Looking at tripods, coming from gitzo 3 series, induro, sirui, anything else?

TaDa wrote in post #11209931
In my own opinion, there is no such thing as "too tall". You can always collapse the legs a bit, but it's very hard to expand taller without sacrificing stability (center column, standing pod on different ledges, etc.) I really like the feel of having the base plate right against the bottom of the head. Stable and nothing to worry about.

agreed, but that's why I'm wondering about even having a center column on the tripod at all? If/when I NEED the height, it's better than having to punt, but when I DO NOT NEED that height, when it's all the way down, how much stability does it remove -vs- the flat plate....

P51Mstg wrote in post #11209961
Really.... Look at the "budget".... The thing I've found over the years is that if you don't buy what you want or get an "inferior or less quality product" as a substitute, you end up unhappy later and end up buying another one (usually the one you wanted in the first place) and you end up spending more since you make 2 purchases instead of one.

Mark H

I couldn't agree more, and I'm with thom hogan on that. The $1700 $1000 tripod he calls it I think. I went with the gitzo originally BECAUSE of that, but now I want/need taller. I'm not sure I can afford their tall version ($175 on top of selling my current legs) but I'm considering it. That's why I'm asking about the induro and benro etc though. They're NOT cheap tripods supposedly, they're basically knock offs of the gitzo no?

peter_n wrote in post #11209996
You might also want to take a look at the Benro line that are very very close in concept to the Gitzos. I bought one recently and I'm impressed with the quality. Of the Gitzo systematic types, they have a three section and a taller four section. I got mine directly from China.

I'll check those out, thanks. I was at the expo and the benro and induro booths were actually the same booth, they're imported by the same company. They told me that going forward, induro is twist locks on carbon and benro is flips, but we all know benro USED to have twists, so I'm looking at some of their older stock for those options now, thanks.

Nick5 wrote in post #11210019
Ben.
How did you like the Photoplus Expo?

a lot of fun just for finding out info like this and playing with things I'd never touch otherwise.

jacobsen1 wrote in post #11210801
agreed, but that's why I'm wondering about even having a center column on the tripod at all? If/when I NEED the height, it's better than having to punt, but when I DO NOT NEED that height, when it's all the way down, how much stability does it remove -vs- the flat plate....

I dont think you'd be sacrificing much in the stability department, as long as the column is fully down.

Just for excrement and giggles, take a look at my review of the 3541XLS legs. You'll see that my old Gitzo with center column fully extended is dwarfed by the taller legs. These things are huge.

I played around with a Sirui CF monopod in a local camera store. It seemed pretty strong. It was about half the price of a Manfrotto.

As far as the Induro goes, I think the difference between the two models is increased stability. I could never figure out why the Induro model comparable to my Benro was never as strong (17lbs vs 26lbs). It looks like they improved the spider as well as the leg locks, and now it's on par with my Benro.

Hey Ben, i'm in the same boat. While i'm shorter than you, i want a tripod with the same specs. I came really close to picking up at Gitzo at Photoplus (Must have walked right past you), but i didn't. I can't spend $900. on legs. I'm also looking at other brands with no conclusion as yet.

TaDa wrote in post #11212380
Just for excrement and giggles, take a look at my review of the 3541XLS legs. You'll see that my old Gitzo with center column fully extended is dwarfed by the taller legs. These things are huge.

yeah, gitzo makes some talllllll legs if you're willing to go with more than 3 sections (I'm not):

klr.b wrote in post #11212584
As far as the Induro goes, I think the difference between the two models is increased stability. I could never figure out why the Induro model comparable to my Benro was never as strong (17lbs vs 26lbs). It looks like they improved the spider as well as the leg locks, and now it's on par with my Benro.

I talked with them at the show, they claim it's the same tubing and they're imported by the same people, so basically, it's twist locks (induro) -vs- flippers (benro). But I think that's NOW, not always in the past because I can find benros with twist locks for sale online? I'm talking only carbon here as I know benro has twist metal legs.

I called induro yesterday though and asked about the C -vs- CT difference. It's three things:

• C's have foam on 1 leg, CT's have it on all three (who cares)
  
• CT's have newer leg locks which are "better" (nice, but not major?)
  
• CT's have a new magnesium spider that's much bigger but doesn't weigh any more, the C was aluminum (biggest change).
  

mumbles wrote in post #11214972
Hey Ben, i'm in the same boat. While i'm shorter than you, i want a tripod with the same specs. I came really close to picking up at Gitzo at Photoplus (Must have walked right past you), but i didn't. I can't spend $900. on legs. I'm also looking at other brands with no conclusion as yet.

If it helps I'm going with induro CT313s. I'd go sirui if I could get them easily, but the only legs they make that I like are prototypes at this point and you can't buy them yet... I'm spending the extra for the CTs because the load rating matches the gitzos I'm selling which have always worked. I'd hate to skimp just because I want taller and then have issues.

jacobsen1 wrote in post #11216506
CT's have newer leg locks which are "better" (nice, but not major?)

Major if "better" is their anti-rotation locking system. Benro/Induro have a much smoother design than Gitzo for this feature.

jacobsen1 wrote in post #11216506
I talked with them at the show, they claim it's the same tubing and they're imported by the same people, so basically, it's twist locks (induro) -vs- flippers (benro). But I think that's NOW, not always in the past because I can find benros with twist locks for sale online? I'm talking only carbon here as I know benro has twist metal legs.

I called induro yesterday though and asked about the C -vs- CT difference. It's three things:

• C's have foam on 1 leg, CT's have it on all three (who cares)
  
• CT's have newer leg locks which are "better" (nice, but not major?)
  
• CT's have a new magnesium spider that's much bigger but doesn't weigh any more, the C was aluminum (biggest change).

From the last 2 changes the weight rating on the 313 goes from 22lbs to 39lbs. Almost double. Obviously my heaviest setup is WAY under that (5lb?) but that increase would suggest that the new spider and locks have made it much more stable? But the CTs are $555 new right now while the Cs are $300... Tough decision.

That's kind of what I mean. It's the same company. I'm not sure why it took them so long to update the Induro line. For example my Benro C-257m8 would be comparable to the Induro CT213. Aside from the 3 foam grips, they have almost identical specs (with the Benro being slightly lighter). I only ever have one hand on the tripod, so I'm not sure why 3 foam grips are an improvement (I guess it's protection if you bang your equipment around :confused. The Benro has the 8 layer CF as well as the magnesium spider. The big difference would be the new spider design on the Induro. I'm not really sure if the twist locks differ in any way besides cosmetically.

As far as Benro and the lever locks, they just put an "EX" at the end of the model to denote that. They still sell the ones with the twist locks.

I just checked my August MAC on-campus catalog and they don't offer the CT313 at a student discount. Sorry . Good luck with the Induro. It sounds great. I hope you can compare it to your Gitzo for us, if you don't sell it before you buy the CT313.

gitzo is sold and boxed to leave tonight.
induro is set to arrive tomorrow.

but I've used the gitzo every weekend at least one day for the last 2 years basically, so I'm VERY familiar with it. I'll be able to compare in terms of niceties and features, just not vibration absorption.

I have a Berlebach wood tripod that I'm very happy with. The vibration dampening and overall rigidity is fantastic. It is a bit short for me though, they are designed for large and medium format cameras. I was able to make a lightened up 3" diameter post to mount to it to make it tall enough for me. I wouldn't have been happy with one of their post models though. Too flimsy. I regularly have 10-12 pounds of camera/lens mounted on it with no problem. I do wish I had gone for a heavier pan head though. Bottom line, get what you need or you won't be happy. Skimp by with what you have till you can afford better if you have to. The wait for the one that works for you will be shorter that way than if you go buy something not suited for you first.

it's here and just about perfect: