Affordable alternative to Gitzo/Induro Series 3 Systematic base plate available.

I don't recall who it was, but some time back another member and I were both lamenting the fact that Desmond and other import manufactures seem to have made very decent well made affordable alternative to Systematic Series 5 base plates, but that Series 2/3/4 plates were unavailable,. This has remained the case for a number of years.

Recently I discovered Leofoto is selling Series 3 top bases on Amazon. I got some and they work fine with both my older and newer Gitzo and my Induro.

https://smile.amazon.c​om …_asin_title?ie=​UTF8&psc=1

That is a great find - thanks!

Am I right, the purpose of said product is to eliminate the center post and provide a way to secure the ballhead securely mounted on the tripod?

Wilt wrote in post #19247608
Am I right, the purpose of said product is to eliminate the center post and provide a way to secure the ballhead securely mounted on the tripod?

Yes, that is part of the appeal. Of course there is a lot more to it than that, as one can simply not use a center column. The tripods these fit don't come with center posts. They come with just this platform, so here, you aren't paying for an unused center column, nor carrying the weight.

But it's more about flexibility.

The platform is removable and can be replaced with a "bowl" for a leveling column, or a rapid or geared column can be installed. They are very flexible. Changing from one head to another set up is as fast as twisting a knob,. vs. un-threading a head that may be locked on securely, and re-threading another.

Gitzo Systematic,
https://www.gitzo.com/​us-en/tripods/systematic/
Accesories; https://www.gitzo.com …s/systematic-accessories/

That first accessory is the leveling head, and that was THE REASON I saved my pennies for a Gitzo Systematic back when I could barely afford such a thing. Using a Gimbal head for birding without the leveling column was a real trial, and much time was lost messing with leg locks trying to get to where the head would pan smoothly and remain parallel to the horizon.

Induro's line, used to all be called "Grand" now they are calling it "Modualr" but still call the tropds "Grand"
https://indurogear.com​/accessories/modular/

Thx, Jake. It is not sufficient for someone, even me who has been in pphotography for close to 6 decades, to understand the purpose served by accessories like the Gitzo systematic with accessories. Without explanation, one cannot assume someone simply 'knows why' they do or don't have a need! I realtime video demo on YouTube might do wonders to making people perceive that have a NEED for some of that stuff. After all, so many people today fail to understand why they need ANY tripod!

I went to Gitzo site, and they do nothing to explain 'why', they simply put the stuff out there and assume you understand. I recall wondering 'why' when selecting Gitzo decades ago, and chosing a tripod with center column, and overlooking the Systematic, because I did not understand the 'why'. Had someone said, "You can more rapidly and easily change from a ballhead for home studio portraiture to a gimbal head for long telephoto shots of wildlife or birds" as a reason, that might have tilted the choice for many...the idea of 'quick change' had not occurred to me previously!

The web description simply said

"Systematic is Gitzo’s top range of tripods, perfect for professional photographers using long lenses and heavy equipment. Systematic tripods are the strongest and most stable tripods, they are also modular and can be rapidly set up in different configurations both as photography or videography supports."

As a potential fit for me...

• I do not shoot super tele focal length
  
• I do not shoot video at times and stills at others
  
• I do not have big, heavy stuff
  

I do own an older Systematic tripod, as well as a fleet (a herd?) of conventional sticks.

I didn’t know anything about them before buying that pre-owned tripod with a 75mm video bowl & fluid head, which was great. There was a time when Gitzo sold this config as their “V” series. It was only later that I realized I could have a column or a flat plate on that same tripod.

People experienced with video tripods would look at the bowl-equipped tripods & understand what it was for. Otherwise, I think the Systematic is a bit of a solution in search of a problem to solve. It *can* be a problem solver!

When I wanted to use that tripod for stills the Gitzo flat plate had tripled in price to around $100 US if I recall. It had previously been $35, but a new design and perhaps different tariffs made it a very spendy thing. I”m glad to learn that the versatility of flat plates has once again become very affordable.

Currently that tripod goes under my super telephoto with cheap big ball head and Wimberley Sidekick, or under my star tracker. I’m back to using the video bowl/leveler, which works great for both those applications, because it’s so quick and precise to level.

The more and more I am around this stuff, the more and more I realize the products were designed by engineers, who think, "When I build it, they will come...", rather than the reality, "When I build it, we need to make them learn to WANT it...!"
And that is what the Market Department is needed for. The management does not always have that realization.

I was responsible for a business segment at a company, that had plateaued in volume before I came aboard. Tasked with expanding that business, I grew the annual volume sold by 4x, and along with other changes we grew annual net profit by almost 6x in less than 5 years. Most of what was needed was to make the customer aware of how it would be beneficial to them, so they then truly wanted it.

SailingAway wrote in post #19248587
I do own an older Systematic tripod, as well as a fleet (a herd?) of conventional sticks.

I didn’t know anything about them before buying that pre-owned tripod with a 75mm video bowl & fluid head, which was great. There was a time when Gitzo sold this config as their “V” series. It was only later that I realized I could have a column or a flat plate on that same tripod.

People experienced with video tripods would look at the bowl-equipped tripods & understand what it was for. Otherwise, I think the Systematic is a bit of a solution in search of a problem to solve. It *can* be a problem solver!

When I wanted to use that tripod for stills the Gitzo flat plate had tripled in price to around $100 US if I recall. It had previously been $35, but a new design and perhaps different tariffs made it a very spendy thing. I”m glad to learn that the versatility of flat plates has once again become very affordable.

Currently that tripod goes under my super telephoto with cheap big ball head and Wimberley Sidekick, or under my star tracker. I’m back to using the video bowl/leveler, which works great for both those applications, because it’s so quick and precise to level.

Wilt wrote in post #19248616
The more and more I am around this stuff, the more and more I realize the products were designed by engineers, who think, "When I build it, they will come...", rather than the reality, "When I build it, we need to make them learn to WANT it...!"
And that is what the Market Department is needed for. The management does not always have that realization.

I was responsible for a business segment at a company, that had plateaued in volume before I came aboard. Tasked with expanding that business, I grew the annual volume sold by 4x, and along with other changes we grew annual net profit by almost 6x in less than 5 years. Most of what was needed was to make the customer aware of how it would be beneficial to them, so they then truly wanted it.

So I get that these are not for everyone. That said, when birding was a big thing (and I mean big and heavy with full gimbals and 13 pound super telephotos) virtually everyone I knew that did this kind of photography were using systematic systems with leveling base. So I'm not sure that it is safe to dismiss them as a gimmick either, as they most certainly have their places. We know that video shooters use them, as well as birders use these features at least. The fact that RRS, Kirk, etc. as well as all "affordable" imported knock offs have bought into means there is a demand.

SailingAway wrote in post #19248587
I do own an older Systematic tripod, as well as a fleet (a herd?) of conventional sticks.

I didn’t know anything about them before buying that pre-owned tripod with a 75mm video bowl & fluid head, which was great. There was a time when Gitzo sold this config as their “V” series. It was only later that I realized I could have a column or a flat plate on that same tripod..

My second Gitzo, the one I use most now, was a "V" series which saved me a lot of money as it already came with the bowl vs. the flat plate. It is otherwise identical to the standard "photographers" tripod, just with the "video" bowl already included at a substantial savings.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #19248656
So I get that these are not for everyone. That said, when birding was a big thing (and I mean big and heavy with full gimbals and 13 pound super telephotos) virtually everyone I knew that did this kind of photography were using systematic systems with leveling base. So I'm not sure that it is safe to dismiss them as a gimmick either, as they most certainly have their places. We know that video shooters use them, as well as birders use these features at least. The fact that RRS, Kirk, etc. as well as all "affordable" imported knock offs have bought into means there is a demand.

Absolutely NO DISMISSAL of anyone's determination of need...that is judgemental!

My point was that unless you have a particular need at the time of purchase, the buyer does not necessarily recognize the potential of a tripod like the Systemic (that is what has happened with me) and it is not well into the future that I might retrospectively realize "I need one of those base thingies!", and with the product mentioned in OP I can add it at reasonable cost. But it took me about 5-6 posts into this thread to understand that benefit, because Gitzo had failed to make me understand the benefit of the Systemic at the time of my initial purchase.

You yourself had failed to appreciate the value of the bowl vs. flat plate, so you had to later spend more money, rather than buy a tripod with a bowl from the start. Your own experience proves the validity of my statement.