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Just purchased Tiltall #4602 by E. Leitz, any experience with this?

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fotogenetic

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I purchased a used Tiltall #4602 by E. Leitz tripod and it is being shipped at this time. It has a satin black finish and has only minor scratches. I am not sure how old this tripod is, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with it. I've heard good things about it on http://www.photo.net . I'm using it mainly with my D100, but I want it to be the last tripod I ever have to buy. Do the legs extend beyond the normal angle so that I can get low angle shots?

--
'You cannot perceive beauty but with a serene mind.'
http://www.pbase.com/atmabini/2003
 
Kelvin,

Thanks for the reply. Also, is it reasonable for me to expect this tripod to be my last? I have used several tripods in the past and they eventually broke (cheap plastic parts). I plan on hiking with this thing. Is it easily prone to corrosion?
Kelvin Tookay said:
fotogenetic said:
Do
the legs extend beyond the normal angle so that I can get low angle
shots?
Click to expand...
I have the Marchioni version, and it does not have legs that will
extend wider than normal.

Kel
Click to expand...
--
'You cannot perceive beauty but with a serene mind.'
http://www.pbase.com/atmabini/2003
 
fotogenetic said:
I purchased a used Tiltall #4602 by E. Leitz tripod and it is being
shipped at this time. It has a satin black finish and has only
minor scratches. I am not sure how old this tripod is, but I was
wondering if anyone had any experience with it. I've heard good
things about it on http://www.photo.net . I'm using it mainly with my
D100, but I want it to be the last tripod I ever have to buy. Do
the legs extend beyond the normal angle so that I can get low angle
shots?

--
'You cannot perceive beauty but with a serene mind.'
http://www.pbase.com/atmabini/2003
Click to expand...
Well, I've had mine for about 30 years and I don't plan on replacing it any time soon! The legs don't extend beyond the normal angle, but the center column does reverse for low-level work. A great tripod - you will be happy with it.

Sky
 
fotogenetic said:
Kelvin,

Thanks for the reply. Also, is it reasonable for me to expect this
tripod to be my last?
Click to expand...
I had a breif Tilt-All experience 15-20 years ago. I was using a Slik U212 (for reasons that are lost in the mists of time). Alan Lowy (a local pro that I highly respect) used to razz me about it, and suggested a Tilt-All. Got one, and it broke within 6 months (the aluminum tube on one leg actually split). So I sent it off for repair. Encountered Alan again, got razzed about the Slik again...

The Tilt-All lasted about another 6 months before a leg joint broke. Off to repair again, back with the Slik again, and by strange coincidence, scolded by Alan again. Back from repair, and sold as quickly as I could.

Got sedeced by a used Benbo at a photo swap.

Current tripods are 2 Benbos, a Uni-Loc (a refined Benbo style pod) and a Hakuba carbon fiber. And that silly old Slik is still around and working.

--
Ciao!

Joe
 
I've have a similar experience as Sky. I bought mine in 1984 and I still use it today.(Disclaimer: I don't use a tripod that much) My only gripe is it's weight, especially when you compare it to the newer carbon tripods.

good luck with it!
rob
fotogenetic said:
I purchased a used Tiltall #4602 by E. Leitz tripod and it is being
shipped at this time. It has a satin black finish and has only
minor scratches. I am not sure how old this tripod is, but I was
wondering if anyone had any experience with it. I've heard good
things about it on http://www.photo.net . I'm using it mainly with my
D100, but I want it to be the last tripod I ever have to buy. Do
the legs extend beyond the normal angle so that I can get low angle
shots?

--
'You cannot perceive beauty but with a serene mind.'
http://www.pbase.com/atmabini/2003
Click to expand...
 
I am beginning to see that the older Tiltalls from Marchioni and Leitz are still working whereas the Star-D ones from even 20 years ago aren't.

I'm especially happy about the reversible column! Thanks again. I should be getting mine in a couple of days.

I'm not a professional, just an avid amateur, however, I feel as if my photography is coming to the point where my cheapo Giotto's VT-808 with plastic head just won't do. I was taking a photo of the Golden Gate Bridge the other morning and upon review, most of my shots were blurred. I cranked up the ISO to 800, and I still couldn't get an acceptable shutter speed. That finally did it for me. Plus, I'll be going to Hawaii next month for a reenlistment ceremony and I plan on using that time to hike around the island with my D100.

I took this panorama the other day that would've been even better with a good tripod. It was a painful task rotating each photo in .03 degree increments until they matched. My cheapo tripod head only allows discrete rotation adjustments in 2 degree increments.



Can't wait for the tripod to get here!
Robert Longhitano said:
good luck with it!
rob
fotogenetic said:
I purchased a used Tiltall #4602 by E. Leitz tripod and it is being
shipped at this time. It has a satin black finish and has only
minor scratches. I am not sure how old this tripod is, but I was
wondering if anyone had any experience with it. I've heard good
things about it on http://www.photo.net . I'm using it mainly with my
D100, but I want it to be the last tripod I ever have to buy. Do
the legs extend beyond the normal angle so that I can get low angle
shots?

--
'You cannot perceive beauty but with a serene mind.'
http://www.pbase.com/atmabini/2003
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
'You cannot perceive beauty but with a serene mind.'
http://www.pbase.com/atmabini/2003
 
I recently got an old Marchioni Tilt-all. It was found in an attic of a old house. It works great and is so much more solid than the Slik I used for 18 years. I cleaned it up the sludge from old lubricant and re-lubed it. It is light enough for hiking and stable enough for my Mamiya. Advice: get a quick release, the screw clamp is a pain to use frequently when hiking around.
fotogenetic said:
I'm especially happy about the reversible column! Thanks again. I
should be getting mine in a couple of days.

I'm not a professional, just an avid amateur, however, I feel as if
my photography is coming to the point where my cheapo Giotto's
VT-808 with plastic head just won't do. I was taking a photo of
the Golden Gate Bridge the other morning and upon review, most of
my shots were blurred. I cranked up the ISO to 800, and I still
couldn't get an acceptable shutter speed. That finally did it for
me. Plus, I'll be going to Hawaii next month for a reenlistment
ceremony and I plan on using that time to hike around the island
with my D100.

I took this panorama the other day that would've been even better
with a good tripod. It was a painful task rotating each photo in
.03 degree increments until they matched. My cheapo tripod head
only allows discrete rotation adjustments in 2 degree increments.



Can't wait for the tripod to get here!
Robert Longhitano said:
good luck with it!
rob
fotogenetic said:
I purchased a used Tiltall #4602 by E. Leitz tripod and it is being
shipped at this time. It has a satin black finish and has only
minor scratches. I am not sure how old this tripod is, but I was
wondering if anyone had any experience with it. I've heard good
things about it on http://www.photo.net . I'm using it mainly with my
D100, but I want it to be the last tripod I ever have to buy. Do
the legs extend beyond the normal angle so that I can get low angle
shots?

--
'You cannot perceive beauty but with a serene mind.'
http://www.pbase.com/atmabini/2003
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
'You cannot perceive beauty but with a serene mind.'
http://www.pbase.com/atmabini/2003
Click to expand...
 
There seems to be a spate of very old threads being responded to in several forums recently.

This one is 6 years old, but I think the record is an 18-year-old thread.
 
ajscullard said:
There seems to be a spate of very old threads being responded to in several forums recently.

This one is 6 years old, but I think the record is an 18-year-old thread.
Click to expand...
There are a lot of idiots on DP. BTW - you made a minor typo. This post is 16 years old, not 6 years old.
 
Fotogentic,

I’m sure you know much of this by now … as this comment is late to the party - but I find that the Leitz is a great tripod - although limited in leg spread to allow easy top camera mounted low angle shots.

Before getting a Gitzo (1541 when they were still somewhat affordable), for several years I used this same tripod (weighted down with my camera box) for my 8x10 Deardorff. It definitely pushed it to its limits - but if you take care of it, don’t loose it, or not get it returned when loaned to a friend - OUCH! … this one could last a lifetime for small to medium format work.

The Leitz does offer you 2 options for low angle use.

1st there’s a camera mount on the bottom of the pole (opposite the top lol) where you can mount and hang your camera upside down.

2nd you can unscrew the bottom camera mount (per above) slide the vertical tube entirely out of the leg mount and re-mount it from the bottom up - so that with the legs well splayed - although still working upside down - you still can have full tilt-head control.

With today’s LED viewers this is less of a deal than it was - back in the day when the Leitz 1st arrived on the scene.
 
fotogenetic said:
Kelvin,

Thanks for the reply. Also, is it reasonable for me to expect this tripod to be my last? I have used several tripods in the past and they eventually broke (cheap plastic parts). I plan on hiking with this thing. Is it easily prone to corrosion?
Click to expand...
I didn't realize there were so many Tilt-All's out there!

I have one I still use quite a bit. Mine is a Vivitar Pro but looks the same. Mine is anodized aluminum, yours might be polished alloy. I prefer it to my other heavy duty tripods except when super rock steady is needed. Though I have several, I hate ball heads, nothing like a smooth tilt and pan!

I bought mine used when I was in college for $50 to use with my 4x5 for portrait work. That was in maybe 74 so I've had it going on 50 years. It was my only tripod till about 15 years ago when I bought a used 14" alloy Gitzo 026 for travel.

I used to strap Tilt All onto a rack on my mountain bike and go into the wilderness with it.

If you're 15 years old and live to be a 100 it should serve you well if you keep it clean! Good luck with hiking it, mine weighs 8 pounds!! For hiking I'd look for a in nice shape alloy Gitzo 026, they're about a hundred bucks and great for travel and hiking . I use mine with a 100-400 and it's pretty good. Enjoy your new tool!!!

John
 
Almost Everything Tilt-All

I love my Leitz Tilt-All; it has proven bulletproof, rock-solid and durable.

I added a stout Arca-Swiss quick-attach clamp to the camera mount plate and the mating plate to all of our cameras plus all of our heads.

The quick-attach clamp I have has an extra-long clamp-screw with a very large knurled head; this long screw is out there where it is easily operated and the large diameter knurled head allows me to really put the squeeze on things.

My Yelangu Gimbal Head stays attached to the Tilt-All 90% of the time.

The Tilt-All head itself is extremely versatile and this versatility can be expanded by using it as a base for mounting other heads.

I also have the big SLIK Pro 700 DX and really like it as well; but, I like the Tilt-All best.
 
On an episode of Mannix, Mannix is inside a camera shop; and, prominently displayed in the camera shop's display window is a Tilt-All with a twist that I have never seen anywhere else; although this Mannix Tilt-All is Marchioni Tilt-All through and through, it has a very prominent elevator crank on the center column.

If anyone else has photos or information on these elevator-crank Tilt-Alls, I would like seeing it.
 
SmilerGrogan said:
According to some people Gitzos aren’t Gitzos anymore either.
justinwonnacott said:
My experience with tiltall is that they are feature poor and kind of obsolete compared to modern stuff. Stable enough but no gitzo......
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
From the internet: In 1992, Gitzo became part of the Vinten group (now Videndum), which also owns Manfrotto.

My Guess: I think they are both made in Italy now, probably in the Manfrotto factory.

John
 
I have had nothing but great service from all my Manfrotto gear. So the rumors are probably wrong as usual
JohnSil said:
SmilerGrogan said:
According to some people Gitzos aren’t Gitzos anymore either.
justinwonnacott said:
My experience with tiltall is that they are feature poor and kind of obsolete compared to modern stuff. Stable enough but no gitzo......
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
From the internet: In 1992, Gitzo became part of the Vinten group (now Videndum), which also owns Manfrotto.

My Guess: I think they are both made in Italy now, probably in the Manfrotto factory.

John
Click to expand...
 
Old threads often contain information that has been lost to time. Reviving them brings it back into general knowledge.
ajscullard said:
There seems to be a spate of very old threads being responded to in several forums recently.

This one is 6 years old, but I think the record is an 18-year-old thread.
Click to expand...
 
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