Gitzo Carbon Tripod & 10D

[optical]

I am impressed with a Gitzo Carbon tripod I just bought, it is expensive but the light weight is worth it.

This is a basic question (this is my first tripod) - there is a hook at the centre and I am told that I have to hook weight on ot it to stabalise the tripod.

How much weight for a 10D with a 70-200 f2.8 lens?
What would you use? a camera bag? a sand bag?
Is the weight to make sure the tripod does not topple or does it affect the sharpness of the image?
Is it always necessary or only in windy conditions?

[belmondo]

No, you don't have to hang a weight on it. It would be pretty silly to spend all that money buying a lightweight tripod, then have to carry a sandbag around to make it work right.

That having been said, a lot of people will hang their camera bag from the hook when shooting from a tripod, and the weight will compress the tripod enough to eliminate a little of the flex. If it's very windy, then a heavier weight might be useful, but really, you don't have to have a weight under there at all.

[NILOLIGIST]

Now all you need is the remote shutter release, works great with the Gitzo and the 10D. It is suppose to make your images sharper since there is less camera movement.

I have one and I noticed the difference. Great thing is, it is the same one for the MKII.

I love my Gitzo carbon tripod, have a Bogen carbon monopod too.

Enjoy!!

NiL,

[Sendide]

depending on the weight of your camera/lens, you might need some balance, therefore som weight on the opposite side, especially if you're shooting something in the ground with the central colomn maintained horizental.
I have the non alluminium version, kind of heavier but still Awsome.
enjoy your toys
the remote advice is true, even on the tripod, taking a manual shot is not as god as with the remote or with the timer (sheap way)
Do not froget the hide the viewfinder with the device on the belt to avoid extra light coming in and falsing the camera measuremnts.
regards
Khalid

[DaveG]

I am impressed with a Gitzo Carbon tripod I just bought, it is expensive but the light weight is worth it.

This is a basic question (this is my first tripod) - there is a hook at the centre and I am told that I have to hook weight on ot it to stabalise the tripod.

How much weight for a 10D with a 70-200 f2.8 lens?
What would you use? a camera bag? a sand bag?
Is the weight to make sure the tripod does not topple or does it affect the sharpness of the image?
Is it always necessary or only in windy conditions?

If you carry around an empty draw string bag that'd be all you need. On site you could grab a couple of rocks to put in the bag and that'll weigh down the tripod enough to provide stability. Then you leave the rocks behind, as you move on.

Your own judgement should tell you how heavy you'll need to make the tripod, and it's not rocket science. "Hmm, now that shouldn't blow over." is the test.

I did a family shot a week ago and had my camera on a Gitzo aluminum tripod. It's quite heavy compared to the carbon fibre types and I was very nervous about the wind knocking it over. On other days it's fine. So the rock-in-the-bag trick gets used as circumstances dictate.

[mjordan]

I read where one photographer that took double exposures (film) of buildings... one before it got dark and one after it got dark to show the lights) would screw one of those cork screw tie downs for dogs into the ground underneath the tripod and then run a strap through the hook and the tie down and cinch it down real tight. This helped to make the tripod super steady so it didn't move between his double exposures. It seems to work because he had some really outstanding shots of a lot of Mormon cathedurals and other buildings. I've kept this idea tucked away in the back of my head in case I ever needed a really rock solid tripod.

Mike

[DaveG]

I read where one photographer that took double exposures (film) of buildings... one before it got dark and one after it got dark to show the lights) would screw one of those cork screw tie downs for dogs into the ground underneath the tripod and then run a strap through the hook and the tie down and cinch it down real tight. This helped to make the tripod super steady so it didn't move between his double exposures. It seems to work because he had some really outstanding shots of a lot of Mormon cathedurals and other buildings. I've kept this idea tucked away in the back of my head in case I ever needed a really rock solid tripod.

Mike

The only things is you are going to have to do two distinct exposures since the 10D can't do double exposures. In any case, it's probably better this way. You could shoot a whole bunch of locked down daylight shots, and then a whole bunch of shots as it got darker. That way you could pick the best two to sandwich in PS or whatever you use.

[optical]

Thanks for the advice.

Yes, it doesn't make sense to carry around a weight to hook on after having spent money on a carbon tripod.

I decided to buy a 70-200mm f2.8 without IS and spent the money on a good tripod, as I have been told that one should use a tripod everytime if possible, even with shutter above 125. That's the difference between a pro sharpness vs amateur shot !!

I have no regret buying the non IS, although sometimes I wonder whether that extra versatility is worth it. The lens I have at the moment is amazingly sharp, only problem is carrying it around with the size and weight - I will probably get use to it.

[phili1]

Nobody told you what it was for. When and if your have $5000 you can buy a super telephoto for bird photography then you need weight. but you do not carry it you build a sling or bag thats light and fill it with rocks,
hence the weight you need. It was really meant for medium format cameras and large lens combos.