Which tripod?

Good morning to all. I am thinking about a new tripod and the problems with Gitzo have made me think before buying. I have the D300 and Nikon 500 f/4 as my longest setup. I am 5' 6" and have the full wimberley head on a Bogen 3021 pro now which actually works pretty well. I keep hearing of people having to fix up their Gitzo's and find that less than appealing after spending $750.00 or so on one. Does anyone use anything else besides a Gitzo for my kind of setup? Thanks for your thoughts .

Cheers
Nancy

Don't be put off by the Gitzo 'issue'. I had never even heard of it until recently and know several poeple that shoot with them and have done for years, with no problems. That's not to say some haven't had a problem out there, but such is life with pretty much any product on the market

They really are superb tripods.

Greetings Nancy,
You write that you "have the full wimberley head on a Bogen 3021 pro now which actually works pretty well".
So ??????...Whats the problem?

Thanks for replies. Steven I was thinking about something lighter than the 3021 and just have that one for when I go into water.

What problems with Gitzo? You mean the dramaticaly overblown issue of the top plate which is no isue at all if you simply tighten the bolt when you first get the tripod. If that doesn't make you comfortable there is a fix availabe in the NSN store.

Gitzo tripods are the finest in the world. There is a reason that 80-90% of nature professionals use them.

Dear Nancy:

The Gitzo 5541LS carbon fiber systematic tripod (the "5541") is outstandingly good. I use a 5541 tripod with my Canon EF 600 F4L IS USM lens and 1D Mk III and 1Ds Mk III bodies. The "issue" with the tripod base on Gitzo systematic tripods is, in my view, primarily a matter of user error. All that one has to do is to check the tripod upon receipt to make sure that the bolts are appropriately tightened, and then periodically check the bolts on the tripod to make sure that everything is appropriately tightened. As an extra measure of "insurance," one could also do what I have done, that is, buy one of the Naturescapes Safety Plates; and you will have a secure and rock steady support system.

In sum, don't be dissuaded from buying a Gitzo tripod based on the posts to which you have alluded. Gitzo makes a superb product that will provide years of good service.

Best regards,

Roman

They're probably the best out there although how would one really know without trying some of the others? I've had broken legs, legs that wouldn't tighten and the infamous top plate issue. And while it may be "overblown" I can't get my order filled with the "fix" because the NSN store has run out of stock due to people like me who don't want to see their very heavy 400, 500 and 600mm lens topple to the ground.

Woodswalker, just make sure it's tight and you really don't need to worry.

E.J. Peiker wrote:What problems with Gitzo? You mean the dramaticaly overblown issue of the top plate which is no isue at all if you simply tighten the bolt when you first get the tripod. If that doesn't make you comfortable there is a fix availabe in the NSN store.

Gitzo tripods are the finest in the world. There is a reason that 80-90% of nature professionals use them.

Thank you, thank you, thank you...

I've had the 1325 since 2000, great tripod and no issues at all with the top plate, just make sure the bolt is tight. I use a 500mm f4.5 on it and that size tripod should be fine for your 500. The equivalent now is the 3530/3531 series, you just need to decide what height tripod to go for, either 3531S or the 3530LS. I'd suggest a 3 section tripod unless you specifically need a 4 section for a slightly shorter closed length.

Agree on the plate issue. It CAN happen but it is quite rare and not a defect in my opinion. I have stated this many times. I did not seek to create the safely plate, it was created by someone else and I simply helped make it happen.

As for the recommendation. I would never mount a 500/4 on a bogen 3021 tripod. You are mounting a $5000 lens on a $159 tripod and it you will get MUCH better performance from something more robust. A tripod WITHOUT a center column is always best with a big lens. The recommendation for a 3530LS is right on target.

http://www.naturescapes.net/store/produ ... =19&page=1

BTW not sure if you noticed the current special but we are offering a free podpad with all tripod purchases, plus free shipping (enter coupon code FREEPAD).

P.S. The safety plates will be shipping to customers are the end of this week and thereafter we will keep a good stock of them.

Thanks to all. The 3530LS it is then. I have a few checks due for some jobs and I will go for it then.

Cheers

Greg Downing wrote:As for the recommendation. I would never mount a 500/4 on a bogen 3021 tripod. You are mounting a $5000 lens on a $159 tripod and it you will get MUCH better performance from something more robust.

I have a Manfrotto 055, which I think is the same thing as the 3021 (it's the heavier of the two similar-looking Manfrottos--I wouldn't recommend the lighter one for anything other than short lenses). I'm happy with my 300/2.8 IS on that tripod (and a BH-55 head), but I long ago decided that when I upgrade to a 500 or 600 mm lens, the investment will include a Gitzo tripod and Wimberley head. Percentage-wise it's a fairly small increase in the price, but I just wouldn't feel right with that big lens on my current setup. (Even with the 300/2.8IS I have to be cautious to avoid head flop--but that issue is the head, not the tripod.)

-Paul

Hi to all.

I'm just shopping by to replace a Gitzo 1325 I recently sold to a friend. I know the 3530LS is just about the same tripod with the new features. But the 1325 was always a little too tall for me, I never fully extended the legs and it was a pain to adjust to the right height.

I wonder if a 3531S is OK to use at eye level, fully extended, with a D300/500f4 on a Arca Swiss Z1 to shoot birds, and/or D700 with wide angles for landscapes... I'm 167cm (about 5' 5.8"). Anyone as short as me use it ? I suppose the little weight savings and especially the shorter 6cm when collapsed could be welcome aspects, when comparing with 3530LS.

Thanks for your inputs.

Antonio,

The 3531S is PERFECT for someone your height unless you are shooting something over your head.

Hi Greg, good news, thanks for your reply.
There must be some advantage on being small... sometime, somewhere

Cheers,