Good day everyone!
I have been trying for quite some time to choose a tripod that fits my needs. As you guys are aware, the more reviews you read, the more confused things get. But I have eventually decided on 2 tripods:
Manfrotto 190CXPRO3
Weight: 1.29kg
Height (column down): 122cm
Height (column up): 146cm
Closed length: 58cm
Price: $440
Others: Can convert column to horizontal for macro/low-level work.
Gitzo GT-1541T
Weight: 1.00kg
Height (column down): 113cm
Height (column up): 134cm
Closed length: 41cm
Price: $760+ (I think)
Others: Can reverse-mount head during storage to reduce closed length.
Some other details abt me. I'm 1.78m high, so both tripods are a little low for me, but I figure I will be shooting at my subject's eye level most of the time and I won't be spending hrs behind the tripod so that is less of an issue. I shoot a hodgepodge of everything... but mainly informal portraits and landscapes.
Weight and size is a big issue. I plan to take this tripod out with me (I carry my camera with me wherever I go) and on hiking trips/holidays. In this case, the Gitzo wins by a fair margin of almost 300g. May not sound like much now, but it will when you hit the 10km mark. Of course, there is a huge price premium of $300+ over the Manfrotto.
On the other hand, the Manfrotto might be more stable, and has this cool horizontal column thingy, though I'm not sure how often I'll use it. It has flip-locks which is what I'm used to, but I haven't tried the G-locks of the Gitzo and cannot compare.
So, my main questions are:
1. Is the price gap of $300+ justified in terms of weight, build quality and function? I am planning to get a flash with that money, and if I buy the Gitzo I'd have to postpone that purchase by many many months. :cry:
2. How do the G-locks compare to flip-locks in terms of speed and ergonomics?
3. Bottom line: Which would you get?
Thanks in advance for your comments!
Cheers!
I have been trying for quite some time to choose a tripod that fits my needs. As you guys are aware, the more reviews you read, the more confused things get. But I have eventually decided on 2 tripods:
Manfrotto 190CXPRO3
Weight: 1.29kg
Height (column down): 122cm
Height (column up): 146cm
Closed length: 58cm
Price: $440
Others: Can convert column to horizontal for macro/low-level work.
Gitzo GT-1541T
Weight: 1.00kg
Height (column down): 113cm
Height (column up): 134cm
Closed length: 41cm
Price: $760+ (I think)
Others: Can reverse-mount head during storage to reduce closed length.
Some other details abt me. I'm 1.78m high, so both tripods are a little low for me, but I figure I will be shooting at my subject's eye level most of the time and I won't be spending hrs behind the tripod so that is less of an issue. I shoot a hodgepodge of everything... but mainly informal portraits and landscapes.
Weight and size is a big issue. I plan to take this tripod out with me (I carry my camera with me wherever I go) and on hiking trips/holidays. In this case, the Gitzo wins by a fair margin of almost 300g. May not sound like much now, but it will when you hit the 10km mark. Of course, there is a huge price premium of $300+ over the Manfrotto.
On the other hand, the Manfrotto might be more stable, and has this cool horizontal column thingy, though I'm not sure how often I'll use it. It has flip-locks which is what I'm used to, but I haven't tried the G-locks of the Gitzo and cannot compare.
So, my main questions are:
1. Is the price gap of $300+ justified in terms of weight, build quality and function? I am planning to get a flash with that money, and if I buy the Gitzo I'd have to postpone that purchase by many many months. :cry:
2. How do the G-locks compare to flip-locks in terms of speed and ergonomics?
3. Bottom line: Which would you get?
Thanks in advance for your comments!
Cheers!
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