Review: Gitzo 1541T Tripod, Markins Q3T Ballhead w/ RRS B2 LR II Clamp

ben_r_ wrote in post #13214240
It also depends on what kind of Loctite their using. They might not be using the red permanent type anymore. If that's the case it might be quite easy to break the hold.

they did use the red type for the red Q3T...

my other option would be to just sell my red Q3T and get the black Q3T with the clamp unattached, and then get the RRS clamp.... hmmm... something to think about....

tagakweens wrote in post #13214272
they did use the red type for the red Q3T...

my other option would be to just sell my red Q3T and get the black Q3T with the clamp unattached, and then get the RRS clamp.... hmmm... something to think about....

Or just call them and ask if you can send it to them and have them remove it then send it back.

ben_r_ wrote in post #13214492
Or just call them and ask if you can send it to them and have them remove it then send it back.

Thanks Ben!

just got off the phone with Steve and he'll do it... he explained the reason why he didn't do it in the beginning was because it was coming from the factory... so he's doing it for free and even installing the rrs clamp.... all i have to do is pay for shipping back and forth....

thanks again!

one more.... i have this bag: Gitzo GC1201T

the setup would fit with the rrs clamp, right?

tagakweens wrote in post #13214546
Thanks Ben!

just got off the phone with Steve and he'll do it... he explained the reason why he didn't do it in the beginning was because it was coming from the factory... so he's doing it for free and even installing the rrs clamp.... all i have to do is pay for shipping back and forth....

thanks again!

I would just have them remove it and YOU can screw the RRS clamp on there.

tagakweens wrote in post #13214553
one more.... i have this bag: Gitzo GC1201T

the setup would fit with the rrs clamp, right?

And as I understand it yes that will fit in there. But I sadly do not own that bag. Yet.

Jon wrote in post #13213252
Depends on which RRS lever clamp you get.
http://reallyrightstuf​f.com …mp-with-dual-mount&key=it

ben_r_ wrote in post #13213446
The RRS B2 LR II lever clamp which I recommended in this thread, does indeed have a bubble level built in.

Oops my bad, sorry!

tagakweens wrote in post #13214546
just got off the phone with Steve and he'll do it... he explained the reason why he didn't do it in the beginning was because it was coming from the factory... so he's doing it for free and even installing the rrs clamp.... all i have to do is pay for shipping back and forth....

Steve Yoon is just a great guy. He's helped me a lot too.

If you're unsure, just talk to Markins.

I ordered mine without Loctite and when I put my RRS plate on, I didn't lock it on either. It's been fine for several years that way.

J.

JohnJ80 wrote in post #13229107
If you're unsure, just talk to Markins.

I ordered mine without Loctite and when I put my RRS plate on, I didn't lock it on either. It's been fine for several years that way.

J.

Same here, but as I understand it some of their configurations (like the Red Q3T head) are ordered straight from their main factory and already come with the clamp Loctited.

Ben_R - Thanks for the review, your posts and TommyDigi helped me a ton.

You can add my name to the list of those who didn't believe you at first and are now believers.

I went ahead and ordered a Manfrotto 055XPROB and 498 because I thought for under $300 total how bad could it be. Well...

Don't get me wrong, both the head and legs are well made and seem very sturdy, but with that stability you get some SERIOUS weight. I tried it out last night and realized right away that it wasn't for me.

Found a 1541 on Amazon brand new for $530 and ordered a Markins Q3T along with two plates and am hopefully going to call it a day.

tats wrote in post #13273972
Ben_R - Thanks for the review, your posts and TommyDigi helped me a ton.

You can add my name to the list of those who didn't believe you at first and are now believers.

I went ahead and ordered a Manfrotto 055XPROB and 498 because I thought for under $300 total how bad could it be. Well...

Don't get me wrong, both the head and legs are well made and seem very sturdy, but with that stability you get some SERIOUS weight. I tried it out last night and realized right away that it wasn't for me.

Found a 1541 on Amazon brand new for $530 and ordered a Markins Q3T along with two plates and am hopefully going to call it a day.

Awesome, glad I could help! Enjoy the new setup!

I just passed along what Ben_r told me. Since he spent about a month providing me info I am glad it was able to pass it on and help someone else.

It is good to see this thread still going strong and I am remiss for not having reported back sooner on a matter being discussed back in November last year. (see #1526).
I had an issue when my Q3T arrived with the female thread on the base plate being very loose. It presented with about four times the lateral and longitudinal play compared to a normal 3/8 inch UNC connection. The good news is that Markins immediately acknowledged the problem and replaced the base plate and its thread at no cost to me, once they became aware of the issue. It was explained that the production of these threads is complex because of the need to anticipate the final thread dimensions ahead of the etching and anodizing process. Markins have 20 stages to their quality control that would ensure that out of tolerance threads would be an extremely rare occurrence. I am happy that my case was such an extremely rare instance, and I would have no hesitation acquiring further Markins products.

It may also be of interest to anyone having difficulty contacting Markins to be aware of the following: It took me many months of repeated attempts to make contact with the markins@gmail.com address. Eventually I got a reply from the gmail.com mail server to say my mail had been filtered as spam. At the time I was using hotmail as my email server, so I do suspect a Hotmail / Gmail security conflict. The upshot is that I then tried the markins@markins.com address and it was from then on that I received rapid responses from Markins.

Andyh77 wrote in post #13282382
It is good to see this thread still going strong and I am remiss for not having reported back sooner on a matter being discussed back in November last year. (see #1526).
I had an issue when my Q3T arrived with the female thread on the base plate being very loose. It presented with about four times the lateral and longitudinal play compared to a normal 3/8 inch UNC connection. The good news is that Markins immediately acknowledged the problem and replaced the base plate and its thread at no cost to me, once they became aware of the issue. It was explained that the production of these threads is complex because of the need to anticipate the final thread dimensions ahead of the etching and anodizing process. Markins have 20 stages to their quality control that would ensure that out of tolerance threads would be an extremely rare occurrence. I am happy that my case was such an extremely rare instance, and I would have no hesitation acquiring further Markins products.

It may also be of interest to anyone having difficulty contacting Markins to be aware of the following: It took me many months of repeated attempts to make contact with the arkins@gmail.com address. Eventually I got a reply from the gmail.com mail server to say my mail had been filtered as spam. At the time I was using hotmail as my email server, so I do suspect a Hotmail / Gmail security conflict. The upshot is that I then tried the arkins@markins.com address and it was from then on that I received rapid responses from Markins.

Huh, I had never even heard of their gmail account. I would have emailed directly from their website to ensure whatever email address was there or wherever that email form forwarded the message to was the more up to date contact email for them. But Im glad you got it all worked out!

The gmail.com email address was, and still is, the address promoted on the markinsamerica.com website. Steve Yoon used the gmail domain to email me before I had to change providers.

Andyh77 wrote in post #13288421
The gmail.com email address was, and still is, the address promoted on the markinsamerica.com website. Steve Yoon used the gmail domain to email me before I had to change providers.

Wow, I guess I just never noticed it before. Or maybe Ive never emailed them and always called. That's possible, I don't really remember. But either way it's good info to know.