Hi - I'm looking to get a new, lighter weight tripod that I'll actually use. My aluminum Manfrotto is too heavy for anything but indoors or around the yard shooting. There are so many options out there. I'm looking at Induros, or Gitzos, although cost is a factor. I'm female, 5'6", and looking for lightweight stability for landscapes and some wildlife shooting. I rarely try for BIF, so that's not a concern. Has anyone tried these Gitzo Traveler series? My camera is a Canon 1D4, but my longest lens at this time is the 100-400. I could use this with longer, rental lenses in the future. I'd like to be able to travel (air and car) with this pod, too. (Just giving you some detail so you can better help.....) I was looking at this one:
You'll get a lot of good advice.
Reading similar threads, many are fond of the Feisol tripods without the optional center column. There is a variety of weight/stability/size but good quality for the price. The advertised gitzo rebate does make it more attractive.
I will secon the Fiesol. Mine is great for how I use it. I have no ideal how it would hold up to some of the high dollar ones, but it is the equivalent of my Manafretto aluminum.
Best wishes
Feisol CT-3X72. X indicates number of sections. Under 4 pounds. Mate it to a Photo Clam ballhead with about a 50MM ball and you are in business with pretty much any lens you want.
A traveler series tripod will be too light for the 100-400 IMHO. It will work for smaller, lighter lenses.
Sharona wrote:
Hi - I'm looking to get a new, lighter weight tripod that I'll actually use. My aluminum Manfrotto is too heavy for anything but indoors or around the yard shooting. There are so many options out there. I'm looking at Induros, or Gitzos, although cost is a factor. I'm female, 5'6", and looking for lightweight stability for landscapes and some wildlife shooting. I rarely try for BIF, so that's not a concern. Has anyone tried these Gitzo Traveler series? My camera is a Canon 1D4, but my longest lens at this time is the 100-400. I could use this with longer, rental lenses in the future. I'd like to be able to travel (air and car) with this pod, too. (Just giving you some detail so you can better help.....) I was looking at this one:
Any and all advice would be much appreciated! Thank you ...Show more →
Hello Sharona,
You have already received some good information. My experience is with the Feisol 3442 legset, topped with either a photoclam pc40N or Acratech ultimate ballhead. I also have the 100-400 zoom, too, so I am speaking from experience. The Feisol 3442 is a four section, light tripod, suitable for traveling. It will fit in a small suitcase for air travel The standard configuration is no center column and that will be more than enough for someone your height. With a suitable ball head, you can fold the legs back over the ball head and the whole set up takes about 18-19" of space.
Generally speaking, it is very stable, exemplary even, but it will not hold the 100-400 steady in a high wind. You will notice some vibration, depending on how exposed your setup is. Smaller lens will be less problematic in windy conditions but a strong enough wind will affect any tripod and ball head. On the positive side I regularly use the 100-400 on this tripod with good success.
I can enthusiastically recommend this leg set for just the purposes you specified. To avoid disappointment, you should review your ballhead and ballhead-to-camera mounting plate for suitability. This plate is often a source of problem for Manfrotto tripods. I recommend a ballhead with an Arca Swiss style clamp and a mounting plate made specifically for your camera model by Kirk enterprises or Really Right Stuff. Photoclam is the cheapest decent head I know of but there are many good ones for but a little more. The Feisol 3442 has another little trick: If your ball head is designed to fit, the tripod legs can be folded back over the head which allows for a very compact travel setup.
Do not skimp on the mounting plate. The custom plates are held to the bottom of you camera by a single screw. However, unlike in the Manfrotto design, they cannot rotate. This is a key failure point. With the Manfrotto design everything is solid but the camera wiggles and twists on the ball head.
runamuck wrote:
Feisol CT-3X72. X indicates number of sections. Under 4 pounds. Mate it to a Photo Clam ballhead with about a 50MM ball and you are in business with pretty much any lens you want.
A traveler series tripod will be too light for the 100-400 IMHO. It will work for smaller, lighter lenses.
+1
I have a Benro Travel Angel and love it - but its not for long/heavy lenses especially in windy conditions.
Hey, thanks everyone. I'm glad I asked. That's a lot of money to spend on a tripod that won't support the 100-400, although I wouldn't be using it with that lens without holding on to it. I'll look into the Feisol pods. Anyone use the Induro tripods or have experience with them?
Sharona wrote:
Anyone use the Induro tripods or have experience with them?
Induro is an upmarket brand for the US market of what are basically Benro tripods and accessories. You're better off buying a Benro directly from mainland China, there will be a direct Benro equivalent of whichever Induro model you fancy at a lower price. Benro tripods are pretty good for what they cost as are the Feisols which come from Taiwan.
forgot to say I bought a used gitzo 1325 for something like $325 (I recall) and love it. It may be too heavy and long for you, but once you decide on a tripod or two, consider searching for last years model used. I pack mine in check-in luggage as my carry on is filled with glass.
Thank you all for the input. Interesting on the Induro; it came highly recommended to me.
On the Feisol a couple of you recommend, on B&H it says its height max is 4-foot something? Am I reading that correctly?
I may also look around for a used Gitzo. All good information and I really appreciate the help. (Although I am still without a set decision on a tripod!)
Sharona wrote:
On the Feisol a couple of you recommend, on B&H it says its height max is 4-foot something? Am I reading that correctly?
If so i must have shrunk a foot or two from my previous 5ft 10. With a ballhead my 3442 puts the camera just below eye level. And thats without the centre column fitted.
Sharona wrote:
Thank you all for the input. Interesting on the Induro; it came highly recommended to me.
On the Feisol a couple of you recommend, on B&H it says its height max is 4-foot something? Am I reading that correctly?
I may also look around for a used Gitzo. All good information and I really appreciate the help. (Although I am still without a set decision on a tripod!)
Sharon
Yes you read that right. I think the Feisol 3442 max height without the center column is about 54 inches. Consider that a ball head will add about 6 inches and the camera maybe another 5 in, giving a useful eye-height of about 63 inches. I am just a bit more than 6 foot tall and I find that height to be satisfactory without adding the center column.
this is what I have for traveling, light weight, compact, not bad at all, the ball head is sturdy, I have not extended use it with my bigger lenses, I did put my 300/2.8 VR2 and D4 (testing purpose, always handheld this combo) on it, it holds up decently and sturdy.
Sharona, height matters in a tripod. Sometimes you wan tto shoot above a certain item. Sometimes you are on a slope and need to deploy one leg more than the others and still retain a good overall height.
For your use, a centre column will just not give you the rigidity you seek. Hence the Gitzo Systematic tripods. The Series III is recommended for tele lenses from 300mm to 500mm. I have the 3542XLS, the tallest one, and have met times when it needed deploying to full height, but there are less tall ones.
Gitzo are not cheap, but, if they weren't offering anything extra for that extra price, they would be long out of business. Buy a Gitzo and it will last.
Then you need to consider a good ballhead, else having a godo tripod will be for nought.
Sharona wrote:
Has anyone tried these Gitzo Traveler series? My camera is a Canon 1D4, but my longest lens at this time is the 100-400. I could use this with longer, rental lenses in the future. I'd like to be able to travel (air and car) with this pod, too.
I have a Gitzo Traveler (GT1542T) and I would not recommend it for use with a 100-400mm. I can get away with a 70-200mm f/4 on it, but only with the center column all the way down or if there's absolutely no wind. The upside is that it's extremely compact and super easy to travel with, but for your purposes I think you would be far better off with something much heavier duty.
