Another Tripod Topic - Gitzo v RRS v Feisol

Alright so I'm looking in to purchasing my fourth tripod. When everyone says just get the best to begin with they are surely right.

My first one was a cheapie I picked up when I first got my camera, it served its purpose but my hunger for bigger and better grew and I quickly benched this one.

I then picked up an aluminium Manfrotto combo. The legs are very solid but really heavy and too bulky for all the travel I do. Great to keep around the house though.

Next I thought I found the bargain of the century, a Giottos CF tripod from their new Y design (YTL8284). The size and weight are perfect but there is something loose in the centre column that just cannot be tightened so it's absolutely useless. In the process of trying to sort this out I picked up a RRS BH-55 head and some RRS L pates and feet for my bigger lenses. The issue is 100% with the tripod.

I've now come to the conclusion that centre columns are evil and not needed so my next (and hopefully final) tripod will not be having one. The three main players in this field I have found are Gitzo, RRS and Feisol.

I like to do a lot of long exposure night landscape shots so looking for something rock solid.

I'm looking at the Gitzo GT3542LS, the RRS TVC-33 or potentially an equivalent Fiesol model.

I'd love to hear some feedback from anyone using these models both positive and negative. Even better if you have owned more than one of these.

Living in Australia it's pretty hard to find any locally. I can get the Gitzo landed for about $875 (Amazon), the RRS for $1100 (RRS) and the Feisol I haven't looked into too much but seems about $500(B and H). (AUD)

If there are any Aussie users out there that know a good local supplier please share. Anyone I've called so far on the Gitzo has said they need to order it in and it will be $999, I can order it myself so no good to me.

I have no experience with Gitzo or RRS tripods, but I do have a Feisol.

One advantage both Feisol and RRS have is the use of machined aluminium parts versus the cast metal on Gitzo which has been known to break under certain conditions.

My Feisol has been through tripod hell and back, unscathed. It has been used in sand, salt water, snow, mud, scraped against granite, fallen in rivers, filled with fine dust, carried over many different countries, all without skipping a beat. While RRS should be better, I fail to see how I could justify spending any more, and especially not that much more, when my Feisol is more than good enough for everything I've put it through.

The longest lens I use is a 70-200 + 1.4x.

That said, the Feisol isn't flawless. The screws that hold the legs on have a tendency to come loose, and that is a minor annoyance, but one which is easily fixed by carrying a pair of allen keys around with the tripod, so if it does happen, a slight twist and they're good to go. The keys come with the tripod anyway, so it isn't a problem to just keep them in the pocket in the tripod bag they arrived in originally.

Well you've gone through the Thom Hogan experience. The two top-tier brands are Gitzo and RRS so I think you should invest and make this your fourth and last. I use a 3-series Gitzo systematic 3541LS which is great; the construction of the leg-joint connectors on the top plate means that the Gitzo systematics won't suffer the fractures of their tripods with center columns.

The 3542LS is the current version of my tripod and my experience has been that it's as solid as a rock. I bought mine almost 4 years ago and back then it was a choice between it and the RRS TVC-33; your choice also. The Gitzo folded to 21.7", the RRS to 26.0". The Gitzo cost $540, the RRS $925. I bought the Gitzo and I take it on trips and it hasn't broken.

Having said that, Gitzo customer service sucks here in the US, although it might be different in Oz. CS is the one big thing that I hold against Gitzo but the product itself is excellent. There are Aussie members on this forum who have bought RRS tripods and with luck they will chime in. My one concern about buying RRS from another continent is that you have to ship it back to California in the unlikely event that it gets damaged or breaks. Owners in the UK have found this to be very expensive and in one or two cases have had to deal with import duty hassles as well because the correct (repair return) forms were not submitted with the returned tripods.

If and only if the Gitzo CS situation in Australia is OK then I would say get a Gitzo; mine seems to be bulletproof and you don't hear about their systematics fracturing in extreme cold. RRS also makes a very highly regarded product and they are definitely worth a serious look but if you can check out what Oz customer experience is like. I would call or email RRS directly if you can't find any RRS customers there, they're very responsive. Your BH-55 head will be perfect on either of these tripods.

if you can afford the RRS, I say get it. There are subtle differences that make it better than gitzo, machined rather than cast, better looking, and ratcheting legs. I say if you're spending that much already, get the RRS or for a significant savings, get the feisol. I dont even own the TVC-33, just going on and basing on the other TVC I've fiddled with. Either gitzo or RRS will be rock solid, but the RRS looks like a product I would enjoy a lot more. I cant tell you how many times I've been pinched by gitzo...... really really annoying. RRS = pure pleasure, super stability. It really earns it's price.

I have only tried out one RRS tripod (I believe it was the model you are considering) and I was very impressed. However I live in the UK so RRS backup, whist great, is very slow as parts have to be shipped from the US.
Due to this, and price, I went for Gitzo tripods. Parts are easily available here http://www.gitzospares​.com …LzE9tCg_b8CFfOh​tAodNGsAtA
Also the price difference was huge, I purchased a Gitzo 3530LS, Gitzo 2531, G2541 Mono Pod and a Gitzo 3320BS for a little less than one (33 series) RRS - so it was a bit of a no brainer really!
The RRS products are superb but they can be very much more expensive depending on location and spares may be slow to arrive. Exactly the same applies to Gitzo! If I lived in the US I wouldn't even consider a Gitzo but living in the UK I would be a fool to buy RRS. I would simply go for the brand that offers the best combination of price and backup in your area.
As to Feisol - I have used a few of their products and they are great as well as being reasonably priced but, if you can stretch to them, Gitzo and RRS are better.

P.S. After writing this I did a quick search and found that Gitzo prices have gone up quite a bit in the UK and that there are now a couple of proper EU RRS distributors and RRS tripods are now considerably less expensive!
Glad I bought when I did as I paid a fraction of current prices!

I have had my Gitzo 3530 for several years now without any problems at all. From what I hear, the newest generation is a lot better, and mine is really great.

My friend has a RRS 33S and it's at least as good.

Having heard all the horror stories of Gitzo customer service in the U.S., I'd likely go for RRS next time, if I ever need a new one.

But, I have also toyed with the idea of getting something that folds up more compactly and I was thinking about the Feisol 3472. Feisol owners all seem to be just as happy.

I doubt you'll go wrong with any of those choices.

I'm with Tom. Feisol has proven to be an amazing tripod for me and has stood up to everything I've thrown at it (though Tom seems to have thrown a LOT more at his feisol tripod then I have mine!!)

If i had the money I might go with RRS but at 3x the price Im not really sure.

I'd say that RRS is the top of the high end with feisol being the budget option but in the same category.

I wouldn't go with gitzo because I have seen several reports of the fast aluminum part cracking in cold temps and questionable customer service on getting new parts to fix them

I have a Feisol 3401 coming so hopefully I made a good choice.

Thanks for the feedback so far everyone. It seems as predicted there is support for all three. I'm leaning towards the Gitzo at the moment for two reasons.

Firstly I can get one locally here for around $950, while it's $100 more than Amazon at least I will have a local lifetime warranty, I have spoken with the local importer and they were pretty helpful in hooking me up with a few of their retailers to work out a price.

The second reason is the old you get what you pay for, I've found it to be true so far with tripods so I'm hesitant to get the Feisol for the sake of a few hundred dollars. Although Feisol owners seems happy with their purchase I think it's going to come down to RRS v Gitzo for me.

The only thing of concern is the mention of the Gitzos breaking. Is there any cases of this happening with their latest version Systematic tripods? I'm going to do some googling now to see what shows up. Although the warranty would most likely cover it I doubt they'd also pay the excess on my insurance premium for any broken gear that resulted from the failure of the tripod.

Are there any Gitzo owners out there that have had a failure that would care to share?

El Pedro wrote in post #17079067
Are there any Gitzo owners out there that have had a failure that would care to share?

I believe Phrasikleia has had experience with this. May be worth messaging her.

Sirrith wrote in post #17079073
I believe Phrasikleia has had experience with this. May be worth messaging her.

that's with a 2 series, never heard of the 3 series going bad.

as for the price... if you're going to pay that much for a gitzo, get the RRS already. Price gap is relatively small, get the RRS, it'll be worth it. If the gitzo were significantly less, then it's sensible, but RRS is in another league and so close in price, it's a no brainer.

El Pedro wrote in post #17079067
The only thing of concern is the mention of the Gitzos breaking. Is there any cases of this happening with their latest version Systematic tripods? I'm going to do some googling now to see what shows up. Although the warranty would most likely cover it I doubt they'd also pay the excess on my insurance premium for any broken gear that resulted from the failure of the tripod.

Are there any Gitzo owners out there that have had a failure that would care to share?

dont be concerned, that gitzo isnt going to break. It laughs at my 150-600 combo.

5 year old:

IMAGE LINK: https://www.flickr.com …s/charlie617/13​989773735/

I've just placed an order for the Gitzo. I like to buy local where possible and don't mind paying a small premium to be assured of after sales service.

I spoke with the local distributor again and they said they will handle any warranty work within Australia should any problems arise.

The RRS sounds amazing but I don't like the thought of having to send something so large to the USA for repair. If I lived in the USA this would have been my pick.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Heya,

Any thoughts on where Induro compares with anything from Gitzo?

Very best,

El Pedro wrote in post #17079067
The only thing of concern is the mention of the Gitzos breaking. Is there any cases of this happening with their latest version Systematic tripods?

I have not heard of any systematics breaking and there are thousands of them out there being used. Phrasikleia had two failures with series-2 tripods (w/center columns & not systematics), got mad and bought a RRS. I would have done the same thing as her for sure. However the 2-series (I think) have a weakness at the leg joint mount and the attached picture shows the mounting area on a 3-series systematic - it's way more substantial.

El Pedro wrote in post #17079208
I've just placed an order for the Gitzo. I like to buy local where possible and don't mind paying a small premium to be assured of after sales service.

Good move.