B&H has these new models for preorder now. Prices look to be $100-200+ higher than the models they replace. Or alternately, the next lower series is close to what the higher series was before; i.e. one of the new Series 2 is about the price of the same height Series 3 before.
So I guess RRS set a pricing precedent that others are following now.
rmc1 wrote:
B&H has these new models for preorder now. Prices look to be $100-200+ higher than the models they replace. Or alternately, the next lower series is close to what the higher series was before; i.e. one of the new Series 2 is about the price of the same height Series 3 before.
So I guess RRS set a pricing precedent that others are following now.
The new Gitzo model have always been more expensive than the tripod it replaced. After a while it usually come down to nearly the same price as the older it replaced
actually RRS set a quality precedent with a rather limited production capability along with other discussable (argueable) differences and Gitzo has factory production capability and its pricing is based on exchange rates between the euro and US dollar (in our case) with a little hubris added. we here in the US are so used to having the "upper hand" in so many things. well now we have reduced our "in country" output and have a higher reliance on import goods. these goods used to be in our favor for pricing. well, it's not anymore. we have been commoditzed into a corner. i used to travel all around Japan at 200+ yen to 1 US dollar. as of today 1 US Dollar brings me less then 80 yen after exchange. doesn't buy all that much there now.
A little perspective: Gitzo 3541 @ B & H = $675 = £426
Gitzo 3541 @ Warehouse Express (UK) = £600 = $950
I know the North American market is vast compared to the UK but the Eurozone has a population of around 200 million. Bear in mind that these items are made in Europe and incur a shipping cost to North America which has to be added to the unit cost. I can only assume that North America has more photographers per capita and that those photographers are more discerning and sophisticated.
Feb 27, 2012 at 09:11 AM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
gardenvalley wrote:
A little perspective: Gitzo 3541 @ B & H = $675 = £426
Gitzo 3541 @ Warehouse Express (UK) = £600 = $950
I know the North American market is vast compared to the UK but the Eurozone has a population of around 200 million. Bear in mind that these items are made in Europe and incur a shipping cost to North America which has to be added to the unit cost. I can only assume that North America has more photographers per capita and that those photographers are more discerning and sophisticated.
I bought exactly that tripod from the Camera.nu shop in the Netherlands. I payed 539 euro. That's about 450 GBP. So you don't have to pay those expensive prices in the EU
sjms - good point re worsening exchange rates. I remember that the now-discontinued Systematic models were selling for approximately the same prices they were a year ago, so like what we've seen with Nikon and others, Gitzo didn't raise the prices until they changed models. Really I fully expected a price increase, but was more expecting the $100 range instead of the $200 I see on most of them, though as others have posted the prices may drop a bit after they've been out a while.
I too remember the ~250yen/dollar exchange rates, back in the mid 1980's I guess that was. Makes me feel old, hehe.
rmc1 wrote:
sjms - good point re worsening exchange rates. I remember that the now-discontinued Systematic models were selling for approximately the same prices they were a year ago, so like what we've seen with Nikon and others, Gitzo didn't raise the prices until they changed models. Really I fully expected a price increase, but was more expecting the $100 range instead of the $200 I see on most of them, though as others have posted the prices may drop a bit after they've been out a while.
I too remember the ~250yen/dollar exchange rates, back in the mid 1980's I guess that was. Makes me feel old, hehe....Show more →
you don't raise the price on something your trying to sell off. and that is the SOP for Gitzo.
gardenvalley wrote:
A little perspective: Gitzo 3541 @ B & H = $675 = £426
Gitzo 3541 @ Warehouse Express (UK) = £600 = $950
I know the North American market is vast compared to the UK but the Eurozone has a population of around 200 million. Bear in mind that these items are made in Europe and incur a shipping cost to North America which has to be added to the unit cost. I can only assume that North America has more photographers per capita and that those photographers are more discerning and sophisticated.
NA is relatively vast. just not as vast in the way you might think. we are not selling cars here. its tripods and a fairly pricey set of them too. a product that to this day maybe less then 10% of the total shooting population understand the value of. don't overrate us. discerning and sophisticated? not quite the words i'd use.
Feb 27, 2012 at 09:41 AM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
gardenvalley wrote:
Camera.nu list price is 669 Euro (£565) as of today + shipping/insurance. Are you able to negotiate a discount on their prices?
I didn't buy it today It was a couple of months ago. And the price change all the time. It's also cheaper in other shops. And you don't pay any insurance either. (I didn't even understand that part)
You have so many good deals on Gitzo tripods every week in EU that you don't have to buy it from a very expensive shop.
Here are a few samples on prices from today at the http://www.fotokonijnenberg.nl/. A shop that I have bought many tripods in. All series 3 systematic CF tripods at a much lower price than yours. Camera.nu also have some of these prices
Gitzo 6X Carbon GT3541XLS 599 euro = 505 GBP http://www.fotokonijnenberg.nl/product/1343793/gitzo-gt3541xls-6x-carbon-syst-lang.html
sjms wrote:
you don't raise the price on something your trying to sell off. and that is the SOP for Gitzo.
While generally true, I was surprised to see the GT3530LS went up $55 from last night to today at B+H. I guess it's still a deal compared to its replacement.
rmc1 wrote:
While generally true, I was surprised to see the GT3530LS went up $55 from last night to today at B+H. I guess it's still a deal compared to its replacement.
Prices for Gitzo tripods fluctuate quite regularly on B&H, not sure if it's a trigger-happy salesman or dodgy software.
It does look like Gitzo doesn't want to sell tripods anymore though when you look at the specs of the new range of systematics. I was looking at the new series-2 systematics last night and they are heavier and longer (folded up) than my now discontinued 3-series tripod.
Where is all this extra weight coming from, the main casting? The price of the 3542LS at B&H is $950! The guys over at RRS must be loving this...
Alex Nail wrote:
I've never really understood max load rating on a tripod. I hung my entire 92kg weight off my friends 3541LS. Sure it flexed a little bit, but it took the weight. 50kg would be a walk in the park!
So that's what you were doing when I went to the bathroom?
Here's something to puzzle over on the new Systematics...............I don't get it! ...The weights ?
FYI .....I'm looking at getting my first gitzo as we speak.
Narrowed down to GT2531 ( M) or GT2532S ( S)
"S" is 400 grm heavier than "M" with M having the center column etc etc.
Swapping out the Centre columnn and gitzo hub from the M and replacing with Markins TH-200 takes M weight down to 1170 grams according to specs, and gives essentially same config and height as the S.
So where is the additional 540 Grms in weight..... in the S ?...I get that it has a load rating twice that of the M.....................but how ( Leg diameter??) and I also get that it has dual feet ( Spike and Rubber) ......but 540 grams ??.
IF these specs are correct then the new series 2 S seems a bit on the heavy side. I mean can add my Acratech GV2 to the reconfigured M and still be lighter at 1550 grms, than the "headless" S legs at 1710 grms??
Looks like the M for me at $519 + $169 TH-200 and still have change from the price of the S. Additionally I retain the option to swap out the TH-200 when a center column is required. Doesn't make sense..........does IT?
Mar 12, 2012 at 06:46 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
datfish wrote:
Here's something to puzzle over on the new Systematics...............I don't get it! ...The weights ?
FYI .....I'm looking at getting my first gitzo as we speak.
Narrowed down to GT2531 ( M) or GT2532S ( S)
"S" is 400 grm heavier than "M" with M having the center column etc etc.
Swapping out the Centre columnn and gitzo hub from the M and replacing with Markins TH-200 takes M weight down to 1170 grams according to specs, and gives essentially same config and height as the S.
So where is the additional 540 Grms in weight..... in the S ?...I get that it has a load rating twice that of the M.....................but how ( Leg diameter??) and I also get that it has dual feet ( Spike and Rubber) ......but 540 grams ??.
IF these specs are correct then the new series 2 S seems a bit on the heavy side. I mean can add my Acratech GV2 to the reconfigured M and still be lighter at 1550 grms, than the "headless" S legs at 1710 grms??
Looks like the M for me at $519 + $169 TH-200 and still have change from the price of the S. Additionally I retain the option to swap out the TH-200 when a center column is required. Doesn't make sense..........does IT?
I also know that accessory columns are available for systematics.
The GT2532S mentioned is the new 2 series systematic ( no center column) and the GT 2531 is a mountaineer with center column that can be removed in isolation OR removed along with the hub to be replaced by MARKINS TH-200 hub. (flat hub with no center column)
Regardless that was not the point of my question. From the post:
I am suggesting that a modified GT2531 ( ie remove original hub and centre column and replace with with Markins TH-200) is 540 grams lighter than the GT2532S whilst remaining the same height, and is essentially the same config ( ie no centre column with what appear to be the same gauge legs). The modified GT2531 version is cheaper than the GT2532S ( $688 V $ 800).
The only (?) difference for the additional 540 grams appears to be
1. Spiked feet on GT2532S (lets say 120 grams)
2. Increased load rating of the GT2532S to 25kg compared to 12kg of GT2531
So where is the additional 340 grams of weight coming from in the 2532S?
Is the gitzo GT2532S hub that much bigger/wider ?
Are its legs a stronger and heavier gauge?
(Note : If the Mod is done , you still have the option to revert back IF CC is required whereas to have a centre column on GT2532S SYSTEMATIC, you will need to spend another $200+ for the accessory)
Mar 13, 2012 at 05:13 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
I don't have the latest just released Systematics but a couple of the others. The top-plate & hub is much larger on the systematic tripods. (more stable also)
Without knowing for sure I would expect the original hub/top-plate on the new Systematic tripod to be a lot larger/wider than the Markin replacement hub for the Mountaineer. Look at the promotion pics for Gitzos new new triangular top casting on the Systematics tripods. It looks huge compared to the Markins. I would guess nearly twice as wide
They don't have exactly the same specs/lenght on the legs either. Even if the Mountaineer is 2 cm taller with the centre-column down. When removing both the hub and centre-column it will be shorter than the Systematic. That makes a lot more than 2 cm.
I don't have the same models as you talk about. But I own 2 Systematic tripods and 2 Mountaineer tripods. And the hub/top-plate is tiny, (the hub very thin) on the Mountaineers when comparing those to the Systematics.
If stability is important for you. Then buy the Systematic tripod.
Mar 13, 2012 at 09:43 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Or alternately, the next lower series is close to what the higher series was before; i.e. one of the new Series 2 is about the price of the same height Series 3 before.
It was a couple of months ago. And the price change all the time. It's also cheaper in other shops. And you don't pay any insurance either. (I didn't even understand that part) 
