I planned to get a Gitzo tripod for my pentax 67. Some people suggest to get a tripod without the central column, such as Gitzo 1325. This appears as a limitation as you cannot adjust the height of the tripod. Is there any reason to select a tripod without column? May be it is more solid? A second point is which is the optimal height for a tripod. I am 6' tall, so I suppose I need a tripod at least of the same lenght. Can anyone comment on these points? Thank You

-- Giovanni Russo (giovanni.russo@unimi.it), September 18, 2000

Answers

I have the Gitzo 320 and the Bogan 3036, both with the same type head. After using both for quite some time with this camera, I never use the Gitzo any more. The Gitzo is more prone to vibration and also the legs stick far too much for my likeing. My .02 SR

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), September 27, 2000.

I own the 1325 w/ Arca Swiss head- great investment! The lack of a center column means that you can take it nearly flat to the ground. You shouldn't use the center column for height adjustment, but the legs instead. -rolfs@thelunatech.com

-- Rolf Strasheim (rolfs@ionet.net), September 18, 2000.

I am also 6' tall and use a 1325 +Arca B1 +RRS plate with my Pentax 67 system. It is more solid than tripods with a center column, and this combination provides enough height for someone 3" taller than you and I, Giovanni.

-- Sal Santamaura (bc_hill@qwestinternet.net), September 18, 2000.

"This appears as a limitation as you cannot adjust the height of the tripod."

You can adjust the legs, but it's cumbersome.

"I am 6' tall, so I suppose I need a tripod at least of the same lenght"

Well, no. The 1325's max height of 58 3/4" seems ideal. If you factor in the height of an average tripod head (~5"), the height of the P67's viewfinder (~4"), the total height becomes around 68", just about eye-level. You may not need a center column. Good luck.

-- Willie Ju (wju@mediaone.net), September 18, 2000.

I don't know about the 1300-series Gitzos, but the 1410 (with center column) and Arca-Swiss B1 makes a rock-solid support for my 67II. There isn't that much difference between the non-column base and the column base *without the column extended*. I did shoot a series with the column extended recently and the negs turned out sharp, but I was using a 55mm lens and long exposures. Even with the 1410, I wouldn't want to use more than 12-18 inches of column extension unless I really needed it to get the shot.

If you find the center column base to vibrate too much, you can always buy the non-column flat plate base and swap it in for the the column. It doesn't cost that much. The used 1400 legset package I picked up included both plates, but I have yet to use the flat plate.

-- Bill Baker (wab@well.com), September 20, 2000.

Thank you to all, If I may argue, answering to Willie, your reasoning is correct for horizontal shooting. In vertical, you lose the 4" of the wiewfinder, which comes at the same height of the mounting screw, and about half the height of the ballhead. The wiewfinder comes about 6" down, and a 6' tall man has to stoop. The same consideration applies to Sal's answer. Thanks in any case. I think I will buy a Gitzo 1325, to which you can add a central column after, if you need.

-- giovanni russo (giovanni.russo@unimi.it), September 27, 2000.

Thank you to all, If I may argue, answering to Willie, your reasoning is correct for horizontal shooting. In vertical, you lose the 4" of the wiewfinder, which comes at the same height of the mounting screw, and about half the height of the ballhead. The wiewfinder comes about 6" down, and a 6' tall man has to stoop. The same consideration applies to Sal's answer. Thanks in any case. I think I will buy a Gitzo 1325, to which you can add a central column after.

-- giovanni russo (giovanni.russo@unimi.it), September 27, 2000.

Giovanni, the configuration in which I regularly use this combination has the smallest tripod sections slightly retracted. That's why I said it will work for someone three inches taller than you and I. When I turn the camera on its side for vertical framing, the prism eyepiece does of course come down a bit lower. My equipment is not here right now to measure exactly how much. However, that lowering of the viewfinder has never been enough to inspire raising the tripod up to compensate, perhaps because I shoot so few verticals. If you are exactly 6' tall, regularly shoot verticals, and are bothered by the stooping, just extend your 1325's legs fully. Doing so will bring the eyepiece right back up to where you want it. Also, consider that, with a horizontal orientation, it becomes difficult to read aperture and focus settings atop your lens if the eyepiece is higher than an inch or so below your standing eye level (in the footgear you'll be wearing)!

-- Sal Santamaura (bc_hill@qwestinternet.net), September 27, 2000.