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Congratulations, I held out for about an hour, but just couldn't manage longerDamn, I’ve been successfully resisting pointing this out .
Congratulations, I held out for about an hour, but just couldn't manage longerDamn, I’ve been successfully resisting pointing this out .
Sorry to be pedantic but Aluminium is reactive. Aluminium is directly below magnesium in 'metal activity series' listings. It just forms a fairly inert oxide layer that protects the metal underneath, get a little mercury on the surface (which disrupts the oxide layer) and it will corrode through fairly rapidly.
Ah that's what I have been doing wrong. I should stop cleaning my tripod with MercurySorry to be pedantic but Aluminium is reactive. Aluminium is directly below magnesium in 'metal activity series' listings. It just forms a fairly inert oxide layer that protects the metal underneath, get a little mercury on the surface (which disrupts the oxide layer) and it will corrode through fairly rapidly.
All my tripods have been brought used, making the costs more reasonable.
Well your username does seem to back up your statement but is spilling mercury on your tripod a common problem and should you not have bigger concerns if so?
You will probably be successful though mercury has a long relationship to photographers who use tripods, as in mercury vapour and daguerreotypes .I am quite happy with high grade aluminium and it's chemistry which I am fully aware of.
I am also more than happy to stay well away from mercury and it's compounds
Indeed it's not likely to be an issue for tripods & the concerns would be more for your health give the nastiness of mercury fumes.Well your username does seem to back up your statement but is spilling mercury on your tripod a common problem and should you not have bigger concerns if so?
You will probably be successful though mercury has a long relationship to photographers
I love the smell of nitro on a Gibson.
There is a photo of a man sitting on a pool of mercury in Nat Geo 1972 magazine. You can easily find a copy on internet. I remember this clearly from a health and safety talk years ago. Did you ever wonder how some places got gold-plated roof? Well those workers apparently did not live to long age...
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And not only that. Remember nitrocellulose? Good job I only use digital.
(Back on topic..)
Has anyone found a UK distributor who sells Leofoto tripods?
Wex have a very limited range of Leofoto tripods and heads.
I recently bought a Leofoto travel tripod and ballhead from eBay (LS-284C & LH-30). The build quality is excellent, I would say better than the Manfrotto (190CF) and Sirui (W2204) tripods that I have. The only problem is that it's too short for regular use, only 125cm. So, I'm considering buying their new LM-324C tripod as my primary tripod, unfortunately I can't find for sale anywhere at the moment.
Did you consider the Urban series? I was looking at the LX-225CT - mainly for use as a travel tripod. Wex and LCE sell it. There’s barely any reviews on them though - like 1 guy on FredMiranda, but that’s it! More info or videos on the ballhead would be nice
never sat in the mercury (physically impossible) b
Oh yes that’s possible. I meant physically impossible for me to do it back then since the mercury was in a largish glass dessicator on a lab bench.It must be possible considering this guy sat posing for an image. Mercury had very high surface tension, so just like insects can walk on water you should be able to float on mercury
I was specifically looking at lightweight models with no centre column, so that ruled out the urban range.
I couldn't find many reviews either, in the end it was this site that convinced me that the leofoto was worth a punt.
https://thecentercolumn.com/rankings/travel-tripod-rankings/
I'd try fitting some spring washers, it's not a big investment,and stands a good chance of improving thingsRegarding tripods I far prefer my Sirui to my Gitzo.
But maybe @johnf3f could help with his experience of older Gitzos please?
The star headed bolts that tighten from each side to hold the legs onto the centre plate are either too tight and the legs won’t move, certainly not smoothly. Or, slackened off a hair they come loose and the legs flop around.
I have stripped it all down previously, do you think I need new washers from previous over tightening crushing them? Or are the bolts stretch bolts? Just wondered if you’d had any experience on this front.
Without it I find it a pain, quite literally when it traps your fingers, to use. The sirui has no such issues, but it does have a centre column unfortunately.
Regarding EF system becoming redundant, if you want to stick with DSLR for a bit longer switch to a Nikon D850. They are 10 years ahead of Canon anyway so that should future proof you for a while.
Regarding tripods I far prefer my Sirui to my Gitzo.
But maybe @johnf3f could help with his experience of older Gitzos please?
The star headed bolts that tighten from each side to hold the legs onto the centre plate are either too tight and the legs won’t move, certainly not smoothly. Or, slackened off a hair they come loose and the legs flop around.
I have stripped it all down previously, do you think I need new washers from previous over tightening crushing them? Or are the bolts stretch bolts? Just wondered if you’d had any experience on this front.
May be slightly of topic but for @LongLensPhotography information it would be good to know, with this issue resolved the secondhand Gitzo would be a good option.
Without it I find it a pain, quite literally when it traps your fingers, to use. The sirui has no such issues, but it does have a centre column unfortunately.
Regarding EF system becoming redundant, if you want to stick with DSLR for a bit longer switch to a Nikon D850. They are 10 years ahead of Canon anyway so that should future proof you for a while.
The Innorel RT80C seems like it’d be worth a go, reviews seem fairly good from most Amazon/AliExpress reviews.
Almost certainly... most of the play/instability comes from the slip joints and not the tubing diameter. But this can be reduced significantly simply by not extending the sections completely when you don't need to.The LS-365 is 5 section and would this effect stability/rigidity? Considering they both have the same diameter smallest leg section.
Leofoto tripod does look good and reviews seem to be on the rare side however it seems positive.
Yes there aren’t many about. I was mainly judging off thecentrecolumn charts. I don’t think they are influenced in any way.
Be aware of the fake reviews.
Almost certainly... most of the play/instability comes from the slip joints and not the tubing diameter. But this can be reduced significantly simply by not extending the sections completely when you don't need to.
https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/the-secret-to-tripod-stability.635490/