Heads up to all Gitzo tripod users

[ghozer]

I've got a Gitzo 1325. Today I had my 1Ds3 and 500 f/4 on it. I noticed that the lens had some play in it, which was odd considering I had clamped down the head. Well, this was news to me, but the head clamps onto a removable platform ring that is fastened into the tripod by a single bolt. Well, my bolt evidently came loose and the platform (and my gear!) was raised out of it's housing and balanced precariously on top of my tripod, about to fall off with $14,000 of camera equipment along with it. Fortunately I averted the disaster.

Now, maybe I'm the only one that this is a news flash for but I would advise everyone check this weird bolt and be sure it is securely fastened. Just one dude's experience...

[Lat Correa]

I had 3 small screws threaded inside the bowl to extend outwards when tightened, for aditional security.

[ghozer]

I'm not sure I'm following. Can you explain that another way so my little pea brain can figure it out?

[Woodswalker]

This is rare according to Gitzo, but it happened to me and a couple of others locally. Only my gear actually hit the ground (luckily the ground was soft and the flash took the damage) but as a result I don't trust the design. I checked the bolts periodically but really how often is often enough? Regardless, your gear depends on one bolt and how tight it needs to be to keep the plate secure. In future, I'd choose a model with a center column even though it may not be as stable. I know two photographers who drilled a hole in the top plate and use wire as a safety line but it needs to be strong to hold a 600, camera, head and flash then there's the surprise factor of whether you could actually hold it if the plate did come free. Drilling a hole might weaken the plate as well. I was hoping Gitzo would design a plate with screws that would provide extra security of the kind Lat suggests in his post.

[Justin C]

I had exactly the same thing happen with my Gitzo 1548. I had the tripod on the ground with a Canon 5D and macro lens attached, I went to move the tripod just a few yards to re-position it, I grabbed hold of the Arca B1 and lifted the lot up a few inches and the camera/lens/ballhead complete with Gitzo top plate came away in my hands. I was so grateful it happened then rather than when slinging the lot over my shoulder as I do all the time.
The tripod was probably less than twelve months old and thinking about it now I don't think the bolt has ever been properly tightened as I recall there always being a 1/2 cm or so gap between the top plate and the actual tripod legs right from the day of purchase. Of course there shouldn't be any gap whatsoever with the plate sitting flush with the legs when the bolt is correctly fastened.
Quite foolishly perhaps, but the gap between plate and legs never rung any alarm bells. It's how the tripod came when new, so I always assumed it was how it was meant to be, being previously unfamiliar with Gitzo's tripods.
A suitably sized socket and ratchet now sits not a million miles from the tripod when at home for occasional checking of the tightness. Although I've never had to re-tighten it after doing it the once initially.

[TerryM]

Does anyone know if the problem exits with the GT3540XLS? Just ordered it yesterday.

[Justin C]

I don't think it is a problem as such, it's only a matter of a couple of seconds just to check the bolt is tight.

[Gib Robinson]

Thanks, Doug. My bolt is tight but I had never considered the weakness of the design. The danger is clear.

[silverbowff]

This is not a "problem" with the tripods. It is important to remember that the leverage and weight of long lenses is significant and therefore all nuts, bolts, and other attachment points should be inspected regularly and checked to be sure parts are seated properly and securely tightened. The design is not weak and has proven to work effectively for many years with all the 3,4, 5 series aluminum tripods as well as the 1325, 1348, 1548, 3530, 3540 and 5541 CF tripods.

A thorough inspection should be a part of the procedure every time the gear is assembled prior to use. An ounce of prevention is worth $15,000 worth of cure.

Jim

[Greg Downing]

The problem is that some tripods seem to be delivered without these being properly tightened from the factory. I have been using this design for more than a decade and have never had to check my bolts after the initial check out of the box. If the bolt is tightened the first time it simply does not need to be a concern IMO.

[Jim Zipp]

Does anyone know if the problem exits with the GT3540XLS? Just ordered it yesterday.

Pretty much all of that series of Gitzos have that same design. Having said that I've been using Gitzo tripods for over 30 years and while that design has made me nervous over that time, I've never had that plate come loose. Of course it's an easy thing to check but it's not something that I do on a routine basis and would love to see a design change there as others have had it do so.

From what Chris Klapheke of NSN said in an earlier post, that issue was being addressed but I have also read that those screws are for a different purpose and not related to holding that plate on.

Actually there is one minor change to the new models. The newer Gitzos models (that end in the number 1) have a new "safe-lock" flat plate with set screws and a hook on the bottom.

[dougc]

This is kind of silly. It's no different than making sure you tighten the legs after you adjust for height. "Design flaw", "Dangerous design"????? What happened to common sense? The owner's manual to your car doesn't mention that you shouldn't drive it into a tree, so if you do does that make it a dangerous design? i think not, it's called "pilot error". Take responsibility for your own actions (or lack thereof).

[Steve S]

Not really a design flaw, and not that unusual to have integrity tied in to one bolt. After all, the "dove-tail" Arca Swiss style clamp uses one screw only to hold the clamping plate against your lens plate. Don't know what Gitzo does, but in this day and age almost everyone is using a "Thead Locker" of some kind to prevent screws from loosening. I have had a lot of screws come loose over the years, but have never seen one back out when a thead locker has been applied.

Without fail, every time I mount my lens and camera, after lock-down, I "jiggle the set up to and fro, back and forth and up and down. Just a few days ago this jiggle alerted me to the fact I hadn't tightened down the lens rotation collar after flipping to vertical. And I have a lot less than $15,000 hanging on the one bolt.

I have noticed that the Wimberly products have thread locker on all their fasteners.....This is a good thing. If you just re-tightened the loose screw, I would re-do it again after applying some thread lock.

[Cliff Beittel]

Like Greg and others, I've never had a problem in more than 15 years of using Gitzo products. Yes, make sure the bolt is snug--but I've never had one loosen after an initial check. Don't overdo the tightening. The web or collar of the tripod is a casting, and I suspect it could easily be cracked by overtightening the bolt. I had one crack spontaneously once in zero-degree weather. A snug bolt exerts a lot of friction on the flat plate or centerpost collar.

[silverbowff]

If you decide to use Loc-tite on the threads use the blue formula not the red if you want to be able to loosen the bolt to replace the plate with a leveling base or a bowl.

Jim

[Lat Correa]

but the head clamps onto a removable platform ring that is fastened into the tripod by a single bolt.

Sorry I've taken so long to reply, been away.

The removable platform you refer to; if you look at the underside you will see that it is hollow or counterbored. Remove the platform; drill 3 equi-distant holes, around the periphery, from the outside into the hollow through the wall ensuring they are central to the height of the hollow. Then thread these holes to accept grub (3mm socket or similar) screws. Assemble the platform to the tripod and tighten the clamp. After this tighten the 3 screws so they lock on the inner side of the clamp. If the clamp ever comes loose these screws will hold the platform to the tripod preventing disengagement of the whole rig.

Latafat

[gitzodave]

Hi All,

I have forwarded the comments to the Production Manager at Gitzo in Italy and asked that he make certain that the top plates are securely fastened prior to packaging.

A couple of quick notes...The top plate design enables the tripod to take the systematic accessories, including the Leveling base which is a common accessory for NSN users. Gitzo continuously seeks ways to improve all aspects of their products; the top plates have received an overhaul in recent weeks. They now feature the Safe Lock disc, which acts a final damping layer between the tripod & head. Additionally, the new hook design has been long overdue and I'm excited that Gitzo has finally added it to their top plate.

There a couple of other new features on the newest versions of tripods. First off, there is a GT3530LS - which is the true replacement for the old G1325 & comes WITHOUT the video bowl, so people wishing to use it for photo no longer have an unnecessary accessory (G1422 came with the GT3530LSV). The feet have also been redesigned to prevent accidental loss. In the first version G-Lock tripods, the removeable feet often unscrewed without the user noticing. Now, there is a gasket that prevents the feet from unscrewing accidentally.

Thanks again for the feedback.

Regards,
David Fisher
Product Manager, Gitzo
Bogen Imaging USA

[Paul Fusco]

The feet have also been redesigned to prevent accidental loss. In the first version G-Lock tripods, the removeable feet often unscrewed without the user noticing. Now, there is a gasket that prevents the feet from unscrewing accidentally.

David Fisher
Product Manager, Gitzo
Bogen Imaging USA

Thank you, Dave!
Now, what about the folks that already bought the Gitzo with lose-able feet? Is there a fix for them??

- Paul

[Tom Whelan]

The only fix I know is lock-tite - I put some on the threads after losing two feet on my new tripod.

[gitzodave]

I'm going to echo Tom on this one. Lock-tite #242 (Blue) applied to the threads to prevent inadvertant loosening in the field.

Regards,
David Fisher
Product Manager, Gitzo
Bogen Imaging USA