Gitzo 1370M head - Good for light 8x10?

[Tom Stanworth]

Hi,

I've been committed to topping my just ordered Berleback 4002 with a Gitzo 1570M low profile head, but wonder whether the 1370 would do fine - iit is cheaper and there are a few used ones about. My 10x8 only weighs 4 kg and I have very light lenses (240G claron etc etc). Any comments?

Is there any reason I could not attach these heads to a berleback? I assume not....

 

[BarryWilkinson]

Hi,

I've been committed to topping my just ordered Berleback 4002 with a Gitzo 1570M low profile head, but wonder whether the 1370 would do fine - iit is cheaper and there are a few used ones about. My 10x8 only weighs 4 kg and I have very light lenses (240G claron etc etc). Any comments?

Is there any reason I could not attach these heads to a berleback? I assume not....

Hello Tom,

I have a 1370M head but have found that it is not stable enough for my Toyo 810MII, even without any lens. Locked down tight, it it flexes if touched. The Toyo does weigh in at 6.8 kg. It may be ok at 4kg.

can't help with the berleback.

Barry

 

[galyons]

Tom,
I would not recommend the 1370 for 8x10. I use a 1270 on my Berlebach for 4x5. It works wonderfully. If you check the specs, you will see that there is little gained, in capacity, between the 1270 v 1370.

When I first got the 8x10, about 5.5kg. I tried it with the 1270. IMO, it was not a good combination. Had little to do with the capacity, it was the offset ballhead interface. Just too difficult to control with the added weight of the 8x10.

I bought a 1570 low profile. It is great. But better match to the 8x10.

My Berlebach is a 3 section leg model, as I use it for backpacking. Although it works for the 8x10, with longer bellows extension, I was a bit uncomfortable. So, I bought a Miller wood tripod from a fellow APUG'er. Great tripod. Perfect match for the 8x10. But DEFINITELY an "outta the trunk" set of sticks.

Then....in a moment of weakness....I must have unconsciously eBay bid on yet another tripod.... I got a Ries B with Photoplane head. Great tripod, BUT HEAVY!!! I have yet to actually use the Ries, because at this point I am enamored with the Miller + 1570.

The Berlebach should be fine, but again, I did not find the offset head a good interface for the 8x10.


Hope this helps,

Geary

 

[bobfowler]

Geary, I feel your pain with "outta the trunk" sticks. I have a set of Bogen/Manfrotto 3036 sticks that will hold just about anything, but they're way too damn heavy to be carrying around all day. I actually used the 3036 when hanging kitchen cabinets a few years back!

I'm rather anxiously awaiting a Berlebach 2042 for my 5X7 Eastman, should be here any day now. The Linhof ball head is ready...

 

[John Koehrer]

The offset ball becomes very unwieldy with any serious weight. The offset center of gravity makes it difficult to handle with anything but a small camera.

 

[Ole]

I have no idea.

I use a Stabil wooden tripod topped with a Uniloc 60 ball head, a combination that supports my 7kg Linhof 5x7" and a 1kg lens with perfect stability.

 

[bobfowler]

My Berlebach 2042 arrived today (thanks again Brian)! After playing with it for a while, I'm not so sure I'm going to put a ball head on it as the built in leveling head has plenty of adjustment.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[Thilo Schmid]

Tom,
I once had a Gitzo Series #3 head on a Series #5 tripod for the use with a MF camera. That combo was fine, but didn't work with a 4x5. Although the head was able to carry and lock the camera, it could not deal with the leverage forced by the height of the whole setup. I have the older model low profile Series #5 head on that tripod now, but I'm still not totally satisfied with the stability. But that is because I use it with a monorail and my bank holder cannot make use of the full surface on the head and thus adds another weakness. This should not be a problem with a field camera.

 

[Tom Stanworth]

I've ordered a 1570 M head to be sure. I am still gambling a little on the tripod perhaps. It is a Berlebach 4002 rated to 10kg. It has 2 peice legs and no column, so I hope that I will get decent stability. At 3.2 kg is should also have a fair bit of wood to it. I figured that as this is a similar weight to the 8lb Reis tripods (not sure which series), which are supposed to be fine for a light 10x8, so....we'll see and I will certainly let everyone know how it works out.

ALL - Thanks for letting me know that the 1370 is not up to the task!!!!!