Hi there fellow FM'ers...
I need advice on my next purchase, a tripod...
Here's my background:
- I'm a hobbyist.
- Shooting Mostly Portraits, FPJ, and a bit of scenic.
- I don't shoot for money, I shoot for fun.
- Shooting with D700 + 50G (my only lens)
- Thinking of buying 24/1.4G, but after yesterday family outing, (borrowing 24/2.8 AFD from a friend) I decide not to buy it 'coz i think it's a bit too wide on my taste.
- I love fixed lens, 'coz its small and more simple to use...
- I hate big lens like 70-200 for now, i know its a great lens... but too heavy for me, and I don't see myself lugging that around... maybe my thinking about this lens would change if my kid have enter school and has some performance on stage... (he's my main model, what can i say? and he's 1 year old)
the Option:
1. GT1541T + Markins Q3T
2. GT2540T (Might change the head to Markins Q3T also, but dunno yet)
3. Any other suggestion?
Does anyone has any experience with those tripod and head combination? or any suggestion are welcome..
I own the GT1228 which is the GT2541's older relative from 2-3 generations ago. The 2-series gitzo is quite a bit bigger and heavier than the 1-series. Although I've never owned the GT1541T, I have played with it in person.
Personally, if I was shooting the d700 w/ primes, I'd stick with the GT1541T since it's much lighter than the GT2541T and much more compact. The only draw back is that if you're tall and you prefer a tripod that goes up to eye-level, then the GT1541T is outof the question. I see the GT1541T more as an ultra-light tripod for hiking than an all purpose tripod.
As for heads, I've never used the Markins Q3T. I do have an RRS BH-40 which is a great fit for the 2-series gitzo. You might want to look into RRS BH-30 or BH-40 if you are going with a 2-series gitzo. If you're going with the 1-series, you might want to look into the BH-30 or BH-25. If you want an ultra-light set of legs and you don't need the panning capability or ball friction adjustment, then the BH-25 will work very well with the 1-series.
Jul 11, 2010 at 11:37 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
I like the Gitzo GT1541 better than the traveler version. It's a little bit larger but also more stable. I use that together with the Markins Q3 head as my traveler-tripod. The 1541T is also very short and you have to use the center-column which make it a lot more flimsy
Yes, I'm a bit worried about the height also.. I'm 178 cm tall... so I'm not very tall after all :P
Now i'm looking at GT1541 and getting even more confuse the maximum height is nice, but folded 15cm more than the traveler's version..arrggghhh...hahhahaa....
that's why I also looking at the GT2540T.. height wise its only 5cm higher than GT1541T...
the head would buy me a couple cm higher...
as for the RSS head, BH-25 is the only one who can fit GT1541T... and it holds only around 2-4kg... while markins could hold something like 30Kg or something... BH-30 is out of the question 'coz my local dealer don't have one... and the next goes to BH-40 in which would be too big...
as an additional info, I'm thinking of using this tripod as a light-stand which hold SB-900 + umbrella...
I don't think that would be a problem... or am i wrong?
I have the Gitzo 1541T and Markins Q3T as my lightweight travel setup. I found myself leaving my old setup at home on many trips because of the size and weight. While my new lightweight setup isn't ideal, because it's a bit short and less stable, I've made due because it's the best solution so far that I'm willing to lug around on extended trips and backpacking. Although it's not as stable as a heavier tripod, I have not noticed any image shake in my resulting photos.
A couple things about the Markins head. The Markins' panning knob is difficult to tighten and definitely not the best design. It also doesn't allow for the Gitzo legs to lie completely flat. The knobs are not spaced correctly. Otherwise a solid head.
As an altenative you may want to look at the Photoclam heads. Several FMer's prefer it to the Markins. It costs less and allows for clearance of the Gitzo traveller legs. I'm thinking about replacing my Markins with one of these.
I have read it on other forum, Markins Q3T has 2 version... version 1. would be where the 2 knobs are close to each other (in which 'coz the inability to close the tripod legs) and the latest version in which the 2 knobs are separated into distance... maybe thats the problem? or maybe it's a completely different problem.. i don't know...
I'm also thinking for RSS BH-25 but its only rated for 4Kg and no panning while markins rated something like 30Kg with panning... hmm....should i even consider RSS BH-25? Can i close the the GT-1541T legs perfectly if i use BH-40 ballhead?
while for photoclam is almost the same design as markins (just researching it right now) but with much lower cost... thank you for the info...
Hmm... how about if i go to series 2 traveler's tripod? the GK-2580TQR its a tad higher than the GT-1541T in height... still folded really small, would it be more stable as its a series 2 tripod vs series 1 tripod?
i tried to look reviews for this tripod but i have no luck
anyone has any experience on GK-2580TQR series 2 travelers tripod?
I wouldn't get too hung up on the load specs for the BH-25. RRS generally under-spec their products. Also, there's no industry standard for specifying load specs for tripod head.
You can spec a head with a really high load rating if you test it indoors with everything perfectly balanced but the moment you have a bit of wind, a big mirror slap or a front heavy rig, the specs quickly become meaningless. The other thing to keep in mind is that the GT1541T is only spec'ed to 8kg which, to me is actually on the high side of things. I'd half or take off 25% from the Gitzo load rating to be more conservative on the legs. Lastly, think about what is the heaviest setup that you'd realistically put on the tripod. (eg. D700 (1kg) + 70-200VR (1.5kg) = 2.5kg )
As for using the legs as a lighting stand, this will work with almost any tripod as long as it's not windy.
Do I need to go to GK-2580TQR series 2 travelers tripod? coz its folded around the same height... only 2-3 cm difference... the weight difference is neglible...
but as its series 2, it would give more stability... on a windy situation... am i right?
I have a Gitzo 1541T with a Markins Q3T head on it. On the whole I have been happy with the weight to sturdiness ratio this setup provides. I use this tripod as my primary rig as I mostly shoot landscapes with a 5dmk2 and a 17-40 f/4, but occasionally I do throw my 70-200mm f/4 of the tripod and have had minimal issues with camera shake.
Markins has moved the knobs on the Q3T to allow the legs to fold up just shy of completely flush (essentially unnoticeable) just make sure you get the Q3 Traveler and not the Emille.
The compactness of this setup is remarkable and the whole setup weighs in at just a hair under 3 pounds so I pretty much have it with me at all times.
I do have a few issues with this setup but on the whole I would recommend this setup to anyone looking for a ultra portable tripod:
1. The total height of the tripod with the center column not extended is a bit short requiring you to bend over to look though the viewfinder but thats the trade off for a super portable tripod.
2. The knob to lock down the panning base on the Q3 is garbage. Its either locked down or the panning base pretty much free spins since there is very little tension adjustment for this knob. You also have to crank it down insanely tight to actually stop the panning base from spinning.
3. I would highly recommend getting an L bracket for this setup since using the vertical orientation scoop on the ballhead is going to put this rig waaay off balance, I personally chose a RRS L bracket and couldn't be happier with it.
babiMETE wrote:
Hmm... how about if i go to series 2 traveler's tripod? the GK-2580TQR its a tad higher than the GT-1541T in height... still folded really small, would it be more stable as its a series 2 tripod vs series 1 tripod?
i tried to look reviews for this tripod but i have no luck
anyone has any experience on GK-2580TQR series 2 travelers tripod?
I have the Series 2 traveller. I sold the series 1 traveller. The series 2 is not much bigger or heavier but much more stable. I love it. I did take off the gitzo head and sell it and replaced it with a Markins M10. I frequently have used this tripod and head with a 70-200mm 2.8 or 300mm.
I've been using the GT-0540 CF for about a year now, and I love it. At max. height including centre post of 142cm it's a bit low (I'm 185cm), but I don't mind bending over. It folds up to a very short 42cm and it weighs only 0.76kg. I use it with a tiny RRS BH-25 head and B2-mAS mini clamp. It's not super sturdy, it's plenty strong for a 1D-series body with 70-200/2.8L IS II lens. If it's windy, I hang a weight on it, or just push down on it, above the head. It's not perfect, but it's fine for me.
another vote for the series 2 traveller, I bought it over the 1 series as it felt not much larger and heavier but a bit more sturdy (as mentioned above).
I'm in the process of replacing the head, it's the one thing I don't love about it.
am
Lot's of great info around here...
I think the series 2 travelers tripod is the way to go, about the head... Do we need a special tools to take the gitzo head thats come along with the series 2 traveler's tripod?
RRS BH-25 could hold 1D series +70-200? thats pretty impressive... RRS BH-25 does fold perfectly with gitzo traveler's tripod, but do not have the option for panning...or do they?
how about RRS BH-40 would i fold perfectly with the traveler's tripod?
I've heard a couple of bad reviews about the markins panning system, hence drive me more towards the RRS ballhead...
L plates, that thing is not small... i'm thinking of not using them... would that be a problem?
Jul 13, 2010 at 07:53 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
The RRS BH-25 is a big downgrade from the Markins Q3. It's not really a head made for series 2 tripods.
No panning with the BH-25 also. There is also the BH-30. But the Q3 is very good
babiMETE wrote:
People says bad things about Q3 panning, can someone confirm this?is this tru?
I think the panning is ok. You have to use a bit more power than many other brands to lock the panning screw.
But the BH-25 don't have any panning screw.
The Markins Q3 is my most used ballhead. I also own the RRS BH-40 & BH-55, And Arca-Swiss Z1
while markins rated something like 30Kg with panning... hmm....should i even consider RSS BH-25? Can i close the the GT-1541T legs perfectly if i use BH-40 ballhead?