What's the advantage of Gitzo tripod?

[scorpioh]

for travelling, i recommend explorer 1 series. Do go to the shops to tryout the traveller and explorer series, u will find that the traveller series is *abit* flimsy compared to the explorer.

I am no expert but i read somewhere that we should divide the max load of the ballhead by a safety factor of 3 when we want to determine if the ball head can support our setup.

Therefore, Markins Q3 should be able to support 1DMkIII n 70-200 2.8IS. But u might need to upgrade the ballhead if you intend to do more next time. For tripod max load, I think you need to factor in the weight of the ballhead as well so u might be cutting it a bit too close if u choose a 4kg maxload tripod.

I bought a general purpose PG-50 plate. Looking to upgrade to a L plate next.

Pardon my ignorance, but is there a series 1 exploerer? I had never seen one nor could I find it in Gitzo's website. The explorer is really not for the fast-and-on-the-go user - you need to set the leg angles everytime you deploy the legs, although it is really very versatile in odd angle positioning.

 

[coolsigg]

Pardon my ignorance, but is there a series 1 exploerer? I had never seen one nor could I find it in Gitzo's website. The explorer is really not for the fast-and-on-the-go user - you need to set the leg angles everytime you deploy the legs, although it is really very versatile in odd angle positioning.

sorry, i meant mountaineer gt1541...

 

[scorpioh]

I see. I do quite agree that the traveller is a bit filmsy if fully extended. That is why I only extend 3 sections. The forth section is really for use in emergency. And if stability is a real concern, get the series 2. Don't waste time on the series 1 - you'll never be satisfied. Series one is really for weight-saving and compactness and you'll have to sacrifice some stability for that.

 

[hokkaido88]

That's mean eventhough those Markins ballhead could be use up to 30kg although I never reach more than 5kg, it's stability is a way better than other lesser known made in China ballhead?

I just wondering if Markins is made in korea, why is it commanding a premium price on par with made in usa RRS?

Guys, is it cheaper to order from U.S than getting it locally?

 

[STTNP]

How much isGT1541 and GT1541T and a Suitable ballhead?
Im looking more toward GT1541T for it weight and short length for travelling.

My set up will not be more than 4kg even with flash. And for travelling mostly dont bring flash.
Can anyone recommand a suitable tripod for travelling purpose? Short enough to go into my standard Domke bag would be ideal and max is 3 sections.

Thanks

 

[scorpioh]

Weight is just a small part of the equation. When you are looking at Gitzos, it's really more than just looking at the weight-holding factor as you would for your usual tripod purchase - I really have to drill in the notion " Holding and supporting are two different issues altogther."

Markins has established a pretty good name for itself. Usually price is pretty much proportional to quality. Although RRS and Markins are two rather different animals, They are quite on par in quality. RRS are better machined (almost an art form) but for functionality, a lot prefer the Markins and they are more readily available locally. Perhaps that's why they are quite on par in price as well.

Ordering from USA is the only way to get the RRS and Kirk stuff. For Gitzos and Markins, they are available in TKPhoto.

 

[scorpioh]

How much isGT1541 and GT1541T and a Suitable ballhead?
Im looking more toward GT1541T for it weight and short length for travelling.

My set up will not be more than 4kg even with flash. And for travelling mostly dont bring flash.
Can anyone recommand a suitable tripod for travelling purpose? Short enough to go into my standard Domke bag would be ideal and max is 3 sections.

Thanks

Should be $800 thereabouts for the legs (some $30 difference between T and non-T), $450 for the head, $80 for a QR plate (get the kirk or RRS if possible) and $90 for a Thinktank tripod bag (optional).

To be able to hand-carry (rather than to check-in) your tripod during travel, get the GT1541T. But I think even that may be a bit too long and buliy for your standard domke bag. 3-sections are all too long for hand-carry.

 

[kisim]

there is a gitzo bag, which will fit the 1541T perfectly, but it costs $110 :bigeyes:
the bag is avaialble in TK foto.

 

[giantcanopy]

I just wondering if Markins is made in korea, why is it commanding a premium price on par with made in usa RRS?

Because it is really good I loved mine so much my second head was a Markins too.
Doesn have to be from states or other european countries to be a criteria for quality.

Ryan

 

[coolsigg]

How much isGT1541 and GT1541T and a Suitable ballhead?
Im looking more toward GT1541T for it weight and short length for travelling.

My set up will not be more than 4kg even with flash. And for travelling mostly dont bring flash.
Can anyone recommand a suitable tripod for travelling purpose? Short enough to go into my standard Domke bag would be ideal and max is 3 sections.

Thanks

your 2 criterions are in conflict lei...GT1541T is 4 section but in your second para you wanted 3 section...:think:

 

[coolsigg]

That's mean eventhough those Markins ballhead could be use up to 30kg although I never reach more than 5kg, it's stability is a way better than other lesser known made in China ballhead?

I just wondering if Markins is made in korea, why is it commanding a premium price on par with made in usa RRS?

Guys, is it cheaper to order from U.S than getting it locally?

check out this "horror" story on MIC ballhead before you take the plunge...

http://www.tomwebsterphoto.com/Essays/Benro/benroks2.htm

remember, u pay peanuts, u get monkey...

 

[Garion]

Because it is really good I loved mine so much my second head was a Markins too.
Doesn have to be from states or other european countries to be a criteria for quality.

Ryan

I liked it so much I just bought my 2nd Markins head too, a Q3-Tr, for my lighter setup. :embrass: It is pricy but love the size and the build/finish, and the performance is excellent as with all Markins ballheads. Saw other ppl on other forums posted a pic showing a 300mm f2.8L IS with 1 series mounted on the Q3 - proof that it can take such loads (though I wouldn't do such a thing).

Choice of legs is still entirely up to the individual preference, and overall budget too. Gitzo is great tho kinda expensive, and there are definitely cheaper alternatives out there which give similar performance at better price/performance ratio. One thing for sure, can't go wrong with the Markins!

 

[YSLee]

This keeps on coming up. Let me emphasise:

DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUPPOSED WEIGHT IT CAN HOLD AS AN INDICATOR OF WHAT IT CAN SUPPORT FOR PHOTOGRAPHY PURPOSES.

Remember, the whole point of a tripod is to provide a stable platform for taking images free of blur induced by movement during the image capturing process.

The load specification is frankly meaningless. The ultra small gitzos can carry the 300/2.8, sure, but the minute a breeze blows it'll set off a never-ending sequence of vibrations that you'll have a hard time dampening it.

The ballhead specs are even less meaningful. You have no idea of how it's tested. Is it with the setup at a perfectly horizontal level? Is the weight loaded totally at the centre of the ballhead?

PS. Markins is cheaper than RRS, if you ask me. The M20 can easily put up a good show against the BH55, and the Q3/M10 with the BH40. Once you factor in GST and shipping, the RRS easily costs 20% more than the Markins equivalent.

 

[CS TAN]

So, what will you recommend as a rule of thumb on the published supported weight vs actual weight used in real life?

e.g. Published weight 30Kg = 8Kg in real life usage?

 

[scorpioh]

So, what will you recommend as a rule of thumb on the published supported weight vs actual weight used in real life?

e.g. Published weight 30Kg = 8Kg in real life usage?

As overkill you you can go.

 

[CS TAN]

As overkill you you can go.

My previous post was a question not a statement.

"e.g. Published weight 30Kg = 8Kg in real life usage" doesn't mean this is what i suggest. The e.g. is just For Example. I was expecting you can give me some sort of rule of thumb to go by since you are saying we should not just follow the publish weight of the tripod...

 

[STTNP]

your 2 criterions are in conflict lei...GT1541T is 4 section but in your second para you wanted 3 section...:think:

OIC GT1541T is 4 section. Thanks

 

[scorpioh]

My previous post was a question not a statement.

"e.g. Published weight 30Kg = 8Kg in real life usage" doesn't mean this is what i suggest. The e.g. is just For Example. I was expecting you can give me some sort of rule of thumb to go by since you are saying we should not just follow the publish weight of the tripod...

Yeah, I really mean as overkill as you can go. There is nothing wrong using a series 3 on say a 15mm UWA. The deciding factor here is the weight and bulk that you can carry. But if you really want a rule of thumb, I would say forget about the weight specs altogether - even your heaviest setup would most likely fall below what the series 1 and Q3 can hold. Look at the FL of your setup, rule of thumb: series 1 max 135mm, series 2 max 250 mm, series 3 max 400mm. This is what I would call the safety limit, of cos there are people who claim no issues using even longer FLs.