
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Tartu, Estonia
Posts: 579
About lightest Gitzo G2180 fluid head

Peter, is the clicking sound normal with Gitzo G2180 head?
I mean when I engage the counter balance system it sort of clicks at the extreme angles.

My first impressions are that it is much more solid than the Manfrotto 701RC2/501/503 and of course the ergonomics are just fantastic when compared to those traditional heads.

When I get used to the counter balance system I`ll be much more satisfied than with the 701RC2 head.

Cheers,
T
Toenis Liivamaegi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 30th, 2007, 03:23 AM   #38
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 192
Quote:
Originally Posted by Toenis Liivamaegi
Peter, is the clicking sound normal with Gitzo G2180 head?
I mean when I engage the counter balance system it sort of clicks at the extreme angles.
Toenis,

Mine also clicks in one spot, near the end of an extreme down-tilt where the camera is pointed down. It doesn't do that when tilting up. It is interesting that you have this, too, as I wasn't sure what to make of it. I decided to ignore it since in all other ways this head is better than the alternatives that I have seen and it affects very few shots. Yes, I agree the click(s) are a limitation.

I wonder if Gitzo can fix this, or is it inherent in the design? Even though I live in a large city (Los Angeles), there are no stores here that carry the G2180, so I haven't been able to compare mine with any other examples.

Otherwise everything functions very well. The only limitation of the G2180 that I have found is the flip side of one of its strengths: the low mass. While the head is nicely designed and constructed, getting a smooth pan at 20X is not so easy because the light weight head doesn't dampen any of my errors. Have you had any experience with this?

One great benefit of this head is that I carry my tripod around with me more. It's so light that I no longer hesitate to bring it along.

Best wishes,
Peter
______________________
http://www.parkfilms.com
Peter Rhalter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 30th, 2007, 10:59 AM   #39
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 192
Quote:
Originally Posted by Toenis Liivamaegi
When I get used to the counter balance system I`ll be much more satisfied than with the 701RC2 head.
I think the counterbalance system is excellent, now that I have figured out how to use it. The instructions could have been a little clearer, but the system works very well.

Best wishes,
Peter
______________________
http://www.parkfilms.com
Peter Rhalter is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Support Your Local Camera > Tripod Sticks & Heads


 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:22 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network