Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: Aristoc on September 03, 2010, 12:16:30 pm
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Hi I am new here...hooray!
I am interested in the Gitzo GT2531 Mountaineer or the GT3531S Systematic. Which would you suggest is best ? The Systematic does not have the centre column. That worries me because I have always had a tripod with and adjustable centre column. I feel naked without one :o
My equipment is a D90 and largest lens is a 70-300 VRII. I also plan to use the RRS pano kit.
Thanks for the comments.
GT3531S
https://www.ppsna.com/product_info.php/cPath/65/products_id/732
GT2531 Mountaneer
https://www.ppsna.com/product_info.php/cPath/65/products_id/728
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If you need a center column then the one with a center column would be best. If you do not then you'll generally have better stability without a center column.
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I got the 3531LSV (L for "long",) so it goes high enough that I don't generally need a center column. If I did, I could buy one for the Systematic series.
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Do I need a centre column ? I guess I am not sure. I have always used tripods (cheapo's) with centre columns. I guess they help with adjusting the level that you want without having to play with the legs. I guess they are a bit more convenient.
As for more stability without the centre column well, how much am I really scarificing ? Do centre columns wobble? is that the problem when the more you extend them ?
well if stability is not a huge issue for me given that I am not using the big heavy lenses, then perhaps I am still better off with the GT2531 Mountaineer with centre column (the centre column can be removed). It's also a bit lighter (by only 0.7 lbs).
(I thought L stands for Levelling?)
Thanks
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If you raise the center column in a tripod you've gone from a tripod to a monopod. That may work for you; it depends on the weight of your equipment, your location, wind, etc...
Mike.
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thanks , im starting to see the point of the flat tops. thank you...
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You can add a center column to the S(ystematic) versions if you need it. You can also add a leveling base to the S models. Not sure if you can remove the center column on the non-S models and attach the ballhead directly to the tripod itself, though.
Center column on my Gitzo Traveler is very stable at the loads it's rated for. If you don't have heavy gear as you said, you'll do fine with a center column. But if you plan on getting heavier cameras, or longer lenses, an S model might give you more flexibility.
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The GT2531 Mountaineer has a removable centre column. But in that case you may as well leave the centre column in place just lowered down and locked. The only reason to remove it would be some weight savings. At least I think so.
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The GT2531 Mountaineer has a removable centre column. But in that case you may as well leave the centre column in place just lowered down and locked. The only reason to remove it would be some weight savings. At least I think so.
If one can attach a ballhead without the ballhead, it would also mean more stability. I haven't been able to confirm whether this is the case with non-S Gitzo tripods - their website and model descriptions are not very helpful.
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My equipment is a D90 and largest lens is a 70-300 VRII. I also plan to use the RRS pano kit.
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From personal experience, buying support systems should be based on where you are headed with your photographic interest rather than to specifications of your current equipment. After reading a lot of tripod threads over the past several years, the impression that I get is that a Gitzo 3541lS or 3541ILS are the "buy once" tripods. (I ultimately bought a RRS tripod) Also standardize on a clamp/plate system....I have a box full of non-ARCA-type incompatible plates and clamps.
Steve
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I made my decsion and just bought the GT2531 for $599. I looked at it in the store and it felt right. Not too heavy , not too big. Similar to my old Manfrotto 190B aluminum. So it won't be too difficult to get used to this carbon fibre. I could have gotten a 3 series however that would weigh more and I am not comfortable with heavy equipment. I think I made a good compromise espcially considering my use (non professional). I just can't see myself expanding into the $1500 dollar + range of lenses any time soon in the future because I just don't do photography enough.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Now my next acquisition is going to be a nice BH-40 from RRS.And after that, a pano kit from the same.
:)
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Hi,
You don't even need to raise it...
Something I have noticed when shooting with long lenses that the center column tends to flex a bit, making difficult to achieve exact composition. The Systematic doesn't have this problem.
That said, a center column can be practical. With the "Systematic" you have an option to use top plate or different center columns.
You may also check the new tripods from Really Right Stuff, they used to know how to make things that work...
Best regards
Erik
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That said, a center column can be practical. With the "Systematic" you have an option to use top plate or different center columns.
Erik, can you confirm if I could attach a ballhead to an S-series tripod out-of-the-box, ie. without a center column or any other accessories?
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Hi,
It depends. I used mine with the RRS BH40 and that was a bit problematic because the top plate is so wide that the "lever type" lock button collided with the top plate in certain positions. The button is ratcheted so it's not a real problem but a nuisance.
The RRS BH55 works just fine.
Best regards
Erik
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Erik, can you confirm if I could attach a ballhead to an S-series tripod out-of-the-box, ie. without a center column or any other accessories?
I have a RRS BH-55 attached directly to my 3531LSV. The tripod came with a half bowl (used for video heads) and a flat plate -- I just attached the flat plate, and the ball head attached to that. Easy.
Erik is correct, though, that the flat plate is very large and smaller ball heads might not work.
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Yes i was considering the systematic. However, I was afraid that I would have to just keep adjusting the legs over and over again until the tripod was at a comfortable level for me. The centre column lets me make some fine adjustment for comfort.
I decided against the systematic this time. I realize that a centre column is like a "monopod" and may reduce some stability. However, I could just remove it if I wanted to because it is removable with the GT2531.
I looked into the GT3531 S (systematic) but did not want to compromise on weight any more. The systematic GT3531 has a much lower maximum height and I am six feet tall and I just didn't want the shorter tripod.
GT3531s
Maximum Height (no column) 50.8" (129cm)
Folded Length 24" (61cm)
Weight 3.7 lbs (1.7kg
GT2531
Maximum Height 63.4"
Maximum Height w/o Column Extended 54.3" (138cm)
Folded Length 25.6" (65cm)
Weight 3 lbs (1.37kg)
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HEre is a picture of the GT2531 with the BH-40 (in the middle) which I want to get and then a picture of the GT3531S with the BH-55 ball head on the right hand side.
(http://reallyrightstuff.com/tripods/BHTrio2007.gif)
The clamp will not hit the tripod base in the GT2531 using the BH-40 IF, and this is IF you buy the shorter clamp that doesn't have the spirit level. If you buy the bigger RRS clamp that has the spirit level then it will colide with the tripod base.
(http://reallyrightstuff.com/mmrrs/Images/gallery/BH40LR-vs-BH40LRII-captions.png)
The BH-55 head is taller , so you dont get this problem even if you buy the RRS clamp with the spirit level. It's only a problem with the BH-40 head and the spirit level clamp. Oh, I guess you could spend more money and put something in between the tripod base and the head ???
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Or use an L bracket rather than a normal plate.
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Thanks for all the info on the S models, you answered all the questions Gitzo's site couldn't!
I use an Acratech Ultimate Ballhead, and it looks like the quick release knob might hit the tripod when pointing down and attached without a center column, but this shouldn't be a problem: in the hypothetical case where I would want to point the camera directly up or down I could just flip it in the QR clamp so the knob points up.
I was surprised that the low height of GT3531S, thanks for pointing it out. The heights are not listed for some unimaginable reason on Gitzo's product description page. It looks like I might need to go all the way to GT5531S to get face-level height with my smaller cameras. I'm afraid to check out how much that costs. I'd be using it mostly with TLRs so most of the time the low height is an asset, but sometimes I want/need to go higher, and without the center column it wouldn't be an option. Or I could get the optional center column for the GT3531S. Decisions.
Gitzo really needs to get their website in order. And can anyone get their tripod configurator (http://configurator.gitzo.com:20080/gitzoConfiguratorWS/default.html) to work?
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I was surprised that the low height of GT3531S, thanks for pointing it out. The heights are not listed for some unimaginable reason on Gitzo's product description page. It looks like I might need to go all the way to GT5531S to get face-level height with my smaller cameras.
Nope. You just need a taller System 3. Two choices in the Systematic Series 3:
The GT 3541XLS, which is a 4 section tripod with a 78 inch height (no center column), and
The GT3530LS, which is a 3-section tripod with a 58 inch height, also no center column. (Also available as the 3531LSV with the addition of a half ball.)
When I add the RRS BH 55 ball head to the 3531, at full extension I am looking through the viewfinder of my camera without bending over or standing on tiptoe. (I am 6 feet 2 inches tall.) That's fine for the work I do -- however if you think you'll be setting up on a slope, or on steps, you might want the much taller 3541XLS, which provides more versatility at the expense of size, weight, and of course cost.
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Thanks for all the info on the S models, you answered all the questions Gitzo's site couldn't!
I use an Acratech Ultimate Ballhead, and it looks like the quick release knob might hit the tripod when pointing down and attached without a center column, but this shouldn't be a problem: in the hypothetical case where I would want to point the camera directly up or down I could just flip it in the QR clamp so the knob points up.
I was surprised that the low height of GT3531S, thanks for pointing it out. The heights are not listed for some unimaginable reason on Gitzo's product description page. It looks like I might need to go all the way to GT5531S to get face-level height with my smaller cameras. I'm afraid to check out how much that costs. I'd be using it mostly with TLRs so most of the time the low height is an asset, but sometimes I want/need to go higher, and without the center column it wouldn't be an option. Or I could get the optional center column for the GT3531S. Decisions.
Gitzo really needs to get their website in order. And can anyone get their tripod configurator (http://configurator.gitzo.com:20080/gitzoConfiguratorWS/default.html) to work?
Tripod Configurator............. I emailed them 2 weeks ago, told them the Configurator didn't work. Did not receive a response back.
Mark
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THe thing about going with a 4 section tripod is once again...instablilty. The fourth extension is usually very skinny and there fore it is much more flexible. Try it in the store and see any 4th extension and the last 4th extension is so flexible. I tried it and decided to never by a 4 extension. Some photog's however like the 4th extension because they only unscrew it a little bit and use it to stick the tripod into the mud or sand or something soft.
Yes you could buy one of the L series or Longer tripods but good luck trying to find that. The GT3531LS might be the right 'systematic' series withouth centre column that you are after since it is 58.3 inches in height and weights 4 lbs and $760. Still much shorter than the GT2531 at 63 inches max. in height (without column extended its only 54" so the sytematic wins there) and only 3lbs $599. Sorry , I guess i'm in love with my new Gitzo.!
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Hi,
It depends. I used mine with the RRS BH40 and that was a bit problematic because the top plate is so wide that the "lever type" lock button collided with the top plate in certain positions. The button is ratcheted so it's not a real problem but a nuisance.
The RRS BH55 works just fine.
Best regards
Erik
I mount my Arca-Swiss Z1/B1 ballheads directly onto both the 3540LS (predecessor of the 3541LS) and the 5540LS (predecessor of the 5541LS). The 5540LS in particular has an extremely broad top-plate. Collision is not a problem since I use L-plates.
In fact, it is the broad-ness of the Series-3 systematic top-plates that allow Gitzo to recommend their usage for upto 500mm Focal length lenses, while the non-systematic Series-3 models like Mountaineer etc are only recommended by Gitzo for Focal lengths upto 300mm (for critical sharpness).
PS: Sorry, read your post once again and you were talking about the lock button and not interference during usage (like when shifting to a portrait mode from a landscape orientation and so on). Yeah that may be a problem with such small ballheads with protruding lever locks.
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THe thing about going with a 4 section tripod is once again...instablilty. The fourth extension is usually very skinny and there fore it is much more flexible.
That argument might be true from a theoretical perspective but I never found any of my images shot on either the 3540LS or 5540LS (both being 4-section tripods) to be anything less than critically sharp, even when shutter speeds were extra slow. Incidentally, I only shoot at or below 300mm (on the Sony A900 primarily).
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When I add the RRS BH 55 ball head to the 3531, at full extension I am looking through the viewfinder of my camera without bending over or standing on tiptoe. (I am 6 feet 2 inches tall.) That's fine for the work I do -- however if you think you'll be setting up on a slope, or on steps, you might want the much taller 3541XLS, which provides more versatility at the expense of size, weight, and of course cost.
This is a good thing to point out. I shoot in the mountains frequently and the 3541XLS has been great ... most of the time I need one leg either much shorter or much longer than the other two. The 3531 would be challenging in my case.