I have an opportunity to pick up a Gitzo Gilux Weekend Tripod for a reasonable price (well under $100). I haven't been able to find any specs on this on-line, other than the height with a fully extended column is about 40 inches, and collapsed it's about 13 inches.
Can anyone tell me how much weight this can bear and also how much it weighs?
Have you asked the seller any of these questions? How much does it weigh? Construction material? How much will it support? The seller is probably the person with the most knowledge of this particular tripod.
Given the fact it says "weekend" in the title, it probably means a tripod where weight saving is the primary concern. But I may be wrong in that assessment, too.
The weekend Gitzos are 0-series -- so it's pretty tiny. For comparison, the largest tube is the same size as the third section on a 2-series Gitzo like the 1228.
I own a 1097, which is a basalt version, with updates (better leg locks, etc.). It's great within its limitations. Those limitations are pretty extensive:
If you consider it to be a slightly oversized table tripod, it can be a great tool. You should plan on removing the center column entirely, and avoid using much leg extension. It's never going to be the tripod you use for tele lenses at anything remotely approaching dangerous shutter speeds -- but it's still really handy on rocks and logs, or bungeed to a pole or a tree. Mine is under two pounds with a Giottos 1002 ballhead and a Kirk clamp, which means it can really go anywhere, typically inside a bag.
I sometimes think I should replace it with a 1-series Gitzo, but I probably wouldn't carry that everywhere I would take this (I've got a 3-series for more demanding uses). This week I'm switching from a D80 to a D90, and the Live View will also help extend the useful range for a tiny tripod like this, since it removes the mirror slap.
I took some pics of my arrangement and put up a thread on Nikonians last year:
You bet -- glad to help. One more thought: some of the early aluminum weekend models have multiple leg angles, and some don't. If it has them (important, in my opinion) it should say "performance" on the top plate.
