sjms wrote:
i advise the feisol 3342 at $309 over the 3441 at $299.
advantages
1- machined alloy components of a higher grade of Aluminum alloy over forged parts. a better grade and finish of CF tubing
2- interchangable centerpost if wanted or leveling half ball base or just plain old flat plate
3- Max Height
without column
54.3"
4- Folded Length
48cm / 18.9 in
5- Wgt
2.31lbs
6- capacity 22lbs
it is a considerably more robust model and worth the extra few ounces and inches
That's definitely a possibility but I think you meant the 3442.
Some people have commented that the trade off with the Feisol have to do with the way the legs lock vs. lets say the Manfrotto tripods. Can someone elaborate? Out of curiosity, which mechanism does the Gitzo use on the legs?
the 3442 is the 4 leg version of the Tournament series. The 3342 is the 3 leg-tube version.
I have the 3342.
the Feisol's use the standard rotating collar but the legs are free to rotate. the new Gitzo's have the collar but legs will not rotate (the ALR feature). Many of the Manfrotto's have small lever locks.
howardm4 wrote:
the 3442 is the 4 leg version of the Tournament series. The 3342 is the 3 leg-tube version.
I have the 3342.
the Feisol's use the standard rotating collar but the legs are free to rotate. the new Gitzo's have the collar but legs will not rotate (the ALR feature). Many of the Manfrotto's have small lever locks.
The reason I am looking at the 3442 is that it folds up smaller and thus is my compromise between an everyday and travel tripod. I can only buy one at this time.
Is the 3442 a good choice or is there another suggestion based on what I've stated as my needs for a tripod?
sjms wrote:
i advise the feisol 3342 at $309 over the 3441 at $299.
advantages
1- machined alloy components of a higher grade of Aluminum alloy over forged parts. a better grade and finish of CF tubing
2- interchangable centerpost if wanted or leveling half ball base or just plain old flat plate
3- Max Height
without column
54.3"
4- Folded Length
48cm / 18.9 in
5- Wgt
2.31lbs
6- capacity 22lbs
it is a considerably more robust model and worth the extra few ounces and inches
Am I seeing something wrong? Your specs are totally different from this website
I just bought the Feisol 3442 with leveling base specifically for mostly landscape work. I ordered it last week and it arrived on Tuesday. It's pretty sturdy, I am short and use a right angle viewfinder, so I can set it up using only the top 3 sections extended. This configuration is very sturdy. I haven't used it in the field yet but plan to this coming week.
I have a Feisol monopod and like it a lot. I use RRS level clamps on all my pods. I also have a Majestic studio pod and head for indoor use (as it weighs a ton!).
surfing girl wrote:
I just bought the Feisol 3442 with leveling base specifically for mostly landscape work. I ordered it last week and it arrived on Tuesday. It's pretty sturdy, I am short and use a right angle viewfinder, so I can set it up using only the top 3 sections extended. This configuration is very sturdy. I haven't used it in the field yet but plan to this coming week.
I have a Feisol monopod and like it a lot. I use RRS level clamps on all my pods. I also have a Majestic studio pod and head for indoor use (as it weighs a ton!)....Show more →
Like me you are short. Do you have the center column? What do you think of this tripod for travel? Does it fold up small enough? I know there is the travel version but I don't travel that much and others have said that the 3442 is a bit sturdier for "everyday" use. As I posted, I think the 3442 is my compromise.
I am planning on purchasing a Markins Q3 ball head. What are level clamps?
My equipment is as follows:
Canon DSLR XSI
Kit Lens (18-55)
I'm planning on getting the Canon 17-55 eventually and some type of zoom lens like a 55-200 or 300
Fitmiss wrote:
What do you think of this tripod for travel? Does it fold up small enough?
I travel, hike, climb with mine. Folds up small enough to fit in most of my packs. Definitely small enough that i can strap it to the outside of the pack, and forget it is there. For me, it's just about the right compromise between size and strength. I use a Kirk BH-3, and it is small enough that I can reverse fold the legs over the ballhead.
Fitmiss wrote:
What are level clamps?
RRS level clamps allow you to swivel the camera on the level. With a normal tripod/ballhead setup, unless the baseplate on the tripod is perfectly level, the swivel won't be exactly level. Useful, but also pricey.
You can also use a level base. It's a device that sits between the baseplate on the tripod and a ballhead. It levels the ballhead. This is especially important if you want to do panos; it allows the head to rotate on the level. The advantage here is that you don't have to have a separate clamp for each ballhead.
This thread documents the difficulty that these Gitzo customers had when they needed service. This is what we call anecdotal evidence, but that is what these fora are good for. Read it and draw your own conclusions. I have had excellent service from Feisol and my 3401. If you are a pro who needs the ultimate, you might be better off with a Gitzo, but I doubt it.
And BTW this thread goes on and on, this is just a sample.
_____ topic/611501/0 starts here ____________
Total Posts: 978
Country: United States
[Post icon] Gitzo might be the best but........
Rate:
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Gitzo might be the best tripods around but if you need parts your pretty much screwed trying to email them not to mention poor phone service and long distance charges
How could these people miss this for months
Hello,
Unfortunately, we just found out that there was a problem with Gitzo website. In the last month, all the e-mails received through the on line form at WWW.GITZO.COM have not been forwarded to the Bogen helpdesk. The system has now been repaired.
We apologize for this inconvenience. Parts are available for almost anything we sell here at Bogen Imaging. We don't yet have an on-line parts purchasing option, so until then we request that you call our Parts Department at (201)818-9500 x 244 during our business hours of 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM eastern standard time, or by email at [email protected].
Regards,
Kevin V. Lackey
Technical Operations Supervisor [email protected]
Feb 01, 2008 at 05:15 PM
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jhom
Online
Buy and Sell: On
Registered: Dec 31, 2004
Total Posts: 2769
Country: United States
[Post icon] Gitzo might be the best but........
Exactly my experience. I sent them an email for a part. No answer. I assume it was part of their crappy customer service. The excuse that the online form was defective may be true. But, it has been impossible to get someone to answer the phone. EVERYTIME I called, I would get voice mail. So, I don't think I would just blame a faulty email link. I think it is PISS POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Despite the piss poor customer service (it seems to have improved some recently), I would not trade my Gitzos for another brand (at least for now). Each time I use them (now more then before with other tripods brands) I am impressed with their quality. I don't leave home without them.
Fitmiss wrote:
Like me you are short. Do you have the center column? What do you think of this tripod for travel? Does it fold up small enough? I know there is the travel version but I don't travel that much and others have said that the 3442 is a bit sturdier for "everyday" use. As I posted, I think the 3442 is my compromise.
I am planning on purchasing a Markins Q3 ball head. What are level clamps?
My equipment is as follows:
Canon DSLR XSI
Kit Lens (18-55)
I'm planning on getting the Canon 17-55 eventually and some type of zoom lens like a 55-200 or 300
Hello! I don't have the center column, but you can certainly get it. I opted for the leveling base without using a ball head and I just put my RRS lever clamp on the leveling base. I bought the 4 section leg model and if I extend the 3 upper legs (leaving the last leg unextended) I find that configuration a very sturdy platform. I have a D200 with an RRS L-plate and also a right angle viewfinder so I can look down to focus. I can get the pod pretty low using the right angle viewfinder for a different kind of shot. If I want the setup at eye level, it's very easy to extend the lower leg section to where I want it.
The pod is black carbon fiber, with black machined aluminium platform, very well made. I'm taking mine out for some landscape shooting in the coming couple of weeks. The fit and finish are good, I also bought the extra spikes for the legs.
Altogether, I'm very pleased. It's pretty light even with the leveling base as I only carry a few lenses when I'm hiking for landscape shots.
I hope you find something you enjoy using. That's the most important part, to put your equipment to use to get great image captures. Good Luck!
jhom wrote:
Despite the piss poor customer service (it seems to have improved some recently), I would not trade my Gitzos for another brand (at least for now). Each time I use them (now more then before with other tripods brands) I am impressed with their quality. I don't leave home without them.
Jim
Me, too, and I've got friends with Feisol (I had one, too) and Benro/Induro tripods to compare. My Gitzo G1257LVL is simply so much more stable, and so much better made, that side-by-side, there isn't much to really compare. Not saying the others aren't usable, but I expect my Gitzo's to last me a lifetime, and looking at the others, I just can't see that happening. Last weekend I had one of mine (a G1228) completely broken down for a cleaning and lubrication, and a friend brought over his Induro. The real differences are visible when you've got them both in pieces and you can handle the spiders separately, see how the internal leg bushings and hinges are made, feel the threads on the leg locks, etc. They're similar in outward appearance only. Anyone thinking that these build quality differences don't equate to image quality differences is kidding himself/herself, and this can be taken to an even higher level by using large-mass wooden tripods like the Berlebach's. But everything's a compromise, and we've each got to choose what best fits our needs/desires and budget. My only issue is with the marketing of the Chinese imitators being "as good as" or in some cases "better than" the originals they compare themselves to, but I guess that's the task of a marketing department.
I've had decent service from Gitzo, too, but I'd recommend a phone call to Bogen Imaging rather than any emails. I've ordered replacement leg bushings and lost the level and hook off my center column, and the parts were sent promptly and at reasonable cost. No warranty claims, though, so that may be a different matter altogether.
I received my Feisol CT-3342 tripod in 2 working days here in Sydney - Australia! Very happy indeed. Quality is great and happy I saved some mula ova the Gitzo equivalent.
