I just checked Gitzo's website and I can't seem to find any information about these two tripods. I first saw these two model numbers on a Chinese forum and it appears that it's a upgrade from the GT1530 and GT1540. My Chinese isn't that good so I can't seem to figure out what the difference is. Does anyone here know?
From what I've seen, it's a fairly minor incremental upgrade across most of the line (the only exception, I think, is the Traveler series, which didn't previously have g-locks). One new thing is the addition of a new leg-stop position, at 80 degrees.
Someone told me that the max capacity (for whatever that's worth) of the 1541 is 17.6lbs. The 1540 was rated at 9.9lbs. Probably due to the inclusion of G-locks.
Bentzen wrote:
30 stands for three legs, 40 stands for four legs!
Four legs creates a shorter overall package for traveling.
That's the only difference.
Cheers.
Tom
INTERESTING Me thinks Master Tom means to say
30 == 3 leg sections
40 == 4 leg sections
Unless that is a new 4 legged "tripod" has been defined. I will check Wikepedia for any "new" developments.
Smiert Spionam wrote:
From what I've seen, it's a fairly minor incremental upgrade across most of the line (the only exception, I think, is the Traveler series, which didn't previously have g-locks). One new thing is the addition of a new leg-stop position, at 80 degrees.
I think.
;- )
Also this (from NSN post):
"The newer Gitzos models (that end in the number 1) have a new "safe-lock" flat plate with set screws and a hook on the bottom. Unfortunately they will also have an increased price."
I had been looking at the GT-1540T, which supported 9.9 lbs. That now shows as discontinued, replaced by the GT1541T which supports 17.6 lbs. Folded length has increased by about .5" too. If they added g-locks to the traveler series, that would account for those changes.
BijouxandBeads wrote:
I had been looking at the GT-1540T, which supported 9.9 lbs. That now shows as discontinued, replaced by the GT1541T which supports 17.6 lbs. Folded length has increased by about .5" too. If they added g-locks to the traveler series, that would account for those changes.
I don't belive the G-lock on a tripod make the weight limit raise to nearly twice as much as before.
Anywhy the weight limit is nothing to look at. And has nothing to do with the weight you can put on it in real life.
Ah well.. Not so! The manufacturer's weight estimates are important. Additionally, you do want an added safety factor like 1.5 or 2 times the weight of the lens and camera.
But the weight limit is very important as is the quality of construction. Additionally, there are the issues like stability in windy conditions and resonant vibrations. But if the "darn thing" won't hold up your gear, then vibrations don't matter much.
The real problem is that there seem to be no standards for tripod capacity and vibration resistant. This lack of standards results in one manufcturer claiming their tripod XYZ is good for a 600mm f4 with their claimed weight capacity of 22 pounds. While a manufacturer like Gitzo is saying that their 56 pound capacity tripod may not be suitable for the lenses over 500mm. So yes confusion does abound, but weight ratinga are still important, though often just a place to start.
Edited on May 16, 2008 at 12:35 AM
May 16, 2008 at 12:05 AM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
so then you belive this tiny GT1541T travel tripod with it's weight limit of 17,6 is a good choice and can handle that weight. That would be a 1D3 + 600/4+ extender
Ok, here goes. You are INCORRECT when you said "Anywhy the weight limit is nothing to look at. And has nothing to do with the weight you can put on it in real life." You may not want to load up to that limit, but you can not ignore the spec'd weight limit. Most of the time all one has to go by is the manufacturer's claims and other photog's experience (including reviews). So you can NOT ignore the stated weight limit.
If what you meant was that one should not rely totally on a manufacturer's stated weight limit, then you would be correct. There's a really big difference between this latter statement and what you actually wrote.
However if you meant that one should completely ignore the manufacturer's weight estimate, then you are way way off base.
As I wrote above, one always wants to include a factor of safety. So would I put 17.6 lbs on a GT1541T? NO! I would not.! But I would consider it a better candidate for my medium weight gear (about 9 #'s) than a tripod rated at 9.9 pounds. And I would consider it probably as a more stable platform for my light weight rig for night photography gear (4 # 10 oz), though other considerations would take that model out of the running. I like my Carbon-One (rated at 12.6 to 13.2 lbs) for the night photo work. It works just fine and I've got it balanced (tuned in) to completely damp out most wind induced vibrations for where I am shooting these days.
So I conclude that perhaps we both want the same thing more accurate metrics for tripods. But I could not let your statement to ~forget about~ weight ratings just slide by. They are not the end all, but you need something from the manufacturer. btw I would be one of the first to join in a call for standards for tripod ratings. Hope this clarifies things a bit.
Edited on May 16, 2008 at 11:21 AM
May 16, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Yes you can forget the manufacturer's weight limit claims. Take the example that we talk about here GT1541T and 17,6.
I think we can agree that the 1D3+600/4+extender will not match this small tripod. A 1D3+500 will be just over half the weight limit. And there is no way this combo will work on this tripod. A 40D+400DO has a weight of about 6lbs, and that combo is also too big for that tripod and the rating was 17,6
And there is no standard between different brands. And then it's even worse for ballheads
These weight limits are pretty silly but do give figures for a general comparison among a certain brand's models ie 1530 vs 2530 vs 3530. The 17.6lb rating is probably for in the lab with the feet glued to the floor!
Me thinks Master Tom means to say 
