The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

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Motorman
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p.1 #1 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

No such animal? I would like to buy one tripod and only once. Carbon fiber would be nice. It would be used for macro photography and general landscape photography and will be carried everywhere, including hikes.
Also, what type of head would you recommend. I did see the current discussion on tripod for macro photography. Interesting, but we're not quite into it that far, yet!

As always, thanks to everyone for your help.

Motorman

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 01, 2007 at 08:38 PM

pturton
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p.1 #2 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

For lenses 300mm or less the Gitzo GT2530 (or GT2540) at 3.2 lbs works well for me with a Really Right Stuff BH-55. I chose the BH-55 over the BH-40 for occasional use on another legset that requires the larger diameter of this head. The RRS BH-40 + GT2530 would give you a solid mount for most uses =< 300mm including macro.

The Gitzo Explorer series may better suit your needs for macro work.

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 01, 2007 at 09:34 PM

Mario Moschel
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p.1 #3 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

Gitzo or their chinese copies from BENRO (not half as cheap as Gitzo and absolutely the same quality!!!)..
Mario

EDIT: This is just for the Aluminium models, I compared a A-128 from Benro and an older Gitzo Tatalux Weekend, and the quality is really the same.

I didn't compare carbon models!

Edited by Mario Moschel on Dec 02, 2007 at 12:03 PM GMT

Edited by Mario Moschel on Dec 09, 2007 at 08:47 AM GMT

Edited by Mario Moschel on Dec 10, 2007 at 07:31 AM GMT

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 01, 2007 at 10:06 PM

dcains
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p.1 #4 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

Mario Moschel wrote:
Gitzo or their chinese copies from BENRO (not half as cheap as Gitzo and absolutely the same quality!!!)..
Mario

Yes, "absolutely the same quality" . . . Really

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 01, 2007 at 10:48 PM

capt don
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p.1 #5 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

I'm a little bit different, got a velbon 540 carbon fiber. Good quality, light and resonable price for a tripod that steps you into a more expensive level.

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 01, 2007 at 10:55 PM

roberto1979
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p.1 #6 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

The BEST would be Gitzo, hands down. And I'm not talking about the best in a certain price range. They are the best, but expect to pay for it. A tripod should last forever, and I full expect my 2541L to do just that. Superbly made, light, and very strong.

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 01, 2007 at 11:55 PM

sjms
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p.1 #7 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

the best overall quality tripod would ba a gitzo as a brand.

there are other brands that do the job too but none of those has that overal quality of finish.

Edited by sjms on Dec 01, 2007 at 07:10 PM GMT

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 12:05 AM

sjms
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p.1 #8 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

dcains wrote:
Mario Moschel wrote:
Gitzo or their chinese copies from BENRO (not half as cheap as Gitzo and absolutely the same quality!!!)..
Mario

Yes, "absolutely the same quality" . . . Really

oh my God i'm about to agree with mr cains.

i'm afraid this individual has been off his medication too long

they may look somewhat similiar in appearance but in the materials they are far from equal.

honestly i just kinda think someone here is just trying to stir the pot a little and get a rise out of some of us.

for macro the GT2530EX or the GT2540EX bar none the most versatile legsets around.

i own a GT2540EX set and a Feisol CT3371 legset

Edited by sjms on Dec 01, 2007 at 07:43 PM GMT

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 12:09 AM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #9 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

Hi Motorman,

For macro the explorer series from Gitzo are very nice. They allow a great variety in positioning the center column, but they are less useful for general landscapes for which I think the basic Gitzos are better. I hope this helps.

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 12:41 AM

BeeMan458
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p.1 #10 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

"No such animal? I would like to buy one tripod and only once."

In the short, it's a two tripod world with three ballheads to compliment the legsets. And that's, my opinion, minimum, in order to meet your post heading: "The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod"

"ALL" pods are a compromise. The question is how much are you willing to compromise and in what direction; left, center or right.

Portable? 1540T. A specialty pod.

Light? 1530/1540.

Middle-ground? 2530/2540, but neither light nor able to handle the big stuff in the wind.

Stable? 3530/3540, able to handle the big guns and blustery wind conditions.

My choices are the 1540 and a 1325 as I haven't upgraded to a 3540.

Which way to go will depend on the depth of your pocketbook, how much of a gearhead you are and what your various needs are going be, both now and two/three years into the future.

Ballheads? Best left to a separate thread so things won't get muddled together. The short version, Arca-Swiss is must have for the interchangeability of the adapter plates. RRS is the gold standard in this arena of many.

The popular recommendations: RRS (ReallyRightStuff): BH-25Pro, BH-40LR II, BH-55 LR, Kirk: BH-3, Markins: Q3, M10, M20L and the Bogen/Manfrotto 468MG with a RRS lever clamp attached. My current choices, BH-25Pro, BH-40LR II and a Bogen/Manfrotto 468MG w/RRS lever clamp. Others, I'm sure, will chime in with their recommendations in this regard.

Uber light? BH-25Pro; specialty ballhead as it has no panning base function.

Light? Markins Q3, M10, RRS BH-40LR II, Kirk BH-3.

Heavy? Markins M20L, RRS BH-55 LR, Bogen/Manfrotto 468MG w/RRS lever clamp, Kirk BH-1.

For Arca-Swiss adapter plates, it's Kirk and RRS with RRS getting the go-ahead nod. A must have is the RRS L-bracket.

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 01:21 AM

dcains
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p.1 #11 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

sjms wrote:
dcains wrote:
Mario Moschel wrote:
Gitzo or their chinese copies from BENRO (not half as cheap as Gitzo and absolutely the same quality!!!)..
Mario

Yes, "absolutely the same quality" . . . Really

oh my God i'm about to agree with mr cains.

for macro the GT2530EX or the GT2540EX bar none the most versatile legsets around.

i own a GT2540EX set and a Feisol CT3371 legset

Edited by sjms on Dec 01, 2007 at 07:43 PM GMT
It was bound to happen, sooner or later, but let's not make a habit of it

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 02:42 AM

larry6
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p.1 #12 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

Hi Beeman,

I'm planing to buy

1550 as tripod with the G 1278 M ballhead
GM 2540 monopod especially for sports

is the 15xx serie realy "to light" for my kind of stuff (1DMKIIn with 24-70 for example )? I should move to 25xx or 35xx serie

You don't like Gitzo Ballhead ?

thx for your help
Larry

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 10:19 AM

Mario Moschel
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p.1 #13 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

dcains wrote:
sjms wrote:
dcains wrote:
Mario Moschel wrote:
Gitzo or their chinese copies from BENRO (not half as cheap as Gitzo and absolutely the same quality!!!)..
Mario

Yes, "absolutely the same quality" . . . Really

oh my God i'm about to agree with mr cains.

Thanks!!

What do you guys talking about? Did you ever see or use a Benro from the new series? I own two Gitzos and now two Benros. The A-series models from Benro (aluminium) are absolutely equal to the old Gitzos ins stability and reliability.

Mario

Edited by Mario Moschel on Dec 10, 2007 at 06:26 PM GMT

Edited by Mario Moschel on Dec 10, 2007 at 06:26 PM GMT

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 10:53 AM

Lars Johnsson
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p.1 #14 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

Mario Moschel wrote:

What do you guys talking about? Did you ever see or use a Benro from the new series? I own two Gitzos and now two Benros. The A-series models from Benro (aluminium) are absolutely equal to the old Gitzos ins stability and reliability.

Mario

Yes I see a lot of Benro tripods. It's the most common brand in Thailand where I stay a lot.
I don't think it's the same quality as Gitzo. And even if you think the A-series are the same quality. He asked for the best Carbon Fiber Tripod. Not aluminium tripods.

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 11:09 AM

Mario Moschel
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p.1 #15 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

Lars Johnsson wrote:
Mario Moschel wrote:

What do you guys talking about? Did you ever see or use a Benro from the new series? I own two Gitzos and now two Benros. The A-series models from Benro (aluminium) are absolutely equal to the old Gitzos ins stability and reliability.

Mario

Yes I see a lot of Benro tripods. It's the most common brand in Thailand where I stay a lot.
I don't think it's the same quality as Gitzo. And even if you think the A-series are the same quality. He asked for the best Carbon Fiber Tripod. Not aluminium tripods.

OK, you could be right, I really don't know about the quality of Benro's carbon models, I just compared the aluminium models.

Sorry for the hassle.

Mario

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 11:16 AM

Lars Johnsson
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p.1 #16 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

You can't really have only one tripod for everything. But one of these tripods will cover most of your shooting.

Gitzo GT2530 or 2540

or the EX versions
GT2530EX or 2540EX

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 11:18 AM

johnnydanger
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p.1 #17 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

I haven't used the Gitzo Carbons, but I have experience with the Slik Carbon Fiber pods and they work fine for me. They make a 3 section and 4 section version too (shorter length when compressed, and slightly less height).

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 11:29 AM

jamesf99
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p.1 #18 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

Mario Moschel wrote:
Gitzo or their chinese copies from BENRO (not half as cheap as Gitzo and absolutely the same quality!!!)..
Mario

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 11:57 AM

runamuck
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p.1 #19 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

Keep it up, fellas! I'm laughing my arse off over here. Meanwhile, my Dynatran just keeps on holding up the camera the way I want it to.

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 04:53 PM

kdphotography
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p.1 #20 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

The absolute best CF tripod--------is the one that works for your set-up.

And just right in time for Christmas, everyone needs a new tripod and head. I wish that there really were such a thing as a single tripod that could do it all-----but I still find myself having several tripods and head combinations as being the best evil solution.

Don't buy on name alone! Gitzo is "good" but don't buy a tripod without trying it out! A great solution for my medium format digital setup has been the Giottos MT8170----it is a three section CF tripod. Well-designed and well-made. Incredible features. Also worked quite well with Canon 5D and Canon 300mm f/2.8 IS.

Edited by kdphotography on Dec 02, 2007 at 11:07 AM GMT

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 05:02 PM

BeeMan458
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p.1 #21 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

"Hi Beeman,"

Hi Larrry.

"1550 as tripod with the G 1278 M ballhead"

Is that a 1550T

http://tinyurl.com/2zoek7

If so, the traveler series is a personal choice thingy as they're light weight and compact, which compromise their stability. I went with the 1540 as the traveler series was too much of a compromise for my tastes. Doesn't mean they won't work for someone else, as they do, it's just that they don't serve my purposes.

As to the ballhead, I wanted both Arca-Swiss compatibility and lighter weight, so I went with the RRS line: BH-25Pro and BH-40LR II. Others go with the Markins line such as their Q3, an alternative in this class and weight.

"GM 2540 monopod especially for sports"

The 2540, my opinion, is a tweener legset, which tries to be all things. If one wants to do just one legset, this is the legset to go with but to me it lacks the robustness one might want for the sidelines should they decide to step up to big glass.

"is the 15xx series really "to light" for my kind of stuff (1DMKIIn with 24-70 for example )? I should move to 25xx or 35xx series."

The 15xx and your gear would be an excellent match. The only downside to the 15xx series is that even although surprisingly rigid, they don't handle torsional forces (wind) well. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable hanging out on a sideline with anything less than a 35xx series but that's a personal choice as opposed to a need requirement. When it comes to sideline sports, if you can't play rugby with it, it's not the proper legset of choice.

"You don't like Gitzo Ballhead ?"

It's not a matter of dislike as opposed to serving one's needs. It's Gitzo's QR plate system vs the universal appeal of Arca-Swiss plates such as one would find with RRS, Markins, Arca-Swiss, Kirk, AcraTech and the many other manufactures who support A-S plate design. Eventually, everybody comes to a similar conclusion and that is, it's a RRS (or Kirk) L-bracket world that we live in.

And that requires an A-S compatible clamp.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/rrs/Itemdesc.asp?ic=B1DMkIII%2DL&eq=&Tp=

"thx for your help"

Hope the above helps.

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 05:36 PM

DIS Ottawa
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p.1 #22 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

Just to muddy the waters a bit, I use the Induro C214 carbon fibre tripod. Reasonably priced for carbon fibre and comes with a nice case, carrying strap and tool to tighten.

It holds my 5D with a 100-400mm lens in a strong wind without problem. I use a Benro BH-2 ball head and this set up I take hiking and use for just about everything. Total price: $350.

The Gitzos are nice, no question, but expensive. The Induro line is worth looking at, at least. Michael Reichman at Luminour Landscape reviewed an Induro tripod and quite liked it.

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 05:56 PM

jamesf99
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p.1 #23 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

DIS Ottawa wrote:
Just to muddy the waters a bit, I use the Induro C214 carbon fibre tripod. Reasonably priced for carbon fibre and comes with a nice case, carrying strap and tool to tighten.

It holds my 5D with a 100-400mm lens in a strong wind without problem. I use a Benro BH-2 ball head and this set up I take hiking and use for just about everything. Total price: $350.

The Gitzos are nice, no question, but expensive. The Induro line is worth looking at, at least. Michael Reichman at Luminour Landscape reviewed an Induro tripod and quite liked it.

In case anyone doesn't know, Induro = Benro with a different sticker. The MAC group (the Mamiya, Profoto, Pocket Wizard, etc. distributors) wanted to find a low priced tripod line (which Benro used to be) so they could get in on the action. The thing that I, and many others, have found disconcerting about Benro/Induro is that they charge almost as much as Gitzo, yet don't provide either the quality or the specs. If you do a weight bearing vs. tripod weight comarison, you'll be disappointed. The looks of the tripod on the outside do not equal the engineering or manufacturing quality on the inside. They're ball heads are a sham,,,

It's understandable that people want to save some money and so this topic comes up frequently. I think a search on these forums is worth while as it will turn up a lot of information that should make people pause before shelling out money for a Benro. Again, Induro is NO different than Benro, irrespective of the name/sticker or what the MAC guys tell you.....

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 02, 2007 at 11:55 PM

dcains
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p.1 #24 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

runamuck wrote:
Keep it up, fellas! I'm laughing my arse off over here. Meanwhile, my Dynatran just keeps on holding up the camera the way I want it to.

That's OK, because we're not laughing with you, we're laughing at you. To ever use the terms "Dynatran" and "Best" in close proximity is a non sequitur of the highest order

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 03, 2007 at 12:08 AM

DIS Ottawa
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p.1 #25 · The BEST Carbon Fiber Tripod

James wrote:

In case anyone doesn't know, Induro = Benro with a different sticker. The MAC group (the Mamiya, Profoto, Pocket Wizard, etc. distributors) wanted to find a low priced tripod line (which Benro used to be) so they could get in on the action. The thing that I, and many others, have found disconcerting about Benro/Induro is that they charge almost as much as Gitzo, yet don't provide either the quality or the specs. If you do a weight bearing vs. tripod weight comarison, you'll be disappointed. The looks of the tripod on the outside do not equal the engineering or manufacturing quality on the inside. They're ball heads are a sham,,,

It's understandable that people want to save some money and so this topic comes up frequently. I think a search on these forums is worth while as it will turn up a lot of information that should make people pause before shelling out money for a Benro. Again, Induro is NO different than Benro, irrespective of the name/sticker or what the MAC guys tell you.....

James,

What's the problem with either Benro or Induro? Mine cost $350 (on sale) and will hold 8kg. Granted, I've only had it about 6 months but so far it's working flawlessly. I don't know anything about MAC but here Induro is distributed by Gnigami.

Gitzo may hold more for the same weight but they're also $800 and most amateurs can't afford that. As an earlier poster said, the best tripod is the one that works for you.

Edited on Dec 16, 2007 at 02:58 AM

Dec 03, 2007 at 12:59 AM


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