Another Tripod Thread

Jelster

Jelster

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I already have a couple of tripods, but with the wife also starting to use one of the bodies, I'm looking for a new "travel" CF tripod.

It will generally have an X-T1 or T2 with 10-24 or 14 f1.4 attached. However, I may also use it for wildlife with my 100-400 (plus 1.4TC), so it will need to take a little bit of weight from time to time. I'll also be looking for a new head, I already have a 3 way & a ball head, but for landscape I'm thinking of potentially looking at a geared head.

I've been considering the Manfrotto 190 Go, at 1.3Kg the weight is tolerable, combined with the XPRO Geared Three-way pan/tilt tripod head. That set up will be around £400.00, and I was hoping to spend a bit less if possible, as I still need a couple of new filters and possible another lens for the Mrs before I go.

It doesn't need to be particularly tall, I'm off to Mull in the summer and it's more important that I can carry the weight on a backpack than the physical size. I've always run with Manfrotto, but am open to suggestion of other makes, as long as it will take my existing heads, as I like to be able to move them about.
 
Not so sure a geared head is ideal for portability either size or weight wise.

For the tripod I am in the Gitzo camp, you could probably get one that would do all you need including your existing two
 
I can't comment on that head as I have not used one! For what it's worth my "Travel" tripod head is the Triopo RS3 ball head. They are pretty cheap and light but you do need to factor in the cost of an aftermarket QR clamp - £10 or so. I should say that the RS3 is complete overkill for what you (or I) need but it is cheap and light so who cares? No a 600 F4 L IS or 800 F5.6 L IS does not challenge it!

Gitzo Traveller tripods can, sometimes, be picked up quite cheap on the used market. They are hideously expensive new but I picked up a Gitzo GT1550T for £140 on FleaBay about 18 months ago. Compared to my other tripods this stupid spindly thing looks ridiculous! However it does a rather good job considering it's small size/weight and number of leg sections.

I am a great believer in buying top quality tripods - but I don't like spending money! Even my most expensive tripod (Gitzo GT4542LS bought new) was less than the 190 and XPRO head that you quote.

If you have some time to decide then hunt around FleaBay and Camera shops - my VERY best Gitzo deals have been from Gitzo high street retailers!

There are a plethora of alternatives these days in the "Travel" tripod market, but I have found few, if any, that are really up to the job - hence my recommendation of Gitzo tripods. There is, however, one exception that I have encountered - namely the Feisol Tournament tripods. Two friends of mine have these (3342 and 3442) and they are surprisingly rigid and very light. They are not, strictly speaking, Traveller tripods but the 3442 folds nice and short and the legs will fold back over the head. They are very rigid for their price too - oh yes check out their weight too!

Have a look here:

http://www.feisoleurope.com/rapid-tripods-tournament-tripods-c-1_14.html

They are a great alternative to a used Gitzo.
 
I don't have much experience with the small travel type tripods... but IME the Vanguard line is as good as the Manfrotto for less money. And I would suggest you avoid the XPro geared head (it's plastic junk IMO). Maybe look at the Alta Pro 264AB 100... Similar specs to the Manfrotto, cheaper, and includes a fairly decent ballhead.
 
johnf3f said:
There are a plethora of alternatives these days in the "Travel" tripod market, but I have found few, if any, that are really up to the job - hence my recommendation of Gitzo tripods. There is, however, one exception that I have encountered - namely the Feisol Tournament tripods. Two friends of mine have these (3342 and 3442) and they are surprisingly rigid and very light. They are not, strictly speaking, Traveller tripods but the 3442 folds nice and short and the legs will fold back over the head. They are very rigid for their price too - oh yes check out their weight too!

Have a look here:

http://www.feisoleurope.com/rapid-tripods-tournament-tripods-c-1_14.html

They are a great alternative to a used Gitzo.
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I considered the CT3442 when looking for a new tripod, might have bought it if they had been in stock.
Saw a recent thread concerning Feisol and warranty repairs, admittedly part of the problem arose because they no longer have a UK distributor. More concerning was the design fault/weak materials that caused the problem, these sorts of things put me off the far east Gitzo clones
 
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tijuana taxi said:
these sorts of things put me off the far east Gitzo clones
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It's not like Gitzos can't/don't break. IME Gitzo service isn't particularly great, and the warranty isn't like it used to be before Manfrotto took over.
I'm not knocking Gitzo as such, I've owned many over the years... just trying to keep things in perspective. I've also owned a Benro for about a decade with no issues.
 
sk66 said:
It's not like Gitzos can't/don't break. IME Gitzo service isn't particularly great, and the warranty isn't like it used to be before Manfrotto took over.
I'm not knocking Gitzo as such, I've owned many over the years... just trying to keep things in perspective. I've also owned a Benro for about a decade with no issues.
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I agree they can and do break, but having a UK presence to deal with is a good start unlike Feisol here https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/feisol-tripod.652082/

Also have to say when I needed a Gitzo spare part it was a simple process, one phone call and delivered next day. Admittedly it was a paid for item (I lost the original) still good service though

Surprised you are not keen on Manfrotto, always found them to be excellent and seven years warranty isn't that bad albeit not limited lifetime as it was before
 
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I like the Manfrotto 190 Series when travelling. It fits in my case and can take the weight of my gear. I like the option of using the centre column horizontally and very low. Good for taking pics off some bridges, rathe than trying to shoot over, which it may not be tall enough to do, I can use it quite low on the wall/barrier of the bridge.

I recently left my Tripod on a boat in Venice :rolleyes: never to be seen again. :( I have replaced it with the 190 Go as I found the locking clamps too large on the new version comparable to what I had before. The clamps seem massive, and I felt they may have impeded the stability when the Tripod was low with the legs splayed out.

It will be slightly smaller when set up, but slightly smaller when compacted and a bit lighter too. I like the choice so far. :)
 
tijuana taxi said:
I agree they can and do break, but having a UK presence to deal with is a good start unlike Feisol here https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/feisol-tripod.652082/

Also have to say when I needed a Gitzo spare part it was a simple process, one phone call and delivered next day. Admittedly it was a paid for item (I lost the original) still good service though

Surprised you are not keen on Manfrotto, always found them to be excellent and seven years warranty isn't that bad albeit not limited lifetime as it was before
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I don't really have an issue with Manfrotto/Gitzo/Bogen as a company... nor their products really (although I hate the proprietary plates). But I'm not as keen on Gitzo as I once was... competition is tight with some brands, especially considering the potential cost differences. And here in the states it's a 2yr warranty (as long as they don't decide you have misused it)... the extended warranty only includes defective parts, everything else is on you (shipping/labor/etc).
 
Happy new toy! Very fair price too!
 
tijuana taxi said:
It will, don't you worry :)

Still got another one for sale should anyone be looking for a reasonably priced Gitzo
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I couldn't find it in the Classifieds. What are you selling? I am fully kitted out tripod wise but I can ask about for you - there are a few locals who could do with a Gitzo!
 
johnf3f said:
I couldn't find it in the Classifieds. What are you selling? I am fully kitted out tripod wise but I can ask about for you - there are a few locals who could do with a Gitzo!
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Thanks, but its sold now and archived, it was also advertised on another forum and it went there
 
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