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.
BeeMan:
Are you defining big guns the same as a pturton (below)? I have to assume he means 300 f/2.8. Or are you going up to & including the 400 f/2.8 @ 14 lbs. What is the max you would put on the 1530/1540?
pturton wrote:
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.
"BeeMan:
Are you defining big guns the same as a pturton (below)? I have to assume he means 300 f/2.8. Or are you going up to & including the 400 f/2.8 @ 14 lbs."
Yes and no.
Big Guns = BWG (Big White Glass); 300/2.8, 400/2.8, 500/4.0 & 600/4.0.
" What is the max you would put on the 1530/1540?"
In the case of a 1530/1540, Gitzo recommends up to and through 200mm. Myself, through personal experience, feel comfortable recommending, in a light to no breeze condition, up to an through a 100-300/4.0. And (your call) in a pinch, a 100-400L IS. If in blustery conditions, then I recommend a more stable platform such as a 3530/3540.
Notice that I skip the 2530/2540 model. That's because I'm a sorta all or nothing kinda guy. I either want light weight or rock stable, but that's not a knock in the direction of the 2530/2540 legset.
jdryan3 wrote:
BeeMan:
Are you defining big guns the same as a pturton (below)? I have to assume he means 300 f/2.8. Or are you going up to & including the 400 f/2.8 @ 14 lbs. What is the max you would put on the 1530/1540?
I should have specified that by "=<300mm" I was referring to the 300 f/4 and light zooms in that range.
Below is an image of a 10D, grip attached to a BH-40LR II attached to a 1540. It's surprisingly rigid and light but ain't the best in blustery conditions: torsional forces.
To me, it's an ideal as to being a light, rigid, compact, portable tripod for your normal run of the mill, mooch, hiking, camping, travel, zoo kinda backpack purposes.
JohnJ80 wrote:
"Best: noun (usu. the best)
that which is the most excellent, outstanding, or desirable"
What the OP asked for is clear. Dynatran is not "The BEST" and I don't think they would even say that.
oh, incidentally, my purpose is not to LOOK successful and rich while taking pictures with my Gitzo tripods. My purpose IS TO BE successful and rich while taking pictures with my Gitzo tripods. If I wanted to just LOOK successful, I'd pick some cheap knockoff that looks as good but isn't - like maybe Dynatran, for instance.
BeeMan458 wrote:
In the case of a 1530/1540, Gitzo recommends up to and through 200mm. Myself, through personal experience, feel comfortable recommending, in a light to no breeze condition, up to an through a 100-300/4.0. And (your call) in a pinch, a 100-400L IS. If in blustery conditions, then I recommend a more stable platform such as a 3530/3540.
Notice that I skip the 2530/2540 model. That's because I'm a sorta all or nothing kinda guy. I either want light weight or rock stable, but that's not a knock in the direction of the 2530/2540 legset.
I would argue that all three are desirable and having to carry the 3 series around is sometimes unnecessary and a hassle for certain purposes if it does not have the center column. The way I see it everyone with a long lens should have all three types, one medium ball head, one large ball head and a Wimberley for the 400/2.8 and up. I prefer 4 sections in the 15xx, 3 sections in the 25xx and 4 again in the 35xx. Is that a strange choice?
No argument from this quarter but having all three seemed just a bit excessive to my wallet. Let's see, which tripod, ballhead and monopod combination would I like to take out on today's photo op.
"I prefer 4 sections in the 15xx, 3 sections in the 25xx and 4 again in the 35xx. Is that a strange choice?"
Not if you're a gearhead; of which I qualify. My next acquisition will be either a GM-3550 or a GM-2540 monopod; height vs weight vs stability. I'm leaning towards the 3550 as I already have the 2560T. The 2560T with BH-25Pro marries up with the 1540, sans column, for uber light weight, sweetly. Ahhhh yes, choices.
You're struggling with the notion of "Best". Just read the dictionary, it is quite straightforward. There were no qualifiers on the use of the word in the OP's request.
"Best: noun (usu. the best)
that which is the most excellent, outstanding, or desirable"
runamuck wrote:
snip . . . Sorry you can't see another tripod working for someone.
Seems like you're the guy who can't see another tripod working for someone, nor do you seem to understand the fundamental differences involved. Next time you see one of these discussions, why not just stand aside? Many of us enjoy using high-end gear, are willing to pay for it, and actually can see the results in our photos. If you're not, that's perfectly OK, but when you see the term "best" in any tripod thread, I'd think you'd have to know better by now than to Pavlov in with your standard Dynatran response. Do you also stand outside nice restaurants and taunt the patrons, picket the local Porsche dealer, buy the damaged unlabeled cans at the grocery store . . . There's nothing wrong with wanting to use nice camera gear, is there?
runamuck wrote:
I photograph as a HOBBY. Can you grasp that idea? I have no desire to turn the HOBBY into a job. Sorry you can't see another tripod working for someone.
My amateur photograhy is a HOBBY and I grasp that idea!
I'm retired, my pension is meager and my HOBBY will never be a job nor income nor work. Why do I want and purchase the BEST I can afford; because I ENJOY my HOBBY even if my images are crap by the standards of some.
One of the issues with gear is after sale service. Stuff happens, things break. Sometimes we break them.
There's a thread running on a guy who sat on his tripod - the maker sent him a new leg assembly. Free. Wow. I remember that make!
I saw a guy at Lee Vining as sunset was going spectacular. He lifted his two part tripod out of the trunk of his car. He looked at the, uh, bipod, and then the, uh, monopod - and as I glanced back during some of the shooting, his wife was holding it together as he shot.
One of the things that goes into buying is reputation. Reputation builds in a community over time. You can get a good feel about the reputation of a company and it's products with some research. There are a number of stores in the Brooklyn area that have abyssmal reputations for very good reasons.
If one researches different makers, you get a feel for how happy the customers are (or aren't). No one argues that price may not be a significant factor in many people's buying decions. But when you move past price being the most important factor, then the fact that a few people have had good luck with really cheap items doesn't negate all of the other experience, other qualitites and other factors.
One of the things Gitzo has going for it is a track record, qualified and successful local representation, the ability to quickly address parts and service problems, directly or through those reps. There are a number of tripod makers that you can't say that for. That's part of being "best."
JohnJ80 wrote:
You're struggling with the notion of "Best". Just read the dictionary, it is quite straightforward. There were no qualifiers on the use of the word in the OP's request.
"Best: noun (usu. the best)
that which is the most excellent, outstanding, or desirable"
J.
This entire thread is full of modifiers for "best" but you refuse to accept that. Meanwhile, I've had my Dynatran for over 2 years. That's longer than some of you keep your "best" gitzos.
If I could afford a Gitzo, I still wouldn't have one.
runamuck wrote:
This entire thread is full of modifiers for "best" but you refuse to accept that. Meanwhile, I've had my Dynatran for over 2 years. That's longer than some of you keep your "best" gitzos.
If I could afford a Gitzo, I still wouldn't have one.
uh huh. Go back and read the title and the request.
Enjoy your Dynatran. I'm glad you like it.
Just think if someone gave you a Gitzo, you could go and trade it for a bucket full of Dyntrans. Then you would have enough to last for a lifetime.
By the way, thought you might find this interesting, from wikipedia
"Running amok, sometimes referred to as simply amok (also spelled amuck or amuk), is derived from the Malay word amuk, meaning "mad with rage" (uncontrollable rage). Although commonly used in a colloquial and less-violent sense, the phrase is particularly associated with a specific sociopathic culture-bound syndrome in Malaysian culture."
dcains wrote:
Why not? I drive Alfa's, but if I could afford Ferrari's, that's what I'd have.
Having money and buying something are different issues. I wouldn't want a Ferrari or an "Alfa" (not sure what that is in US market equivalent) for free.
I do appreciate your vociferous defense of Dynatran. You have your opinions and you should feel free to express them even if almost everyone disagrees. In this threat, however, your comments do seem particularly out of place. Even if you believe in some sense the Dynatran's are the "best" surely you recognize recommending a Dynatran when the OP is asking about the best CARBON FIBER tripod is pretty far off base. The Dynatran you have is not carbon fiber and is about as far from it as you can get in a tripod given that it weighs so much. Even a Dynatran fan must recognize it is not the tripod for this OP.
Best wishes,
Steve
runamuck wrote:
This entire thread is full of modifiers for "best" but you refuse to accept that. Meanwhile, I've had my Dynatran for over 2 years. That's longer than some of you keep your "best" gitzos.
If I could afford a Gitzo, I still wouldn't have one.
Let's see, which tripod, ballhead and monopod combination would I like to take out on today's photo op. 
Then you would have enough to last for a lifetime.