RRS Tripods

here's my question: what's more sturdy? gitzo 5 series or a tvc-33

sulli.gibson wrote in post #12971615
here's my question: what's more sturdy? gitzo 5 series or a tvc-33

I doubt anyone knows. They're both great tripods and both are very sturdy.

I went with the RRS (34L) for two reasons, the "SUREGRIP™ apex lock and they're made in the USA from parts acquired exclusively in the USA. The lock insures that the head and camera and or lens can not fall off of the tripod. It's also handy being able to ring them up
when I have a question. Adding the apex lock to my Gitzo would have cost me about $100, I sold the Gitzo and have been very pleased with my RRS setup.

rick_reno wrote in post #12972030
I doubt anyone knows. They're both great tripods and both are very sturdy.

I went with the RRS (34L) for two reasons, the "SUREGRIP™ apex lock and they're made in the USA from parts acquired exclusively in the USA. The lock insures that the head and camera and or lens can not fall off of the tripod. It's also handy being able to ring them up
when I have a question. Adding the apex lock to my Gitzo would have cost me about $100, I sold the Gitzo and have been very pleased with my RRS setup.

Yes, sturdy indeed! RRS did a great job,

Bringing TVC-24 to Little Switzerland and Utah the past 2 weeks...

Pretty amazing~! Probably the most stable tripod under 50cm fold and shoot with all leg extended. Here is a photo (not so good but demonstrate the point) using 7D with 30sec exposure under high mountain wind.

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I'm having a hard time deciding between the TVC-33 and GT3531S legs.

My guess is that they're both pretty good tripods but the Gitzo will save me a few hundred dollariedoos.

I intend on mounting a Z1 atop it's peak.

I'll talk about the tripods here and the clamps over on FM (I have my reasons ). You're right, they're both pretty good but I did find Neil's tests in May of 2010 to be influential. And the interesting thing is that no-one has refuted his results. You can in fact read them for yourself as you can get a month's free subscription to Nikonians. So here are the links, sign up for your free month and read away, I'd be interested to know your thoughts...

Neil's summary

Test of RRS TVC-33 vs Gitzo 3541LS

Any particular reason you're going for a 3 leg section tripod?

The Z1 is a great choice! Get the sp model unless you're heavily into digital panoramas.

those sites are restricted

peter_n wrote in post #13102592
I'll talk about the tripods here and the clamps over on FM (I have my reasons ). You're right, they're both pretty good but I did find Neil's tests in May of 2010 to be influential. And the interesting thing is that no-one has refuted his results. You can in fact read them for yourself as you can get a month's free subscription to Nikonians. So here are the links, sign up for your free month and read away, I'd be interested to know your thoughts...

That probably has a lot to do with the readership being so low. There have been critical reports with vibration numbers posted on the web regarding the TVC-33 and the conclusions were different than Neil's. In fact, I never found anything that corroborated Neil's findings. I believe one such test was even posted on this forum not too long ago, if I'm not mistaken.

Regardless, there is no wrong answer when comparing these two makers. Get what you can afford and be happy - there are none better.

EDIT: The review posted here was just last page of this thread. I knew one was somewhere here. (There have been others, but damn are these things hard to find again.) Having owned both Gitzos and RRS, this doesn't surprise me. Everything about the RRS seems like a further perfected Gitzo.

Indecent Exposure wrote in post #13103538
Having owned both Gitzos and RRS, this doesn't surprise me. Everything about the RRS seems like a further perfected Gitzo.

+1. I've had both and believe this to be correct.

Here is another review:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com …%20Updated%20Su​ccessfully

Vermin87 wrote in post #13107975
Here is another review:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com …%20Updated%20Su​ccessfully

excellent!

Every review makes me want a RRS tripod more and more.
next big purchase will be this.

DisrupTer911 wrote in post #13109132
Every review makes me want a RRS tripod more and more.
next big purchase will be this.

Yep, I feel the same way. It will definitely be my next purchase.

A.Christopher wrote in post #13109690
Yep, I feel the same way. It will definitely be my next purchase.

You won't regret it. You won't regret Gitzo either unless you got a lemon. Thinking of the extra charge as insurance and better material/workmanship.

If you're a super-heavy-duty professional then I guess it won't make much difference - you'll wear out your tripod in 5 years let it be RRS or Gitzo - then the price saving make sense as long as you don't get a lemon.

wear out?

a tripod should never "wear out" it's built for life in my opinion.