Gitzo G01, G06 Weekend Tripods?

[d_kusko]

Any opinions on the Gitzo Weekend Series tripods (G01,G026)? I'm

considering one for backpacking. I'm trying to stay under 3-3.5

pounds total weight (with ballhead). Most people seem to recommend

the Bogen 3001 but is it worth an extra pound? I'll be using this for

3-7 day trips so weight is critical.

[d_kusko]

I forgot to mention in the original posting that I'll be using a Canon

EOS Elan II with a Sigma 24-70 lens.

[jason_elsworth1]

Galen Rowell recommneds the 01 in his book "The Art of Adventure

photography". However he removes the centre post and bolts a head

directly onto the legs to increase stabilty. Kirk enterprises also

sell a specially shoretened post for this purpose. I am thinking of

doing exactly this so I would appreciate any feedback if you go this

route. The 26 I think has more leg sections so probaby wont be as

stable.

[drc]

Dan, i purchased the 026 for the very same reasons. This tripod is very stable for it's size and weight. I use up to a 3004 nikkor regularily on it without having to alter my tripod protocols to much.

[carl_h_becker]

I use the Gitzo G126 with an Arca-Swiss B1 head. Total weight is 4.7

pounds. It has 4 section legs that take longer to set up but the

length is 15 inches (critical for my pack). It is stable with a

Mamiya 7. It doesn't go very high but I live with it. A kaiser

backpacker head with QR will save one pound but the Arca is super to

use. The Bogen is longer, heavier but cheaper. If weight is critical

go with a Gitzo and Kaiser head.

[darron_young2]

I use a 3001"s", the short version of the bogen 3001 for backpacking

(b&H $60). The legs are 17 3/4" and it weighs 3 3/4 lbs. I cut the

center post to 6" and drilled a hole in the side so I could hang a

stuff sack full of rocks for superb stability (only need to do when

it is windy). I had a chance to buy a 026 for $150, but still went

with 3001s. I like the 3001s, and it should be considered.

 

<p>

 

good luck

darron

[kuraoka]

I have the Gitzo 026 with a Bilora ballhead that I use for

backpacking and light travel. It is surprisingly stable considering

its weight and angle-adjustable legs, but don't count on using it

much higher than waist-level. Although it can go to eye-level for me

(I'm 5' 6"), it gets very dicey with the telescoping, 2-section

center column extended, and the last set of leg extensions are truly

puny. You might consider removing the center column entirely, since

it's wobbly enough to be almost unusable. Hanging weight on the

tripod or doing some careful body bracing if you're sitting or

kneeling helps a lot. The adjustable legs are very handy. A point in

favor of the Gitzo over the smallest Bogen is the Gitzo's smoother

profile (no lever locks). The Gitzo twist-locks can be a pain if you

try to extend or retract the legs out of sequence, but they don't

catch on brush and spin you and your pack around, and they don't come

loose when you're 70 miles from the nearest correctly-sized nut-

driver.

[d_kusko]

As the last post mentions, the tripod is good to about waist level

(about 38 in. without center column). That's where I'll have a

problem. I'm 6'3" and while carrying a pack weighing 40-55 lbs it

would be too low of a height to 'stoop' down and frame the shot. It

is also too much of a burden to constantly mount/dismount a backpack

of that size every time I want to take a shot. Therefore, shots

would be passed up. When hiking with my 'non-photography' friends on

multi-day trips, I must shoot 'on the go' to maintain a reasonable

pace. I feel that I need a 48 inch height to comfortably frame a shot

while wearing the pack. This means that I'll either be carrying more

weight than I had hoped for, or spending another $300-$400 for a

carbon fiber tripod (maybe I'll get a tax refund this year).

 

<p>

 

Thanks very much to all who responded, the answers did influence my

decision, even though a final decision hasn't been made yet.

[jason_elsworth1]

I think you will find it extremely dificult to shoot on the run with a

40-55 lb pack using a tripod, for a start how will you get the tripod

off the pack without taking the pack off. You will need to take off

the tripod, put the camera on and make the shot and put the tripod

back on the pack. Maybe you should keep your photography to the early

morning and late evening light when you are in camp (the best times

anyway and you could use a lighter pod)and shoot hand held during the

day(perhaps with a faster film) if you need to keep moving. This would

be my advice as an experienced backpacker and beginner photographer.

[bobatkins]

If you really have to shoot "on the go", you <em>might</em> want to

at least think about the Canon EF28-135 IS lens. I'm certainly not

an advocate of shooting landscapes handheld, but the IS lens will

give you two, maybe 3 stops advantage. At 28mm, that means you can

probably shoot at 1/8 handheld and expect a high percentage of shots

as sharp as if you used a tripod. You could bring a tripod for when

you really need it, but the IS lens might let you shoot fast when

you need to. It'a not cheap lens though, it will cost you almost as

much

as a carbon fiber Gitzo!

[d_kusko]

In response to Jason: I've been able to attach a tripod to the front

or bottom of the pack so there is easy access to it (I've been working

on this problem for a while). Velcro is a beautiful thing. As for

shooting in morning/evening, I do. When that pack comes off, even

just for a rest break, I start scrambling for the best shot (using a

mini tripod (Slik 450G). As for a faster film, can't do it. I

finally got consistent with the Velvia so it will probably stay. I've

carried two camera bodies with me before, one with a faster film for

occasions when handheld Velvia is useless, which is often.

 

<p>

 

In response to Bob: I'm not familiar with the lens you speak of. How

does it make it easier to get a better shot at shutter speeds that

slow. And, how heavy is it? I'm inexperienced with any of the real

good glass. My Sigma 24-70 and Tamron 80-210 lightweights are the only

EOS lenses I've used. As I've learned on the trail, if more expensive

equipment adds to the pleasure, I can just add it to what I already

owe VISA.

[bobatkins]

I'm guessing the weight of the 28-135IS is under 1lb. It has a built

in "gyroscopic" image stabilizer system which compensates for you

shaking it around hand held. It means you can shoot 2 or 3 stops

slower than you normally could and get equally sharp results. If you

assume you can get decent hand held shots at 1/30 with a 28mm lens

(many people think they can), then you could get equally sharp

shots at 1/8 with an IS lens. Some people claim to be able to hand

hold a 28mm lens at slower than 1/30 and some people claim IS gives

them more than a 2 stop advantage, so 1/8 is a conservative figure.

Price is around $500. A tripod is better, but an IS lens is

better than no tripod.

[the lone ranger]

i have the 01 tripod and man it is soo light you can carry it with your left hand or put it in your backpack w/o even noticing it. its lighter and smaller than my previous tripod which was a low end 3 lb velbon tripod. my only complaint is that it is too short for some photo opportunities that might need the height which is think is more of a problem in developed areas like gardens and cities. i like the size of it, very easy to carry around without feeling cumbersome.

[the lone ranger]

id also like to add that i don't think it makes a difference whether or not the center column is removed. i just wind it tight onto my manfrotto magnesium head and it doens't move for me. plus besides if you are in a really desperate situation and need to use the center column at least you have that option. it surely beats handholding.