Tripod - From a Prehistoric Bogen 3020 to Feisol 344?

I'm in the market for a new tripod and need some help. I mainly shoot landscape and macro. On some days I could walk 6 hours, others just 2. I may be standing in moving water or the hot desert.

As far a weight, I'm coming from an older aluminum Bogen/Manfrotto 3020 tripod that weighs 5 lbs (2kg) without the head. I can't find the exact spec's online, but I've read others saying that it's rated to handle about 13lbs. This must be long before ratings were changed to a gimic as this has been rock solid with anything I've put on it with almost no flex even splayed completely out. There are lots of things I don't like and why I'm shopping around.

After hunting for about two weeks I've settled on Feisol. I like the build quality from what I've read, the warranty, the compactness, weight and ease of use. I'd also like to stay around the $400 range. The thing is, I'm not convinced of the rigidity. I've watched videos on the 3441T/3442 and compared to my Bogen they seem flimsy and shaky even rated at 22lbs. Am I wrong here?

I'd prefer a flat spider/no center column, but if the CC's rock solid set all the way down I may be persuaded and at that point and then purchase a short CC replacement.

The reason for the 3441T consideration is that I have some back issues and would prefer not to hunch all the time and at-least have a choice. I only stand 5'9", but I have to add this into the equation. The consideration on the 3442 was based on the wide flat spider that would allow the head to be inverted into the legs and the compactness overall.

I'd also like it to be CF, easily attach it to a backpack, have fast twist locks, and head to fit into inverted legs, but isn't absolutely necessary. As far as warranty in the $400 range, I don't expect much, 3 years seems about average. Good customer service that listens and quickly addresses an issue is also important.

Recommendations? Step up to the 337x line? Other?

after owning a old tilltall at 6 lbs it was time for me to get a new tripod,i went with an induro cto14 carbon fibber,its made very well and its light at 2 1/2 lb. as i once did own a gitzo for a short time i would say this tripod would stand toe to toe with it, if you have a bad back like me! you will love this one, it hall's real easy ether on a back pack or in hand, 5 years on the warranty to, total i paid under $300.

I would recommend Gitzo but they are not in your price range unless you can find a good used one.
However a friend of mine has the Feisol 3342 and I am quite impressed with it. I have only used it with a Gimbal head and a Canon 300 F2.8 + 2 x extender and it did the job very well. Personally I would go for the 3 leg section version as it is 4cm taller, marginally lighter and a little more rigid.
Going up to the 3371 you are doubling the weight and whilst I a sure it is better - are you really going to see the benefit for your uses?

Thanks John. One other use that I forgot to mention is long exposures, mostly at the ocean or in a stream. It's really hard to say what I can be up against on a day out as I usually end up challenging myself one way or another. If Feisol had something between the 28mm legs and 37mm maybe that would be a happy medium. Can't make everyone happy I guess.

If I considered a used CF Gitzo what model should I look for? Also, would used carry their lifetime warranty?

Ynot wrote in post #16911458
If I considered a used CF Gitzo what model should I look for? Also, would used carry their lifetime warranty?

You mentioned good customer service. Stay away from Gitzo. Theirs has a reputation for being the opposite.

Feisol CS is great from my experience.

RRS is great too (if you can afford it).

I've not had any problems with mine being flimsy or shaky, the only shake I've had is with the 70-200, no tripod foot on the lens, and with a stiff, varying breeze causing the lens to vibrate (not the tripod's fault). I have had no missed shots due to the tripod not performing its job. Perhaps this will help you see what my tripod has been through in its life so far

Sirrith wrote in post #16676935
Took it to Iceland and used it on sharp volcanic rocks in the rain, it was partially submerged in freezing salt water (unintentionally by a rogue wave as well as intentionally at Jokulsarlon), in sand (which thanks to the wave also got everywhere), under the hot shower back at the hostel with me to wash out the salt and sand.

Took it to Scotland where it was used on wet grass and mud.

Took it to China where it was scraped along granite rocks and used in relatively strong winds hiking around the Yellow Mountains (I was extremely thankful for the light weight there, have you ever walked up and down steep stairs for 6 hours straight with a loaded pack?).

Back here in Hong Kong it has been used on very uneven rocks, and has fallen into a river twice, being completely submerged as well as being bashed against rocks (both my ballhead and the legs bear the scars).

In France it was used in a snowstorm as well as being buried in the stuff.

All in all, I don't see how a more expensive tripod would have fared any better (I do not have a single failed shot which was due to the tripod in any of those conditions, all blurry shots were a result of me bumping against the tripod or camera during the exposure, and the tripod has been so easy to use as well).

Since then I have also taken it to the Swiss Alps where it was used in the rain and mud at mid-high altitudes and the south of France in sand and salt water.

Most recently, I took it to Cambodia where I was carrying it around for many hours at a time in hot weather, bashing it around in the back of tuktuks, and getting it covered in fine dust.

Now, I'm not claiming that it is the most rigid tripod ever, or that it will support anything you throw at it. But if you want a fantastic, high quality, lightweight tripod, with good customer service to stand behind it, I can't think of a better choice.

Thanks a bunch Tom. That's great review by itself. What I meant by rigidity was it shaking for instance during a long exposure at the ocean when breezes are common, especially in the late afternoon. Or in a stream. You've got me more than sold on the toughness no doubt. I'm currently stuck between Feisol and Sirui as Sirui has a max leg tube dia. in between the two Feisol sizes, a happy medium. Other features are about equal and a couple that fall short, so I'm still on the fence.

Took a look at your Flickr, WOW! Great stuff. I assume your slower shutters were using the Feisol. "Pictures speak a thousand words" for sure.

Ynot wrote in post #16911784
Thanks a bunch Tom. That's great review by itself. What I meant by rigidity was it shaking for instance during a long exposure at the ocean when breezes are common, especially in the late afternoon. Or in a stream. You've got me more than sold on the toughness no doubt. I'm currently stuck between Feisol and Sirui as Sirui has a max leg tube dia. in between the two Feisol sizes, a happy medium. Other features are about equal and a couple that fall short, so I'm still on the fence.

Took a look at your Flickr, WOW! Great stuff. I assume your slower shutters were using the Feisol. "Pictures speak a thousand words" for sure.

I've never tried Sirui, so I can't say anything about them.

I do know that the tripod itself doesn't shake when there is wind unless it is particularly strong/gusty, but if you have a long lens, make sure to use the tripod ring otherwise it catches the wind and will cause shake. For short lenses this is no problem. Also, the tripod head is quite important, at least as important as the legs, if not more.

And thanks! Yes, virtually all the long exposures were shot with the Feisol, as well as a lot of the non-long exposure landscapes.

Ynot wrote in post #16911458
If I considered a used CF Gitzo what model should I look for? Also, would used carry their lifetime warranty?

Pity you don't live in the UK as I have one for sale!
I would suggest looking at the older Gitzo non ALR carbon tripods as newer versions are fetching too much money over here. On the non-ALR versions when you unlock a leg lock the leg section is free to rotate. What this means in practice is that you extend and lock the leg sections in sequence - thinnest first. I use both types and am happy with either. A 3 series (model number starts 13xx) will be more than you probably need. The weight rating is 12 Kilos but mine will actually support over 100 Kilos. A 2 series will be lighter (12xx) though still pretty rigid. These older models tend to run 100 to 200 grams heavier but are still VERY serviceable, high quality tripods.

If you are going to get an older used Gitzo and immerse it in water make sure it has the plastic bushings in the legs. The bushings that look like Bakelite swell up when they get wet. This makes it very difficult to extend the legs until they dry out. Taking it apart to dry allows the bushings to dry in their expanded state so I would take it apart and wipe away the excess water and put is back together to dry. Mine has been rendered virtually useless for a month some times.

That is why I added a Manfrotto 475B for immersion.

Ynot,

You will note that most respondents write glowingly of what they own-self-validation and I am not an exception. I can vouch for the Feisol 3442. I stand more than 6 ft tall and I use it without the center column. That said, as a landscape photographer I am relying on Live View for detailed composition and manual focus, though intial set up is done via the view finder. I use a Canon 5Dii atop a Photoclam ball head, with Kirk Arca Swiss clamps for my bodies. The heaviest lens I mount is the Canon 100-400 L. This works fine on calm days but if there is a wind blowing from the side it will cause the lens to vibrate on the Photoclam. You can see this clearly with live view at 5x. My most used lenses are the 24-105 L and the 70-200L both preform excellently in all but horrible conditions. In those cases it is not the tripod legs that are failing, it's the Photoclam.

So, I have had my 3442 for more than 4 years and I am very satisfied. I routinely use it for 30 sec exposures and get very sharp images, limited only by my own technique. Did you notice the custom Arca Swiss clamps for mounting the body? Very important. If you introduce any wiggle while mounting the camera, it won't matter what you spend on the legs

Hope this helps.

...

Thanks all. I ordered a used, of course, G1325. It's in very nice shape and the lifetime warranty is honored. It has plastic seals and the only signs of wear are the feet, other than that, pristine. I'll have 30 days to make sure I like it, hmmm wondering what I should put it through to prove this to me. My first non-aluminum, first Gitzo, first twist-lock, first non-embarrising, non-chrome colored, tripod. Can't wait.

Thanks for all your help, you guys are great.

Ynot wrote in post #16914837
Thanks all. I ordered a used, of course, G1325. It's in very nice shape and the lifetime warranty is honored. It has plastic seals and the only signs of wear are the feet, other than that, pristine. I'll have 30 days to make sure I like it, hmmm wondering what I should put it through to prove this to me. My first non-aluminum, first Gitzo, first twist-lock, first non-embarrising, non-chrome colored, tripod. Can't wait.

Thanks for all your help, you guys are great.

good buy. I was also in the same boat once, found a fantastic GT3530LSV, so snatched it up. I had the bogen 3021 for many years, and surpised that the much beefier gitzo weighed less. As far as stability, both seem rock solid. The gitzo seems more enjoyable to use, with the exception of the leg ratcheting.... not sure why gitzos dont have that feature.

Thanks Charlie. Looking forward to it.

The G1325 is a very nice piece of kit - you won't be replacing that in a hurry! Remember to open and lock the leg sections in sequence (thinnest first) or you may be scratching you head! You will master it in minutes and, probably, never think of it again.