Question on leveling Gitzo tripods

I have recently purchased a gitzo G2257 carbon fiber tripod. The thing is lightweight and sturdy. The old tripod I had was at least twice as heavy. The only downfall to this new tripod is I am having a hard time leveling it. On my older tripod the legs only spread outwards to a fixed angle, so it was essentially level off the get go. With the gitzo the legs have no limit to how far they can expand (I could have the legs out parallel to the ground), thus, I am having a hard time keeping them all at equal distances, and thus, leveling the tripod.

Any recommendations or hints?

Level your tripod head, not your tripod legs.

It's funny to me you say you could level your old tripod by using pre-set limits that left your legs equal length, as I've never actually set up a tripod on a level surface! For a wildlife photographer, that feature would be of no use at all...

But I get it,.. if your on a hardwood floor why not?
Can't you just max out the legs every time?

For me, who has a gimble head that requires that it be level, being used always an uneven surface, I use a leveling device that goes between the legs and the head.
Set up the legs however you can to get the head about right, and then use the leveling device to finish.

Numenorean wrote in post #15637215
Level your tripod head, not your tripod legs.

Do you level your tripod head before you mount the camera?

Coppatop85 wrote in post #15637230
Do you level your tripod head before you mount the camera?

I can do either but usually I do level it prior to mounting the camera. Why?

Simple

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …mpact_Levelling​_Head.html

Get a leveling head....

Mark H

Numenorean wrote in post #15637244
I can do either but usually I do level it prior to mounting the camera. Why?

Just curious. Thanks for the input everyone.

To make legs equal length, suitable for use on the flat and level surface...

1. Extend ONE leg out to the desired length that suits you, and lock it, without splaying it.
   
2. Stand the tripod with the one leg on the ground, then extend the other two down until they hit the ground, too...lock them there!
   
3. Splay the legs.
   
4. Shoot.
   

Coppatop85 wrote in post #15637205
I have recently purchased a gitzo G2257 carbon fiber tripod. The thing is lightweight and sturdy. The old tripod I had was at least twice as heavy. The only downfall to this new tripod is I am having a hard time leveling it. On my older tripod the legs only spread outwards to a fixed angle, so it was essentially level off the get go. With the gitzo the legs have no limit to how far they can expand (I could have the legs out parallel to the ground), thus, I am having a hard time keeping them all at equal distances, and thus, leveling the tripod.

Wilt wrote in post #15637307
To make legs equal length, suitable for use on the flat and level surface...

1. Extend ONE leg out to the desired length that suits you, and lock it, without splaying it.
   
2. Stand the tripod with the one leg on the ground, then extend the other two down until they hit the ground, too...lock them there!
   
3. Splay the legs.
   
4. Shoot.
   

I think "Splay the legs" may be the problem. It almost sounds like this tripod has no preset detents for leg angles. Is that correct?

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …7_Explorer_6X_C​arbon.html

EDIT: I just found this review, and it does confirm that there are no presets for leg angles. http://www.trickery.ne​t/vb/showthread.php?t=​40568

msowsun wrote in post #15637445
I think "Splay the legs" may be the problem. It almost sounds like this tripod has no preset detents for leg angles. Is that correct?EDIT: I just found this review, and it does confirm that there are no presets for leg angles.

Then you're F***** !

Yes MS, that is the problem. And I actually edited my original post for clairty, it orignally said "extend the legs" instead of "spread them out at an angle".

Wow, that's just hard to imagine using.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #15639868
Wow, that's just hard to imagine using.

I hardly ever use the 3 preset angles on my tripod now. I can't imagine why I would ever want a tripod to have an almost infinite number of angles.

PacAce wrote in post #15640077
I hardly ever use the 3 preset angles on my tripod now. I can't imagine why I would ever want a tripod to have an almost infinite number of angles.

The way the Gitzo leg spread preset angles work, one only has to pull out the plastic 'stop' all the way outward and you have legs with infinite angles! Admittedly, used in that fashion the tripod will settle all the way down as far as it will go, except for the friction of the legs on the ground...spikes would address that issue in soil. I use the wider stance when I want to use the tripod down low, as it provides a wider base which is more stable.

I wish Gitzo would integrate the leg 'angle release' design used in Manfrotto tripods, I absolutely loathe the Gitzo 'stop angle' design in this regard...I've gotten my flesh pinched more than once and it is slow to set the 'stop' for the desired angle because the 'stop' has no preset detents or anything, so setting one spread for a shot at 5' and then setting the legs for another spread to take a shot at 2' is a pain (sometimes literally!) and slow...a pathetic design on an otherwise wonderful tripod!

They improved the angle stop design in the new systematics they released a year ago. Now your fingers can't get caught and you can use gloves too.