gitzo 1542T?

Is it the best out there?

What are the other alternatives?

Just want to make sure I don't get buyers remorse after I get one.

Want it for hiking and travel.

I have the 1541T and it is phenomenal. I take it everywhere and that is the biggest plus. It is with me and therefore gets used.

Define best. I had it and returned it for a Benro c2680t. I'm much happier with the Benro.

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1111203

the new 1 series RRS looks like a winner. i am also proud 1541t owner

RRS is out of the budget

I personally settled on the HorusBennu FX-7439TT. They're a Korean brand, pretty much ebay only if buying from in the US. This model is their equivalent to the Gitzo 154x tripods.

If cost is no issue I'm not sure I would even consider it but the quality is almost up to the gitzo level for quite a lot less, it's really pretty nicely made.

mswobo wrote in post #14272519
RRS is out of the budget

how much are you looking to spend with legs and ballhead combined?

as little as possible..lol

about 700 or less thats why asked original question...my friend who trys to have "best of everything" swears by his 1541. Was looing at an Oben for 400 with head at B and H also.
Just don't want to have buyers remorse.

I already have a Bogen and a Manfrotto which I use an Arca Swiss Z1 on them

2 series gitzo is a good choice

Which ever way you go, def get the Markins Q3T for your head. IMO its the best travel tripod support setup head option out there.

As far as legs go, Im wasnt too happy with some of the specs of the GT1542T being that I am a happy and proud GT1541T owner. But that doesnt mean its a bad set of legs. If I had to do it again I probably would look at the Benro V35skyline mentioned if the RRS was out of the price range.

mswobo wrote in post #14272519
RRS is out of the budget

Then why ask if something is the best out there? The best out there often requires top price.

Numenorean wrote in post #14274997
Then why ask if something is the best out there? The best out there often requires top price.

Amen!

Please take a look at the Feisol 3441T(tall) or 3441S (standard). These are extremely well made and about $250 less than the Gitzo. I think they are more stable travel platforms than the Gitzo.

THe difference between the two Feisols is simply how tall they will extend without raising the center column.

No experience with the other tripods, but I can attest to the quality of the Feisol ct3441. Great tripod.

rklepper wrote in post #14272073
I have the 1541T and it is phenomenal. I take it everywhere and that is the biggest plus. It is with me and therefore gets used.

You can't go wrong. You can get new 154x stuff for quite a bit under $500 if you watch for deals, shop around, etc. There's no reason to exclude slightly older ones. Sometimes you can get the gitzo stuff for not much more than the knock-off stuff, and you get more peace of mind (maybe easier to get parts if needed, etc).

The horusbennu equiv of this is actually the C-1540TM. You can't find it on e-bay US any longer (I was told it was too close of a copy). It's still sold but it'd be a hassle to get one in the US, meh. I use this one, I love it. I wouldn't trade it for anything, except maybe a gitzo ocean traveler or something (never used one of those though). I didn't like the older benro stuff, but the newer ones seem nicer and some have some stuff on them that is meant to exclude sand and stuff from the leg locking screws--might be worth lookin' into. Sand *will* get in there on the horus and gitzo ones if you are shoving them into the sand at the beach (maybe excluding that ocean traveler lol), but it's not a big deal because they come apart super easy and you can just wash it out in like 5 minutes.

The similar one is the C-2540TM. It's not QUITE as small folded, supposedly doesn't hold quite as much (but still a lot), and weighs a TINY bit more (whatever), but is MUCH cheaper. It's "carbon 7x" vs "carbon 9x" but whatever, right? :P Check e-bay.

There are some other travel HB ones, that are TINY, but unless you really need them to be that small I'd avoid them because they are: expensive and without the center column extended don't go very high at all.