Gitzo GK1580TQR5

[teids]

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Hi everyone,

 

After using that search button on the forum, I was unable to find anything on the Gitzo1580TQR5 kit.

 

I am looking at buying a good tripod. Went through the route of buying a few lousy ones first....

 

I am looking at the following characteristics:

1. Lightweight

2. Very small when folded

3. At least 140cm when deployed

4. It will be suporting an M9 + lenses (50 summilux, in the near furuture 21SEM) and from time to time my older Nikon DSLR.

 

I came down to the following choice:

1. Gitzo 1580TQR5 (Tripod kit: Legs GT1551T, Head GH1780QR)

2. Same legs but different head?

 

DId anyone used that kit before? What are your thoughts on it?

 

Any other suggestion would be highly appreciated.

 

Thank you very much for help.

 

Teids

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[Peter H]

Personally, I much prefer fewer leg sections, three ideally, because it makes the tripod so much quicker and easier to use, but not quite so small when folded down of course.

 

And before buying a Gitzo head, I'd strongly recommend you take a serious look at the Arca Swiss P0. I've used many types and brands of head, but for a Leica the AS P0 is by far the easiest and quickest for me to use, and is as strong and reliable and accurate (no creep/drift/vibration) as many very much larger heads.

[MikeEvangelist]

I have that Gitzo (the GK1580TQR5). It's a fantastic tripod for travel and any time I don't feel like lugging my full-size tripod.

 

The five-section legs are a bit fiddly, but when deployed it's incredibly sturdy for its size and weight.

 

I have Really Right Stuff plates on all my cameras (and longer lenses), so I replaced the standard quick-release on this tripod with a RRS clamp, which works great.

 

Highly recommended.

[teids]

Thanks to both of you for your reply.

 

I have looked at the Arca Swiss P0 head it seems fantastic. A lot of good reviews.

 

I don t mind so much the five sections as usually when I open my tripod I am not in a big rush so I d rather go for smaller folded length.

 

On the gitzo website it appears that there are two traveller tripod which folds to 35cm (G1155T and GT1550T), however when you search on retailers websites it seems that its no longer available.

 

Does anyone know if the two above mentioned reference are still being produced?

 

If not, I guess I will have to go with the Kit offer instead of the Arca Swiss + Gitzo combo.

 

Once again thanks for the kind help.

 

Teids

[jaapv]

If you are into lightweight ballheads, have a look at the RRS offerings

[peter_n]

If you're buying the tripod for a bit of stability and vibration control (and I would hope you are) stay away from tripods with 5 leg sections. Yes they're small, but it's really one leg section too many. Most decent travel type tripods with good performance and a reasonable folded length (16-17 inches) have 4 leg sections.

 

Also the Gitzo ballheads are OK but you can do much better. If the tripod legs fold back over the ballhead you really need a head that is <=50mm in both the panning base and ball housing diameters. The popular quality favorite is the Markins Q3T unless you subject your equipment to extreme cold in which case the Acratech GP-ss or at a pinch the RRS BH-30 would be OK.

[teids]

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Thanks to both of you for your great suggestions.

 

Ot seems that a large amount of people made the same comment about 4 Vs 5 leg section. Will it really make a difference with an M9 and a 21 SEM on the tripod? (lightweight)

 

If I would go for 4 section then the GT1542 appears to be the best choice.

 

However in terms of ballheads there is just too much choice...

Arca Swiss

RRS

Markins Q3T which seems to have been built for the traveler series.

 

I will keep on reading reviews and will keep you informed on my final decision.

 

 

 

If you're buying the tripod for a bit of stability and vibration control (and I would hope you are) stay away from tripods with 5 leg sections. Yes they're small, but it's really one leg section too many. Most decent travel type tripods with good performance and a reasonable folded length (16-17 inches) have 4 leg sections.

 

Also the Gitzo ballheads are OK but you can do much better. If the tripod legs fold back over the ballhead you really need a head that is <=50mm in both the panning base and ball housing diameters. The popular quality favorite is the Markins Q3T unless you subject your equipment to extreme cold in which case the Acratech GP-ss or at a pinch the RRS BH-30 would be OK.

 

If you are into lightweight ballheads, have a look at the RRS offerings

[MikeEvangelist]

I agree with the previous comments, up to a point.

 

For me, if the tripod was any bigger I would take it with me much less. There's quite a difference in size between the five-section and four-section versions of the Traveler tripod. That difference would push it over the edge for me (in terms of tote-ability and convenience).

 

I've tried several other small tripods and the Gitzo is worlds ahead in terms of quality and stability. No doubt the four-section legs would be even better, but the five-section is much sturdier than you'd expect. It easily handles my M9 and D800, as well as the much heavier (and vibration prone) Rollei SL66.

 

Given the way you described your needs, I'm pretty confident that the small Gitzo would be perfect for you. My suggestion would be to buy it from a place that accepts returns.

[honcho]

......

Any other suggestion would be highly appreciated.

.....

 

I use a carbon Gitzo 1550T for backpacking & travel. Mine is fitted with a Manfrotto 496RC2 ball head for convenience because I also use a number of other tripods in different situations with different cameras and Manfrotto qr plates are my choice.

 

It's very small when packed with the centre column reversed and remarkably stable except in strong winds when hanging something from the centre column hook to stabilise it might be sensible.

 

The 5-section vs 4-section vs 3-section argument is often over-egged, imo. Most of the time it's irrelevant when light weight and small packed size is more important. One benefit of Gitzo carbon tripods is that the legs do not bind. This makes extending and collapsing the legs fairly effortless compared to others, which is more important if you are going to be stopping and setting your camera up frequently.

 

I have a Manfrotto carbon tripod that is heavier and tedious because the legs often bind and it takes longer to set up with 4-section legs than the Gitzo's 5 sections.

 

As usual, you get what you pay for. Gitzo aren't cheap but worth it as long as you choose the right model for your needs at the outset.

[teids]

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

If I want to get a Gitzo Tripod with a folded length below 40cm, the only way is to get that GK1580TQR5 kit. It seems that Gitzo no longer sell the legs separately (I.E 1550T nor 1155T)....

[teids]

So I made my mind up and decided to go for the kit. I went to my local dealer and ordered it. However a few days after they told me that no Kit would be available from the manufacture until mid september as the factory was running slow due to summer leaves.

 

I told them I would think about it. A few days after I ordered the GT1542T with a Gitzo Ballhead GH1780QR. I initially planned to go for the Arca Swiss P-0. But then I thought I might not have the need for such a ball head. Although I love it simplicity

 

I picked up the tripod and went for a little night session. I am very happy with the set-up. Very easy to carry around even if its a bit bigger then the five section ones,The only minor thing is that when folded up, the ballhead is sticking out of the legs

 

Thank you very much for all the help and suggestions. :)

 

 

Two shots of the Mont Blanc Bridge in Geneva with the Jet d'Eau de Geneve (Geneva, Switzerland).

 

M-E + 50Summilux

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[Leicafanatics]

my buddy showed me his Gitzo 1580TQR5 the other day. dang, this thing is light weigh..