Here is a cool bit of tripod info!

Manffrotto and Gitzo brands seem to be owned by the same company! I never heard of the Vitec Group before, but that is the company I'm talking about! Gitzo tripods are brought to thge US by Manffrotto distribution, and both owned by the Vitec Group!
I just thought this info was wild, and I'm getting a big kick out of these to awesome brands being under the same ownwership!


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This is so funny! It looks like the part I need for my Gitzo tripod, may need to be ordered through Manffroto! Lol
The part I need is just a rubber piece designed to prevent accidental unlocking of a tripod leg. So it isn't an emergency needed part, but the little sucker would make me feel my D800e would be a bit safer.
Both my Gitzo tripods are explorer tripods, made to work very well with macro shots and other shots requiring unusual positions. So the locking legs aren't set positions, and so the weight load they will handle is about 26 lbs max. Also with enough force, the legs can be moved even when locked. The higher load handling Gitzo tripods have set leg positions with a more rock solid leg locking design.

Just some info I though those interested might find handy!

I really liked my Gitzo Explorer Bill. I put a RRS LR 40 head on it. When I used it it worked a treat, but I hardly used it. Off it goes to my sister & somewhere on a brown truck is a new MeFOTO RoadTrip headed this way. I'm sure it is not as nice as my Explorer was, but for as little as I use a tripod it's good enough.

Remember when Manfroto was Bogen? I do, but I'm an old fart.

I'm pretty new to photography so I don't know who was who years ago.lol I just recently gave away a MeFoto tripod with my nikon 1 V1. I think it was a Road trip, but I'm not positive!lol

I never had a RRS ball head to try. I found and bought the ARCA SWISS Z1 and never really needed to look futher, since it is an awesome head with more than enough strength for any photography I would do!

Also I use my tripods for dispaying my nikons when not in use.

crashton said:

I really liked my Gitzo Explorer Bill. I put a RRS LR 40 head on it. When I used it it worked a treat, but I hardly used it. Off it goes to my sister & somewhere on a brown truck is a new MeFOTO RoadTrip headed this way. I'm sure it is not as nice as my Explorer was, but for as little as I use a tripod it's good enough.

Remember when Manfroto was Bogen? I do, but I'm an old fart.

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Been into photography since about 1970. Man I'm old. I remember the print ads showing Lester Bogen sitting on top of one of his tripods to show their strength. Those were pre-interweb days.

I learned pretty much everything I know here in the last 3-4 years! Lol
I'll be 50 this year, but I started photography late!lol

I didn't know they were owned by the same parent company--I wonder when that occurred. I have both a Bogen-Manfrotto 3021 (pre-1999) tripod as well as a Gitzo aluminum series 2 tripod.

One of the tripod repairs I read about most occurs when some type of plastic pieces within the locks or legs start to fail. Seems to affect many tripods...both expensive as well as less expensive. So far I've not experienced any problems!

Thanks for the info, Bill.

crashton said:

Remember when Manfroto was Bogen? I do, but I'm an old fart.

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I do, and still own two Bogen tripods.

WM

Your very welcome Cindy! It was my pleasure to share what I learn with my friends!

hark said:

I didn't know they were owned by the same parent company--I wonder when that occurred. I have both a Bogen-Manfrotto 3021 (pre-1999) tripod as well as a Gitzo aluminum series 2 tripod.

One of the tripod repairs I read about most occurs when some type of plastic pieces within the locks or legs start to fail. Seems to affect many tripods...both expensive as well as less expensive. So far I've not experienced any problems!

Thanks for the info, Bill.

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I've got a Bogen monopod that I bought around 1978. Still does the job, but every so often I have to get the tools out & snug up the flip locks.