sjms wrote:
the Feisol CT3372 is a very good challenge to the gitzo domain in its quality and functionality.
I agree with the Feisol 3372. I got one of these that rivals my gitzo for a lot lesser price!

Now i have to say this. if i take the name of this thread at its face value (which is nearly impossible with the way most people write here ) the name i will come up with and this is w/o the econo-lock pricing on it is very simple:

Really Right Stuff

and they are not mass produced and built of no compromise materials

it eliminates the need for the gitzo line from the 35xx series up to and including the 55xx series all in one shot.

sjms wrote:
Now i have to say this. if i take the name of this thread at its face value (which is nearly impossible with the way most people write here ) the name i will come up with and this is w/o the econo-lock pricing on it is very simple:

Really Right Stuff

and they are not mass produced and built of no compromise materials

it eliminates the need for the gitzo line from the 35xx series up to and including the 55xx series all in one shot.

I agree, but the TVC-33 is a bit pricey! Nice piece of kit though.

Is there such a thing?

oh yes there is. supposedly i'm #4 for the production run.

PierreB wrote:
sjms wrote:
Now i have to say this. if i take the name of this thread at its face value (which is nearly impossible with the way most people write here ) the name i will come up with and this is w/o the econo-lock pricing on it is very simple:

Really Right Stuff

and they are not mass produced and built of no compromise materials

it eliminates the need for the gitzo line from the 35xx series up to and including the 55xx series all in one shot.

I agree, but the TVC-33 is a bit pricey! Nice piece of kit though.

if your looking at the 55xx series its within 10% and well worth it.

sjms wrote:
oh yes there is. supposedly i'm #4 for the production run.

Congrats. A year ago I'd have ordered one but with the state of the dollar / pound exchange rate, I just can't. Guess I'll have to make do with a Gitzo.

appreciate the sentiment but purchasing this is just a needed capital expenditure and as with all my RRS purchases usually a wise one. RRS at least for me has always delivered the best overall performance per product they have designed and produced in the marketplace. the deciding factor in going with this is that it potentially reduces the need for intermediate models overall. it will supposedly deliver the performance of a 55xx tripod at the weight of a 35xx model. in addition a much better designed, executed and secure stage attachment system. actually the Feisol plate locking is more secure for those who don't look over their gear before use and assume security right off the bat then gitzo. but then RRS always takes it a step further then everyone else.

Wow, take a day off and the thread goes wild.

Thanks for the Feisol recommendations — that was a new name to me, I've been checking out their site and reading a few reviews, etc. I may still stay with the Manfrotto, but Feisol are certainly a viable option.

For those offering Foba and RRS' TVC-33, you're within the scope of the subject, but not the first sentence of the actual message ("can't justify a Gitzo …"). If I can't justify a Gitzo, I certainly can't justify anything more than a Gitzo. But thanks for the info anyway, it's always good to know what the Have's are doing.

To everyone, thanks very much for the feedback. I guess I'm going to have to start that thread on the heads …

I have a Giottos MT9371 (I think)- it's the most expensive thing they do.

It's an absolute beast. Solid as a rock and been with me all over the world in tides and sandstorms. I was in New Zealand when I bought it since I had a really hard time finding sensibly priced Manfrotto stuff or other makes and found the tripod for $400 NZD.

I have no reason to not recommend it.

I also have a Giottos tripod. But there is no way I'd suggest it's comparable in materials and workmanship to the Gitzos - and the prices reflect that. Especially when you consider what the Benro, Enduro and others from the same sources can sell for. But for it's price and my needs and my budget, it's an excellent value. One thing to aware of is that Gitzo has been around for a while, it's evolved some recently in the nature of the leg locks, the CF material build, etc. Some of these others have evolved even more quickly and don't have the long term market presence that some of the big names do. They are trying to build a reputation and that takes time and market penetration. Unfortunately as some of the earlier (younger?) products, for some makers wasn't reasonably comparable, they don't have the reputation.

for a tripod, the uni-loc ones are superb

i think interesting is more the word for them

i was just informed by RRS that my TVC-33 tripod has been shipped today. i should receive it by next Thursday. this will make for an interesting next weekend.