Underwater Tripod?

[duntov]

Okay, not really underwater, but I am heading to the Everglades and want to shoot in water up to three feet deep.  I know Clyde Butcher does this all the time and I have been to his site but no real details there.  I have a Gitzo 1325 but am concerned about the water getting into the carbon fiber legs and then not able to get out.  Plus, I am not sure that the Gitzo is solid enough for my new camera.  Sand particles also is a concern in the leg twist clamps.

I don't plan on backpacking too far so i am not so concerned about weight.  I will be using a Silvestri Bicam with bellows, sliding back and a Leaf 22.  I don't mind over-kill as I plan on getting a LF in the future.  I thought about a wood tripod because the water obviously cannot get trapped.  But will the wood have an adverse reaction to salt/brackish water?  I would be drawn to a simple system.  All constructive ideas are welcome.

John

[duntov]

Ooops.

[situgrrl]

Well treated hard wood should be great for it but mind your back!

[Mitchell Baum]

John,

I'm chiming in because you haven't got much response. I've used a carbon Gitzo in water above the first joint of the legs. I didn't have any problems. It can take a while to get all the water out. Going deep seems like it would be a circus act, possible but needing great care not to swim a camera.

Best,

Mitchell

[stever]

you might post on wetpixel, as there are a few (very few) underwater photographers that have used tripods, and i can't remember anything about what they used.

i would not recommend either aluminum (corrosion in brackish water) or wood (swelling which will make adjustment difficult).  without direct experience, i'd suggest a "cheap" carbon fiber that can be disassembled without too much difficulty - but i don't know enough about the construction of the different brands to make a specific recommendation.

[krystian maj]

http://www.gitzo.com/Jahia/

GK1581OT - up to 4KG, should be enough with standard lenses

[Ben Rubinstein]

Benbo and the Manfrotto Neotec tripods have an 'upside down' design so that the entire leg that would be in the water in once peice of metal and therefore will not let any water in. Neither are exactly light though...

Does Carbon Fibre rust?

[neil snape]

I still have a Gitzo Safari green tripod where the legs are inverted so the first section doesn't allow sand and dirt to enter. Not 3 feet high though the first section is about 1.5-2 feet high.

I think I picked this one as when I saw  Jay Meisel  shooting Elle MacPherson for Sports illustrated, I thought if I had one of these I could meet girls like Elle.

I bought one but it didn't change my social life.

It's a good tripod though for shooting outdoors, in sand , dirt snow etc.

[LyleCamera]

John,

I have worked in water situations for almost 25 years.  I would say that on average my tripod and view and MF gear (now DSLR), spend on average 75-80 days a year in wet areas with 1-3 feet of water (sometimes more).   I have always used gitzos, but not the carbon fiber gitzos.  I tried CF gitzos but I prefer my old metal gitzo tripods for water work.  It is a nightly job in my motel room or tent to unscrew my tripod legs and dump water out of the leg  and brush off grit.  On average, with this care a gitzo lasts 12-15 years before there are thread wear issues with the locking collars or threads on the legs.  

I work in both fresh and saltwater.  

I don't know if using the CF tripods will present any other issues for you.  But my regular old gitzos have held up very, very, well in water useage.  

Lyle

[Mitchell Baum]

Lyle,

I'm very interested in water work. Do you have of website or another way to see some of your work.

Best,

Mitchell

[luong]

My experience has been that if you do not clean up your Gitzo promptly and extensively, it will be ruined by such a use. I'd use a wooden tripod and not worry. It takes decades for wooden structures such a piers to decay, despite permanent immersion.