locking down a gitzo 1570

[Colin Graham]

I wonder if any users of this head could tell me if you really have to crank down on the arms to keep the head from slipping. I used a R no.4 (once) with a 4x5 and I pretty much had to use a pipe wrench to lock it down, although to be fair it was an much older model with far from ergonomic grips. I'd check one out at a dealer if there was one within a reasonable distance...In any event, I'd be using it for 5x12, possibly in vertical too ... Thanks very much for any help.

 

[wilsonneal]

I don't know what a 1570 looks like, but I have a Rational 4 head and it takes quite a bit of muscle to lock it down if I am putting any stress on the head (like shooting down over the subject). This is with an 11# 8x10 camera and a 3# lens.
Neal

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I have a G1570M, and I don't find it hard to lock down. If anything, it tends to be a bit on the stiff side, so it works better with a heavier, larger camera than with a smaller camera.

Majestic heads are pretty stable for a large camera, and they aren't too expensive, particularly if you find one second hand (and even more so if you buy one that is designed to clamp onto a tube--you can buy a 3/8"-16 adapter for those from Bencher, which currently sells Majestic). The tilt and pan tighten fairly easily, and the fore-aft tilt is geared, so it's self-locking. I can point my 8x10" Sinar P parallel to the ground for copy work, and it doesn't move.

 

[Colin Graham]

Just what I needed to hear. Thanks very much...the majestic is something I hadnt considered, I'll look into that as well, probably cant weight much more than the 1570.

 

[galyons]

...the majestic is something I hadnt considered, I'll look into that as well, probably cant weight much more than the 1570.

Oh! Yes it can! Not sure on the exact difference, but has to be 2 to 3 times as heavy.

I have the 1570. No problems locking down a Kodak Master with large chunks of glass protruding from the front! The 1570 does need some mass mounted to it to be smooth. Didn't work well with my 4x5 field.

Cheers,
Geary

 

[Colin Graham]

Thanks Geary, that pretty much settles it then.

 

[epatsellis]

on my 1570M, I replaced the pan lock with an adjustable handle, the kind you can lift and repostion. I'll probably be doing the same with the other handles, though I did find that disassembling and cleaning, along with very selective light lubrication did wonders for mine.


erie

 

[ewmoore]

I use a 1570M and have no trouble whatever locking it down. Like the others, I find it is smoother with my 8x10 mounted on it. The 1570M is much easier to lock than the Rationale #3 I use with my 4x5 kit.

 

[jamie young]

One does have to be careful. the heads do get harder to lock down over time.
The new handles are worth the investment as they make a huge difference. I got my gitzo pro with #5 head in 1978 and have used it ever since. I have put new handles on it as well as two new main legs. It usually holds a 8x10 deardorff, along with a 8x20 and a few other items. After a while I switched over to a majestic head for studio work, and use the #5 for outdoor stuff. If you don't lock it well it will fall over . Once in 1979, I didn't tighten it enough, it tipped, hit hard, and the deardorrf ripped off the tripod socket. Made me realise why they went to the big round plate. I just caught the camera before if fell over the cliff. I love gitzos but they have their problems
Jamie

 

[Colin Graham]

One does have to be careful. the heads do get harder to lock down over time.
The new handles are worth the investment as they make a huge difference. I got my gitzo pro with #5 head in 1978 and have used it ever since. I have put new handles on it as well as two new main legs. It usually holds a 8x10 deardorff, along with a 8x20 and a few other items. After a while I switched over to a majestic head for studio work, and use the #5 for outdoor stuff. If you don't lock it well it will fall over . Once in 1979, I didn't tighten it enough, it tipped, hit hard, and the deardorrf ripped off the tripod socket. Made me realise why they went to the big round plate. I just caught the camera before if fell over the cliff. I love gitzos but they have their problems
Jamie

Good points. I tried to get replacement handles for my R#4 but they said they were no longer made...I couldnt even get them to tell me what thread the newer ones were so that I could possibly modify mine to accept them, which was irritating and a little odd. I appreciate all of the advice but found an excellent deal on a reis double tilt and went with that instead, the shape of handles look like they might be easier for me to deal with until I can get the carpal tunnel surgery :-/

 

[jamie young]

A lot of the old gitzo parts are "discontinued" but you can use other parts to replace them. You'll have to ask about the modern counterparts. I had this problem with the leg replacements, and did find ones that worked.
Hope you have success.
Jamie