Need validation/criticism of tripod purchase

Hi,

I use the Gitzo 3540LS 4 section carbon 6X with G locks. These Gitzo Carbon 6 series are the best you can get... don't hesitate. The 3 series will support a 600MM. If you are not using large/medium format or really long 35mm lenses then go with the 2 series. I would though go with the systematic that allows you to switch from the standard flat plate to a center column or other accessories.

Best tripods in the world... bar none. RRS makes great stuff also.

You don't need a tall tripod if you buy a right angled viewer for your camera. Having used many different tripods over the years I found that having a light weight tripod that I'll carry is better than having a more stable but heavier one that I won't. To that effect I now use a Velbon that weights about 2lbs and collapses to "14 and cost me $150 at B&H.

I have found that I hate twist locks and have sold two Gitzos I have owned. I much prefer flip locks, you get a visual indicator and they are either locked or not. Now lots of people have no problem with twist locks, so I'm not saying you should, I'm just pointing out that there are ergonomic features of tripods that can affect how comfortable you are using them.

FWIW, I have two Linhof tripods, one for travel and one that's larger and heavier, and they are terrific. Unfortunately, they have been discontinued. If I was starting over, I'd look for the Manfrotto that was closest to them.

Everything you have selected sounds fine, but if you are at all concerned with bending over, I would go with the longer version because you don't want to extend the center column except as a last resort (it becomes the weak link in terms of vibration). Having said that, you may find that you want to set the height so that you do normally bend a bit when the lens is level. I have essentially the same setup, only the older models of everything, and it is the tripod I take all the time except when I am shooting telephotos from 300mm and up. The new twist locks are no problem to use, even with heavy gloves, and the ability to unlock all the sections at once really speeds things up. The old, narrow locks on my 3-series legs are a pain by comparison.

Beware: Stupid comment...

Shouldn't the height of the tripod/camera be what's best for the photograph and not what's the most comfortable for the photographer?

I guess, unless you're shooting a table top scene when you can adjust the height of the table :)

That out of the way, I have a bogen/manfrotto 3221 tripod that goes from taller than I can see through the viewfinder to practically flat on the ground. I've used it at both extremes. Unfortunately it's not the lightest tripod (carbon fiber was very expensive when I purchased the tripod), but there is a real advantage to having enough range. It is certainly enough stability for the type of lenses that Chris intends to use which are similar in range to the lenses I have. Maybe I need a 2nd light tripod for hiking around with...

Hi, Chris.

I'm taking a bit of a different tack on this. Take it or leave it, but I can't imagine spending anything close to a thousand bucks on a tripod unless it cooks all my meals for me and has a built in GPS.

I've also never had a good experience with a ball head but that's just me. I shoot a lot of architecture and I can't get the damn things to a true level on one axis without fouling up the other one. Easier with handles.

Right now at the Large Format Photography Forum there is a Leitz Tiltall balck finish tripod for sale for $95 bucks.

I've used one for decades for 35mm and medium format plus the occasional light weight 4x5 with absolutely magnificent performance. These come up on Ebay all the time, but look for the Leitz version as they are the best engineered.

It's a traditional three point head, three section leg with twist grips that lock very well, a center column that takes you up to about six feet and rubber feet with extendable spikes. The only thing I won't use on this is my 8x10's.

I like brand new toys as much as anyone, but to save nearly a thousand bucks on a tripod that will still serve beautifully for years simply frees up those extra bucks for more toys or one hell of a road trip.

To each his own.

You will find the GT-2531L to be a strong and serviceable tripod. It is comparable to my G-1227 which I have used for many years for small, medium and (occasionally) large format. The column is useful, especially if you top it with a Manfrotto (or Acratech) leveling platform for accurate panning (e.g., stitched panoramas).

My personal preference is a GT-3540LS which is much stiffer, a pound heavier and has interchangeable center sections (plate, column, video ball and leveling head). It is short enough to fit in a typical suitcase without disassembly (other than removing the head).

$1000 would buy a road trip that's over in a week, or a tripod and head that's good for twenty years or more :-)

I think you're doing the right thing spending that kind of money. It amazes me that so many people spend $$$$ on glass then $ on support. The G-2531 looks like the replacement for the old G-1227 and is an excellent choice. I use the four leg section version - the old G-1228 which I bought used - a brilliant tripod.

I'm sure you've done your research, but I would do especial due diligence on the lever release clamp. I think that a regular screw clamp is going to be more reliable over the long-term, so it takes 10 seconds longer, we're talking tripod setup here. Personally I wouldn't buy a lever clamp as I don't trust them.

I don't know if you've looked at other ballheads but Kirk and especially Markins make excellent products. I don't like the lever on that BH-40, it looks like it could be awkward to use. A big rubber round knob is easier to manipulate especially if you're wearing gloves. I bought a Linhof Profi II for the ergonomics, that's a good ballhead too. I use Markins clamps - beautifully engineered.

If you do a lot of outdoors and you need spikes, consider the Markins Titaniums they fitted a set to the bottom sections of my G-1228. Now you can do it yourself: http://www.markinsamerica.com/MA5/RS22.php

Good luck! Peter

I'd like to second Peter's choices and suggestions. Excellent!

Thanks for all the comments!

Can anyone comment on how much difference a pound makes when carrying the rig around for a few hours? It seems silly at some level to angst over a pound, but I'm worried about getting too heavy and not using it like I should.

@ B G - I'm guessing you haven't had back problems - I hope you haven't! :-) It's not a stupid comment, but it's not about comfort in the least - it's about not having my lower back degenerate into spasms that leave me unable to walk or drive. It's weird - I can squat over a couple hundred pounds (using the right technique of course), but if I bend over slightly at the wrong time / in the wrong way to draw a shade or whatever, my back can become a wreck.

@ Peter - Thanks for the link to Martins, and particularly for the comment on the QR lever - I had gone back and forth between that and the screw - I think I'll go back again. ;-)

And thanks again to everyone else as well - it's all very helpful. :-)

Chris,

Sorry to hear about your back. I used to have problems but I've seem to have cured them about 15 years ago by eating better and keeping fit, knock on wood! I work in the movies where the tripod and cameras can weigh up to 100lbs. so a little manfrotto doesn't seem like much at all to me. Though my aluminum tripod only weighs 2lbs more than your proposed CF Porsche of tripods :)

Seriously, if bending your back is an issue for you, you might think about using some kind of stool to sit on so that you don't have to bend your back so much. I know whenever possible, I try to find a box to sit on so I don't have to bend over the movie camera, though it's not as bad, because movie camera viewfinders rotate and have movable eyepieces. The stool could also come in handy when you need to place the camera high as well. I know you won't take one on a hike, but you might like it when you're close to the car or in a studio. If your d300 has live view, try that so you don't have to bend to look into the finder. All the more reason to offer a camera with an orient-able LCD screen! But we can only wish.

Best wishes for a flexible back and a stiff tripod.

B G,

Well, we're close to being in the same boat! My back issues are much better, for the same reasons as yours. But every once in a while, it still weighs in, so I can't forget about it. And the proximate causes can be so weird - a lady that works for me threw her's out moving a pillow. Go figure.

The stool is a great idea - I'll look into that. Not something for hikes as you say, but as I prefer the school of "if it's more than 100 yards from the car it's not photogenic", it could come in real handy.

Thanks! And keep tending to your back! It's like a weird club - there's no pain like back pain - stay fit, mind your posture, mind your movements - keep it away! :-)

A pound or two can make a big difference or not much at all. It depends on how and why you are carrying the stuff. For example, a pound makes a big difference in a shoulder bag, and three pounds can be a deal breaker. I've left my 70-200 behind on many occasions for that reason. In a backpack, it doesn't matter much as long as the total weight is under some personal threshhold. Mine is about 38 pounds for an 8 hour day. Some backpacks are easier than others, and YMMV.

Some tripods are easier to carry than others. A tripod longer than about 24 inches when folded swings around a lot on a backpack, and tends to snag on things in the woods. That's not a good way to carry it anyway if you actually use it. I fit mine with a camera strap (Op-Tech) attached to the top of two legs. That way it rides under my arm with the head always up and keeps my hands free. That even works while wearing a backpack if you tuck the strap behind your elbow to keep it from from sliding off your shoulder. Straps attached to the top and bottom of one leg will eventually dump the tripod on its head - guaranteed.

A Series 3 Gitzo is easier to carry by hand than a Series 2 because the leg spacing is greater. With a Series 2 you have to grab two legs at once. With a Series 3 there's enough space between legs to grab just one. The tension is adjustable so the leg will stay put as you carry it.

Just some things to think about.

I recently got a Gitzo 2540 with the RRS BH40 and LR quick release. With the new leg locking mechanism (Gitzo calls it G lock) I can loosen all 3 twist locks of one leg at once, and the non-rotating leg segments are a big improvement over the older Gitzos as well. I can't see how the set up speed would be significantly longer than for the three segment 2530, but it makes for a more compact tripod which I appreciate for travel or in the field, i.e attached to a backbag. It also gets me a bit closer to the ground. I've used tripods with flip locks years ago but prefer the more compact, more reliable, and, I believe, more stable twist mechanism. With the BH40, the set up when fully extended is stable enough for a Canon 5D and a 200 mm lens. To carry the folded tripod (without camera) in my hand, I open one leg a bit and carry the tripod on that leg.

I also have a 0540 with a RRS B2-40 LR head which is surprisingly stable. I use it on longer hikes. I compared it side by side with the Giottos MT 8241. Although nicely made, the legs are significantly less stiff than the Gitzo. You would have to get the next series up on the Giottos to get the same rigidity as the Gitzo.

Lastly, I find the RRS quick release absolutely precise and tight with one of their L quick release plates, and easy to operate even with gloves on. These ballheads with quick release are also very compact. Overall, I find myself using tripods much more frequently now than my older aluminum Gitzo or anything else I had before.

Unless you go for an extremely light weight tripod for long hikes (I don't know enough about the models you are thinking of, so maybe that is indeed what you are considering) the suggestion of Tim is very good. The Tiltall tripod (the German one not the knock off made by Star-D) is excellent, and highly thought of.

It is your choice, of course, but many of us get into a new accessory type or camera format by the least costly means and them buy up if that is really needed. Also, as you say you have never used one before, so a tripod may or may not be what you will eventually need. Whatever, I can vouch for the Tiltall - a great German design.

@ Ed - Thanks for the tripod information, especially on the length of the legs - that makes a lot of sense.

@ Arthur - I actually have used tripods a fair amount, just not as much as I think I should. Your suggestion is very valid, but I've wasted so much money by buying up later that I've just decided to try to get it right the first time out. But again, your thoughts are very much appreciated. :-)

As is typical, life has intervened in my hobbies - the dishwasher died and the wife had her heart set on a Bosch (no $300 variety here - no, no). But, she is most tolerant of my hobbies, so a Bosch for her it is - whichever she wants. ;-)

So, I've ordered the RRS BH-40 head with the screw knob, the L plate for the D300, and one of those neat little dual bubble levels. The legs will have to wait, and I'll use legs from an old Slik tripod in the interim - a U212 - I was shocked to find that they still sell it!

Thanks again to everyone for the helpful suggestions!