Review: Gitzo GT1541 + Markins Q3 + RRS B2 LR II

Thanks chinoamigo, great link too, I guess the EX is for me, I am into macro photography as well. But I'm still not sold on a 4 over a 3 shaft version though. I plan to eventually purchase the 70 - 200 lens, and right now have a 24 - 70, would I be better off with the 3 shaft for stability, especially in windy Oklahoma?

Also, for everyone, whats the deal with Gitzo ball heads, how come they aren't as well received as their legs?

What is Loctite 242 ($4 from RRS), and what is used for?

nice, maybe you can post a review of the explorer models when you get it! i haven't checked, but is the explorer model more expensive that the regular mountaineer series?

as for the leg sections... i'm not sure if having an extra section will impact stability that much. the general sentiment is that you go 4 sections for hiking and 3 for studio/indoors use b/c of the length factor. if you're planning on shooting with the 70-200 2.8 at 200mm then people suggest the 3-series for even better stability.. however this is a decision based on preference. i don't think i would shoot 200mm on my tripod much so it was an easy decision for me.

no idea on the gitzo heads.. maybe the quality of RRS/markins is just much better than the gitzo heads. you may want to check out this link (http://photo.net …-photography-forum/000BQd).

the loctite is used to glue the screw onto the ballhead and the clamp. without it the quickrelease is not tight enough and can be unscrewed easily.

I'm not 100% sure the EX is for me, just saying it sounded like it was. I'm still wavering a lot with my choices in Gitzo and even Manfrotto carbon legs. The ballhead and camera plate I'm sold on; Markins and RSS combo. Just the legs have me scratching my head.

Your review is very helpful, again want to thank you for allow us to pose questions here to help get to a decision such as you've made.

Oh the EX is like $25 more dollars than the Mountianeer, at B&H.

I think the majority of my shots right now would be mostly indoors with a little outdoors, say 70/30? So you think that warrants me to go more with 3 shafts with length being taller?

The EX is very useful in certain applications. The problem, IIRC, is that they are a little more fiddly to set up in normal applications because the legs don't have distinct stops (but I could be wrong on that - the old ones were that way).

Manfrotto's carbon fiber is not much of a weight savings. If you are looking at CF, then I would stick with Gitzo and if you have to scale back on performance for cash reasons, then Feisol.

J.

JohnJ80 wrote in post #8070629
The EX is very useful in certain applications. The problem, IIRC, is that they are a little more fiddly to set up in normal applications because the legs don't have distinct stops (but I could be wrong on that - the old ones were that way).

Manfrotto's carbon fiber is not much of a weight savings. If you are looking at CF, then I would stick with Gitzo and if you have to scale back on performance for cash reasons, then Feisol.

J.

You are right John, they look a bit "fiddly" to me as well. I wonder how much I'd really need/use some of those features that it allows? Maybe one day down the road and I understand my camera more and I'm getting into my photography creative mode it would come in handy?

I think I just need to decide on a set of legs from the 1, 2 or 3 series and move on.

I think I'm going to go with chinoamigo's choices of the Q3 ballhead, and RSS quick release clamp and L plate, but step up the legs to the Gitzo GT2531's...or do you think the Markins M10 is a better ball head for the legs I'm going with?
And since I'm going with the RSS clamp/L plate, can I order a Q3 or M10 without the quick release clamp?

if you plan on upgrading to bigger lenses (like the 70-200 2.8 IS or 100-400L) then i'd get the M10.

you can order only the M10 w/o a quickshoe. however, i recommend getting the quickshoe and telling them "no loctite" on your order so it's easier to remove. you can sell it for $60-70 after you get it. if you buy the M10 w/o the quickshoe its only about $30 cheaper... it makes the most fiscal sense.

chinoamigo wrote in post #8075954
if you plan on upgrading to bigger lenses (like the 70-200 2.8 IS or 100-400L) then i'd get the M10.

you can order only the M10 w/o a quickshoe. however, i recommend getting the quickshoe and telling them "no loctite" on your order so it's easier to remove. you can sell it for $60-70 after you get it. if you buy the M10 w/o the quickshoe its only about $30 cheaper... it makes the most fiscal sense.

Ok, but can I ask you, why do you advise me to get the M10, when you have the Q3 and use a 70-200 on it in your review and say it works well? Are you just thinking the M10 fits the build better of the 2531 legs? I'm still trying to get a semi light tripod build. Is the M10 a lot bigger and heavier than the Q3?

Specification for Q3T and M10

Model Markins Q-Ball M10 (Black) Camera Connection Quick Shoe (Quick Release Clamp) Maximum Load 90 lbs (40 kg) Maximum Torque 175 lbf·in (200 kgf·cm) Weight 1.09 lbs (498 g) (Including the clamp) Height 3.86 in (98 mm) Housing Diameter 2.13 in (54 mm) Panning Base Diameter 2.44 in (62 mm) Ball Diameter 1.73 in (44 mm)

Model Markins Q-Ball Q3 "Emille" Camera Connection Quick Shoe (Quick Release Clamp) Maximum Load 65 lbs (30 kg) Maximum Torque 130 lbf·in (150 kgf·cm) Weight 0.84 lbs (385 g) (Including the clamp) Height 3.58 in (91 mm) (Including the clamp) Housing Diameter 1.89 in (48 mm) Panning Base Diameter 2.20 in (56 mm) (Traveler: 1.97" (50 mm)) Ball Diameter 1.50 in (38 mm)

ChrisMc73 wrote in post #8076450
Ok, but can I ask you, why do you advise me to get the M10, when you have the Q3 and use a 70-200 on it in your review and say it works well? Are you just thinking the M10 fits the build better of the 2531 legs? I'm still trying to get a semi light tripod build. Is the M10 a lot bigger and heavier than the Q3?

Ok jeev but that doesn't answer my first questions? It did help with the comparison. Would love to see them in person!
Was just wondering why he's advising me to get the M10 over the Q3 or Q3T, when he has a Q3 and is using a smaller set of legs than I'm planning to get, is that why? The M10 fits the legs I mentioned (2531) better? The M10 is a bit more expensive than the Q3, if the Q3 does handle the 70-200 that I will have one day, and does so well in his review with his gear, then why would he not recommend that one? Just wondering is all?

i have the 70-400 f/4 L IS.. not the 70-200 f/2.8 IS. the 2.8 IS version is almost 2x as heavy as the f/4 IS version.

here's a pic from a POTN member "tinygreenalien" showing the 2531 with an M10 (just like you are considering)

Thanks chinoamigo, I was just going by your pictures in your first post where you said it was the 70-200, was that a typo?
You might have changed or added something else in the thread that I missed, but the post here said it was a 70-200...so I was just going off that.

The Q3 is fine for all of my lenses. The longest/heaviest I use is a 70-200 f/4 IS. I mounted it on and there is no creep, as with my other lenses.

Thanks for this other info though, great picture to help me visualize the M10 on the 2531...and the names, I'll hit them up.
Also, since you purchased the L plate, is there no need for the other just regular plate for the 5DMKII? Waste of money to own both?

i'm looking into picking up a 70-200 f/2.8 IS to replace my 70-200 f/4 IS... so i'll let you know how the q3 handles the 2.8 IS if i get it. it handles the f/4 IS fairly well.

i guess you could pick up a regular plate in addition to your L plate in case you would like to switch up once in a while.. the L plate makes the camera a little bigger but i don't mind it too much. the benefit of that is that you could switch out the L plate for the regular plate if you don't plan to use the vertical orientation and it'd save you some space. i think most people just leave it on though...

Yeah, and I guess its better to have the option of horizontal and vertical than just horizontal, which is why probably most go with the L to start with anyway. Instead of limiting themselves to just horizontal?

well you could always just drop the ballhead down 90 degrees to go vertical if you wanted to and didn't have an L plate...