Faux Gitzos (Benro, Induro, etc): Experiences?

I'm long seperated from my old G2220/G1377 setup, and I am stuck with this painfully wobbly Giottos 'pod that makes me wish on a daily basis that I had never parted with my Gitzo. I am now on the hunt for a new 'pod that has the quality of my old Gitzo, but perhaps a gentler price tag. The old Gitzo setup would cost me $550 to duplicate today, and I simply don't want to invest that much. I'm looking for spending an absolute maximum of $375. I could get the Gitzo legs again for $299+ shipping, but that would leave me with a weak budget and likely a very sad ball-head (probably similar to the one I have now). I checked B&H and found a lot of more affordable 'pods that look a lot like Gitzos, but are by other names.

I would like to know if anyone has experiences with these Gitzo-styled brands and what you thought of them. Also, any alternative advice is appreciated too. I know this much, I don't want anything even remotely wobbly. The winds here in Texas will toss your camera about on anything like what I have now. I'll even take some advice like "use the Gitzo legs and an alternative head" if that is a path that people feel makes the best compromise, but I need some names of good alternative ball-head manufacturers.

Oh, and I am looking for something in the 13-23lb support range that, perferrably with a hook on the center column like my old Gitzo that can take some weight for steadying purposes.

Thanks, people!

FWIW I have a Benro tripod and KS2 ball head and I'm very happy with it. It can support my 40D + 100-400L with no sag that I can see. The 100-400 I mount with the tripod ring, I also use the 40D + 70-200 F4 IS mounted from from the camera and don't have a problem with that either.

Doing it again I would still buy the same setup.

Kurt

Ive never used an Induro but Ive heard nothing but good things about them.

Twitch1977 wrote in post #5515341
FWIW I have a Benro tripod and KS2 ball head and I'm very happy with it. It can support my 40D + 100-400L with no sag that I can see. The 100-400 I mount with the tripod ring, I also use the 40D + 70-200 F4 IS mounted from from the camera and don't have a problem with that either.

Doing it again I would still buy the same setup.

Kurt

Sag is not always the problem. Often the problem is vibration, which might be caused by the wind hitting the tripod legs and setting up harmonics. Or the problem is wind-induced twisting motion when the wind strikes a long lens and uses it as a lever arm, to twist about the center axis of the tripod. Take the tripod out on a windy day and see how much vibration is caused, or how much the lens deflects the aim of a long lens to one side, then report back.

Wilt wrote in post #5518204
Often the problem is vibration, which might be caused by the wind hitting the tripod legs and setting up harmonics.

This is my biggest problem. That's also why I need a hook on the column and a decent load rating to raise the mass of the setup, so as to lower the resultant vibration frequency. My current tripod vibrates far too much. My old g2220 legs were very rigid when locked and exhibited no vibrations (even in strong winds) when bearing 10+lbs or so on the hook. It's weight rating was a little low, though, and I have no idea how applicable the weight rating was to any mass on the hook.

There's no common standard for measuring the max load on a tripod. Gitzo are open about how they measure theirs. This is quoted in full from a reply on another forum by a Gitzo representative:

I use a Benro C-227 n6 Carbon Fiber Tripod with a Benro KS-1 Ball Head. I never had any problems with it over the past 18 months.

foxbat wrote in post #5520878
There's no common standard for measuring the max load on a tripod. Gitzo are open about how they measure theirs. This is quoted in full from a reply on another forum by a Gitzo representative:

Interesting. Thanks for that!

My g2220 felt like I could turn it into a swing-set without damaging it. I miss those wicked leg locks too!

I have a Gitzo 2220 in excellent shape I would sell for $210 plus shipping ( I would estimate $15-$20 for that) I just purchased the 2530 ex and no longer need the aluminum tripod. PM me if you are interested.

Personally, I'd look at Feisol before Benro.

Here's some stuff that gives me great pause about Benro:

http://www.tomwebsterp​hoto.com/Essays/Benro/​benroks2.htm

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=318800

I can't find it since Naturescapes changed their forum software, but there is a thread there somewhere that talks about the CF layup between Benro and Gitzo. Benro cuts the corner by leaving out quite a bit of CF and filling it with epoxy instead - looks great, but the design is less than one would presume. The teardown of the Benro ballhead is quite graphic - again, the paint job is great but the underlying design leaves very much to be desired.

Have you thought about searching for a used Gitzo?

J.

FEisol is better than benro? gnerally?

JohnJ80 wrote in post #5526926
Personally,

Have you thought about searching for a used Gitzo?

J.

Being in the market for a new tripod and head setup I can say this Gitzo holds it's resale value very well. I have actually seen used Gitzo products sell for almost what a new one would cost. This goes to show if a guy can save 20-50.00 on a used Gitzo he will due to the fact he/she knows the quality of the product. In saying that did I mention that Gitzo holds it's resale value very well? Better than Canons "L" lens I might add.

better than canon L used lenses!?

zeva wrote in post #5527461
better than canon L used lenses!?

Yea I have seen the Gitzo 3 and 5 series auction off used from 20.00-50.00 off of the cost of a brand new one andthis is just for a set of legs only. Show me a used "L" lens that can get that close to original cost new.......

JohnJ80 wrote in post #5526926
...I can't find it since Naturescapes changed their forum software, but there is a thread there somewhere that talks about the CF layup between Benro and Gitzo. Benro cuts the corner by leaving out quite a bit of CF and filling it with epoxy instead - looks great, but the design is less than one would presume. ..

This is just one of many reasons why knockoffs are less expensive (cheaper?)than the original. The knockoff may work for you short-term, but over the long haul the name-brand equipment will hold up better and continue to perform as they should.