question about Gitzo GT3542L

this tripod without center column is too tall for me fully extended. are the legs etched to facilitate eye-level set-up? I know the systematics are but I am unable to find any info on the particular tripod. thanks!

I have been using Systematics for about 10 years and I have only just discovered that my 4542LS (most recent purchase) has etched marks to give a height of 135cm - about eye level allowing for a head and camera. Well that was fun but of absolutely no relevance for my use of the tripod!

Assuming that your tripod is a Systematic (you state no center column) then it is FAR quicker to just set it to the height that you want rather than looking for some silly marks on the legs. I think your tripod has them, as does mine, and I suspect that after about 20 to 30 seconds playing will tell you just how irrelevant they are

More to the point you have a simply excellent tripod there - enjoy!

thanks man. I have a systematic but its a short model. I pull the legs all the way out. the tripod I asked about is not a systematic and if I pull the legs all the way out i'll be on my tiptoes. are you saying that quickly setting up a tripod that's too tall is intuitive? I think I've heard that before but I want to be sure and get the right tripod because gitzo does have other options. thanks!

Ahh I see what you are getting at.

It is quite normal (essential?) to have a tripod that is too tall as you may wish to shoot at higher angles (Moon etc) and you will almost certainly be on uneven/sloping ground at some stage so the extra height is handy.

On my 4542LS there are marks that give a height of 135cm which is about right for me when one includes the camera and head, however I have yet to use them. Personally I find it very quick and easy to set up a tripod to roughly the correct height and them a quick adjustment will get it perfect, if you hve a center column then it is even easier.

You mention that you already have a short model Systematic, so long as it is not the 3320BS, then have you thought of putting a center column on it? These are cheaper than a whole new tripod and will give greater flexibility to your Systematic. Sometimes they come up very cheap on E Bay, for example I picked up a mint Gitzo G1318 for £35 a couple of years ago. This is from an older series but fits 2,3 and 4 series Systematics perfectly. I have read that Benro and Induro top plates fit Gitzo so their center columns would be worth investigating too.

Hope some of this helps.

I just checked my Gitzo GT3541L and could not find any evidence of any etchings on any of the leg sections to indicate any particular height settings.

Note that mine is the GT3541L and not the GT3542L.

Cheers

Dennis

I had the same issues with the 3530L. To get around it was a more simplistic approach, I simply pulled the first leg only a hands length, locked those, then pull the rest all the way out. Of course you can experiment your own etching with nail polish or something like that. It wont get you level, but close enough. If you want to quickly level, you should get either a leveling base (do not recommend for landscapes) or a head specialized for landscapes, arca swiss P0 or P1.

EDIT: also, if you're on your tip toes, it might just work pulling only 2 instead of 3 legs. In general, the hand trick works for me, I have a 4 legged feisol now that's almost as tall as my previous systematic. If I'm shooting in waters, then the top most leg is shortest. Been doing this for years, second nature at this point. If I'm in the field, sometimes I'll leave the custom legs extended the whole time, and dont retract them.

thanks. i'm actually looking at a center column on ebay as another option but it adds a pound. my systematic is great height on level ground but there are times when I could use more height. just exploring my options. I can get extra height on another tripod without center column but if adjusting each leg everytime I set it up is a hassle it's not gonna work for me.

thanks man. by the way is your tripod too tall when legs are fully extended? if so is it a hassle to get to correct height?

I think a sharpie could work. I do a lot of nightphotopgraphy so markings of any sort may not work. sounds like a tripod that's roughly the correct height + center column is the way to go. thanks for your help!

Pity you live so far away ED as I could easily demonstrate how quick and easy it is to get the tripod at the right (or VERY close to) height almost instantly. I agree that if you want to make fine adjustments then it can be a little slow. That is why I suggested an accessory center column - yes it does add weight but it also removes a LOT less weight from your wallet!

Just for a giggle I tried setting up my 4542LS to eye height (allowing for head and camera) and timed it - well it took longer to get the tripod out of the "Dust Bag" than to set it up nice and level. It is just practice - and not very much of it!

Happy deciding

thanks man. I wanted a taller tripod that was easy to adjust to avoid center column. I just know how I am. always in a hurry and I hate futzing around, and really I would like 3 leg sections instead of four but I travel with my tripod so i'm not able to do that either. I think i'll put a serious bid in on that center column. thanks for your help!

ed rader wrote in post #18339398
I think a sharpie could work. I do a lot of nightphotopgraphy so markings of any sort may not work. sounds like a tripod that's roughly the correct height + center column is the way to go. thanks for your help!

that's why I suggested nail polish (silver or white), I do this for my MF lenses for night photography as well, I simply line up my preset marks to hit infinity. At one point, I had marked up my tripod to make sure I have all the legs locks lined up, but that didnt work well as it would drift over time.

I also have a center column kit, but I generally stay away from that due to the inability to get low level shots. That said, I typically bring with me one of those manfrotto table tripods with me, and they really work good if you need ground level, or set your camera on a post. Really handy, takes up very little space too. For that reason, I *might* consider using the center column kit, just a bit lazy putting it on and off. Putting my tripod over a rail of a cliff or something, I dont want the center getting caught, just those sort of things I run into most often.

I think after you get some experience with it, you'll find that it's not very difficult or time consuming at all. You just need to find that magic adjustment of the first leg and go from there.

so one way to work with it, is to pull your first legs to the magic adjustment and work that way the entire time, never closing those legs.

the other way is to open up all at once, adjust the tallest legs to the right adjustment, then lock all. I think either way, it only takes an additional 2 full seconds.

I use the first method when shooting on land. when by sea/sand/rocks, I'll use the second method since cleaning a tripod is too brutal, I'de rather not get sand inside.

ed rader wrote in post #18339396
thanks man. by the way is your tripod too tall when legs are fully extended? if so is it a hassle to get to correct height?

I generally use the GT3541L in fairly static situations using a gimbal head for birds in flight, so the legs are normally fully extended so I can point the camera/lens upwards.

On the occasions where I use a ball head, I just pull the lower legs down by a palm width (I've got big hands!), lock them and then extend the other legs fully and that gets me in the ball park.

Would be very nice to have some etched markings, with maybe cms/inches marked.

Cheers

Dennis

Lots of interesting ways to get tripods set up quickly here!

Whilst we are all solving the same problem, we are doing it in different ways - I am learning a bit!

yeah, i'm learning some good stuff and I thank everyone! I got outbid on the center column but I really would rather not use a center column for many reasons. I may buy the Gitzo GT3543LS systematic (mine is a 2). BH has some screaming prices and there's a $100 rebate from Gitzo too bringing the price to $769.