Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/05/20

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To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Subject: Re: Lighter tripods (and very light tripods)
From: Charles E. Dunlap <cdunlap@rupture.ucsc.edu>
Date: Mon, 20 May 96 22:39:54 -0700

>but I've been aware
>of very much lighter tripods (the kind that serious photographers might
>be tempted to laugh at) made by Vivitar

Gitzo (and others?) have begun to make carbon fiber tripods that should 
be stronger and more durable than light (read flimsy) metal ones and will 
probably weigh the same or less. Of course these cost over $400 (last 
time I checked). The Vivitar might serve as well, however: the Leica is 
not incredibly heavy nor are the lenses big and awkward. In a breeze you 
might notice that the Vivitar is more shaky, but it's hard to say without 
having seen the exact model in question. The Gitzo will undoubtedly be 
more durable and mechanically reliable judging from my experiences with 
other cheap tripods in comparison. Perhaps the small amount of money 
invested in the Vivitar would be a sensible first step. If it is really 
bad then you know you need to spend the extra for something better.

Good luck.

-Charlie

Charles E. Dunlap
Earth Sciences Dept.
University of California
Santa Cruz, CA 95064