Tripod - RRS or Gitzo

I want to buy my 1st tripod and would like advice on buying either a RRS or a Gitzo . I want carbon fiber, I will be mounting a 1DX with a 300mm f 2.8 IS II and a 2x TC. I am 6'2" and would prefer not to have to hunch over. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

I have 3 gitzo tripods and have no complaints. I also really like RRS gear. I hear the RRS are better in colder weather. Since we are practically neighbors let me know if you want to check them out. I have a GT1541T, GT2531, and a GT3541XLS. I think the GT3541XLS would be good for you height.

I should also mention I have RRS BH40 and BH55 if you want to check them out.

I spent weeks recently looking into pretty much this same question.

While there are lots of people very happy with their Gitzos, there are also many who've had problems and experienced very bad customer service when trying to arrange repairs & replace parts etc. This link, in particular the comments below the article, pretty much cemented my impression from other more fragmented material; one of the responses is apparently from a Gitzo representative and it is lame in the extreme.

Having experienced my share of major problems with supposedly premium brands (not photography related) in the past I understand the importance of good after sales service; no way am I going to take a chance on a pricey brand which apparently can't offer this.

http://www.richardbern​abe.com …y-last-gitzo-tripod-ever/

In contrast, by all accounts I have read the after sales service (and client service generally) from RRS is exceptional. I placed my order last week.

For your height and equipment the TVC 34L with a BH 55 ballhead would probably be a good choice. It's very expensive but I was persuaded by all the recommendations to save up and buy the best tripod you can afford, so it lasts a lifetime and you don't waste money on less stable equipment which you'll end up replacing.

I'd be interested to hear what you decide on!

The couple of folks I know you did pony up for RRS legs were totally happy with the decision. If you did not already have one, get a BH-55 on top of the legs and save a few dollars on the package.

RRS!

I own two Gitzo tripods and they have worked great for me, with no issues to date. However, I have heard a lot of complaints about Gitzo's customer service...or lack thereof when you really need it.

I have looked briefly at RRS's tripods and they ooze quality, but I have not used one yet. But what I can say about RRS is their customer service and quality control is beyond superb. When I decided to invest in a pano set-up, I wrote to RRS with a few questions and they provided me with thorough answers, gave me several options to consider, and stayed with me until I had a complete understanding and knowledge of which setup would work best for me. They truly care about their customers and they want to maximize your photography enjoyment to the maximum extent possible. RRS may have premium prices, but in exchange you get premium products and amazing customer service. Now that's the type of company I like doing business with.

Bryan

I have 4 Gitzo tripods and one Monopod so you can guess my opinion! Here in the UK Gitzo parts are easily available and RRS nearly impossible also RRS are hideously expensive to get hold of here. I do know one person who traded an older model (non ALR) Gitzo for an RRS tripod for a trip to Antartica. He is very pleased with his RRS but cannot really see any practical difference - but he does like it very much. I did look into RRS for myself but ended up with brand new GT3530LS, GT3320BS, GT2531 and a used G13296 Mk2 (+ carbon Center column) for about the same money! Well actually 9 pounds less.

I'm one of those that experienced the "service" of Gitzo. It took almost 4 weeks of daily calls and emails to get it resolved, and then I got rid of it and replaced it with RRS. Very happy with their service.

rick_reno wrote in post #16648253
I'm one of those that experienced the "service" of Gitzo. It took almost 4 weeks of daily calls and emails to get it resolved, and then I got rid of it and replaced it with RRS. Very happy with their service.

From what I read on this and other forums Gitzo do not seem to support US customers very well. This is a mistake as the US market is huge and they could make serious money with just a little effort.
Over here in the EU (UK) their support is pretty good and, in my experience, their prices are better. Maybe it is not so bad living in "Ripoff" Britain? Especially as I got 3 new Gitzos + 1 used one for the price on 1 RRS.

I too have experienced very bad Gitzo customer service, and it's the fault of Manfrotto Distribution. I spoke with some Manfrotto folks at the Photo Expo in NYC last fall and they are aware of the issue and are trying to fix it. I told them in no uncertain terms that they were losing business because of it. My issue was getting parts, I won't bore you with the story but luckily I was buying the parts for backup and didn't actually need them at the time. What a disaster that was.

I'm actually staying with Gitzo because I travel quite a bit and if something goes wrong in Europe I know I can get a part quickly and fix it. I've had three Gitzo tripods and so far no problems with any of them & I've been happy with the product.

RRS also make good tripods but they're not perfect either. When they design something they rarely update the design, even if there's evidence that there might be something wrong. They have done it, but it's rare. The loose leg joint screws is an example; blue Loctite really isn't a good solution there. In contrast Gitzo seem to update their models on a regular basis, taking advantage of new construction techniques and modern composites and adhesives.

The latest round of Gitzo systematic designs released in 2012 apparently did improve the stability and max load capability of their models at the expense of more weight, and they did fix a serious security issue with the top base plate. All of us Gitzo owners moaned about the increased weight but it does seem the line as a whole has been improved.

It's tough to choose and personal preference comes into it too. Try to use both before you buy as there may be features that you may really like in one or the other. For your height I would think the RRS-34L and Gitzo 3542XLS are the most suitable models. They are $1045 and $895 respectively.

I started looking at RRS and it seems they lean to the non center column as the "go to" design. I know you can add it as optional item. Do you miss it? Is it true what they say about the strength is at the apex etc. or is that "marketing" talk for their design? Thanks.

My previous tripod had a center column that was multi-positional. When I purchased my RRS TVC 34L, I was worried I would miss it for macro shots but so far, I haven't. I kept my old tripod just in case.

lance60031x wrote in post #16649808
I started looking at RRS and it seems they lean to the non center column as the "go to" design. I know you can add it as optional item. Do you miss it? Is it true what they say about the strength is at the apex etc. or is that "marketing" talk for their design? Thanks.

I haven't missed it.

lance60031x wrote in post #16649808
I started looking at RRS and it seems they lean to the non center column as the "go to" design. I know you can add it as optional item. Do you miss it? Is it true what they say about the strength is at the apex etc. or is that "marketing" talk for their design? Thanks.

Lance,

A tripod without a center column definitely has added stability. About a year ago, I removed the center column on my gitzo and replaced it with a Markins tripod base and I love it. I never really used the center column and I don't miss it at all. I've found it very easy to adjust the height of the tripod legs to get my tripod close to level and then I fine tune it from there with my ballhead. Adjusting the legs on my Gitzo has become second nature for me and is very fast once you get used to it.

Hope this helps,
Bryan

thanks to all -- seems I can live without my center column -- now I just need to get paste the sticker shock of the price for the " 3 legs"! I am a believer in RRS with their ball head and a monopod head.