I finally got off the fence and replaced my Bogen 3021 legs with a set of Gitzo G2257 legs. The first few times operating the twist locks had me a little concerned, but after figuring out just how much to twist, it's looking good; it doesn't take much rotation at all. Certainly no worse than operating the 3021. The only thing that's a little odd is that there's no detent or catch when pivoting the legs away from the center column; you have to pay attention to get the angle on each leg approximately the same. I knew it was that way before purchasing, but I can't figure out the benefit.
The off-center center column that adjusts to any angle is very cool. Looking forward to that for wildflower season.
If anyone is interested in a used set of legs, they're going cheap!
Posted by Brad Beeler on April 12, 2006 at 11:40 PM
Rick,
Congrats, I have the G1257 legs, and just aquired a 410 geared head, and I must say that I love them both.
Brad - I've got the 410 Gear head as well. I've had it for about 5 years now and love it. I started with a ball head - admittedly not a great one, just a cheap Bogen model - and that turned me off on ball heads. The ability for fast, large movements as well as very small, precise movements is what I love about the 410. A little heavier than average maybe, but well worth it in my opinion.
Darren, . That's quite a visual at 5:00 in the morning...ooof. This does have the new anti-rotation feature which makes it easier to loosen/extend the legs - one section won't twist when you're trying to loosen the twist-lock on another section. I can't say I've quite got the hang of it yet, but it seems fine. I'm thinking the non-stopping legs has one advantage - at more extreme angles and/or slippery surfaces, the legs will be locked into place (there's a locking mechanism where they meet the column/head). It requires one more action on setup, but the tripod will be much more stable. On the 3021, the legs can move freely between the detents; at extreme angles and on frozen lakes, the legs can move unintentionally under the weight of the camera.
If we meet up any time soon, I'll bring my legs for you to check out. uh...wait a second, that's didn't sound cool at all...
Discussion
2 repliesI finally got off the fence and replaced my Bogen 3021 legs with a set of Gitzo G2257 legs. The first few times operating the twist locks had me a little concerned, but after figuring out just how much to twist, it's looking good; it doesn't take much rotation at all. Certainly no worse than operating the 3021. The only thing that's a little odd is that there's no detent or catch when pivoting the legs away from the center column; you have to pay attention to get the angle on each leg approximately the same. I knew it was that way before purchasing, but I can't figure out the benefit.
The off-center center column that adjusts to any angle is very cool. Looking forward to that for wildflower season.
If anyone is interested in a used set of legs, they're going cheap!
Congrats, I have the G1257 legs, and just aquired a 410 geared head, and I must say that I love them both.
Which head are you using with the 2257?
Thanks
Darren,
If we meet up any time soon, I'll bring my legs for you to check out. uh...wait a second, that's didn't sound cool at all...