Gitzo Tripod Mountaineering Weekend G1058

[zoossh]

currently using

1. camera body - nikon D50
2. lenses - nikkor AF-S DX 18-55mm ED f/3.5-5.6 G
3. tripod - manfrotto 190mf3
4. ballhead - manfrotto 486RC2

thinking of lightening the tripod weight further from 1.6kg to 0.75kg.
and is considering the above tripod. there is little or no review of the above model but the below is its spec

6 cross layers carbon fibre
4 segment
max height 134cm (my height is 165cm, just right)
min height 35.5cm
max load 3kg

my current D50 kit weights only 560g + 260g
if i upgrade, my lens (additional wide angle and macro) may go into 600g so in total 1.2kg
i'm not so likely to go into very heavy and long tele zoom as my main aim is for travel photography, plus minus macro.

i wonder if the above tripod would considered a gd match for my current camera set. i will of cos go down to try out the various model with my camera, but looking for some professional advises first as i'm not experienced enough to gauge all by myself even after trying a while in the shop.

[jumbocrab]

What is the weight of the ballhead?

[zoossh]

Originally Posted by jumbocrab What is the weight of the ballhead?

manfrotto 486RC2 at 460g within 5g error.

[zoossh]

anyone who tied their tripod in this manner?
my current manfrotto mf3 is 56cm long collapsed which is too long to put like above. but if i change to gitzo, 35.5cm may be possible for it.

[zoossh]

just tried out G1058, gd thing is it is really light, and mechanism is gd. instead of flip-lock, they have a ring around the junction, roll it clockwise and anticlockwise to lock and unlock simply by wrapping your palm around it. in one go, u can lock and unlock all 3 junctions of the 4 segments.

the bad thing abt it is that in view of its weight and the tiny leg ends, support is sub-optimal. even max load is supposed to be 3kg, with my nikon D50 + kit lens and a 400g ballhead giving a total of about 1.2kg, it is still not stable enough to dampen the vibration.

the G1158 at 1.05kg is much more stable but not as gd as my manfrotto 190mf3 at 1.6kg.

[ShaoWei]

Originally Posted by zoossh just tried out G1058, gd thing is it is really light, and mechanism is gd. instead of flip-lock, they have a ring around the junction, roll it clockwise and anticlockwise to lock and unlock simply by wrapping your palm around it. in one go, u can lock and unlock all 3 junctions of the 4 segments. the bad thing abt it is that in view of its weight and the tiny leg ends, support is sub-optimal. even max load is supposed to be 3kg, with my nikon D50 + kit lens and a 400g ballhead giving a total of about 1.2kg, it is still not stable enough to dampen the vibration. the G1158 at 1.05kg is much more stable but not as gd as my manfrotto 190mf3 at 1.6kg.

IMHO, the ring lock was a design flaw, shouldn't have gone with it in the first place. What happened was that i set up my tripod in the aircon concert hall. after my shots brought it out to the sun and did some outdoors. But thereafter everything has ended, i found out that i had a stuck tripod which couldn't collapse. Was so pissed then. Had to carry a full length tripod home in mrt.

[jumbocrab]

What happened to your ring lock? I have not had any problems with mine, and once I got used to it, I find it quite good.

[zoossh]

Originally Posted by ShaoWei IMHO, the ring lock was a design flaw, shouldn't have gone with it in the first place. What happened was that i set up my tripod in the aircon concert hall. after my shots brought it out to the sun and did some outdoors. But thereafter everything has ended, i found out that i had a stuck tripod which couldn't collapse. Was so pissed then. Had to carry a full length tripod home in mrt.

is it gitzo? could it be material difference and workmanship rather than the design.

still itching and thinking about gitzo. having a struggle whether to part with another $400 just to cut down on 500g.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by zoossh is it gitzo? could it be material difference and workmanship rather than the design. still itching and thinking about gitzo. having a struggle whether to part with another $400 just to cut down on 500g.

The ring lock does get stuck sometimes.

I say, just do it. Once u use Gitzo tripod, u will not use another brand like manfrotto ever again

[roti_prata]

though rated at 3kg, its good only for 2kg or so. speaking from experience, near the max load the tripod will support the cam find when in the normal upright position but it gets shaky once the cam is tilted to portrait. for my d70s + 70-200vr(slightly over 2kg) im using a slik rated at 5kg. rock solid even when portrait.

[shendeerzi]

http://www.pictureline.com/product.php?id=12620

Are u refering to this super compact tripod from Gitzo ...
Looks very good to me for traveling but is very ex ...
Ha

Btw does any one has this? How much does Cathay sells?
Thanks
Edmund

[freelancer]

Originally Posted by icarus The ring lock does get stuck sometimes.

Have you tried to put some while lithium grease around the ring threads ? It helps.

Cleaning and maintenance of Gitzos
http://www.naturescapes.net/082004/gd0804.htm

[zoossh]

Originally Posted by shendeerzi http://www.pictureline.com/product.php?id=12620 Are u refering to this super compact tripod from Gitzo ... Looks very good to me for traveling but is very ex ... Ha Btw does any one has this? How much does Cathay sells? Thanks Edmund

nope. but similar. you can check on the pdf file from gitzo website.
i think they are roughtly 700+

[shendeerzi]

The Gitzo model that I mentioned is extremely light and portable. I think it should be ideal for travelling. Preferably can consider to buy one if I will be in another country for six months ... Ha

[+evenstar]

Originally Posted by roti_prata though rated at 3kg, its good only for 2kg or so. speaking from experience, near the max load the tripod will support the cam find when in the normal upright position but it gets shaky once the cam is tilted to portrait. for my d70s + 70-200vr(slightly over 2kg) im using a slik rated at 5kg. rock solid even when portrait.

When you tilt to portrait, your tilt the whole ballhead and the weight is now not along the centre of the tripod, but rather slightly off, hence making it unstable.

[ricohflex]

Originally Posted by jumbocrab What happened to your ring lock? I have not had any problems with mine, and once I got used to it, I find it quite good.

me too
I have at least 3 gitzos
never have such problem in 20+ years of shooting

[zoossh]

Originally Posted by ricohflex me too I have at least 3 gitzos never have such problem in 20+ years of shooting

why need so many?

[kssim]

Originally Posted by zoossh anyone who tied their tripod in this manner? my current manfrotto mf3 is 56cm long collapsed which is too long to put like above. but if i change to gitzo, 35.5cm may be possible for it.

Be careful when you hooked your tripod anywhere on your body or outside your bag.. I just dropped my gitzo mini tripod into the sea at Halong Bay earlier this month.. It was hooked to my bag and apparently seems nicely secured so far until it decide to take the plunge right at the moment when I was switching boats.. Ow....

[zoossh]

Originally Posted by kssim Be careful when you hooked your tripod anywhere on your body or outside your bag.. I just dropped my gitzo mini tripod into the sea at Halong Bay earlier this month.. It was hooked to my bag and apparently seems nicely secured so far until it decide to take the plunge right at the moment when I was switching boats.. Ow....

it could have dropped in other fashion too. like nicely secured to bag, sling onto the back or held in the hand.

how light is your mini tripod? what model is it?

[zoossh]

in the end still got this baby after much consideration.

try to secure my techniques and it works fine. although haven't tested it in windy situations.