New Feisol Rapid Tripods and Monopods with RAL Anti-Rotation Legs

[bohdank]

http://reallybigcameras.com/Feisol/Feisol%20Rapid%20Tripods.htm

It was bound to happen at some point.

Of course I bought my 3442 about a month ago...well maybe longer ;-)

[BigBlueDodge]

Yikes, the prices really jumped. I bought my 3441s without the anti-lock lets just a couple of weeks ago for $299. The same model with anti-lock is $388. I think I'd stick with the older model and put the extra money to a good ball head.

[vmaidens@gmail.com]

Crap I just got mine last month too....I'd gladly have paid a bit extra. Even though I don't find them a problem as they are.

Really makes the gizto question harder to answer

[bohdank]

I bought the 3442 recently. I have no issues with the lack of ARL but if I was doing it all over again, I'd get the RAL version for $81 more and be done with it. I can't justify the extra cost, non ALR is just fine with me, but I would do it anyway.

I'm the market for a monopod so I can put my money where my mouth is :-)

[t.o.n.g.]

Darn!!!

I was going to get the feisol, but I wanted the CT-3441T, which was only available in the UK. Now I see reallybigcameras has it now, and with the ARL.
Just got a a used gitzo gt0531.

Man, i always seem to be buying things right before the new model comes out.

first it was the xsi, with the t1i coming out a few weeks later...
then i got a markins Q3T ballhead, then saw the new lever clamp come out.

bah...

[timeasterday]

Cool - glad I was waiting to buy. But I'll still tell the wife the old price.;)

[agphotography]

Darn!!!

I was going to get the feisol, but I wanted the CT-3441T, which was only available in the UK. Now I see reallybigcameras has it now, and with the ARL.
Just got a a used gitzo gt0531.

Man, i always seem to be buying things right before the new model comes out.

first it was the xsi, with the t1i coming out a few weeks later...
then i got a markins Q3T ballhead, then saw the new lever clamp come out.

bah...

Yeah kerry has the 3441T, that's what I bought in December. I obviously don't have the ARL legs but I love that tripod! It was $319 when I bought it.

[jjasc]

They are finally coming out with it. Guess this will bring even more comparisons to the Gitzo.

Seems to be a popular questions here: Gitzo versus Feisol.

I've personally had several Feisol tripods the past 3 years. My first was the Feisol 3441B. I used it for a 1 month trip across China. During the trip, one of the rubber caps of the bottom of the tripod leg came off. That really caused a lot of problems for me since the tripod lost a LOT of stability. To add insult to injury, the rubber grip on one of the tripod legs also broke.

A few months after the trip, the new Feisol 3441S came out with better specs and fixed some of these issues (6-7 months after i bought the 3441B). I send the Feisol guys an email telling them all the problems I had and I said I wanted to exchange it for the 3441S. They agreed.

A year later, took my new 3441S for a 3 month backpacking tour of remote China. One of the rubber pads on the bottom slipped off -- the same damn problem. I also had a problem with keeping the tripod legs tight (the screw/pin holding the legs together were loose and needed to be constantly tightened).

I had the chance to use a cousin's Gitzo 1541T during the trip. I was blown away by the quality and stability compared to my Feisol 3441S. It was faster to extend and retract, far more stable, and just "better." I was jealous.

Enough was enough. I finally traded it in for the real deal, the Gitzo 1541T.

I know most people here opt for the cheaper Feisol because it offers a lot of the functionality of the Gitzo. This new Anti Rotation legs is a big deal because one of my biggest complaints was the time needed to extend and tighten my Feisol's 3441S's legs. That feature should speed up the process significantly.

Comparing the Gitzo 1541T with the Feisol 3441B and Feisol 3441S, there is really no comparison between the brands. Yea, I know the Feisol is 299 and the Gitzo is 505~560, but you really do get what you pay for here. I don't have this new RAL model, but without a doubt the tripod has the same construction as the others.

The Gitzo 1541T - is MUCH MUCH higher quality construction than the Feisol 3441B/S. There really is no comparison. The tripod feels firmer, the material construction is better, the rubber grips on the legs are solid, etc.

I'm not saying Feisol is bad -- it's not. But I can absolutely assure you guys -- as someone who has used Feisol travel tripods EXTENSIVELY while on huge backpacking trips -- these are NOT "cheaper" Gitzo tripods as some people claim on this forum. I've owned 2 different Feisol tripods and I've used (and now own) the Gitzo 1541T. With the Feisol, you get some of the functionality, the weight savings (with less stability btw), but with far less quality.

If you absolutely can't afford a Gitzo, then yes, a Feisol will do -- it's the best second choice on a budget. But if you can and you just want to save a bit of coin, it's not worth it -- not if you are going to use your tripod extensively. You'll just end up upgrading anyways. If you want a Feisol, great -- they are good Tripods -- but don't tell yourself you are getting the same as a Gitzo. You aren't.

My .02c

[smashing.poot]

Very nice summary jjasc. I am still debating the gitzo/feisol thing. I almost use my tripod for 99% of the shots, hence the decision problems.

[bohdank]

Good to know...I'll watch out for the feet.

Have you taken the Gitzo on a long trip, yet ?

[jjasc]

Very nice summary jjasc. I am still debating the gitzo/feisol thing. I almost use my tripod for 99% of the shots, hence the decision problems.

I don't know what sort of height/weight features you are looking for in a tripod. But having owned 2 different Feisol models the past few years (and having problems BOTH times with their construction in the middle of my trips!), I'd definitely say get the Gitzo -- if you can afford it.

I've compared the Gitzo 1541T to the Feisol 3441S in the field and the Gitzo blows it away, hands down. That doesn't mean the Feisol is bad or anything, but it's not in the same class. Period.

Most people look at the price of the Gitzo and grimace -- I know I did too at first. At that point, the best alternative is the Feisol. But I do know that if you are the type of person whose camera pretty much lives on the tripod (I am), Gitzo is the the way to go, absolutely.

Also keep in mind that you get a lifetime warrenty with Gitzo and 3 years with Feisol. I've had problems with my feisol tripods after a year of heavy use...

[jjasc]

Good to know...I'll watch out for the feet.

Have you taken the Gitzo on a long trip, yet ?


Yea. The problem is especially bad with the 3441B -- unlike the 3441S which the feet are removable. The tripod feet are not glued on very well -- I lost 2 of them when I was in China. The 3441S has removable rubber pads -- but they don't hug the tripod very tight; i lost one of these during my last trip. However, I will say that Feisol will ship you replacement caps for free if you email them. So if you travel, with your tripod, watch out for this!

I borrowed a Gitzo for one of my trips to China. (2 weeks). It handled superbly and I really abused it! I liked it so much that I bought one and I'm going on a 2 month trip to eastern Tibet (I'll be putting the tripod through it's paces in some of the most wild and extreme landscapes on earth while there).

[bohdank]

Great... Good to know.

I have the 3442.

It's only been out in sub freezing temps for about 1.5 hrs at a time in some good winds and, so far it has performed well. The longest lens was the 300f4IS.

I just checked the rubber feet. None of them are loose in any way so I don't think I will be losing any but anything is possible. Might be a good idea to have a spare or two. The rubber grips are also on quite solidly so they won't be going anywhere. They might deteriorate with use, depending what they are actually made of but I'll cross that bridge when, or if, it comes.

[hyt]

I almost use my tripod for 99% of the shots, hence the decision problems.

99%? It's a no-brainer imo - get the best you can afford. The only problem for me is that none of the Gitzo Travelers can boast the same height specs as the Feisol CT-3441T. For taller photographers who travel, the 3441T is literally in a class of its own, and now with RAL, it makes the choice even more obvious for me. I do want a Gitzo and I'm willing to pay the money for it, but they don't make a model with the specs I need.

[tekkie]

crap I just got a 3472 a couple months ago, I even asked about the anti rotation legs and they said it was not planned for the near future !! ughhh now I want the new one !! I have barely even used this one but I love it

[jdang307]

I was waiting for this, but is it worth the extra costs? I'm already hesitate to buy the regular priced legs.

[bohdank]

There is no inherit advantage to RAL other than convenience. For some it is worth it, others, not.

[agphotography]

There is no inherit advantage to RAL other than convenience. For some it is worth it, others, not.

I agree. It's probably a little quicker to setup, but I have no complaints with my 3441T. It's easy just to untwist all 3 locks at once and pull them out.

No tripod is as fast to setup as my Manfrotto 458b neotec. It's not as tall as I would like, but it's damn fast!