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

Hi Ben_R, First of all, thank you very much indeed for your excellent review of Gitzo Tripod & Markins head - the quick release clamp is the part I got slightly stuck on. I have Pentax but will be getting Nikon camera soon and I am trying to decide how to solve the plate & clamp issues. Does the Markins ballhead come with plates and are some of them quick release ones as well but somehow not adequate or precise enough for the job hence you replaced them with RRS clamp? I understand you buy the plate separately? You have Cannon so this clamp is right for you but it will be a different one for me? and then the matching plates for each camera I suppose? I realize I stumbled upon Cannon forum but since you have such incredible advice, maybe you have some tips for me as well I am new to this plate & clamp setup idea, so far I have gone with "what was there" - the easy options, but want to improve my setup... I plan to do a lot of panoramic shots as well and I am guessing I will need a panoramic clamp for that - that's another question as well. Best, Maya

Majak wrote in post #13411706
Hi Ben_R, First of all, thank you very much indeed for your excellent review of Gitzo Tripod & Markins head - the quick release clamp is the part I got slightly stuck on. I have Pentax but will be getting Nikon camera soon and I am trying to decide how to solve the plate & clamp issues. Does the Markins ballhead come with plates and are some of them quick release ones as well but somehow not adequate or precise enough for the job hence you replaced them with RRS clamp? I understand you buy the plate separately? You have Cannon so this clamp is right for you but it will be a different one for me? and then the matching plates for each camera I suppose? I realize I stumbled upon Cannon forum but since you have such incredible advice, maybe you have some tips for me as well I am new to this plate & clamp setup idea, so far I have gone with "what was there" - the easy options, but want to improve my setup... I plan to do a lot of panoramic shots as well and I am guessing I will need a panoramic clamp for that - that's another question as well. Best, Maya

You will have to buy a specific plate for every camera. The stability and solidness of an Arca-Swiss style quick release system comes from in part the perfect fit of custom designed plate for each camera body and lenses if you have them with tripod mount rings.

Try watching this video as it might clear it all up a bit: LINK

I am just about to order this setup, GT1542T tripod, Q3T ball head, RRS B2 AS II clamp. I think it will be a nice upgrade from what I have now. The one I have now is heavier, shorter, the legs slip if I don't seriously crank down on the wing-nut type screws and the final straw was the ball head was releasing itself the other night and my camera was trying to flop over.

The 70-200 is my biggest lens with a possible 2X in the future but that would be it and not too often at that.

david lacey wrote in post #13597177
I am just about to order this setup, GT1542T tripod, Q3T ball head, RRS B2 AS II clamp. I think it will be a nice upgrade from what I have now. The one I have now is heavier, shorter, the legs slip if I don't seriously crank down on the wing-nut type screws and the final straw was the ball head was releasing itself the other night and my camera was trying to flop over.

The 70-200 is my biggest lens with a possible 2X in the future but that would be it and not too often at that.

Oh yea, what you're about to order won't have any of the problems you listed that your current setup has. You'll see, once you get all the parts and have it all together, you'll wonder how you ever used anything less. Gitzo/Markins/RRS is a winning combo!

ben_r_ wrote in post #13597881
Oh yea, what you're about to order won't have any of the problems you listed that your current setup has. You'll see, once you get all the parts and have it all together, you'll wonder how you ever used anything less. Gitzo/Markins/RRS is a winning combo!

I am looking forward to it although I might have to wait to add the RSS, we'll see funds are tight.

I stripped my 1541T and I can't remember where this part goes:

2560 x 1920

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2560 x 1920

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I assume it goes there -->

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Petersman wrote in post #13770713
I assume it goes there -->

Yeah, that's what I thought.

But it like doesn't slide all the way down the middle shaft, so when I try and put the screw knob on it doesn't fit.

sc0rp wrote in post #13770807
Yeah, that's what I thought.

But it like doesn't slide all the way down the middle shaft, so when I try and put the screw knob on it doesn't fit.

There should be a notch (term?) inside the shaft, the insert needs to be aligned with that ( the long gap in the insert ) .

Hmmm, can't say I've ever even seen that piece before. When I get home later today I'll take mine apart and have a look. If I can figure it out I'll post a pic or two.

It's been a while since I took mine apart, but it does go in the spot where Pertersman marked.
When you tighten up the collar to lock the shaft in place, it pushes down on the sleeve and squeezes
the top part that has the extra slots in it, against the shaft to hold it in place.

--Evan

from: http://mediacdn.shopat​ron.com …T_20080104.pdf?​1271723989


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I'm going to sell my gitzo. It's super light and compact, but I got rid of my motorcycle (so I don't need something as light and compact) and want to free up some funds to fund another lens.

Oh man, thatll go fast believe me! Link to this review when you post it, itll help!

sc0rp wrote in post #13770669
I stripped my 1541T and I can't remember where this part goes:

2560 x 1920

EMBED PREVENTED, IMAGE TOO LARGE: http://img443.imagesha​ck.us …99/img201201261​63249l.jpg Click here to see our image rules.

Here's all the center column peices:

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And the Gitzo Instructions:

.

Can anyone help us out?

Gitzo 1541T Exploded Parts Diagram. Looks like D106.19

Jon wrote in post #13772691
Gitzo 1541T Exploded Parts Diagram. Looks like D106.19

Just updated my non-working link to this document in my first post. Thanks Jon.