I've been looking for a tripod for the D800 that I'm going to buy in the near future. As it is important for me to be able to use the legs in salt water without worrying too much about the maintenance, I'm now seriously considering this model: http://www.gitzo.com/ocean-systematic-series-3-carbon-tripod-anti-corrosion-4-sec-gt3542los. I chose the 3 series Gitzo because I'd be able to get a new one cheaper than a 2 series one and the additional maximum load capacity is of course welcome.
So, the question is, has anyone got experience using the product? I'd be interested in hearing especially about the corrosion resistance, since that, for me, is what would justify the ridiculous price premium over otherwise similar models.
well as to worrying about maintenance you still need to be concerned with just the build up of materials (dried dissolved salt and other marine byproducts) in the tubes and connectors. the corrosion resistance factor is increased substantially though. BUT, anytime anything is placed in salt water it should be cleaned off and out after use if you want to own it for a long time.
Wow, I just looked at the Gitzo site - $2400 -- that's one expensive tripod. I've used my RRS TVC-33 extensively in saltwater and sand and aside from the pain of having to break it down and clean everything afterwards, it has performed flawlessly.
No matter how good the design is, I still can't see the Gitzo not needing to be broken down for cleaning -- sand gets everywhere....
sjms wrote:
well as to worrying about maintenance you still need to be concerned with just the build up of materials (dried dissolved salt and other marine byproducts) in the tubes and connectors. the corrosion resistance factor is increased substantially though. BUT, anytime anything is placed in salt water it should be cleaned off and out after use if you want to own it for a long time.
maintenance free it is not.
Yep, I don't believe either the promise about "maintenance-free durability". However, I understood from the few user reviews I managed to find (there aren't many) that the air-cushion design works really well to keep the sand and salt water out of the inside of the telescope legs. Therefore, if I decide to buy an Ocean Series tripod, I hope to get one that I would only need to rinse with fresh water instead of cleaning each piece of the legs separately.
can0nfan2379 wrote:
Wow, I just looked at the Gitzo site - $2400 -- that's one expensive tripod. I've used my RRS TVC-33 extensively in saltwater and sand and aside from the pain of having to break it down and clean everything afterwards, it has performed flawlessly.
No matter how good the design is, I still can't see the Gitzo not needing to be broken down for cleaning -- sand gets everywhere....
I'm not going to buy it with a price a tag like that. Instead, I managed to find (a new) one for around $1400, which I would be happy to pay if I could trust that the product would last with only little maintenance (rinsing). The premium is still huge, though.
As for the sand getting everywhere, see my answer above. I have no personal experience, of course, but the reviews seem promising regarding this.
W4w3 wrote:
Yep, I don't believe either the promise about "maintenance-free durability". However, I understood from the few user reviews I managed to find (there aren't many) that the air-cushion design works really well to keep the sand and salt water out of the inside of the telescope legs. Therefore, if I decide to buy an Ocean Series tripod, I hope to get one that I would only need to rinse with fresh water instead of cleaning each piece of the legs separately.
and as they say in NY: i have a bridge to sell you.
I am a machinist and work extensively with stainless steels. First not all stainless steels are equal. Some are great for corrosion and use in the food industry, some are gummy and tough as @#&* and make you want to scream. With that being said, we have a couple of bins of odd scrap peices of stainless that sits outside for use whenever we need to make tooling etc, almost every piece in these bins has some rust or corrosion on them. Not a lot, but some. It comes right off with a bit of polishing
I also have a tvc34L that gets used in salt water almost everytime i shoot. The anodized aluminum does the job just fine. Anodize isn't just paint, half the thickness of the Anodize goes into the aluminum and becomes a part of the material.
I would keep it simple and get a tripod that was designed to be cleaned, not sealed.
killersnowman wrote:
I am a machinist and work extensively with stainless steels. First not all stainless steels are equal. Some are great for corrosion and use in the food industry, some are gummy and tough as @#&* and make you want to scream. With that being said, we have a couple of bins of odd scrap peices of stainless that sits outside for use whenever we need to make tooling etc, almost every piece in these bins has some rust or corrosion on them. Not a lot, but some. It comes right off with a bit of polishing
I also have a tvc34L that gets used in salt water almost everytime i shoot. The anodized aluminum does the job just fine. Anodize isn't just paint, half the thickness of the Anodize goes into the aluminum and becomes a part of the material.
I would keep it simple and get a tripod that was designed to be cleaned, not sealed. ...Show more →
Being an amateur, my use of the tripod in salt water is highly irregular but when I do use it, I may dip it into the ocean daily. For example, this summer I visited Menorca, Spain and during the two weeks there I had my tripod in the sea about 15 times. This is also why I would like to keep the maintenance to the minimum - I don't want to spend my vacation in the bathroom of a hotel room taking apart the tripod legs and cleaning them.
a standard Gitzo tripod is made from Mg alloy when it comes to its major metal components. in addition it is painted to protect it from the more aggresive elements. if that paint is removed, chipped off by any means you will increase its chance for issues as it is an integral part of its environmental protection. it has been demonstrated in the past. Gitzo will not warranty the item in this situation but will sell you the parts and or do the repair. they are not cheap.
the white powdery finish is corrosion that started either at a porous point in the paint or scratched or chip. either way it was infiltrated and over time did its job.
If you're considering a $1400 tripod, why not buy ten $140 tripods and call them disposable? Then you have a lifetime of spare parts. Or have a good tripod for most things and have a "saltwater" tripod that's big, heavy and cheap.
I have a huge $160 Vangaurd tripod I consider my "saltwater" tripod since nothing seems to kill it and it's super stable in the waves. There is definitely sand in the tubes, but the cam locks aren't affected by it. The pins and hardware get surface rust, but on the critical bearing/wear surfaces, it doesn't have time to build up since I use the thing a lot. Flip/cam locks are also key to reliability. Twist locks can be dorked up by minor ingress of sand/dust and ice, hence the need to seal them well and include exotic internal materials.
