KaBudokan Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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I've been planning on a new tripod purchase for a while. This will be my only tripod, so general-purpose stability is important. I do a decent amount of hiking though, so ideally I'd like something fairly lightweight and portable. Weight isn't as critical as the folded size of the tripod, as I'd like to have flexibility on how to carry the tripod.
I'll be using a recently purchased Acratech GP-S ballhead.
I'm shooting with a D600, and my main lenses are the Tokina 16-28, Nikon 24-70, and a Sigma 70-200 2.8 (hopefully a Nikon, soon... lol). I don't foresee using anything longer than the 70-200 with the tripod.
I'm 6' tall.
I was originally thinking about the Feisol 3442 as my main choice. It's rated for 22 lbs and the height seems good, and the reviews are favorable overall. The Feisol's legs will fold back over the head, so the overall folded length is about the same as the Gitzo with the head attached. I'm not a big fan of center columns, so this is a benefit.
I've also been considering the Gitzo 1542t. Currently the Gitzo is $499 - about $100 more than the Feisol. At that price point, it's not a big deal for me to go with the Gitzo, if it's a better choice. (At $650+ I wouldn't be considering it.) Gitzo obviously has the build quality and reputation behind it. It's definitely shorter w/o the center column. It's well reviewed. It can fold a bit shorter than the Feisol if I remove the ballhead. It's rated for 15.43 lbs - lower than the Feisol, but I don't know if Feisol is one of those companies that overrates their load capacities. There are plenty of reviews that mention using a pro body with a 70-200 successfully.
Just wondering if there's any definitive reason to go with one over the other, since the price right now is close enough to not be a factor? The Gitzo's on sale for a few more days.
Thanks for any feedback.
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