I am looking to get a travel tripod (main criteria to be small yet relatively sturdy and extendable to 120 cm) so after some research came to the point of considering either Benro Travel Angels or Giottos Vitruvian (both aluminium due to the cost). Benro do provide a lot of info on their site regarding the tripod and they are easy to find in a shops to try them out. Giottos Vitruvian on the other hand seem to be impossible to find so I'd like to enlist the help of TP members who owns the Giottos Vitruvian - could you share your experiences please? Also it's not quite clear - are legs lockable in several fixed positions (as on usual tripods) or not? And if you'd be so kind - what is the leg diameter (largest and smallest) please?
Giottos Vitruvian owners - request for info
- Thread starter dalex_257
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- Richard
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Surprised you can't find Giottos. Phone DayMen the distributors for your local dealer. If you can get to try one, that will be very helpful.
Benro are cheaper here. Recommended ebay supplier http://stores.ebay.com/DCs-Photogra...18QQ_sidZ896782438QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322 Good tripods
Benro are cheaper here. Recommended ebay supplier http://stores.ebay.com/DCs-Photogra...18QQ_sidZ896782438QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322 Good tripods
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Hi Dalex,
I recently got hold of a Vitruvian (aluminium) and am very happy with it. It's a neat tripod that comes with it's own good quality carry bag, a set of tools and an adaptor between 3/8" and 1/4" screw threads.
Like you, I too couldn't get hold of one at first. I ended up ringing DayMen and they told me that they received a batch for the release, but got caught out with the popularity of it and soon ran out. The girl there couldn't tell me when they would be getting any new stock in either. I tried a couple of places on Amazon who told me they had one/two in stock... order now to get them... only to take my order and write back saying they hadn't any and would I like to leave the order with them until they got one in... NO! Eventually it did pay off and I got mine for £190.00 including delivery.
The legs are very stiff to unfold and do lock into place on a kind of ratchet system. To raise them up again you have to pull a little button on the hinge and lift the leg up. It's a bit tricky and to be honest there's not that many "clicks" (two positions I think) in the ratchet but as the legs are very stiff you don't need to worry about that.
The lowest segements of the legs are around 12mm Ø and if I were a serious professional I would be worried about stability at full extension.
You can unscrew one of the legs and convert it and the centre column into a monopod; but that is really flimsy and my recommendation there would be to use it only as a back-up.
As I said, I'm really happy with the tripod but then my previous one was a 1980's SLIK which cost me about £15.00 back then.
Hope this helps?
I recently got hold of a Vitruvian (aluminium) and am very happy with it. It's a neat tripod that comes with it's own good quality carry bag, a set of tools and an adaptor between 3/8" and 1/4" screw threads.
Like you, I too couldn't get hold of one at first. I ended up ringing DayMen and they told me that they received a batch for the release, but got caught out with the popularity of it and soon ran out. The girl there couldn't tell me when they would be getting any new stock in either. I tried a couple of places on Amazon who told me they had one/two in stock... order now to get them... only to take my order and write back saying they hadn't any and would I like to leave the order with them until they got one in... NO! Eventually it did pay off and I got mine for £190.00 including delivery.
The legs are very stiff to unfold and do lock into place on a kind of ratchet system. To raise them up again you have to pull a little button on the hinge and lift the leg up. It's a bit tricky and to be honest there's not that many "clicks" (two positions I think) in the ratchet but as the legs are very stiff you don't need to worry about that.
The lowest segements of the legs are around 12mm Ø and if I were a serious professional I would be worried about stability at full extension.
You can unscrew one of the legs and convert it and the centre column into a monopod; but that is really flimsy and my recommendation there would be to use it only as a back-up.
As I said, I'm really happy with the tripod but then my previous one was a 1980's SLIK which cost me about £15.00 back then.
Hope this helps?
Surprised you can't find Giottos. Phone DayMen the distributors for your local dealer. If you can get to try one, that will be very helpful.
Benro are cheaper here. Recommended ebay supplier http://stores.ebay.com/DCs-Photogra...18QQ_sidZ896782438QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322 Good tripods
I can find Giottos in general but not the Vitruvians. Re. Benro - that eBay seller unfortunately only sells CF Benros and I am after cheaper aluminium version of it
Hope this helps?
That helps a lot - thanks Richard.
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- Peter
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Alexey, ever heard of Speed Graphics?
Unit 4 Woodlea Park, Station Approach Four Marks Hants GU34 5AZ
01420 560066 http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk
Unit 4 Woodlea Park, Station Approach Four Marks Hants GU34 5AZ
01420 560066 http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk
Thanks will see if I can pop in there and check it out. Though the more I read and see the more I am leaning towards Benro's at the moment (and I have tried them today at the photo store near my workplace).
I got my Vitruvian from Park Cameras a week or so ago. I believe they had to order it in.
It's pretty good for a light travel tripod. Really quick to set up and fairly stable (struggles a bit with more than 3kg of kit on it but it's still a help. Hanging a bag off the hook helps quite a bit too.
Folds up really small and is pretty light.
It's pretty good for a light travel tripod. Really quick to set up and fairly stable (struggles a bit with more than 3kg of kit on it but it's still a help. Hanging a bag off the hook helps quite a bit too.
Folds up really small and is pretty light.