Down to 3 Tripod options - Gitzo GT-2531 series 2 vs Manfrotto carbons

Honestly its not really a matter of budget I just have a hard time justifying spending a grand on a tripod/ballhead. In the past I hardly used one but I am looking to use one more so I want something at least decent but there is a chance it will not get tons of use so hard to justify the cost in my head.

Tommydigi wrote in post #13075195
Ben_r_ thanks again for all your help. Thanks to you, I actually have a pretty good understanding of this stuff now. Before I do anything I am going to try a local place like Helix or Calumet and see about trying some out in the store.

You are very welcome and Im glad I could help you out. Like I said earlier, I have been through it all before and I hate that feeling of frustration and confusion amidst all the options out there.

Tommydigi wrote in post #13075284
What is the Traveller series 2 kit?

Trying to find ways to keep this somewhat reasonable. For $540 I feel the 2531 legs are a great deal. I may cheap out a bit on the ballhead for now and see how much I use it. I know at times I will always need a tripod so I am about 90% certain I am going with the 2531 or maybe the 41 since you say 4 section Gitzo's are solid.

Let me just say this to that: Since youre still a little unsure how much youre even going to be using this setup, I can guarantee that if you mix a good base with a lesser quality head you will not completely understand the full experience that you should be having using a quality support system. I equate it to using say the original Canon DSLR the D60 on a brand new 85L II. You bought half of the best, but your being held back by the other half, and while yes it WILL work, theres more to it than just serving the function. I know its a lot to dish out, but you can always sell (or even return depending on where you get the items and what their policy is) and recover most of your cost. However Im sure that once you try the whole package, youll understand, be in love, and wonder how you could have ever used anything else. Youve just gotta take my word for it and give it a try.

auto-clicker wrote in post #13075306
Gitzo but it's past your budget i understand what you're going through; i finally tossed in the towel and ponied up the cash and went all Gitzo after years of trading up, across etc...it helped with having a better financial situation too but after years of buying "low" end all that cash could have just bought "high" if i just saved and watched for sales.
On the other hand "waiting" can sometimes be a ****

See? We all go through this and it sucks. Thats WHY Ive tried to be so helpful to the OP, so that hopefully he (and anyone else reading this) wont have to.

Tommydigi wrote in post #13075322
Honestly its not really a matter of budget I just have a hard time justifying spending a grand on a tripod/ballhead. In the past I hardly used one but I am looking to use one more so I want something at least decent but there is a chance it will not get tons of use so hard to justify the cost in my head.

Again, as I said before, just try it! I and all the rest of us said the same thing. Now I have TWO one thousand dollar tripod setups. Nuts I know. But try and find a one of us who would trade our quality support systems for anything less. You wont.

Your killin me ben haha. I am sure your right.

When it comes to 4 vs 3 section you say with gitzo it will not matter? The 4 does fold up smaller which would be nice for travel. If I buy this nice of a setup I want to make sure I have no reason to leave it home

ben_r_ wrote in post #13071375
How about the lifetime warranty you get with Gitzos? That alone was enough for me. And I have two Gitzos tripods!

http://www.gitzo.com …nfo/Warranty+In​fo/3660936

No it is not lifetime warranty that is why I did NOT go Gitzo

sigma pi wrote in post #13075832
http://www.gitzo.com …nfo/Warranty+In​fo/3660936

No it is not lifetime warranty that is why I did NOT go Gitzo

I was waiting for you to come around

Yes, as I stated earlier in the thread (if youd had read it all) Gitzo is distributed in the US via Bogen Imaging, they also handle warranty claims for Gitzo gear. And they DO offer a lifetime warranty on Gitzo equipment: LINK. What you posted is the Gitzo (ie not in America) statement of warranty.

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FAQ

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Does my product distributed by Bogen have a warranty?

Yes. Everything that Bogen Photo distributes includes a warranty covering the quality of materials used and the quality of workmanship. This does not include items subject to wear such as rubber pads, or similar pieces. Terms of such warranty cover all parts required for the repair of the unit. Labor charges are also covered; however, these charges may be subject to inspection. This warranty applies only to products registered in the US.

Warranty periods are as listed below...

1 year Limited Warranty Period on all products distributed by Bogen with the following exceptions:
Manfrotto 2+3: 2 years warranty plus an additional 3 years when you register online or by mail.
Gitzo: Limited lifetime warranty
Elinchrom: 1 year (excluding flashtube - 180 days)
Metz: 1 year (excludes flashtube and batteries - 180 days)
Kata: 5 Years
National Geographic: Tripods & Heads - 2+3: 2 years, plus 3 years when you register online or by mail.
National Geographic: Bags- 5 years

To add more to it, MANY here on POTN in the US have utilized the Gitzo lifetime warranty for various things. Theres plenty of posts and threads on it. They are actually pretty good about taking care of Gitzo warranty claims.

Tommydigi wrote in post #13075779
Your killin me ben haha. I am sure your right.

When it comes to 4 vs 3 section you say with gitzo it will not matter? The 4 does fold up smaller which would be nice for travel. If I buy this nice of a setup I want to make sure I have no reason to leave it home

I know... I do that to a lot of people, but they always tell me theyre happy when they try it out.

Yea, there was a report done on it, comparing the two setups, three vs four legs sections on a Gitzo and it showed there was no vibration difference. Cant seem to find it at the moment, but Ill poke around. And yes, you hit the nail on the head with that statement! DO ANYTHING YOU CAN to make your support system more travel friendly, because its of no use to you if its too big, heavy, or awkward to carry with you at all times! That is the EXACT motivation that got me into researching higher end support systems several years ago when I created that review thread I directed you to earlier. And seeing as how that thread got over 300,000 views and almost 2000 posts, one can confirm that I wasnt alone in the search.

lol the Title Fairy didnt give me the title "POTN's Three Legged Support" for no reason

ben_r_ wrote in post #13075900
I was waiting for you to come around

Yes, as I stated earlier in the thread (if youd had read it all) Gitzo is distributed in the US via Bogen Imaging, they also handle warranty claims for Gitzo gear. And they DO offer a lifetime warranty on Gitzo equipment: LINK

To add more to it, MANY here on POTN in the US have utilized the Gitzo lifetime warranty for various things. Theres plenty of posts and threads on it. They are actually pretty good about taking care of Gitzo warranty claims.

ahhh I read a few posts. I clicked on the gitzo page from the bogen page.
http://www.bogenimagin​g.us …_page/site/bius​/cache/off
that is what got me to gitzo.us
http://www.gitzo.us …nfo/Warranty+In​fo/3661051
That is what I found. it is confusing why they would have both listed.

Yeah I have read that Gitzo good on customer service. Bogen is hit or miss for me.

sigma pi wrote in post #13075960
ahhh I read a few posts. I clicked on the gitzo page from the bogen page.
http://www.bogenimagin​g.us …_page/site/bius​/cache/off
that is what got me to gitzo.us
http://www.gitzo.us …nfo/Warranty+In​fo/3661051
That is what I found. it is confusing why they would have both listed.

Yeah I have read that Gitzo good on customer service. Bogen is hit or miss for me.

Its cool, I know its stupid how they have it setup. And to be honest, we're both right. You are correct, Gitzo itself does not offer a lifetime warranty. But, they do not sell directly here in America and the company that handles their distribution, Bogen Imaging, does and THEY offer (rather uphold, as Gitzo USED to offer a lifetime warranty too) the lifetime warranty.

Either way, the fact is: Buy a Gitzo here in America, get a lifetime warranty.

ben_r_ wrote in post #13075984
Its cool, I know its stupid how they have it setup. And to be honest, we're both right. You are correct, Gitzo itself does not offer a lifetime warranty. But, they do not sell directly here in America and the company that handles their distribution, Bogen Imaging, does and THEY offer (rather uphold, as Gitzo USED to offer a lifetime warranty too) the lifetime warranty.

Either way, the fact is: Buy a Gitzo here in America, get a lifetime warranty.

No its not cool, I SHOUD HAVE GOTTEN A GITZO !!!!!

sigma pi wrote in post #13076375
No its not cool, I SHOUD HAVE GOTTEN A GITZO !!!!!

Yes, I know

...............

If I had a DSLR and the available cash, I'd buy this:
http://www.gitzo.us ….71837.72040.0.​0/explorer

It is among the legs you listed... but with the explorer option. If you do any macro or low angle shots, you might consider it. I have something similar but at a reduced cost. I can't justify a $1000 tripod setup for a $500 camera. I've only seen the photos of the Gitzo tripods here.. .and they look amazing.

Kim

I have a traveler, as you said you are planing on only using the 24-70 on it but thats never the case. I love my traveler tripod because of how small it is and compact. For me it worked well because I do tend to travel a lot and hauling my gear gets heavy pretty darn fast. I would choose Gitzo any day of the week now that I have seen its quality and preformance out in the field.

Phoenixkh wrote in post #13076451
If I had a DSLR and the available cash, I'd buy this:
http://www.gitzo.us ….71837.72040.0.​0/explorer

It is among the legs you listed... but with the explorer option. If you do any macro or low angle shots, you might consider it. I have something similar but at a reduced cost. I can't justify a $1000 tripod setup for a $500 camera. I've only seen the photos of the Gitzo tripods here.. .and they look amazing.

Kim

I stay here long enough I may need to sell my camera to get the tripod

Seriously its 1 thing I do like about the Manfrotto's I considered. They have the ability to take the center column and angle it out of the legs to get some low angles.

Tommydigi wrote in post #13076479
I stay here long enough I may need to sell my camera to get the tripod

Seriously its 1 thing I do like about the Manfrotto's I considered. They have the ability to take the center column and angle it out of the legs to get some low angles.

+1 I got the manfrotto instead.

but hell that low just put it on a phone book haha