I was also been searching for a CF tripod to purchase. I have an old Manfrotto 055PRO with a hand grip head, an old Manfrotto 190 (I've put a video head on now to film my son's basketball games) and a small SLIK PRO 614 for travel (I mainly take my Olympus EM-5 for travel).
I've been searching a bit for a while for user reviews for this tripod and found not many but what I've found so far seems pretty positive. It won't be top end range product but I don't believe need top end range in this case. My biggest lens is Canon EF 70-200mm. So I've settle for the Sirui N2204 and a K-30X ball head. I believe the legs may arrived this weekend and the head will get delivered next weekend. I can't wait to try them out.
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Update: received the legs, seems very stable. It folds up the same size as my SLIK PRO 614 but of course the legs on the SLIK is a lot smaller and thinner. Still wiating on my K-30X ball head.
I have a Sirui N2204X. So far it's been great. A little heavier and sturdier than the Gitzo GT-1540 that it replaced -- which is good for my type of shooting. Also folds up to a reasonable size. Leg locks are smooth. Comes with a nice little bag. Haven't used the monopod feature yet, but it might come in handy. Paired with an Arca Swiss p0 ballhead.
Mr Joe wrote:
I have a Sirui N2204X. So far it's been great. A little heavier and sturdier than the Gitzo GT-1540 that it replaced -- which is good for my type of shooting. Also folds up to a reasonable size. Leg locks are smooth. Comes with a nice little bag. Haven't used the monopod feature yet, but it might come in handy. Paired with an Arca Swiss p0 ballhead.
Some reviews say the Sirui is a bit "tippy." Did you find that to be true? I use a Nikon D7100 plus something like Nikon 17-55mm f2.8 most of the time.
I had that one mixed up with the lighter version. I already have a Gitzo 1325cf that weighs around 3.5 pounds and was looking for a travel tripod that comes in under 2 pounds, and folds to less than 17 inches.
Just because you did not spend over $800 on a tripod, does not mean it's not a fairly good one - with some use limitations, obviously.
Don't understand why some people say the monopod feature is a joke - no, you can't use both at same time, and that's the point. So, yes, you have to lay down/put away the rest of the tripod in order to use in order to use it as a monopod - I don't see it as a big deal, specially you are trying to carry less.
The connection seems to be made of brass, and well done - I have no issues with it, after one year or so.
Not in the same level as RRS but people praise so much gitzo - which are indeed pretty good... and yet they break apart so often, aside other issues like customer service.
I am not ready to spend $1000 on tripod, but when the time comes, it will not be a gitzo, I will grant you that. Meanwhile, for hiking and light duties, the sirui is serving me well (Sirui N2204)
use it for what's intended and within its limits, and you will be happy.
ps: I have an acratech ballhead mounted instead of a sirui
I was in the B&H store in NYC yesterday and operated the Sirui model 20, 30 and 40 ballheads and they seemed to be quite solid products, certainly the friction control worked nicely on all of them. I was particularly taken with the 30 which is a good medium sized head that's priced very competitively. How they would stand up to use and the elements in the long-term is an open question but they appear to be very good value for money compared to the Photo Clams which were on the rack below.
I was less impressed with the Sirui tripods that B&H had. They were all on the smaller side and appeared flimsy to me, sorry to say that. The N2204X has a center column that appears to be made of two parts and you have to wonder what that's like in the stability dept. They were mixed in with Feisol tripods and there was no comparison. I'm not really a fan of Feisol either but construction detail, build quality and sturdiness was definitely better with the Feisols.
I have to say that I moved to a Sirui N2204 from Feisol after repeated durability problems with the Feisol. I hasten to point out that the Feisol distributor was very cooperative and went above and beyond in supporting the unit. I'd consider a Feisol in the future, but my current needs -- a lightweight yet full-sized and -featured, reasonably robust tripod for backcountry hiking -- the Sirui provided a better combination of features and value and arguably better construction. I've had it in the wild for 1.5 years now (not as long as the Feisol) and haven't had any problems other than replacing a rubber collar on a leg lock ring.
The newer version (with the X suffix) includes a center column that incorporates the short column for low-level shooting; they can be separated without removing the column -- great idea. The two pieces appear to be tightly joined. In its normal, retracted position the column is held by the tightened collar in the center of the spider, and the joint in the column is below this point, so it would have no effect on the stability of the column. I doubt that it has a significant effect when the column is extended. But the weight saving and convenience of not having to carry a separate short column would be a significant advantage. I wish my model had that.
On my own travel tripod I permanently switched out the regular center column for a short one a couple years ago and haven't missed the longer column.
I talked with the manager of Feisol's service division last year at a photo expo - a really nice guy who was very honest about the shortcomings of some of their tripods. They have developed somewhat as the models I saw on Monday were an improvement over their previous range.
