Gitzo GT1544T - Any Info?

I noticed that the Gitzo website is listing a GT1544T traveler, which I assume is a successor to the GT1542T. Amazon apparently started selling it on September 26, 2012 and it's $740 vs the ~$520 on the GT1542T. I couldn't find an entry on B&H.

I couldn't find any reviews on Google for this tripod and am wondering if anybody knows anything about it. The Gitzo site itself says the legs fold back like the old GT1541T (yay!) but the closed length (16.73") is exactly the same as the GT1542T's. So uhh...no improvement? (GT1541T's closed length was 16.14").

Any info would be appreciated.

Yea there probably isnt going to be any info out there on it until Gitzo updates its site and then more when it finally comes to the US and the resellers start listing specs. Thats usually how this seems to go.

So where's the GT1543T traveler? Does it exist?

ben_r_ wrote in post #15300188
Yea there probably isnt going to be any info out there on it until Gitzo updates its site and then more when it finally comes to the US and the resellers start listing specs. Thats usually how this seems to go.

Wait, what? The specs are already on the Gitzo site. And the tripod has been sold by Amazon in the US since 2 months ago.

Gitzo GT1544T: http://www.gitzo.us …%2C_4_sections%​2C_no_head
Gitzo list of Series 1 Travelers: http://www.gitzo.us/ph​oto-tripods-traveler
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com …ripod-Black/dp/B009DP5RFQ

So the 1541T is discontinued, B&H are selling off the 1542T at $460, there is no 1543T and B&H are selling the 1544T at $740.

The 1444T sports a 2lb higher max load spec but a max height that is 2.79 inches shorter than the 1542T. The max height without the center column extended is identical and the 1544T is slightly lighter in weight so the total max height difference must be a shorter center column.

So here we have the incredible shrinking tripod. I thought the 1541T was already a bit too short, then the 1542T came along that was shorter than that and now the current model is even shorter. What is Gitzo playing at?

entlassen wrote in post #15300905
Wait, what? The specs are already on the Gitzo site. And the tripod has been sold by Amazon in the US since 2 months ago.

Gitzo GT1544T: http://www.gitzo.us …%2C_4_sections%​2C_no_head
Gitzo list of Series 1 Travelers: http://www.gitzo.us/ph​oto-tripods-traveler
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com …ripod-Black/dp/B009DP5RFQ

Thanks. Didnt know where we were in the process with that tripod.

Looks like they got back to the 1541T specs.

peter_n wrote in post #15302507
The 1444T sports a 2lb higher max load spec but a max height that is 2.79 inches shorter than the 1542T. The max height without the center column extended is identical and the 1544T is slightly lighter in weight so the total max height difference must be a shorter center column.

So here we have the incredible shrinking tripod. I thought the 1541T was already a bit too short, then the 1542T came along that was shorter than that and now the current model is even shorter. What is Gitzo playing at?

I think you might have misread the specs. The 1542T is longer than the 1541T in every way. All 3 models also have the exact same load capacity.
From the Gitzo site:

GT1541T:
Max Height: 55.12 in
Max Height with Center Column Down: 44.49 in
Closed Length: 16.14
Load Capacity: 17.64

GT1542T:
Max Height: 58.66 in
Max Height with Center Column Down: 45.87 in
Closed Length: 16.73
Load Capacity: 17.64

GT1544T:
Max Height: 55.91 in
Max Height with Center Column Down: 45.87
Closed Length: 16.73
Load Capacity: 17.64

I'm perplexed by the closed length. The GT1541T has gotten rave reviews here and elsewhere. Then the GT1542T came out, but its closed position had the center column extending past the legs (ballhead juts out instead of being nestled between the legs), resulting in a longer closed length than its predecessor. Many people and reviews listed the longer closed length as a big negative (less compact = less ideal for travel!) and it seems like most still regard the GT1541T as superior.

My question is, what the heck is the point of the GT1544T? It's max length is shorter than the GT1542T, but its closed length is still just as long? Double disadvantage??

I feel like I'm missing some crucial info here about the GT1544T that would justify it being a successor model, as I don't see any advantage right now...

entlassen wrote in post #15302746
I think you might have misread the specs. The 1542T is longer than the 1541T in every way. All 3 models also have the exact same load capacity.

You're correct, long day yesterday. Sorry about that, I read the max load as 19.64 lb when it's actually 17.64 lb and the 1541T max height from a spec. chart of my own traveler which is 61.8 in.

You're correct about the closed length. It's weird that it's the same for both the 1542T and the 1544T as the 1544T has reverted to the folded-over design of the 1541T. Maybe the new tripod has a longer first leg section or perhaps Gitzo got their closed length spec wrong?

I'd still like to know why Gitzo skipped a model number...

peter_n wrote in post #15303654
I'd still like to know why Gitzo skipped a model number...

Nope. They didn't. The GT1543T is the base-model of the GK1580TQR4 kit.

The GT1542T has a longer center column.
The GT1544T has a slightly shorter center column.

Both models will be sold simultaneously. No tripod is replacing the other.

It's similar with the 2-series traveler.

GT2540T: base model, now replaced.
GT2541T: model sold as the base-model in the kit GK2580TQR.
GT2542T: separately sold model.

Don't know the difference between the GT2540T and the GT2541T.

Sadly no exploded view of the parts (aka spare parts) is available for the GT2542T yet, only for the successor.

mayuka wrote in post #15303788
Nope. They didn't. The GT1543T is the base-model of the GK1580TQR4 kit.

OMG. Way too confusing. And I'm drinking my coffee! Thanks for your explanatory post though!

So they use a base model number for a set of legs that's part of a kit with a completely different number?

Why can't they just add the ballhead model number to the tripod number? Maybe given that the ballhead in that kit is a GH1781TQR that's not such a good idea...

mayuka wrote in post #15303788
The GT1542T has a longer center column.
The GT1544T has a slightly shorter center column.

Both models will be sold simultaneously. No tripod is replacing the other.

Is this slight difference between the two models enough to justify the ~$200-250 dollar difference? I know that there is currently a slight price inflation on the GT1544T since it just recently hit the market, but I don't see it dropping from $740 to $500 anytime soon. Even when it does start dropping, it will probably still be sold as the more premium model over the 1542T and still be the more expensive of the two. At least the 1542T could boast having a newer g-lock system over the 1541T when it came out. Are there no other differences between the 1544T and the 1542T to justify the price differential?

Are you sure that the models GT1542T, GK1580TQR4 and GT1544T feature a new G-Lock? As far as I know Gitzo has not changed G-Lock since it was introduced. I could be wrong though.
I think the considerable price difference between the GT1542T and the GT1544T is not justified. The reason of it is probably because the GT1544T was just introduced in october (and announced on photokina).The prices will drop in a few months as we saw with the new Systematic models. Gitzo offers a small center column (the GT1511KB if I'm not mistaken). I'm using a similar one on the GT1550T. A few years back everyone stated that center columns from Benro had the same size and fit into the Gitzo tripods. I never liked the GT1542T because folding the legs makes not much sense as the closed length isn't much shorter when collapsed. If you can wait, wait a little longer or buy a used Gitzo traveler first.

I agree that the price of the new version will eventually come down. I think these tripods are still short though, I always look at the spec of max height without the center column extended and the tallest in post #7 is 45.87 in. The RRS TQC-14 is 48 in and my tripod is 51.6 for that spec. When the spec is good you can use less of the center column and I use a short center column on my traveler too.

I sold my GT1541T 2 years ago and kept the GT1550T (which is slightly higher without center column than the GT1541T). I rarely use it with the long center column. Either I use the short center column (GS1510KB, I think it's just the same than the GS1511KB) or no center column at all.

Aren't all the GT154XT of same height without the center column?

There's one important aspect of the 1544T that I would like to know that is specific to the RRS BH-40. The 1541T had a problem where the legs couldn't close in completely because the diameter of the BH-40 was too big. (I'm not sure if it was one, two, or all the legs as I don't have the 1541T).

I would love to know if the 1544T suffers the same problem, or if it has a newer design that accommodates something as big as the BH-40.