Which Giotto or Gitzo tripod for landscapes

merv

merv

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Want to buy a really good Giotto or Gitzo tripod without an external central column. Any recommendations please?:bonk:
 
I'm considering Gitzo when a new tripod is required. I'm swaying towards the Gitzo Systematic GT3542XLS at the moment...
http://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Gitzo_Systematic_GT3542XLS

I've not used this tripod as yet so it's more a suggestion than a recommendation.

If you do a lot of seascapes and have the budget then the Ocean Traveler/Systematic would be a great investment.
 
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That Gitzo you mentioned is a monster fully extended

I use a 3540LS and with a head and camera attached means I have to stand on tip toes to see the top LCD. Not sure of the exact height, but i'm six foot tall so unless you are a giant or do lots of above head stuff perhaps buy the shorter one to save some weight and money.

Series 3 systematic is I think a good compromise between stability and weight, size is ok for carrying too at 55cm closed

Excelent tripod whatever and should last for many years, my only complaint would be the rubber feet coming unscrewed.
 
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Gitzo always wins, until you bring budget into it.

Also look at the high end Systematic-style Feisol and Benro.
 
I have the gitzo GT5560SGT & coupled with the wimberley mkii head must take some beating.

It simply just works no matter what situation I've found myself in.

Two amazing products worth every penny.
 
My only reason for not wanting a central column is the Manfrotto 190 I have has a very wobbly centre column. Not against central colums necessarily.
 
Meant to say I always have to have the 190 and central column fully extended and it just doesnt feel secure. Was at landscape seminar yesterday and the tutor pointed out the whip in the centre column
 
merv said:
My only reason for not wanting a central column is the Manfrotto 190 I have has a very wobbly centre column. Not against central colums necessarily.
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I have a second mount for mine with a centre column which is rock solid.
I have found in this instance you get what you pay for.
 
The Gitzos all seem to be about £500. Am advised that Giotto would do an equivalent quality on a lot cheaper. Wonder if true?
 
My tripod was a lot more than £500

More than double that actually & I wasn't prepared to take the risk & I can honestly say I've never regretted it for one second.
 
merv said:
The Gitzos all seem to be about £500. Am advised that Giotto would do an equivalent quality on a lot cheaper. Wonder if true?
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Not true. Giottos make very good budget and mid-range tripods, but nothing really in the Gitzo class. As mentioned earlier, the only alternatives I've tried that can really compete with Gitzo Systematic are the high end Benros and Feisols (though there are no doubt others I've not used).

And as a comment, I wouldn't get too hung up on the centre-column thing. A quality tripod with the centre-column down is no worse than one without. Sure when pulled up you risk losing a lot of stability, but the option is at least there and sometimes you need it. Not perhaps for landscapes, but I use a centre-column for finer height adjustments in the studio when adjusting the legs is just such a PITA. Rarely take it up more than two or three inches though.

If you're used to a M'frotto 190, higher end tripods are just in a different league - as you might expect for the size and price. MF 190 is a great little tripod, but too short for most people without the CC pulled up quite a long way.

The other thing is the head, especially if you're thinking of spending a few hundred quid. A chain is only as strong as etc, and the head is the bit that you actually work with and move, the main user interface. Don't skimp on that.

Edit: as Jacob says below, Gitzo Systematics can be fitted with a choice of optional/detachable centre columns. The ultimate solution - for a price.
 
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As said above the 3 series systematic is probably the best all round tripod. I would be tempted to go with the L rather than the XL unless you need to put your tripod to ceiling height. The good thing with the systematics is that you can swap the centre to a column/geared column/video bowl etc if you ever want to in the future. I would think about giving the Chinese versions a miss if I was looking to put £500 down on a tripod but maybe that is just me :)
 
Thanks guys. I recently fitted an Induro ball head to this tripod with an Arca Swiss plate and an L-bracket to the camera so the top end has had all spent on it I want to! Yes the MF190 is very low with the column down as I am 6ft and even with it up it just about reaches my eye level.
Sounds like the Systematic is the way to look and thanks:clap:
 
The Giotto Silver Road YTL 8283 looks a good compromise at £250 and carbon fibre. It also has a height of 5 ft without the centre column up. By the time the camera is mounted it would be about 5'6". For a 6 footer thats probably about alright. The next model jumps to £350 to get an unextended height of 5'6", probably not necessary.
 
Digifrog said:
If you do a lot of seascapes and have the budget then the Ocean Traveler/Systematic would be a great investment.
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Or the same money will buy you 12x Manfrotto 190xprob. That should last you a lifetime even if you treat them like dirt. 1st one of mine is nearing EOL after 8 years of rough sea and sand treatment, but I'll probably just sand it down and repaint it for another couple years.
 
Yes the 055 Manfrottos have a good height. The carbon version is £250 the same as the Giotto 8283. Now which is the better of these 2?
 
I use the Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 and can't fault it, other than the unwillingness to put it in the sea.

What I wouldn't mind is a Manfrotto service workshop thingy. To be able to dismantle the tripod completely, replace any faulty parts at will then reassemble the tripod fully and completely would be ideal.
 
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