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

I have loved my Induro. I got it because they had a great educational discount(i.e. my wallet decided for me) I haven't looked back since.

There will be people who are happy with benro/induro.

The majority of them never shot with gitzo, from what I've seen.

Right now I'm without a tripod and there's just no way I'm buying anything other that gitzo. The 2220 I had was neither here nor there - a bit too large for carrying all around and not quite tall enough for a monster I'd like to have. I'll have to buy an extra light gitzo CF and a manfrotto monster for the times when there's a dedicated shoot.

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #5532402
There will be people who are happy with benro/induro.

The majority of them never shot with gitzo, from what I've seen.

Right now I'm without a tripod and there's just no way I'm buying anything other that gitzo. The 2220 I had was neither here nor there - a bit too large for carrying all around and not quite tall enough for a monster I'd like to have. I'll have to buy an extra light gitzo CF and a manfrotto monster for the times when there's a dedicated shoot.

Very true and I agree.

Using any tripod and ballhead is a hassle. However, using a good one is orders of magnitude less hassle with better results than the not so good ones.

The issue is not how much the good ones cost, but the delta in cost between the goods ones to the bad ones. When you start getting aggravated, and over the lifetime of this gear, the difference becomes minimal and benefit is much greater. It really gets down to it, for me, that I'm not rich enough to buy the cheap stuff.

J.

Well, B&H just put their remaining G2220s on sale for $229! That's got me sold on a new one!!

An old post of mine but still relevant.

https://photography-on-the.net …t=318800&highli​ght=induro

Re:BlueDeuce

That was an excellent read, I realized that I didn't state in my first post what Induro I have loved so much. I have an Aluminum Induro with their largest ballhead, and have ordered two more.(Tripods only) (one for use with an RRS head and one will get a wimberly). They are heavy but very stable/well built.(the heads leave something to be desired.) That being said I understand the extreme differences in construction between an aluminum and a carbon fiber tripod and have to say that if I had the money for a composite tripod I would only go with a well known and proven brand. When you think about it all that holds a carbon tripod together is essentially the resin(glue) and that is not something I would gamble with, For now I am going to continue lugging around these aluminum induros but I look forward to the day I can ditch the weight for my mobile rig and get a set of gitzo legs. I will then transfer my Induro's to strobe/reflector holding duty in the studio.

Erik

Blue Deuce wrote in post #5625693
An old post of mine but still relevant.

https://photography-on-the.net …t=318800&highli​ght=induro