scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

When using a carbon fiber 4 section tripod at less than full height, which is more stable: shortening by collapsing the thinnest legs at the bottom or by collapsing the thickest legs at the top? I imagine this would apply both to my heavy RRS and my travel tripod, the Feisol CT-3442.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

It would stand to reason that the bigger top legs would be more secure. I shorten my CF Gitzo by the short legs.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

Tripods are general very stable I have found. Try not to extend it fully and don’t have a heavy camera body and large piece of glass. Also, see if the tripod has a hook on the middle column. You can attach the camera bag for stability.

Happy Shooting!

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

I love logic.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

For what it is worth, I have a couple of tripods but nothing to brag about. I recently purchased an OBEN because of the head and the hook. Best of all, one leg unscrews and can be used as a monopod.

Stay away from heavy rigs and large glass anyway!

Happy Shooting!

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

If I weren't using a heavy camera and a large piece of glass, I wouldn't need a tripod. The weight is why I use a tripod, especially for landscape photography.

User ID

Don’t think only of which diameter tubes are in use. That leads to fully extending the fat tubes and not using the thin tubes at all.

If you do that the joints involved in the fat tubes are fully extended. Better to leave some of every tube somewhat telescoped into its adjoining tube for better stiffness, even if almost 50% of the thinnest tube is now extended. They’re quite stiff at 50%.

This is all pretty nitpicky, but if you’re gonna pick nits you gotta consider what nits might be escaping your attention!

My first moves setting up a tripod are to extend the thin tubes about 40% and the center post to about 3X its own diameter. These are harmless amounts and often will avoid any need for full extension of the remaining tubes.

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

I hadn't thought of that nit. That is a nit worth picking.

woodyH

Thanks for turning me on to the Feisel. Seems like an outstanding product.
Collapsing the lower section first is the traditional wisdom. But you might challenge this by testing for resonance and damping by setting a bowl of water on the camera platform and observing the patterns formed (observed in reflections of a bright light source) as the legs are strummed by various wind speeds. Oldtime news filmographers would have one leg longer than the other two, for 2 reasons: the long leg would be planted first and be towards the subject, the shorter two pulled back, left and right, a very quick set-up; and the resonance of the longer leg would cancel some of the shorter legs' resonance, and vice versa. The second principle contributes to why videographers are more inclined to use tripods with multi-strut leg sections (and wide platforms for the camera). Also take a look at pics of Ansel Adams' tripod— just as an example. I've noticed more vibration is induced at the contact between camera bottom and ball head plate— or lack of good contact— particularly with small cameras or ones made with cushiony stuff to protect against bumps.

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

Interesting comment. I do pay particular attention to the camera bottom and ballhead plate for that reason.
And yes, the Feisol CT 3442 is a great travel tripod and the price is right. You can buy it with or without a center column, and they also have a leveling platform that can be substituted for the center plate.

User ID

Thought for the day:

Friction damps out vibration. Stiffness just raises its frequency.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Agreed.
I always shorten the small legs also.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

good info. I don't extend the small legs either but I did not think about the joints as being a weak link. I usually end up with one leg longer than the other or all 3 different lengths due to uneven ground but the resonance thing makes sense too. I shall change my tripod procedures.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Collapsing the thinner legs will provide a little more stability, but often takes more time than collapsing the top tubes. It applies to all tripods. Most of the sharpness-robbing movement happens close to the camera, not at the ground. Unless you live in California.