the older gitzo tripods

[craigclu]

Here's a screen shot from an old pdf file that I had... If it comes through and is readable, it should explain the numbering system of the leg sizes.

 

[game]

That's a helpfull image,
but it seems that that Number that has come up several times in this thread is absent on the older gitzos...
or are the sellers looking in the wrong place?
Where is such a number located on the tripod?
How can I know what does two are ????
for instance on these two:

 

[John Koehrer]

The cr3 appears to be a reporter, the #2 refers only to the head.Same situation on the other 3pod, except they're Studex legs with a #4 head.
The really nice thing about the Gitzo cremalliere center columns is the gearing is so low There's not a problem if you let go of the crank. The camera will just sit there rather than dropping to the end of travel.
The most accurate way to determine capacity is by the leg diameter mentioned in the above post.
Head capacity can be gleaned from th Gitzo web page.

 

[game]

That was my guess too.
number 1 a reporter and 2 a studex.
If I understand it correctly I could ask every seller to give me the diameter of the thickest leg, and then I can derive wether it is a reporter or a studex or whatever, by checking the diagram posted three posts earlier?

So the left tripod on the image above should have a 1.125 inch leg, and the right a 1.250 inch leg.
Is the right a cremaillere too? it has a geared column...

Is my conclusion right if I would say the left tripod is too small for my current pentax 67 en future 4x5 plans, and that the right tripod will do the trick?

Hope to get an answer to my question, I feel like this thread will get me there. Great!

Sam

 

[richard littlewood]

I've just measured the top leg diameter on a Crem 3 and its 1.250 inch. That will serve you well. Incidentally neither of the 2 tripods in your pics have the very useful multi-angle leg spacing.

 

[game]

I've just measured the top leg diameter on a Crem 3 and its 1.250 inch. That will serve you well. Incidentally neither of the 2 tripods in your pics have the very useful multi-angle leg spacing.

So your tripod is a studex... Just like to right one.

The multi angle leg spacing, is that available on gitzo's this old?
Thanks fro posting.

(and are there is cremaillere the same as geared column and the other way around or does the term cremaillere adds something else?)

 

[richard littlewood]

I have to admit to finding Gitzo's old model range and the numbering refreshingly un-fathomable. I've always had Citroen cars and they were forever changing model spec to the extent that each individual car had an air of unique-ness.
As for my tripod, it's a Crem 3. It has a geared column. 1.250 dia legs, the little catches at the top of each leg to allow a choice of angle, it's pretty old, mid-grey, it goes to about 7foot fully extended, it's had some spikes put on (so it is always going to be a field tripod), it is 3 section, and I haven't a clue if its a Studex or what!

 

[game]

I supose it is, if i must believe the tabel posted earlier.
I guess I have to ask people for leg diameter. And then derive what type it is and then remember it has to be a studex or heavier in order to be appropriate.

Anyone else, has something to add in the discussion? sam

 

[craigclu]

I have to admit to finding Gitzo's old model range and the numbering refreshingly un-fathomable. I've always had Citroen cars and they were forever changing model spec to the extent that each individual car had an air of unique-ness.

I owned a DS-19 for a number of years.... Unique in most of the USA but especially in the north woods of Wisconsin. There must be some deep, wired connection thing that brings us back into these common threads!

 

[game]

:rolleyes:

I owned a DS-19 for a number of years.... Unique in most of the USA but especially in the north woods of Wisconsin. There must be some deep, wired connection thing that brings us back into these common threads!

I love the cx. I really do.

but lets return to reality

 

[game]

by the way,
I saw that indeed some gitzos have a screw or something like that on every leg, I suppose that's to adjust the legs spread wide. I'll watch that!

So hopelfully someone else has some more words on this...
thanks a lot - sam

 

[richard littlewood]

I always associate the older Gitzo tripods with Citroen. There is a distinctive French weirdness - the DS for example, some say the ultimate Citroen, although I had a 1979 CX that was equally beautiful/weird. Gitzo's have pneumatic legs, and older ones have an engineering quality that is very nice - precise, effective, but like Citroen cars - better with regular maintenance and TLC.

 

[Len Robertson]

A way to identify Gitzo models from pictures - On 300 and smaller series the locking collar for the center post is a rubber covered one under the top of the tripod; you reach in between the legs to get to it. The 400 series has a cast metal collar with two "ears", located on top of the tripod. The second of the pictures you posted appears to be a 400, with the "eared" collar showing rather well. The first pic is a 300 or smaller - no ears on the collar (it looks like the collar is hidden behind the front leg). The 400 series uses a rubber collar to lock all the leg sections, just like the smaller series Gitzos. Finally, the 500 series uses the eared centerpost collar, like the 400 and in addition, the top leg lock collar has two ears rather than a rubber ring. If you look at enough pictures on eBay, you will start to see these ears on the different series tripods.

Some of the older Gitzos didn't have a number on the tripod, although I think most heads had a cast-in number. However, the heads are interchangable, so it is possible to find a 300 or 500 series with an R4 head, which an eBay seller is likely to list as a 4 series Gitzo.

I can't find my older Gitzo catalog, but as I recall, each series was available with 3 or 4 (and maybe even 5) leg sections, and long or short leg sections.

I have two Gitzos - a 500 series and a 300 series. I like the 300 as to weight, but I do not like the centerpost lock between the legs. I much prefer the ears of the 500; it is easier to reach, and locks down better. If I had to start over, I would probably choose a 400 series based on this. Both mine have the rapid non-geared center column. I can see the geared version would be nice for a heavy camera, but for 4X5 or 5X7, I think the non-geared is fine and slightly lighter weight.

I agree the multi-angle leg spacing is a very useful feature. Sometimes if you are in the field right next to a large rock or low wall, you can angle one leg up to set on top. And of course sometimes you need to angle all 3 legs out to get low to the ground.

Finally, I very much enjoy the fact you have continued to ask follow-up questions in this thread. Because Gitzo offered so many options and combinations, it is a confusing subject. The only way to learn is to keep questioning. I'm looking forward to further questions.

 

[John Koehrer]

Game,
Yes, what appear to be screws at the top of each leg are used to release the legs for lower level use. The newer tripods use a smaller piece of hardware that serves the same purpose. I believe it's a square black piece but mine are all older so I can't be sure.
The cremalliere=geared center column that's it. On the reporters it is part of the tripod and not removable.
On Studex & larger the entire center plate at the apex of the legs is removable by loosening a 13mm bolt and the plate lifts off with the column attached. This is pretty clear in the pic of the 2nd tripod. You can also get plates that do not use a center column but have a 3/8 or 1/4" screwand the tripod head mounts directly on that.

 

[Campbell]

This might help:

G220 and G226 - Both called "Reporter Performance," one had 3 leg sections, the other had 4 - weight - 4 1/4 lbs - recommended for 35mm and medium format.

G312 - Studex Cermaillere Performance - weight 7 lbs - recommended for 35mm to light 4x5 (not sure what Gitzo considered "light")

G320 - Studex Performance - weight 6 1/2 lbs - recommended for 35mm to light 4x5 (however I have this tripod and have used it with a 12 lb 8x10 camera and I thought it was plenty sturdy)

G341 Inter Pro Studex/Rapid - weight 7 lbs - recommended for all 4x5

G411 Pro Studex Giant/Rapid - weight 9 lbs - recommended for all 4x5

G412 - Pro Studex Giant/Cermaillere - weight 11 lbs - recommended for all 4x5

G506 Tele Studex Compact/Rapid - weight 10 1/4 lbs - recommmended for 4x5 and 8x10

G507 Tele Studex Compact/Cremaillere - weight 12 lbs - recommended for 4x5 and 8x10

G508 Tele Studex Giant Luxe/Rapid - weight 13 1/4 lbs - recommended for 4x5 and 8x10

G509 Tele Studex Giant Luxe/Cremaillere - weight 15 1/4 lbs - recommended for 4x5 and 8x10

In Gitzo's clear-as-mud nomenclature system, "compact" meant a shorter outside leg section designed for portability in the field. "Giant" meant normal leg secton on Pro and Tele models. "Luxe" meant an extra leg section (i.e. 4 sectons instead of 3). "Performance" meant independent leg spreading capability for extreme low position. "Rapid" means a center column manually controlled (push/pull). "Cremailere" meant a geared center column.

 

[game]

Thanks everyone, those last posts were very helpfull. I think I am able to judge from a picture what I am dealing with.

I will use the tripod for hiking, but hiking in holland does not really excist. I just ride my bike, a car in the future, and as I see something that needs to be captured I get off and do so.
I usually hang the tripod on my steer, so I only carry it when walking around a little.

I was suprised by the weight that a cremailerre adds to a rapid version. I was also wondering if the clasifications mentioned in the above post apply also to the older tripods. I mean the compact/giant/luxe thing. And how to recognize a compact version?

It would be nice the have a compact version. But the me the variable leg spacing seems quitte essential. I use that option on my bogen 055b to a lot.
right now this one seems like the one I should have:

G412 - Pro Studex Giant/Cermaillere - weight 11 lbs - recommended for all 4x5 only than rather a compact version, and a performance version.


I guess by the way that the weight tabel posted underneath, applies to the legs only, so excluded the head. because the right tripod on my picture seems to be a studex series 4 judging the 'ears', but it does weight 13 lb, according to the seller. I guess that's the head, right?

Well,

 

[richard littlewood]

I dont know about anybody else but I find all this Gitzo information very confusing. If nobody knows what tripod number they have got, because they have an older model with no info on it anywhere - mine says Cremaillere 3 but that means very little, as the legs are something different!
If I were buying an older Gitzo I'd decide what type of column I'd be OK with none/rapid/geared, what leg type fixed angle/adjustable, and the top tube size beast(5), mid-weight (4), or the athletic(3). It seems a quick measure of the top tube lets you know where you stand.
I do a lot of hiking/walking, and I know if my tripod was any bigger or heavier than a 3 I would be trying to sell it to you now!

 

[game]

It actually is confusing.
But it is not impossible to grasp.

I actually know what I want. I want a series 4. A geared column and adjustable legs. Just have not run into that one yet.

I will check at my school tomorrow because they got a few old gitzo's. With the info I have got right now I must be able to recognize them, and make a better decision.

game

 

[Bill Hahn]

FWIW...

...after my original post, I gathered my courage and organized an expedition to the dustiest portion of my residence.....there I found a cardboard box which originally contained my Gitzo tripod legs, with the legend "G212" on the side. So that's what I've been using. It works fine with a light field camera(4x5), but it's already iffy with a heaver 4x5 monorail....

 

[game]

I found another one. the description does not seem to be right, could someone help me out here maybe?


As you can see, the sller says that it is a reporter R4. And the weight is 13 lb.
several things seem not right:

> is 13Lb not a little much for a reporter?
> a R4 head is mostly not to be found on a reporter....
> I see the ears at the column wich would indidcate it is a studex.

What do you think?

 

[richard littlewood]

Not sure what it is - could be a 4 series, with an R4 head. Looks to have performance legs. Also is heavy. This fits into the beast catergory.

 

[game]

Not sure what it is - could be a 4 series, with an R4 head. Looks to have performance legs. Also is heavy. This fits into the beast catergory.

I also thought it I saw performence legs. If it fits in the beast-catagory, I don't think it is a reporter right?

When all of this is over, I have to know more about heads too.....

- game

 

[richard littlewood]

More bloody Gitzo series numbers!

 

[Len Robertson]

I don't know why the seller used the Reporter name in the description. It looks to me like a 400 series with probably a 4 head. The weight sounds about right for that combination. Keep in mind many sellers find Gitzo names and numbers as confusing as the rest of us. They may look in a catalog and guess what model they are selling.

To add to the confusion, I found this one on eBay: 7620934185 clearly labeled on the tripod G1410. However, it has "eared" leg lock collars on the top leg section, something I thought was only found on the 500 series. This one seems to be a newer tripod, so maybe the eared leg locks were added to some of the later 400 series. Note the 400 and 500 series with platform or leveling base instead of center column don't have the eared column lock ring.

I never cared for most of the older Gitzo 3 and 4 series pan/tilt heads. I find them tall and awkward. If you should buy a tripod that includes one of these heads, you may learn to like it, but I never was able to. I was already spoiled by the head I really love - the low profile Gitzo 5 series. However, the head is large and weighs 4 pounds or so (although one catalog shows one of the R4 heads weighing the same, so don't think a 4 head will save weight). Probably more weight than you want to carry for a 4X5 head, although when you move up to 8X10, the 5 head will handle it. I see Gitzo has recently come out with smaller series low profile heads. I don't know anything about them, but you should probably check on them. Of course you can put a different make head on a Gitzo. I have a large Arca-Swiss ballhead on my Gitzo 320. It weighs more than I like, but I got it cheap and haven't taken the time to decide what other head would be better.

 

[game]

I called the seller,
And indeed he made mistake.
It is a series 4 studex. He askes 175 dollar which seems rather much to me.
All the gitzo's I found indeed are equiped with the old big pantilt heads... I have no clue what to want for a head.

This is a big picture from the tripod posted above. I thought it was a performence, so adjustable legs, but if I see this picture it seems not adjustable. Can someone confirm this?