[Pedalman]

Im going to try a fluid video head with my 600mm f4 , the head im looking at comes with a 75mm bowl, when I took the flat plate out of my Gitzo GT3541LS tripod the diameter of the "hole" clamp is 70mm........ BUT, and here is the thing that is puzzling me .... Gitzo do their own 75mm bowl to fit this tripod.

So my question is this , what does the description 75mm actually describe and will the 75mm bowl fit the 70mm hole !?????

Or is the bowl part 75mm, and the machined bit that fits into the tripod collar clamp 70mm ??

I haven't ordered the head yet Im just trying to clear up this confusion before deciding what to do . I dont want to have to buy another tripod so if it wont fit Ill just knock it on the (fluid) head.

Cheers Alan.

[iveljay]

Many major UK shops sell the Gitzo bowl adaptor for about £66, I would tend to phone one up and ask, or use the Gitzo web site to ask Gitzo directly - probably your best move if no one else responds.

It appears that the Gitzo GS5320V75 75mm Bowl Adapter is dedicated to the systematic range of tripods (which you own), an opinion supported by one of the user reviews who contacted Gitzo for reassurance which suggests others may not fit as Gitzo appear to have produced a range of accessories specifically for this model.

I would tend to go for the Gitzo bowl which probably fits in and on top of the tripod 70mm aperture which should then allow the use of industry standard 75mm bowl heads. A lot will then depend on your head being built to industry standards and not relying on a custom bowl probably a fairly safe assumption.

I like the sound of the Gitzo bowl as it is PTFE lined which makes a tremendous difference when you are setting the levelling clamp at the base of the head you are using.

Unfortunately my only video tripod with a half bowl head is not the one you are looking at.

Not sure why you want a head with a bowl fitting for non-video work, there are other fluid heads that don't need all this?

[Pedalman]

Thank you for your reply , sounds good info and has certainly cleared up the reason for the two measurements I will contact Gitso as you said to make sure.
Industry std would make life a lot easier ,why cant they all stick to it ?

Yes we dont need bowl levelers with DSLRs and big tele lenses so I could fit the video head Im looking at buying onto the tripod as normal without the bowl leveler supplied, maybe they will sell me the head without the 75mm bowl .

Thanks again.