Anyone with feedback on Gitzo GT3543XLS

I'm a tall guy so this looks like a high quality option under $1000. Anyone have any experience / review of these tripod legs? Thanks!

I've got the GT3533LS, I'm 6' even, and that "long" is tall enough for me without question,. but still 20" shorter than the one your looking at!

They are great high quality legs, can't go wrong with Gitzo. The advantage you'd get with those ultra tall legs is more flexibility on very uneven ground, comfortably shooting up hill or in the sky etc,.

Thanks for the reply. I'm 6'4". Your feedback on the LS version is good news. Do these things ever go on sale?

downhillonwater wrote in post #19052188
Thanks for the reply. I'm 6'4". Your feedback on the LS version is good news. Do these things ever go on sale?

Supposedly a sale at Adorama for $900 but on back order. But if that price is a deal, order and they will hold the price.

See https://www.adorama.co​m/gzgt3543xlsu.html

A key consideration to think about...3-section (3533) vs. 4-section legs (3543)
You can get higher with 4 sections, but understand that you have to extend 3 sections and lock 3 locks EVERY TIME you set up or take down your tripod at max length for a 4-section tripod (vs. extend 2 sections and lock 2 locks every time you set at max length for a 3 section tripod. IOW the setup and takedown work for the shooter is 50% greater for 4-section vs. 3-section legs in each direction.

I have mostly stuck with three sections. The only advantage for 4 sections is often they fold up a little shorter, but sometimes the difference is next to nothing.

downhillonwater wrote in post #19052188
Thanks for the reply. I'm 6'4". Your feedback on the LS version is good news. Do these things ever go on sale?

This doesn't include the model you want but several models are on sale now:

https://www.cpricewatc​h.com …ler-carbon-fiber-tripods/

Wilt wrote in post #19053539
A key consideration to think about...3-section (3533) vs. 4-section legs (3543)
You can get higher with 4 sections, but understand that you have to extend 3 sections and lock 3 locks EVERY TIME you set up or take down your tripod at max length for a 4-section tripod (vs. extend 2 sections and lock 2 locks every time you set at max length for a 3 section tripod. IOW the setup and takedown work for the shooter is 50% greater for 4-section vs. 3-section legs in each direction.

You don't have to extend all 3 sections and use all 3 locks EVERYTIME. I used to think that you do, but I was wrong.
There is absolutely no reason not to just use 2 locks most of the time when using a 4 section tripod.

For storing at home, transit to location, be it walking, driving, Air travel, using all 3 locks and having tripod at minimum length would be typical, but not mandatory. I have a station wagon. I often throw my 3 section Gitzo in the back of the car with tripod a bit shorter than typical shooting length. Why not? I walk with tripod like that, camera and lens mounted with tripod on my shoulder.
So tripod gets driven to location at shooting length, then carried at same length to various locations if flat ground, or with 1 set of legs slightly retracted on uneven ground. For quick shots I usually just stand a little stooped, for longer periods I use 1 set of locks to extend to more comfortable shooting length. 4 section tripod would only require 1 set of locks to be used in same scenario. I don't believe that is an unusual use scenario. The most common reason I retract legs is in rough terrain where extended legs are a nuisance.
Sometimes I adjust length, shooting at a high angle or shooting from lower to the ground. High angle requires 1 set of locks to be adjusted, same if I was using a 4 section. For low shooting, the 4 section may well need an extra set of locks to be used.

If I was travelling in other than my car, I would probably retract legs and 4 sections would take longer. Still, once at location, there would be some cases where 4 sections require more locks to be used, but not all. Without low level shooting and no rough terrain, I could shoot all day with only adjusting 1 set of locks.

Now, this one will really get your head spinning. I use tripod bags as camera bags! Can you believe it?
Manfrotto MBAG80P is very convenient to carry camera and long lens such as a typical 150-600.
My big Manfrotto ProBag 1 tripod bag is great for 1DXII and Sigma 500 f4.

I don't think I'm 'thinking outside the box' in using tripod bags as camera bags or storing tripod in my car with legs extended.
To me it's just common sense.

For the OP, above is just a moot point. If you want a tall Gitzo, you have to buy a 4 section.

If you want tall Gitzo, 4 or 6 sections are the only options and it's 3 Series or 5 Series, no tall 4 Series.

Gitzo Systematic
---------------
3 Section:
GT3533S Maximum Height 130 cm
GT3533LS Maximum Height 152 cm
GT4533LS Maximum Height 156 cm
GT5533S Maximum Height 134 cm
GT5533LS Maximum Height 145 cm
---------------
4 Section:
GT3543LS Maximum Height 146 cm
GT3543XLS Maximum Height 202 cm
GT4543LS Maximum Height 158 cm
GT5543LS Maximum Height 156 cm
GT5543XLS Maximum Height 198 cm
---------------
5 Section
GT4553S Maximum Height 136 cm
---------------
6 Section
GT5563GS Maximum Height 278 cm

Yikes, 6 sections!

Wilt wrote in post #19058379
Yikes, 6 sections!

278cm (over 9 feet tall). I'd need 3 milk crates to stand on to use it at maximum height and even then I'd have to be shooting angled up.

Agree with you, Choderboy. To me, 'moving between shooting positions' is not 'takedown'. Like you, I shorten from my shooting length to walk to another shooting position (and sometimes that is not that 'nearby' to where I was last). And car travel does not necessitate 'takedown' either.

For for someone tall who insists upon shooting at eye level for all shots, the 4-section leg does require 3 extended sections and 3 locks from its most compact position. Some folks neglect to consider if that is too arduous or time consuming to THEM...why I raised the point for consideration.

From another perspective (pun intended), so often we choose the most convenient height for shooting. That’s a pretty drastic limitation on our compositional choices.

Me too, but sometimes my ground-level pod comes out. Other times it’s my classic Manfrotto tall sticks, max 8.75’ / 267cm.

Low angle and high angle shots - way beyond the ordinary. And yes, must bring the stepladder to work the high shots. More choices in composition.

Choderboy wrote in post #19058349
You don't have to extend all 3 sections and use all 3 locks EVERYTIME. I used to think that you do, but I was wrong.
There is absolutely no reason not to just use 2 locks most of the time when using a 4 section tripod.

For storing at home, transit to location, be it walking, driving, Air travel, using all 3 locks and having tripod at minimum length would be typical, but not mandatory. I have a station wagon. I often throw my 3 section Gitzo in the back of the car with tripod a bit shorter than typical shooting length. Why not? I walk with tripod like that, camera and lens mounted with tripod on my shoulder.
So tripod gets driven to location at shooting length, then carried at same length to various locations if flat ground, or with 1 set of legs slightly retracted on uneven ground. For quick shots I usually just stand a little stooped, for longer periods I use 1 set of locks to extend to more comfortable shooting length. 4 section tripod would only require 1 set of locks to be used in same scenario. I don't believe that is an unusual use scenario. The most common reason I retract legs is in rough terrain where extended legs are a nuisance.
Sometimes I adjust length, shooting at a high angle or shooting from lower to the ground. High angle requires 1 set of locks to be adjusted, same if I was using a 4 section. For low shooting, the 4 section may well need an extra set of locks to be used.

That's how I use my GT3543XLS.

Likewise with the locks. I only have one four section tripod and often I don;t use the lowest smallest diameter locks.

With my 5 section mono pod, (4 locks) I don't think I have ever used all the locks. That said, I also do not fold in the lowest section in all the way. I leave it sticking out about 5-6 inches or so. It is my beech going support 95% of the time, and gets stuck in gritty salty sand an salt water. I don't always take the time to clean it off when i get home, but by leaving the part that gets stuck in the salt and sand extended 6" I am not migrating the issue uphill. My only maintenance concern is the male and female sides of the threaded foot.