dyximan

I wrote a post a little while back Asking about try podge and was told by me of the hoggers that the gitzo was the best. I don't know if I spelled it right but that's not the point I looked online and there's a number of get souls and the weight allowances somewhere 22 to 26 pounds of carrying weight. I know the best is a matter of opinion. but I will be traveling here shortly and will be using this tripod. I will be in Venice and Prague for both day time and night time long exposures and eventually will use it for astrophotography as well. I found that gitzo a number of tripofss with only a little differences in numbering, and found it hard to distinguish The capabilities and/or functionalities one from another. I presently have a benro that failed miserably legs came apart. With a ball head. I probably won't be doing much if any macro so don't need a super low one. looking for ideas and numbers. I know the holidays are coming and the sales are on but I'm willing to spend up to a 1000. I presently shoot a D 500 and occasionly with A150 to 00 tamron lens. But most of the time will be shooting a smaller lens 18 to 300 Max Any suggestions for the gitzo or others would be appreciated. I stand 5'9''

pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs

I just last week had a similar quest. I finally settled on the Feisol 3442 for stability, weight and folding length. It had to be sturdy, but fit in a carry on bag.
Here’s a link to my quest and the answers that were given.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-618823-1.html

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I use a Sirui A1205 Carbon Fiber Tripod so it can fit in my carry on with cameras and lenses.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1378861-REG/sirui_a1205y_a1205_carbon_fiber_tripod.html

I am also a Gitzo guy for taking my camera gear in my car.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Leofoto-LS-365C-Professional-Carbon-Fiber-tripod/173654274842?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372

no center post .....Leg Tube size = 36/32/28/25/22 - compare these to the Feisol.
.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

What most people regard as a travel tripod will not properly support a 150-600. You'll need to decide if you really need a tripod with that lens while traveling.

The Gitzo catalog breaks it down in terms of leg thickness and focal lenght (angle of view). You can download the current one here -

https://cdn.vitecimagingsolutions.com/fileadmin/Manfrotto/Global/Documents/2019/Catalogues/Gitzo_Catalogue_2018.pdf.zip?_ga=2.211708629.1700369958.1574156572-1825501198.1574156572

In the descriptions in the catalog, they distinguish between Traveler, Mountaineer and Systematic. They suggest that their Traveler is available in Series 0, 1 and 2. The Mountaineer is available in 0 through 3, and the Systematic is available in 3 through 5. Moutaineers a Travelers have center columns, The Systematic come without a center column.

On page 27, Gitzo suggests that a Series 3 is ideal for up to a 300mm lens, and up to 400mm with a little care. The Series 4 is good to 400mm - 500mm, and the Series 5 is good for 500mm and up. By extension, a series 2 is good for 200-300mm, and a series 1 is good for 100 - 200mm.

So if you get their biggest travel tripod, their Series 2 will be ok with up to a 200-300mm lens. If you need to adequately support a 600mm lens on a crop frame camera, you will need a Series 5 - GT-5543LS , which at 6.2 lbs without an head, and a folded length of 23.6" can hardly be considered a travel tripod. On the other hand, you won't be able to get consistent results with the Traveler and your long lens.

Really Right Stuff and Induro also offer similar tripods at premium prices.

I purchased a Gitzo Series 3 Systematic back in 2006 as a general purpose tripod. it was rigid and folded small enough, but was not getting me great results with a 500mm lens on a crop camera. I ended up getting a Feisol CT 3472, which at the time was the same price - which had thicker lens than the Series 3, (37mm) and was fine with my 500mm lens. It continued to be fine when I upgraded to a 600mm Prime lens.

For Travel, I eventually got a Feisol CT-3442 which was similar to a Series 2 Gitzo, and I have used it with a 300mm lens and can say that it works to that focal length. I don't like the results I get with longer lenses.

The load capacity of the smaller legs is 55 lbs and the bigger set is 66 lbs - not that it matters. The key is to get a tripod that has the thickest legs you can afford, because it will have the highest torsional rigidity, and can be stable with longer focal lengths.

I know this is confusing but downloading the catalog and visiting the RRS online tripod guide will put things into perspective for you.

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Induro carbon fiber. Picked up a demo model with all the gingerbread at Samys for under $400. It is great.

jims203 Loc: Connecticut

This German made tripod is supposed to be very good but I have not seen it in person.
B&H sells them. FLM CP26-Travel Carbon Fiber

bikerguy

I purchased the Sirui T-1204X carbon fiber tripod six year ago. It is small when folded, about 12" with ball head. It supports my Olympus OLM Em1MII with the 75-300 with no movement. I highly recommend it. Cost was about $375.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

The rule is to buy the best tripod we can afford. Gitzo is at the top of the line but it does not mean that other tripods less costly will not do the job. Case in point, I have a small and cheap ($45) aluminum Dolica tripod that has become my most used tripod, even for my dSLR bodies.
The reason the tripod is used so much is because it is light. It fits perfectly for my shootings with my Olympus mirrorless cameras and using good tripod techniques it is a reasonably good platform for steadiness.

I have three other tripods, an old Manfrotto 3021 that is excellent but heavy, a Gitzo made from aluminum that is super heavy and a carbon fiber tripod made by Desmond. The latter cost me $200, it is steady, well made and is giving me excellent service.
I fit these tripods with a Linhof ballhead that weights 1 lb. The head alone makes all the tripods heavier to carry but it makes the Dolica a breeze to take anywhere. Many times we spend more than we have to to obtain the best results.

I will put it like this, a Leica is the top camera brand for its quality but I am comfortable with my Olympus. A VW will take you to the same places a BMW will.

Dossile

I use 2 travel tripods for air travel, a Benro and a small RRS tabletop for when I am traveling light and sleek. The Benro is decent, but not near the quality of RRS, which is my general use tripod. I learned from comparing the 2 that the weight that a tripod safely holds is very different than the weight that has ultimate stability. The main difference between Benro and RRS, besides leg thickness which is expected, is the quality of build, the smoothness and rigidity of the leg locks, and the stability of the legs. I would put RRS and Gitzo as top tier tripods and Ballheads, but they are expensive. You can get good results from many other less expensive brands. I would not go cheap though, you will just end up buying twice.

Dossile

I use 2 travel tripods for air travel, a Benro and a small RRS tabletop for when I am traveling light and sleek. The RRS tabletop tripod easily hold my D850 with a 70-200 lens. The Benro is decent, but not near the quality of RRS, which is also the brand of my larger, general use tripod. I learned from comparing the 2 that the weight that a tripod safely holds is very different than the weight that has ultimate stability. The main difference between Benro and RRS, besides leg thickness which is expected, is the quality of build, the smoothness and rigidity of the leg locks, and the stability of the legs. I would put RRS and Gitzo as top tier tripods and Ballheads, but they are expensive. You can get good results from many other less expensive brands. I would not go cheap though, you will just end up buying twice.

rjandreoff Loc: Hawaii

After retiring 3 years ago, my wife and I began our long delayed global traveling bucket list. I purchased a mefoto global traveler (aluminum). After 17 countries and 8 months on the road, "0" problems I consider it one of my best photo accessory acquisitions. Rated at 26 pounds. Packs well in a 22"" roller bag. In a pinch, it was used to support a nikon D4 with a 400 mm 2.8 attached. 14 lbs. Results were totally usable. The carbon version will save you on the sunny side of 1 lb. Same load bearing. Good luck!!!

ggab Loc: ?

For what it's worth, in 2016 I purchased "Dolica CX600B502 D/S 60" Carbon Fiber Tripod Traveler edition" for $150.00. I use it with Canon EOS 6Dii, 7Dii, 5Div, all with battery grips. Tamron Gen 1 & 2 150-600 lens, Canon 300mm IS USM G1. With and without a gimbal head. No issues. It does have a hook on the center post to hang my camera bag. I do this when it is windy out.
It is light weight and sturdy.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

Just make sure you get a water proof one for Venice. That city is under a lot of water right now.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Well, a lot of people hit it on the head with spot metering. Where the ambiguity shows up is in the exposure adjustment. Instead of winging it with so many stops additional exposure, it's best to test your camera. The idea is to know your individual camera's capabilities of handing additional exposure. It may be one-stop. It could be three. That is why it is necessary to test. Then, when one knows the limits of additional stops, one can determine the Zoneal placement of the brightest part of the scene and dial that in rather precisely.

Yes, I practice what I preach. Each of my high-end digitals was tested in my lab prior to hitting the road to do 'in the field' photography.
--Bob