When I was shopping for a new tripod I spent several hours searching
the web for experiences using the Gitzos and the Manfrottos. What
eventually pushed me to Manfrotto was the inability to find any
complaints in contrast to the Gitzo reports which were numerous,
centering mostly around frozen leg locks and the CF leg/platform
lamination failing, both of which required returning to the maker for
repair. Of course Gitzo probably had more CF tripods out there.
Besides some small weight saving, the primary advantage of CF is that
it seems to absorb vibration rather than letting things resonate. Not
likely to see carbon fiber wind chimes.
Winsor
Long Beach, California, USA
On Jun 10, 2006, at 2:47 AM, Bernard Frangoulis wrote:
>> I'm using a Gitzo carbon fiber with 3 vs. 4 telescoping leg
>> sections. It is
>> about the lightest one I've seen recommended. I believe it is the
>> 1257 (I'll
>> check and post again if my memory is wrong). The newer ones
>> (probably same
>> model no.) have an anti-rotating leg which would be an improvment.
>> ReallyRightStuff used to recommend this one as a hiking tripod,
>> but the next
>> one up the Gitzo line as the one to get if you were going to use
>> big heavy
>> super-telephotos.
>>
>
> I have an eye on this tripod as well, but it's a little too big for
> my taste: 66 cm length when folded (that's 26" for you nonmetric
> people), 1.42 kg weight (3.1 lbs). 66cm plus 10cm or so for a
> ballhead, that's far to long to fit my backpack. Even the 4-section
> 1258 is too long: 55 cm (21.7") length when folded, 1.42 kg (3.1
> lbs) weight.
>
> I think a better compromise (for me at least) would be the 1158: 48
> cm (18.9") length when folded, 1.04 kg (2.3 lbs) weight. On the
> assumption that a tripod you are willing to carry is better than a
> really good one you will leave at home...
>
> Now the price of Gitzos being what is is, I also have an eye on the
> Velbon Sherpa Pro CF-640, 641, 540, 541, Slik CF 614F, or Feisol
> 3402. One of the important points is: flip-locks ˆ la Manfrotto
> (easier and quicker, particularly for 4-segment tripods), or Gitzo-
> style locks (more rigid? Never used one).
>
> I see no advantage in Manfrotto CF tripods, which are almost as
> heavy as thair aluminium equivalents
>
> The head would be a Markins M10 or Q3, or an RRS BH-40.
>
> Bernard
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