How do you like your Giotto tripod?

[ruben_salcedo]

I am in need of a new tripod. I am currently using a 3021 with 3 way

head.

I am considering a Giotto carbon fibre MT 8180, 8170.

I do quite a bit of location work. Hillsides, sand , water.

I shoot a Hassy and I may use a field camera now and then.

I am interested in doing more macro.

I am sold on the leg constuction, but I don't know how solid the

head is or the macro lock for the tube.

Can you mount a universal ball head on this tripod?

How does sand effect legs/lock?

Your insites again, are greatly appreciated.

 

Ruben.

[anupam]

<a href="http://www.apug.org/forums/showthread.php?t=23191">This APUG thread</a> might help.

[david_gillich]

I own a Gitzo Explorer with a Gitzo head. When I bought a 4x5, I bought a Giotto MT-9180 to have something taller that I could use without extending a center column and because I did not need to buy a head to use it. At the time, I did not want to spend a lot of money on a new head, so I bought the Giotto. At first it seemed like a nice tripod, but I have grown to dislike it. Everything the Explorer is, fast, light and simple to use, the Giotto is not. After a couple of months, the twist lock legs stopped working correctly so that the legs would get locked in place, and it would take me several mintues to unlock them. The tripod is not very sturdy or easy to use outside on hills. I got frustrated and decided to buy a new head for my Gitzo and use it for my Hassy and 4x5. Now I don't use the Giotto at all. Basically, my Giotto has taught me how great my Gitzo is. If you can afford a better tripod, I would buy it over the Giotto. Personally, I love my Gitzo with a Markins head.