Reader's Comments - Index of - Free

Tripods
-- David Gabbé, July 30, 1998
Just got back from a trip to the Rocky Mountain National Park. After a week of
lugging a Bogen 3221 w/Arca B1 on my shoulder, I am thoroughly convinced that
a Gitzo Carbon Fiber Mountaineer is a must.
The Bogen was stable, I had it in streams, mud, steep slopes and deep grass. It
handled my AF-S 300 2.8 with ease. No mechanical issues, but problem was the 6
mile 2,000 vert. ft. hikes at 6am with that bugger on my shoulder.
I will be ordering the Gitzo very shortly.
-- Michael J. Kravit, August 13, 1998
To: Tom Shapiro (above).
You asked at what shutter speed do you begin to use a tripod? The textbook answer
is at about 1/focal length. So, for example, if you have a 50mm lens, you should
use a tripod at shutter speeds of 1/50th and slower. However, that's just a guide.
I think everyone here will agree, you should use that tripod whenever you can, even
at higher speeds. Not only will it prevent camera shake, but it will help slow you
down to contemplate the setting and exposure.
Every time you release that shutter on your camera, it costs you 25 cents (a dollar if
you use medium format film). I've paid for my Bogen by slowing down and taking
fewer shots!
-- Albert E. Anderson, September 7, 1998
I have recently started working with an Arca Swiss B2 head, after using different
"rational" or pan/tilt heads for the past 14 years. About half of what I shoot is
architecture on 4x5 and 6x17 cameras and this is the best tripod head I have come
across. It is not a freely rotating ball head the way the smaller B1 (which I also
have used for a number of years) is, but is two enclosed joints, one inside the
other.) from the outside the head appears to be a very large ball head. The outer
joint controls pitch (forward and back angle) this joint has the Friction control that
Phil mentions. The inner joint controls leveling from side to side and is controlled
by a seperate knob. Panning is controlled at the base of the head.
http://www.photo.net/equipment/tripods/philg (17 of 53)7/3/2005 2:21:13 AM