Gitzo tripod - is it good enough?
 

I have a carbon fiber G1228 tripod for my DSLR. Would this be good enough to use for my Sony A1 video camera if I put a different head on it? What would be a good head to use with this tripod? I am moving away from all my still work but would like to keep this tripod if I could since it cost a good chunk of $.

Thanks..........JD

a good fliud head and tripod will outlast every camera currently on the market by 10 years. A "fluid" motion, and sticks that will not transmit vibration upto the camera when in motion -or locked off- are a far better investment over the long haul than any other piece of equipment you may buy. I've seen 15 year old, high end fluid heads, out perform any other lesser quality new system.

OK, so is my tripod good enough if I just get a good "fluid" head?
Any suggestions on a good head?

I am not certain if this adaptor will fit your tripod but if it does, it would allow you to use half-ball heads. This is the Gitzo adaptor, G1422 ($40)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

If it fits your tripod, you could then use this head... a Gitzo G1380 ($900)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

This would be a very nice system.

Nick

A solution to the levelling on the Gitzo is the Manfrotto levelling device. You can then put a Manfrotto 503, or better, head on that. I have a Gitzo 1127 and find that this is very rigid, given its very low mass. When I bought it, I tried it out alongside both manfrotto and Velbon equivalents, and I was convinced that the Gitzo legs were more rigid both in bending and torsion.

What about just putting a Gitzo G2380 head on my G1228 tripod? Good enough?

Yeah, it would probably be okay for a small, light cam like the A1... but if you find yourself wanting more, don't even bother with anything in between... go straight for the G1380 and save yourself a lot of grief.

Nick

Hi John

Here is my experience going down this route...I used a Manfrotto/Bogen 501 on Gitzo photo legs when I was shooting with a TRV950... it works ok!

You'll need to add the levelling insert ball leveller though or you'll never get a level pan.
http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/3204

I would say though that photo tripods are a pain to use for video...When you need to move around, the telescopic legs take longer to set up than a proper set of video legs, especially in cold weather... I made do with the Gitzo legs the 438 leveller device and 501 head, but am glad to have a set of proper video legs now.
With hind sight I could have got an entry level Manfrotto tripod kit for not much more money that would have been much more user friendly.

Regards
Gareth

The Gitzo 2380 suffers from "stiction" just like the Manfrotto 501. The Manfrotto 503 is probably the cheapest true fluid head - and it also has a counterbalance spring.

I recently replaced a 2380 with a 503 and it was well worth it, even though I cannot find a buyer for the 2380.

I agree entirely with the remarks regarding levelling. My Gitzo tripod is a pain in this respect, my Manfrotto 525 is far easier, but it weighs far too much for some purposes..

Can you explain what you mean by a "proper" set of video legs compared to the Gitzo legs?

The 501 and 503 use the exact same pan/tilt mechanism - the only add-on is the counter-balance springs.

Unfortunately, the 5 series Manfrotto are not true fluid heads. This doesn't mean that they are not good value for money!

It may be different in the RSA, I do not know: but in Europe the 503 and 501 heads most definitely do not use the same friction mechanism. A glance at the Manfrotto catalogue makes this crystal clear. The 503 is a true fluid head, the 501 uses Teflon friction plates.

From page 08 PRO VIDEO HEAD 501

"Continuous drag friction control operated by a set of TEFLON disks."

From page 09 PRO FLUID VIDEO HEAD 503

"This technical drawing of the 503 video head points out two very important features which make this head quite different from the sister one 501, a fixed counterbalance spring and the variable continuous "fluid" drag friction control mechanism"