Gitzo 1325 for 500mm ?

First, let me say "Hi" to everyone. This seems to be a great forum!

I have a 500 mm f4 IS coming in later this week, and plan to upgrade my tripod. (This is my first long lens. I currently have the 100-400 with 1.4x). I have a Kirk BH1 head. I imagine sooner or later I'll go the Wimberly route, but not now. Since I do a lot of walking/hiking, weight is a big deal (that's why I went with the 500 instead of 600).

Based on this little bit of background, I'd like to hear what you think of the Gitzo 1325. Is this tripod big enough for the eventual Wimberly upgrade? Is there some other choice I should consider? My old tripod is Bogen 3021.

Thanks in advance for any input.

-Dave J.

Hi!

This may not address your question directly, but I use the 500mm f/4 on a Gitzo 1348 and Wimberley Sidekick and have had a lot of luck with the combination. I also really like the Sidekick on a ground pod, too.

I am sure some people more familiar with the tripod and ballhead you refer to will chime in soon.

Welcome to NatureScapes.Net!

Actually I think the 1325 is the perfect/ideal tripod for the 500 f/4 with Wimberley. The 1325 is somewhat beefier and sturdier than the 1348 which both Heather and I use with great success on the 500 f/4. The only reason I sold my 1325 is because it wouldn't fit in my suitcases as it is much longer than the 1348 when fully collapsed.

I use the 1325 with the 500 with no problem. I also use the Wimberly sidekick and am pleased with the overall combination.

Rich

Would the 1325 work well for someone who is a little over six feet tall?

Dave,

That combo will work. As the others have said a sidekick will also work with a ball head.

I use the 1325 for a 500 with a wimb. head and it is a great combo. It also works for someone up to about 6'6 I think. I also use the 1321 panning base which adds a little to the height as well.

TSparger wrote:Would the 1325 work well for someone who is a little over six feet tall?

I'm 6'-2" and it worked well. The 1348 is a bit better for tall people as it gets significantly taller but at the cost of a little bit of stability. The 1325 with a 500 mounted on a Wimberley will be right at or a little above eye level for a 6'-2" person.

TSparger wrote:Would the 1325 work well for someone who is a little over six feet tall?

I'm 6'4" and use a 1325 and a BH-1. I have to stand on tiptoe to look thru the camera with the tripod fully extended.

Dave,
The 1325 works very well with my 500, 1.4xTC,EOS3+power booster, 550+BB, BH-1.....oh and I also hang my quantum turbo off the ball head

Agree with everyone else. That is exactly the combination I use (along with a leveling base), and I love it. On flat ground, the tripod fully extended will be "too high" for me. I'm 6'1".

I use it with the 600mm and Wimberley, and am very satisfied. Of course, since I'm 5'8", I don't attempt to extend it all the way

Wow, thanks for all the quick feedback. I think I'll go ahead and place my order! Hopefully everything arrives before I begin to fully comprehend the damage to my savings acct! (I know I'll get over it once I spend a few mornings at our local wetland with the new lens.)

I'm 5' 4" and I appreciate the height of the 1548. It's when you are not on level ground that the extra height is needed. Not when you are on level ground. Also, if you subject is in flight and above you, it is better to have the extra height so that you don't need to stoop.

That said, I have a Hakuba Carbon Fiber Tripod that is fantastic and light. At full extension and the center column down it is just the right height for me to shoot level. I don't use it anymore because there were too many times when the ground wasn't level and I needed more height in one of the legs. In those cases, I needed to stoop to get the images.

It's painful on the back after a while.

Dave, I sent you a Private Message - I may be able to help limit the damage to your bank account

Hi,

I also have the 500/4 IS. I had the 1325 and returned it and got a 1349. Eventhough the 1325 has what appear to be beefier lower sections of the tripod I found that it was not high enough. Now I am only 5'8" but when shotting at birds perched up high on trees or snags having the ability to raise the tripod is very very useful. I normally do not need to extend the lowest leg section therefore I find this tripod as stable as the 1325.

The other important reason I like the 1349 better is because you CAN switch the center column. The 1349 is part of the gitzo systematic system which allows you to interchange some parts. The first thing I did was replace the center column with a levelling head (G1321) (http://www.bogenphoto.com/product/templ ... temid=1162)

This leveling head is almost the same weight as the center column, but allows you to set your tripod level in seconds without having to fiddle around with the legs. It also allows you more room when shooting with the lens pointing all the way up or all the way down.

I also have a Kirk BH-1 and the wimberley sidekick. I love this combination and I think it works very very well..

But you can use a "systematic" component like the 1321 leveler, or a center post, with the 1325?

A quote directly from their website regarding the 1325:
"It is ideal for photographic or video work and features interchangeable column capability."

I have the 1325 with the 1321.

My mistake, I had the 1327. Turns out the 1325 comes w/o a center column. The 1327 is the 1325 bundled with a center column, except that this center column is non removable.

My mistake.