Gitzo are they worth it ???

[Snapper73]

I'm in the hut for a new tripod and have been looking at the Gitzo's. Now they seem a lot of money for a tripod so are they worth it, is it really worth paying that extra for one. I mean £300-500 :bonk:

Discuss ;)

[Snapper73]

Sorry can a mod move this to equipment.

[Joe T]

Its a weight thing imo. My 055 only takes 7kg, and my kit weighs more than that. If it hadnt been then I would be more than happy with my 055MF4.

HTH :)

[Canon Bob]

.... is it really worth paying that extra for one. I mean £300-500 :bonk:

Discuss ;)

"Worth paying the extra" is a very individual thing. I picked up a secondhand one for a specific purpose, liked the quality and engineering, and have now added a second, two monopods, a ball head and a three way.
For me, it is worth it.

Bob

[Snapper73]

So would you say they are worth the extra money then. I'm thinking about getting the carbon fibre Redsnapper tripod which looks good value at £139 but then would be willing to spend up to £250 (second hand) if it was worth the extra for the gitzo.

[happy haggis]

I've been through numerous makes and models and can honestly say my Gitzo is the best yet. Very sturdy, yet light and so easy to extend with one hand. Only you can decide if those benefits are worth the money to you. ;)

[mho]

For me personally yes I wouldn't buy anything else

[Joe T]

If the extra cash is an issue then maybe try the Feisol range. :)

Canon Bob - you have a three-way? Nice one! ;) :D

[Messiah Khan]

Yes. My 3540XLS is very stable and well built. Doubt I'll need another tripod for a very long time.

[SAuchterlonie]

I have to agree with everyone here, Gitzo are the best and I wouldn't go anywhere else.

My friend boutgh a top of the range Manfrotto carbon tripod and pro 3way head and it cost him £560.....lovely kit, but still not a patch on my Gitzo...they are a thing of beauty.

Simon

[Canon Bob]

It's a hard call. I bought the first Gitzo because of a specific feature. Once it was clear that it was top quality stuff then it was logical to add other items for some degree of commonality.
All that said, I doubt that the Redsnapper gear will disappoint you and is maybe scores in the VFM stakes.

Bob

[Snapper73]

Thanks for the advise so far, My biggest lens is a 70-200 VR and cant see me needing a bigger lens for the future as my photography does not really warrant a longer or heaver lens so with this in mind what gitzo would you guys recommend. I'm mainly do landscape at the moment.

[Canon Bob]

If the extra cash is an issue then maybe try the Feisol range. :)

Canon Bob - you have a three-way? Nice one! ;) :D

:thinking:

Naivity is my forte on Friday evenings.....you're going to have to be less cryptic for my diminishing grey cells. :(
(PM if needed, this is a family show)

Bob

[jerry12953]

:thinking:

Naivity is my forte on Friday evenings.....you're going to have to be less cryptic for my diminishing grey cells. :(
(PM if needed, this is a family show)

Bob

If you'rte looking for flexibility and versatility 'a la benbo' the GT2531EX is excellent. Try Morris Photographic I think its on special offer at the mo.

[ricky1981]

Yes. My 3540XLS is very stable and well built. Doubt I'll need another tripod for a very long time.

Same here, I also have a gitzo monopod and can't think of a reason I'd ever need to upgrade. So whilst they were expensive I think they'll last well over 10 years and the strength/stability to weight ratio is hard to beat.

[HoppyUK]

For £200 or so, the best tripod IMHO is a Manfrotto Neotec:

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/default.aspx?sku=1001973

Really clever, quick/easy to use, well made, and usefully weighty.

Carbon fibre is a waste on money I think, very little weight saving and double the cost. And anyway, if you want stable support, a bit of weight is good. Ask the wife to carry it :lol1:

Gitzo is very good, and worth paying for. But Manfrotto is just as good. Go for the one that does what you want.

Richard.

[Canon Bob]

Carbon fibre is a waste on money I think, very little weight saving and double the cost. And anyway, if you want stable support, a bit of weight is good.


There's a little more to it than weight saving. CF is much better at reducing any harmonics induced by the shutter or wind.....the big reason that wooden tripods will always have a niche around landscape photography with MF bodies.

Bob

[grumpybadger]

For £200 or so, the best tripod IMHO is a Manfrotto Neotec:



The Neotec I tried was really wobbly when loaded. Nothing like as stable as a good solid "traditional" design.

[bindrar]

General Advice:
Buy Cheap, Buy Twice.

However, with tripods, you first have to learn to use them and then get into the habit of using them. So here I would advise; get a cheap one (I have a Velbon Sherpa) and then once you see all the faults in it because you use it so often, then get an expensive one (I dont have one yet after 3 years). The head is also very important to the feel and usage.

[malla1962]

I have a Gitzo 3540LS and the quality is just amazing and for me worth every penny.I have just got myself a used Benro carbon tripod for a trip to the states and the quality is very good but nothing like the Gitzo.I guess I am just a sucker for high quality goods lol.:D

[Brains]

I've used many brands over the years. The Gitzo just oozes quality and has been rock steady with the Sigmonster attached. Built to last too.

[HoppyUK]

There's a little more to it than weight saving. CF is much better at reducing any harmonics induced by the shutter or wind.....the big reason that wooden tripods will always have a niche around landscape photography with MF bodies.

Bob

First time I've heard that one in 40 years Bob ;)

Neotec does use an upside-down leg design and has the fractionally narrower centre colum from the 190 series rather than the 055 series you might expect, but I'd recommend one to anybody. Magazine journalists seem to like it too, and it's won several awards. It's just so nice to use :)

Richard.

[marcusp13]

i definately need to get myself a new tripod too! mine's falling apart on me, the catched on the legs keep coming loose and it ends up down by my knees!