Darn tootin I do on the TQC14. I use it all over. Right along with the BH30. As a landscape model it all depends on your camera and landscape. My recent waterfall images were done using them
sjms wrote:
Darn tootin I do. I use it all over. Right along with the BH30. As a landscape model it all depends on your camera and landscape. My recent waterfall images were done using them
I'm sure it is fine for some purposes, but that is too small for me and I don't like a center column.
ok, as with all things it ain't gonna make everyone happy. if you did what I do you'd possibly have a different outlook. you might also find your tripod doesn't need to match you height too.
it makes it self a really good lowboy/macro setup and table top model too. it is very versatile and I like that.
I much prefer having what I can remove as needed/wanted or use. they are not going to make everything i'm going to need/want or even like. thus the TQC14 is optimal for me. I know that they put a lot of thought in the TFC14 design and if I had a fist full of money it just doesn't fit my fancy for my doings now. it would make a neat ultralight backpack setup and then would be at the top of my option list for said usage.
now, they do make a conversion kit that makes the TQC into a TFC and that has merit so I might just go for that at $55.
While I think it's too short for everyday use, it seems like a good travel tripod. To go taller makes it less stable for that weight.
For a photography trip with checked luggage, I take my old Gitzo 1348. Tall, stable, and is 24" collapsed for luggage. To go lighter I have the Sirui 025x. Very small and light and works well with mirrorless. Not for windy conditions though. Still great when I just do carry on or for backpacking.
My old Gitzo GT2540 sets up to 53" w/o the center column (which I removed anyway) and w/o center column is just over 2.5 lbs. It's only real drawback is that it folds down to just under 22" - I'd like 20" or so. Still, with the RRS BH-40 it's a remarkably stable, light and easy to use travel/hiking setup. The only times I get frustrated with it are when I need more height. I'm 5'11" and 6-7 extra inches would help occasionally.
My Feisol 3442 is half the price and meets all my needs for a travel tripod. It's traveled all over the world with me and never let me down. I don't see the need to overspend on luxury items when there are alternatives that work just as well and cost much less.
challenge? challenge of what? this isn't a competition.
everybody is going to have an opinion relative to the way they do things and their perceived value. chez is a highly opinionated individual and must be heard. and so he is.
i previously owned a Feisol 3371 10 years ago and multiple 1471 monopods. yes they are a good product but they are not as refined as RRS. i prefer the more refined product. oh yeah, i still don't use RRS monopods.
since i do work with tools and I do travel rather extensively i also have an opinion. it is evidently not the same as his. thats what makes the world go around.
luxury is not the word i'd use for these items.
i did order the the conversion kit for the TQC to TFC . looks like approx 25 minutes each way to play back and forth
I have had a Feisol 3401 since 2008. It's a nice tripod at a very good price. But it's not built as good as either of my Gitzo tripods. At 8+ years of use I feel it is now ok but has seen better days. Still I think one can expect ten years of use from them.
I have some friends with other models and overall a good brand. I find them better than Benro and Induro.
chez wrote:
My Feisol 3442 is half the price and meets all my needs for a travel tripod. It's traveled all over the world with me and never let me down. I don't see the need to overspend on luxury items when there are alternatives that work just as well and cost much less.
WestTexas Sky wrote:
I have had a Feisol 3401 since 2008. It's a nice tripod at a very good price. But it's not built as good as either of my Gitzo tripods. At 8+ years of use I feel it is now ok but has seen better days. Still I think one can expect ten years of use from them.
I have some friends with other models and overall a good brand. I find them better than Benro and Induro.
Life involves compromise. The Feisol 4332 is designed to allow use with or without a center column. Without the center column its maximum height is 55 inches, which is a very useful feature. While we can argue that the Gitzo or RRS tripods are better made, they cannot match this very important specification. The Feisol build quality is more than good enough. I have found it to be quite stable fully extended with lenses up to 400mm if it is not too windy.
In addition, Feisol has very good customer service, something that Gitzo USA might lack.
Agree completely that there are compromises in gear. And I agree Feisol makes many of the right ones. It is a decent tripod. I use my 3401 with no center column and have successfully used it with a Kirk BH-3 and my Arca-Swiss 4x5.
The only real flaws I find are the rubber feet will always fall off and I dislike the tiny Allen wrench needed to keep the top plate on.
I would say for those not wanting to pay Gitzo or RRS prices Feisol and Sirui are the best of the rest.
nma wrote:
Life involves compromise. The Feisol 4332 is designed to allow use with or without a center column. Without the center column its maximum height is 55 inches, which is a very useful feature. While we can argue that the Gitzo or RRS tripods are better made, they cannot match this very important specification. The Feisol build quality is more than good enough. I have found it to be quite stable fully extended with lenses up to 400mm if it is not too windy.
In addition, Feisol has very good customer service, something that Gitzo USA might lack.
got the conversion kit yesterday after getting back from a trip. looked over the parts and tools and estimated about 25 minutes including reading, including with comprehension to do the whole job. slept on it. pulled everything out today and 15 minutes later it was finished.
new total weight: 3lb 6.4oz w/BH-30 and leg pads from Lenscoat
total base useful height: 50.5" w/BH-30 to top of clamp
total height to eyepoint of a D500: ~54.25"
now, it is a full machined alloy spider assy with no friction pad. since there is no pad it does have a locking screw for your head. I would have preferred the pad as all the rest of the RRS products have it. oh well.
it is lighter and it is sturdy. i'll leave it on for the time being and see if i'll need the CP on it after a bit.
for those who think its too short there are choices to be made. weight? folded length? rigidity? travelability? and overall usability. that, of course is each individuals to make. the taller you make it all those questions become accountable.
I also don't call anything likes this a "dream". it is a good and viable option though.
life has its compromises. I do like to minimize them though. in this case I have options rather then compromise.
since I had a TQC-14 the $55 spent on the conversion should turn out to be a a really good deal. how many companies allow that?
sjms wrote:
got the conversion kit yesterday after getting back from a trip. looked over the parts and tools and estimated about 25 minutes including reading, including with comprehension to do the whole job. slept on it. pulled everything out today and 15 minutes later it was finished.
new total weight: 3lb 6.4oz w/BH-30 and leg pads from Lenscoat
total base useful height: 50.5" w/BH-30 to top of clamp
total height to eyepoint of a D500: ~54.25"
now, it is a full machined alloy spider assy with no friction pad. since there is no pad it does have a locking screw for your head. I would have preferred the pad as all the rest of the RRS products have it. oh well.
it is lighter and it is sturdy. i'll leave it on for the time being and see if i'll need the CP on it after a bit.
for those who think its too short there are choices to be made. weight? folded length? rigidity? travelability? and overall usability. that, of course is each individuals to make. the taller you make it all those questions become accountable.
I also don't call anything likes this a "dream". it is a good and viable option though.
life has its compromises. I do like to minimize them though. in this case I have options rather then compromise.
since I had a TQC-14 the $55 spent on the conversion should turn out to be a a really good deal. how many companies allow that?...Show more →
I have used the Markins TH-200 hub to convert Gitzos to the no-column style, so I would probably do the same as you.
How does that pad with screw work differently from a typical platform? What size is the base?
no polymer friction pad. just straight dead flat top with a reversible stud for the head of your choice which i'd keep it in the BH30 or 40 size max. threads on and perfect flat to flat interface. from the bottom there is a small lock stud that threads upward using a Allen wrench. plain and simple. no different from any other.
