Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/10/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Jerry, Gitzo has started using Basalt fibers in an intermediate priced line of tripods. Halfway between aluminum and carbon fiber in weight and price. Basalt does damp vibrations and will not freeze your fingers in the cold like aluminum. I will second the opinion that use a light head for Leica is more than adequate. For example, the Leica large head... On 10/28/07, Jerry Lehrer <glehrer@san.rr.com> wrote: > > Luis' > > Basalt? What are you talking about? How does basalt help? > > Jerry > > > > Luis Miguel Casta?eda Navas wrote: > > > > On 28/10/2007, at 18:23, Sonny Carter wrote: > > > >>> Actually, I was curious about the vibration and damping > >>> characteristics of > >>> wood tripods as compared to similarly sized Carbon Fiber or Aluminium > >>> models. > >>> > >>> I can't compare them, but one point Luis brought out is important. My > >> wooden tripod is very stable at full extension, and that's important to > >> me,as I'm 6' 4" tall. > > > > > > Wood is usually the most stable and vibration-free of similar sized > > tripods unless you're going to ultra heavy and big aluminium tripods > > made for TV cameras. Is not a casuality that they're used for > > theodolites in field measurement where those characteristics are > > critical (mind you those only have 1 extension key if any). > > > > Once the wood is correctly treated (even all the holes) and the metals > > used are well thought there is no problem with water or mud and there > > is no tubes which are going to be filled of water if you shoot into a > > stream, for example. Indeed, you'll have to care the wood from time to > > time. > > > > Vibrations and other similar stuff depends on the unit / head / camera > > combo more than on a specific model, so you won't know until you can > > test it for yourself. The harmonic vibrations might depend of many > > factors, sometimes they could be easily removed with a little piece of > > cork, or might be a nightmare, but said this, I won't care unless I > > can notice them. > > > > On the other hand, a well designed tripod will deliver strong > > performance no matter what they used to build it, but carbon is very > > rigid for its weight, so theoretically you can make a taller tripod > > with the same stability than another one made out aluminium for > > example, but they are a magnet for lightning if you need to care about > > this. This problem is avoided with basalt which is on pair to carbon > > in its characteristics. > > > > > > > > _ > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > -- Don don.dory@gmail.com