dolina wrote:
Oh Lars... I need some money to buy the 1D4, another gimbal and a ballhead Not to mention that the 5541LS is too tall for my my height and twice the weight of the 3451LS.

But I am surprised that you're the 2nd person to suggest this while Artie uses it sometimes.

If the 3451LS doesn't pan out I'll get the 5541LS or its successor.

It's not twice the weight It's 153 cm (fully extended), 7 cm taller than the other. And too tall for you It's about 60 cm not extended. Are you really shorter than that And if you already gonna buy the series 3, the price difference is not that much

1.72kg vs 2.8kg is almost double the weight. Mind you the Manfrotto I am replacing is 1.7kg. The 3451LS is an inch too tall by my reckoning. If the price diff in HK is $100~ I'll get it.

Man I have a dozen tripods already. What's another one?

dolina wrote:
1.72kg vs 2.8kg is almost double the weight. Mind you the Manfrotto I am replacing is 1.7kg. The 3451LS is an inch too tall by my reckoning. If the price diff in HK is $100~ I'll get it.

Man I have a dozen tripods already. What's another one?

How can it be too tall for you it's any lenght you like between 60 - 153 cm. It's not like you have to have all 4 legs fully extended all the time

Ideally I want a tripod whose fully extended legs is at my eye level. It's a hassle to customize the legs to my eye level especially when I don't have a center column to make fine adjustments.

Rockies Photo wrote:
Smiert Spionam wrote:
Given your height, you might want consider the GT3541XLS, which should give you plenty of height.

The GT3541XLS, was the tripod I was looking to buy, which would cover all my bases. However, I think it is overkill at this point. I'm thinking of something a bit smaller/ lighter.

Thank you for your input. It is appreciated.

James
nothing worse than inadequte support at 600mm + fl.

I am curious Lars what was your slowest shutter speed on the 3541LS vs the 5541LS?

dolina wrote:
I am curious Lars what was your slowest shutter speed on the 3541LS vs the 5541LS?

I don't know. I have been shooting thousends of pics with those two tripods. And I have never compared the shutter-speeds. But the series 5 together with my 800 is a lot more stable, than the series 3 together with my 500 lens. Even if the 800 is longer and more heavy.

dolina - the load limits are pretty meaningless numbers; I take that back: They're worthless.

Fortunately, for Gitzo, the publish focal length specs which are much more meaningful. Use those when you decide on the tripod. While I haven't tested it, I suppose you could use a smaller tripod and then not extend the lower leg sections and get away with being out of spec on the focal length spec.

I have a 3541LS and I don't know if I'd expect it to do well in a breeze with 600mm on it. It does fantastic with 300mm.

J.

JohnJ80 wrote:
dolina - the load limits are pretty meaningless numbers; I take that back: They're worthless.

Fortunately, for Gitzo, the publish focal length specs which are much more meaningful. Use those when you decide on the tripod. While I haven't tested it, I suppose you could use a smaller tripod and then not extend the lower leg sections and get away with being out of spec on the focal length spec.

I have a 3541LS and I don't know if I'd expect it to do well in a breeze with 600mm on it. It does fantastic with 300mm.

J.

And he has the 800, not the 600 lens. So it will not do very well in a breeze

sorry, got confused. no way would i put an 800mm lens on a series 3.

j.

No worries folks if the series 3 doesn't deliver I can reassign it to support my 300/2.8L IS then buy the 5541LS. Hopefully by then they'll come out with a 5542LS that is 1.7kg.

When I travel I prefer to carry my own gear thus the 800 over the 600.

Thank you to everyone for the input. I'm still in a limited connection area, so I will still be writing, when I have a strong enough signal, to add to the thread.

Regarding a post on the 1st page. Yes, I am not purchasing a tripod, that has a Center Column. I'm am looking for as stable of a platform as possible. Especially, as I get into Macro Photography.

To those that have replied thus far, what is the difference, between the 5531S & 5541LS? Besides, one having 3 Extensions, and the other having 4 Extensions? I am considering them, along with the 3541LS & 3541XLS.... The 300 + 2X, was just a theoretical question. I only have a 1.4X right now, and have been looking to add the 2X, to my bag, as I've heard & seen images, that show the 300/2.8 IS, taking the 2X II very well. I would love to have the 500/4 IS, as I was planing for this fall, but economically, it is not feasible. So I'm looking to add some FL, by adding the 2X II, to my collection, till I can purchase the 500/4 IS.

John,

You stated several times, IIRC, that the 3541XLS, was quite up to the task of supporting the 500/4 IS. As you have pointed out, its not weight, that is the issue, but rather, Focal Length. However, how does 100mm, create the factor, of needing to buy a 5 Series over 3 Series, when comparing the Best Legs in each class? I am working within a budget, and I do not know, how much I can purchase the 5 series for, education wise. Along with the legs purchase, I am also purchasing a Ball-head + Plates, so that factors' against my budget too.

Thanks again for all the input.

James

I just think it's good guidance to run it in spec. If Gitzo says 500mm, they mean 500mm not 600. I mean, if you spend that kind of money on a big gun, you are going to want to have it perform to spec. The tripod is not the biggest cost but it might as important to performance.

J.

I wonder whether gitzo considered teleconverters when they made the tripod recommendation. Like the 3541LS says it is good for 300-500mm while the 5541LS is good for 400 above. Also would you mount a Sigma 200-500/2.8 on the 3541LS?

it increases the magnification so it is what it is.

What you are missing here is that it is an indirect measurement of the tripod's ability to damp vibration. It doesn't matter what the lens it, Gitzo feels that above 500mm the tripod is not capable of reliably taking a sharp image. So, if you use that 200-500, it should be fine. If you use a 300mm lens it's fine. Put a 2X TC on it and you are going to exceed the capabilities of the tripod if there is vibration present.

J.

Rockies Photo wrote:
Thank you to everyone for the input. I'm still in a limited connection area, so I will still be writing, when I have a strong enough signal, to add to the thread.

Regarding a post on the 1st page. Yes, I am not purchasing a tripod, that has a Center Column. I'm am looking for as stable of a platform as possible. Especially, as I get into Macro Photography.

To those that have replied thus far, what is the difference, between the 5531S & 5541LS? Besides, one having 3 Extensions, and the other having 4 Extensions? I am considering them, along with the 3541LS & 3541XLS.... The 300 + 2X, was just a theoretical question. I only have a 1.4X right now, and have been looking to add the 2X, to my bag, as I've heard & seen images, that show the 300/2.8 IS, taking the 2X II very well. I would love to have the 500/4 IS, as I was planing for this fall, but economically, it is not feasible. So I'm looking to add some FL, by adding the 2X II, to my collection, till I can purchase the 500/4 IS.

John,

You stated several times, IIRC, that the 3541XLS, was quite up to the task of supporting the 500/4 IS. As you have pointed out, its not weight, that is the issue, but rather, Focal Length. However, how does 100mm, create the factor, of needing to buy a 5 Series over 3 Series, when comparing the Best Legs in each class? I am working within a budget, and I do not know, how much I can purchase the 5 series for, education wise. Along with the legs purchase, I am also purchasing a Ball-head + Plates, so that factors' against my budget too.

Thanks again for all the input.

James

Go to the Gitzo website and download there latest catalogue. Then you can read and look at all their tripods, heads & monopods
http://www.gitzo.com/Jahia/

*******UPDATE*******

I ended up purchasing the GT3541XLS. I experimented with the 3541LS, 3541XLS, & 5541. I found the 5541, to be a bit heavier, than what I am looking for usage wise/ mobility wise, at this point. I like the flexibility & 3 LB weight of the XLS.

Now, I am trying to decide between the M20 & BH-55. Unfortunately, there is not any place or anyone relatively nearby, where I can experiment with either head. Therefore, I am reliant on everyone's experience & knowledge.

Thank you to everyone, for you input.

James

Rockies apologies for hijacking your thread in the past. I have an update of my own.

After weighing the pros/cons I decided to go with the GT5541LS. I wish it was 1.1kg lighter but I've decided to just "build to spec". Price became less of an issue after I found an authorized dealer selling brand new for $787 w/o shipping.

Still thinking whether to go with a ballhead or gimbal for a 200/2L IS and 300/2.8L IS.