I have been leaning on the side of a Gitzo 2541 and I just began wondering if I should pay $100 more and get the 5541 instead since it carries so much more weight. I primarily shoot with a Canon 70-200 2.8, 300 2.8 and 300 4.0. I do not own or anticipate using any thing bigger than 300 2.8 for now but wouldn't mind getting a 400 2.8 sometime soon.

I appreciate any help you could give me.

I have the 2541 and shoot with a 1Dmk3 + 300 f/4. Works great. Going up a size can only be helpful. Wouldn't matter except for probably the 300 f/2.8 if you thought that was a little wobbly.

I've had pretty much every other kind of monopod you can have and the 2541 is just a great tripod. I would image the 5541 is just that much better. I can tell you that the 2541 is quite a rigid stick when the locks are fastened.

J.

How about GM3551 which goes up to 39 lbs from 26 lbs for GM2541? What about 5 sections for 3551 v.s. 4 for 2541? Does that take away from rigidity and stability?

GM5541 goes up to 50+ pounds. I really love GM2541 but I am wondering if I can have my 5DII, monopod head and the 300 2.8 all on this monopod and with the monopod on my shoulder hiking?

I have the 2541 - very nice unit. Personally I found the 5541 to be quite heavy and bulky.

Another possibility would be to look at the 3551.

Jim

I've been using a 5540 for over a year now. I love it. I like the large series 5 legs plus grip. It feels great in my hands, large. I use it with my 400 f2.8L IS and 1D2 for football shooting. I haven't found it bulky or heavy. The rigidity is great. I also have a 2 and a 3 series tripod. IMO, a single leg of either series feels small when I have a big lens on top.

Jim

Thank you for your replies. Although I like the size and the weight of the 2541, my concern is having a lot of weight on it. I am wondering if it is best to err on the side of caution and go with something that could easily handle my 300 2.8 and hopefully a 400 2.8 in the future.

Also I was curious as to what head you guys used on your monopods.

Thank you.

jhom wrote:
I've been using a 5540 for over a year now. I love it. I like the large series 5 legs plus grip. It feels great in my hands, large. I use it with my 400 f2.8L IS and 1D2 for football shooting. I haven't found it bulky or heavy. The rigidity is great. I also have a 2 and a 3 series tripod. IMO, a single leg of either series feels small when I have a big lens on top.

Jim

Agreed, monopods are a different animal than tripods...even the biggest are not unruly. Better to get a little more then need to trade up later. I have an older basalt gitzo, the bigger one, 5 sections...no problem. The newer ones are better with the g-lock, carbon fiber, etc. But this one just keeps working and heavy tho it may be, it really feels like nothing compared to the big glass on it.

i've been doing the dance with the feisol CM-1471 for the past 3 years. though not as refined as the gitzo it performs its support function equal to gitzos product with a $100+ savings. i run up to a 400/2.8 on it at any given time in addition to a 300/2.8 and below. top tube has a 37mm diameter and will support substantially more then what you own.

What is the maximum weight that CM-1471 can support?

Thanks.

11kg or 24lbs

arnold1 wrote:
How about GM3551 which goes up to 39 lbs from 26 lbs for GM2541? What about 5 sections for 3551 v.s. 4 for 2541? Does that take away from rigidity and stability?

GM5541 goes up to 50+ pounds. I really love GM2541 but I am wondering if I can have my 5DII, monopod head and the 300 2.8 all on this monopod and with the monopod on my shoulder hiking?


+1 I have the GM3550 and love it.

I have the Gitzo GM3551, and it is a very nice monopod. I have only given it limited use so far, but it is plenty of support for my 300 f2.8 with a Canon 1D series body. Remember that you don't need as much rigidity out of a monopod than you might want in a tripod leg set, so the 5 section monopod is a practical choice. I find I don't need to extend the 5th section much, so its small size is not a significant factor. I do like the under 21 inch length it goes down to when closed, which is fairly short for a monopod rated as well as it is.

+1 for the Feisol CM-1471. I shoot a full size body/300 f2.8 on mine and it's solid as a rock. Recently had the opportunity to shoot a 500 f4/full body and not surprisingly the CM-1471 performed flawlessly. It just works... and for much less money than a comparable Gitzo.

Greg

I have the Gitzo GM 5541. But I also have the Manfrotto 681 & 681B. All 3 are strong enough to hold my 500 & 800mm lenses. The Gitzo is a bit better but it also cost a lot more. The Manfrotto's are very nice for their really low cost

I keep wondering what's the point of CF monopods? They don't save much weight but cost a lot more. I've been using my $40 Bogen (now Manfrotto) 679 for over four years now, put 500/600/800 on it, carried the thing and hiked for miles, it never failed me.

Hi arnold1,

I use a Manfrotto 685B NeoTec for my 120-300mm f/2.8...holds 17.6 lbs...pull to go up...trigger release to go down...super fast, for when it counts.

Best of luck,
Jimmy G

Do you have a regular ball-head on it or one that is designed for a monopod? I am wondering if I can use my RRS BH-55 LR on the monopod or should I buy a separate one for the monopod. I know it would be nice not having to take them off and on.

Don't use a ball head on a monopod. It is only extra weight that does not give you any benefit. Unlike a tripod, a monopod is not fixed in place. You can easily rotate the camera and monopod for action shots and lean back and forward to change elevation. Look at the side lines of a pro ball game--no ball heads to be seen.

However, I am not shooting birds in flight. If you are, YMMV.

Lorin

sapro wrote:
I keep wondering what's the point of CF monopods? They don't save much weight but cost a lot more. I've been using my $40 Bogen (now Manfrotto) 679 for over four years now, put 500/600/800 on it, carried the thing and hiked for miles, it never failed me.

Agree that it's not at all the same weight saving with monopods as there is with tripods. But there is not the same price increase either

jimmy462 wrote:
Hi arnold1,

I use a Manfrotto 685B NeoTec for my 120-300mm f/2.8...holds 17.6 lbs...pull to go up...trigger release to go down...super fast, for when it counts.

Best of luck,
Jimmy G

I looked Manfrotto 685B NeoTec up and seems very tempting.