How much better are the new Gitzo carbon fiber tripods compared to the old ones? I have a G1325 which works just fine. However, someone has offered me $450 for the tripod. Is it worth selling the G1325 and buying an equivalent newer model? What would you do? Is the price difference worth the added strength, ease of use, etc?
I spent the money a couple months ago going to a 3540 from the 1325 and I found it to be a good upgrade but not great. It will cost around 150 but IMO it is money well spent. Smaller, lighter, stronger, etc.
Although CF was improved, I think the main real life diff is in the new leg locks. The G-Lock are faster, quicker (easier to feel the release and lock) and stronger. But if that is not enough than perhaps the ALR (non-rotating legs) will convince you. One twist and all leg sections come out. To collapse, twist all locks shove legs in and one twist per leg and your done. No more locking and unlocking legs individually.
Jul 19, 2007 at 11:10 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
If you get $ 450 for the older it's worth it. I have the new version of your tripod GT 3530LSV. It's a bit lighter and stronger. But the G-locks makes the difference. They are better than the old ones.
I have a G1325 as well, its one of the finest tripods made to date, if i were you i wouldnt sell it unless your looking for something that holds more weight.
Jul 20, 2007 at 03:09 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Thomas McConville wrote:
I have a G1325 as well, its one of the finest tripods made to date, if i were you i wouldnt sell it unless your looking for something that holds more weight.
It's not bad getting the new replacement for the 1325 tripod. He have to pay $ 200 to get it. The G-locks are a lot better than the 1325. It's a bit lighter, and also holds more weight.
I guess each person has their own preferences, but I'd dump the 1325 in a second. The advantage of ALR, G-lock, lighter weight, stronger support capability, and knowing it will be compatible with Gitzo's new accessories (what ever they may be) is all worth $150 IMO.
FWIW, in the case of the 1325 (3530LSV) and ballhead, I stepped outside the RRS family of ballheads and went with a Bogen/Manfrotto 468MG; replacing the Bogen QR plate with a RRS lever clamp. For comparison purposes, I have both of the BH-55's siblings, the BH-25Pro and the BH-40LR II.
I can't afford to buy and try, just for vanity sake, the BH-55 or any of the other many TopDog ballheads, as much as I'd like to own them all. I find at this level of quality, ballheads are a personal choice, what works best for the buyer issue as they're all good man.
Having and using the 1325 for years, I'm in question, after seeing a 3530/3540 in person, if the upgrade is such a good idea. I find two things, the 3530/3540 series legs are not as stable (rigid) as the 1325's legs but Lord how I hate the SLS (spinning leg syndrome) the 1325 is blessed with. I'm into tripods for issues of stability, not for the wonderful convenience ALR G-Locks bring to the table; and I do love the ALR feature.
I find the 1540 to be "very" rigid by comparison to the 3530/3540 although not the best in resistance to torsional forces. I also find the legs of the 3530/3540 to be a bit "twangy" in nature; lacking rigidity.
Below are shots of both the 468MG w/RRS lever clamp attached, mounted atop a Gitzo 1320 leveling base and a Wine Red Markins M20-L attached atop a Bogen/Manfrotto 555B leveling column.
You are wrong if you belive that the new 3530LSV are less stable than the 1325.
And where do you get that from
So when Gitzo came with the 3530 replacement tripod and said that they had improved it and made it more stable, and also improved the max load capacity from 12kg to 18kg, it was wrong ? Are you saying the max weight is lower than the old ?
ALL GITZO TRIPODS MANUFACTURED PREVIOUS TO JAN 2007 MUST BE DESTROYED AND REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE WITH NEWEST MODELS AS THEY HAVE BEEN DEEMED NO LONGER USABLE OR IN FASHION.
BeeMan458 wrote:
the 3530/3540 series legs are not as stable (rigid) as the 1325's legs
Wrong
BeeMan458 wrote:
I find the 1540 to be "very" rigid by comparison to the 3530/3540 although not the best in resistance to torsional forces. I also find the legs of the 3530/3540 to be a bit "twangy" in nature; lacking rigidity.
I'm strongly considering the 3530 series legs, but I want to make absolutely sure that the legs are more stable than the 1325. I don't own a 1325, but I'm willing to buy one used if it means getting a more rigid tripod. From the looks of the opinions on this thread (and the previous one I started), the 3530 legs are more rigid.
Re. the 3530 v. 1325, I should add that it seems counter-intuitive:
decrease in weight ---> increase in stability
I'm not an engineer, and I recognize that there are other variables that influence stability. But, without comparing the two tripods myself, I tend to focus on weight (regardless of stated load capacity, etc.). I'll get over it .
--tom
Jul 21, 2007 at 11:24 AM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
tmr_wa wrote:
Re. the 3530 v. 1325, I should add that it seems counter-intuitive:
decrease in weight ---> increase in stability
I'm not an engineer, and I recognize that there are other variables that influence stability. But, without comparing the two tripods myself, I tend to focus on weight (regardless of stated load capacity, etc.). I'll get over it .
--tom
Only if material, locks, plates,columns, feets and everything is the same you can compare like this weight against stability
I don't belive Gitzo or any other maker of tripods would replace the legs of a tripod with something less stable. And then stop selling the the older and more stable tripod
Lars Johnsson wrote:
I don't belive Gitzo or any other maker of tripods would replace the legs of a tripod with something less stable. And then stop selling the the older and more stable tripod
I hope not . But, there's always the occasional company that replaces a well-established product with an inferior one -- it happens all the time with my favorite running shoes!
tmr_wa wrote:
Re. the 3530 v. 1325, I should add that it seems counter-intuitive:
decrease in weight ---> increase in stability
I'm not an engineer, and I recognize that there are other variables that influence stability. But, without comparing the two tripods myself, I tend to focus on weight (regardless of stated load capacity, etc.). I'll get over it .
--tom
But it seems intuititve that increase in load bearing ---> increase in stability, no?
Silliness aside, I don't think it's actually counterintuitive that less weight can coexist with more stability. As Lars said, depends on the material (and other factors) you're discussing. The Tour de France bikes are CF and much lighter than steel bicycles of years ago, yet much stiffer. And there are obviously different types of carbon fiber. As technology improves you can use lighter carbon that provides more strength per gram or square mm or whatever.
I find at this level of quality, ballheads are a personal choice, what works best for the buyer issue as they're all good man. 
