Review: Feisol 3441T/Markins Q3t Mark II/ Markins Lever QR

nice one Jay

as for this statement... Pros don't know everything

After 3 or so months of ownership I finally got to use my 3441T/Q3T for exactly what I bought it for... extended hikes. Last weekend a few of us hiked to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite NP to see and photograph the sunrise from the summit. It's an 8.2 mile hike with about 4,900 of vertical rise. There is no way I could have done it with my 8-lbs. Manfrotto tripod/ballhead combo. The 3441T/Q3T was PERFECT for this purpose!!!

Is Kerry Thalmann from Really Big Cameras on vacation? I have not gotten a response to a couple of emails.

I ordered a 3441T from him via email on Tue. and got nearly instant response, then got a shipping confirmation email from him Wed. morning. So, at least as of two days ago, he was in email.

I ended up choosing the CT-3441T due in very large part to your review here too, btw - thank you for putting in the effort. I also got a lot of mileage from the Benro review by peter_n. In the end, the greater height of the 3441T won me over though.

- DAA

I think if you need the height the Feisols are the best choice, it can be seriously annoying to bend over all the time. My regular tripod is a Gitzo 3541LS systematic and it's eye-level with no center column. Perfect for me!

I'm a bit confused by the difference between the 3441T and the 3442. Weight is about the same, the 3442 seems to have a max height about 2" shorter than the 3441 which might be okay for me at 5'6". Folded height seems to be the same.

Is the difference that 3441T comes with a center column and the 3442 doesn't but its optional?

I bought the Gitzo 1541T earlier this year and used it a couple of times, but I am finding it too short for some of the shots I want, particularly when my knees and hips are giving me problems or on uneven terrain. I'm thinking about selling it and getting the Feisol.

Mickey

So the 3541LS prices are making it hard to decide!

Several of you appear to have both a Feisol 3441/3442 and a Gitzo 3541LS. Would you comment of what you notice in terms of long exposure stability/vibration control, and your (dis)interest in carrying around these tripods?

I'm thinking the Feisols suit my immediate needs for a travel tripod for long exposures and landscapes, but as I said, the Gitzo prices dropping on the 3541LS are very tempting.

I use a Benro C2680T travel tripod and a Gitzo 3541LS. For long exposures (nighttime photography) the 3541LS is by far the best solution.

MickeyCT wrote in post #12968538
I'm a bit confused by the difference between the 3441T and the 3442. Weight is about the same, the 3442 seems to have a max height about 2" shorter than the 3441 which might be okay for me at 5'6". Folded height seems to be the same.

Is the difference that 3441T comes with a center column and the 3442 doesn't but its optional?

I bought the Gitzo 1541T earlier this year and used it a couple of times, but I am finding it too short for some of the shots I want, particularly when my knees and hips are giving me problems or on uneven terrain. I'm thinking about selling it and getting the Feisol.

Mickey

I have the 3442 with an M10 and am very happy with it. If you are 5'6" the 3442 might even be slightly too tall, if fully extended. I'm 5'11" and if the camera is pointed at a drastic angle, down, I have to get on my toes. I do use a camera with a grip which does add a few inches. The top LCD is almost of no use to me since I can't see it without difficulty. I don't miss the center column. I wanted as much stability as possible without sacrificing too much weight or folded length.

I believe the 3442 is more stable and robust than the 3441 but you'd have to ask Kerry about the differences.

MickeyCT wrote in post #12968538
I'm a bit confused by the difference between the 3441T and the 3442. Weight is about the same, the 3442 seems to have a max height about 2" shorter than the 3441 which might be okay for me at 5'6". Folded height seems to be the same.

Is the difference that 3441T comes with a center column and the 3442 doesn't but its optional?

I bought the Gitzo 1541T earlier this year and used it a couple of times, but I am finding it too short for some of the shots I want, particularly when my knees and hips are giving me problems or on uneven terrain. I'm thinking about selling it and getting the Feisol.

Mickey

Pretty much. Kerry took the legs from the 3442 and put them on the traveller's body. The 3441T should be easier to pack as well since the overall diameter should be a bit smaller than the 3442. If you look at a picture of both, you can see that the spider on the 3442 is bigger.

bohdank wrote in post #12983530
But the 3441T weights less ?

I think this is very useful in this thread... taken from http://reallybigcamera​s.com/Feisol/Tripods

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thank you for the great review. i just placed my order for the Gitzo GT1542T and can't wait for it to arrive next week.

Just discovered that if you have to take the legs apart and clean them, the lubrication used on the locks is silicone oil. However, the one recommended by Feisol is very thick, 300,000-500,000 weight. It's actually sold in a small tub, and has the thickness of a stick of butter. However, the one that i think works the best is the squirt bottle silicone oil, 30 weight, or 350 cts. A thin string acorss the threads, then wipe it around the threads with your finger.

Do not use WD-40 or Triflo oil for this purpose.

This is the fact sheet for the CLEANING AND CARE OF THE LEGS AND JOINTS.

However, there is a serious omission after Step 3d. There are two nipples (called "spigots" on this webpage) on the inside of the thin collar which fit into the two holes on the top of the leg.

HOWEVER, there is also a very narrow rail that runs the whole length of the inside of the leg. You must align the slit in the collar with this rail in order to re-insert the leg and collar into the larger leg tube. If you don't align the two, the collar and leg will not fit.

It only took me a week to figure this one out. The Feisol techs in Taiwan did not indicate this, in any of their emails. And the above link, from Feisol in the UK, omits it as well.

I got an email from Kerry saying that the rail along the inside of the tube is the anti-rotation device. He says the above instruction page has not been updated to include that feature.

Please see the prevous post for more directions.

Nice review! Thanks a lot!