what tripod! need help!

[nucki]

Hi!

I'm looking for a tripod right now. In two weeks I make a trip to NYC (B&H ;-) and till then I should be sure wich ones I had to take a closer look.

My current highliner is the new Giottos MT series. not sure wich one. maybe MT-8180 (1,8m 4 section) or the MT-8170 (1,7m 3 section) both are carbon versions. I think finaly I want to go carbon not alu.
does anybody think the 4 section version is much less stable the the 3 section version?
Price is 299$ or 269$

but I'm not fixed at this brand. maybe a gitzo? price should be the same around 250-max. 300$ without head.
I want a tripod with flexible centerpost. the giottos is adjustable 360° horizontal and 180° vertical, wich to me is a point for that brand.

I have read a test about the new giottos in an german photographic magazine, wich said that it is a very solid and well build tripod.

so, need help, because there are only 13 days left! ;-)

thanks in advance
best regards
Peter

[Mills]

Last year, I looked very long and very hard. I purchased Gitzo and absolutely LOVE their product. Do your homework. But I am a believer.

[scottbergerphoto]

Gitzo G1228 Mountaineer Reporter MK 2, Rapid Column.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=180916&is=REG
Wasn't that easy? :D
Light, rugged, compact.
Scott

[nucki]

Gitzo G1228 Mountaineer Reporter MK 2, Rapid Column.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=180916&is=REG
Wasn't that easy? :D
Light, rugged, compact.
Scott

and to expensive! ;-) I've seen it allready, but thats over my budget.

thanks
Peter

[iwatkins]

Peter,

I use the Giottos 8170 and am more than happy with it. I've experience of Manfrotto and Gitzo and I would say the Giottos stuff is up there with them in features etc. just less expensive.

I've had the 8170 for about 6 months, used it throughout the winter in mud, up mountains etc. No problems at all. Love the functioanlity fo it and also how low you can go if necessary, i.e. very useful for macro work in the garden etc.

I also use one of their monopods and I also use two of their heads.

If the three section leg meets your needs, I would stick with that.

The 8170 also won a big tripod test in one of the UK mags recently.

Happy camper. :)

Cheers

Ian

[nucki]

Peter,

I use the Giottos 8170 and am more than happy with it. I've experience of Manfrotto and Gitzo and I would say the Giottos stuff is up there with them in features etc. just less expensive.

I've had the 8170 for about 6 months, used it throughout the winter in mud, up mountains etc. No problems at all. Love the functioanlity fo it and also how low you can go if necessary, i.e. very useful for macro work in the garden etc.

I also use one of their monopods and I also use two of their heads.

If the three section leg meets your needs, I would stick with that.

The 8170 also won a big tripod test in one of the UK mags recently.

Happy camper. :)

Cheers

Ian

Hi Ian!

It looked very good on the website and it seems to be very good. just one question. If you want to bend the center column you had to pull it out of the middle concole first? right? isnt that complicated?
I've read in a magazine (wich also rated it very high) that if you want to pull out the center column you had to do 3 steps. is it really that complex?

I can remember that we talked about this tripod a few mounth ago. We discussed about whether cabron version or not. But I think finally I'm going for the carbon version. because I want to by it in the US its much cheaper than here in europe.

thanks for your answer! That helps a lot!
best regards
Peter

[iwatkins]

Peter,

From memory I do think it is a few steps. I can't check as the tripod is in the car and the car is out somewhere with the missus :)

But I think you unlock the centre column, pull it out of the tripod, flip the bracket over to which ever position you want, reinsert the centre column and then lock it. Sounds like a pain, but is actually very easy and quick to do.

Cheers

Ian

[nucki]

Peter,

From memory I do think it is a few steps. I can't check as the tripod is in the car and the car is out somewhere with the missus :)

But I think you unlock the centre column, pull it out of the tripod, flip the bracket over to which ever position you want, reinsert the centre column and then lock it. Sounds like a pain, but is actually very easy and quick to do.

Cheers

Ian

Ian, thanks a lot. thats what I wanted to know!

best regards
Peter

[Roy NN7DX]

A friend gave me a Giotto's monopod for Christmas... Insane good construction and features...

When it came time to buy a 'pod for my 10D/BigMa I looked at everything... Yep... Giotto's from B&H...

Here is my right stuff, full featured and 26 pound rated ($268 including the 33pound rated ball head):

Giottos MT-9180 Universal 4-Section Tripod Legs - Supports 26 lb (12 kg):

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/... ...96589&is=REG&si=feat#goto_itemInfo

Giottos MH-3000 Pro Heavy Duty Large Ballhead - Supports 33 lb (15 kg):

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/... ...A=details&Q=&sku=221095&is=REG

It's just a bit tall for me (I’m 6') and it has 4 leg sections... I'd buy the 9170 if doing it again… just a few inches shorter and only 3 leg sections to extend...

This is the metal version... carbon fiber doubles the leg prices without a lot of weight savings...

The 22lb ball head (Giottos MH-1000) might be fine and it's about 1 pound less but I got the heaver one for only $10 more... I'm packing this around so that is my problem, eh?

I don't know of a sturdier, full-featured tripod for this kind of loot...


I live on the tip of Cape Blanco, Oregon… Big winds blow here 300 days a year... Without this 'pod I was dead using a long lens…

Also... Look at the inexpensive, unique Giotto's quick release system... I was introduced to it with the monopod and I've gone on to use it on this tripod also... Very secure and solid but it won't mate to any of the megabuck brands. It's inexpensive enough to fit to 2 cameras and three lenses for less than the price of ONE part of the "good stuff"...

I'll buy a nice padded bag to replace the single layer one provided with the legs, but... Perhaps I'll buy one that has some expensive logo on it... They don't seem to charge too much for their nice bags...

--
Regards,
from the Oregon Coast,
Roy NN7DX

2 Digital SLR's and now I need one of everything!

[CRCs Reality]

Another vote for the Giottos here, I have the MT 8170, and to say it's a great tripod would be an understatement. Seriously heavy-duty (looks like it was built for the military), yet easy to carry. This is my first tripod above the $35 variety, but I'm simply amazed by it.
Oh, and the lateral arm is very easy to deal with, simple quick set up and very useful.

[nucki]

Hi everybody!

Thank you all! you all made my decision easy! I will go for the MT-9170 I think. The price dirffernce is not so bad. when I think that I will had to pay 359 € ( ~440$) here in austria for the carbon version, so the 269$ (220 €) in the US becomes very cheap ;-) and its less heavy than the alloy version.

about the head question: I think, for now I'll stay with my simple Manfrotto ProBall 308. Its not very good, but its stable enough and I bought a quick releas plate one week ago.

Best regards
Peter