CEITam wrote in post #18638697
Thanks SYS. I am thinking the modding is helpful for travel because I like to hang it on the side or back of a camera backpack. The slimmer cylinder shape would not bulge out and would be easier to handle, especially when touring in a city environment (say walking around in museum, church, eating at restaurants).
It sounds like you’re saying it’s too heavy for a travel tripod, which I understand. My GT1541T is good for 90% of the time. But once in a while it shows its limitations. I’m debating whether to just live with it, upgrade to Series 2 Traveler and hope it will handle what I want, or get the GT4553S as a semi-Traveler.
Depends on what your weight tolerance is. I don't know how young you are but I'm 62. GT4553S is 4.9 lbs, then my RRS BH-55 is 1.96 lbs. Both combined is nearly 7 lbs. Air travel is not an issue since they'll be inside a carry-on bag with wheels. It's how you're going to use once you've reached the destination is the question. I don't know how much weight you'd be reducing by modding the hub and placing your Markins head, but say it'd be reduced to around 6 lbs. Now, if you feel comfortable carrying that on the side or back of your camera backpack, I'd say go for it. I assume your camera and the lens will hang to your side or inside the backpack.
If you require a solid rigidity in a tripod while traveling, I'd say that GT4553S is one of the best of the best out there that offers the ideal combination of transportability and rigidity. The only question is whether you'd feel comfortable with the overall weight. It's a give and take when it comes to tripods. More rigidity you require, heavier it'd have to be; lighter the overall weight you desire, less rigidity it'd have to be. It's your call.
