Is there a database somewhere of tripod specs? I'm rather tall, so when I'm looking for a tripod I can actually stand up at yet that folds down to something I can reasonably carry, I have few actual choices but lots of junk to wade through. I'm hoping to find someplace that just shows the specs of available tripods in some searchable manner, anyone know of one? A downloadable spreadsheet or text file with specs on main tripods would also be useful.
Thanks,
-Lars
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The Gitzo 3540LS (The "4" in 3540 indicates that it is a 4-section tripod, the "3" indicating that it is a "series-3" Gitzo and the "S" indicating that it is a tripod of the "systematic" line), folds down to 21.7" (can fit within an Airline carryon), weighs 3.8lbs and extends (without column) to a height of 57.5" and can take 39.7lbs of vertical load and comes with a built-in bubble level, like all the Gitzo systematics. B&H sells it for $650.
If you need even more height, you can go for the 3540XLS mentioned above, but then the folded size (half a foot longer than the 3540LS) would increase to well beyond carry-on size and the tripod's weight would also increase, while retaining the same load capacity (39.4lbs).
In addition to the 3540LS, I also have a 5540LS (the "5" in 5540LS indicates that it is a Series-5 Gitzo, which is their heaviest duty Carbon Fiber tripod), which has a max height of around 59.4" (without column), the folded length being 23.6" and weighs in at around 6.5lbs and has a load capacity of 55lbs.
Some people prefer the 3-section legs (like the older 1325 or the current 3530S), due to the extra rigidity due to one fewer leg section but these Gitzos (whether 3-section or 4-section) are by themselves extremely rigid and I will take a slight rigidity hit from having 4 sections, for the MUCH BETTER portability that the 4-section tripod affords.