Benro c2680t v2 vs Gitzo gt1542t

I'll measure the folded diameter w/out the ballhead attached when I have time this weekend. I do not have calipers, but Peter reports a max leg diameter of 29mm and mini leg diameter of 18.5mm - and I do not believe this changed in v2.

ben_r_ wrote in post #13354534
Do you mean like this shorter column? LINK

That's a bit short at 170mm/6.7" ; the legs might not close as far as a longer column might allow for, apart from the loss of max height when needed.

Also, it's not exactly free ...

Petersman wrote in post #13355481
That's a bit short at 170mm/6.7" ; the legs might not close as far as a longer column might allow for, apart from the loss of max height when needed.

Also, it's not exactly free ...

Agreed, but you mentioned wanting a shorter column. Exactly what length were you thinking?

ben_r_ wrote in post #13355524
Agreed, but you mentioned wanting a shorter column. Exactly what length were you thinking?

You had me there - for a moment I thought you were serious .

Petersman wrote in post #13355535
You had me there - for a moment I thought you were serious .

Im always serious. Im honestly confused. You said you were hoping Gitzo would release a 1542T with a shorter center column, were you thinking so that it would work like the 1541T where the legs folded around the head?

ben_r_ wrote in post #13355540
Im always serious. Im honestly confused. You said you were hoping Gitzo would release a 1542T with a shorter center column, were you thinking so that it would work like the 1541T where the legs folded around the head?

Sorry that I wasn't more clear ; plus I'm a foreign speaker, things get lost in translation ...

My beef with the 1542T is the long center column, which was mentioned in the review ; in my opinion, a shorter one should be of a length fitting the design, to allow for :
a) The legs being closed as far as possible (head platform reaching as far into the thinnest part of the legs as possible) .
b) The head (3-3.5" being a common height) still being fully covered by the folded legs for minimum folded length.

Also :
c) A longish center column is not on the top of my list, as I try to avoid using it, but is nice to have in case one needs the max possible height of a tripod .
d) Spending another $90 (+tax and shipping) to correct a major design flaw (just my opinion) of an already expensive tripod is not acceptable to me .

Long story short - I'd like to have a center column that is 3.5" (Markins Q3T) shorter than the current one; actually I think the 154xT kit version's column might be exactly the right length .

When you look at the Traveler spider designs, you can see that the column support is about 1" taller than in the traditional Gitzo models, as it was moved to the top and sits underneath the column locking knob.

Hence, with the head not being covered by the folded back legs, the 1541T looses just the height of this locking knob in folded length (approx. 1") , compared to a regular design .
I hope that makes sense ...

Ah, yes that does make more sense. I understand now.

I just did a measurement without the ballhead (the limiting factor for girth minimization. as per you're picture with the tape below it is 12.6" at the girthiest point by the twist locks.

Doing a measurement at the same spot without the ballhead (or with the ballhead if it could clear the twist lock...measures in at 11.75"...quite the difference.

v35skyline wrote in post #13351246
Benro

Gitzo

You can see that the Benro is quite a bit bulkier.

Q3T on the Benro.

Q3T on the Gitzo.

***NOTE: the c2680t v1 (the version Peter reviewed) has an ever so slightly longer center column that allows the legs to be folded flat/parallel with the Markins Q3T. As far as I know, this version is no longer available and Benro made the adjustment without any warning. I received the following message from dc-stuffs regarding this concern.

The following picture is from dc-stuffs and shows the c2680t v2 (shorter center column).

http://imgs.inkfrog.co​m/pix/dc1977/cx680t_1.​jpg
(pay special attention to where the base “disc” of the center column ends)

This picture from dc-stuffs shows the older c2680t v1 with the longer center column.

http://imgs.inkfrog.co​m/pix/dc1977/cx680tbx_​1.jpg
(pay special attention to where the base “disc” of the center column ends, not the ballhead)

where's the cheapest place to order the Benro?

John Photography wrote in post #13409406
where's the cheapest place to order the Benro?

Ebay

John Photography wrote in post #13409406
where's the cheapest place to order the Benro?

holgacamera

Yes, I believe holgacamera is the cheapest - and yes, they are reputable.

^^ +1. Holgacamera trades on eBay as kghobbie and if you buy from him on eBay you'll pay almost $40 more to cover his eBay costs. Get it through his web store.

anyone pick up the BENRO C2690TB1?

Is that the one that can turn into a monopod?