p.3 #1 · Recommend a tripod and tripod head for Sony 300 GM 2.8
Ross Martin wrote:
That’s a $1400 combination, you got an incredible deal at $699! That head only is on sale for $349, so getting a nice set of Gitzo carbon fiber legs for $350 is unheard of these days. Gitzo is top quality. That head is super nice and is one I was looking at a few days ago (I ended up buying the larger Gitzo head just above this one). The legs will be great being Gitzo, and it’s nice that you can remove the center column and mount the head without it if desired (I read this reduces the legs weight to 3.8lbs). As far as carrying that weight, it is completely a personal preference thing. I’m just finishing a 3-month photography trip and at age 60 I carry head/legs totaling 7.2 pounds almost daily and it’s not an issue for me 95% of the time (I always carry tripod in my hand, or over my shoulder). Only on occasion if I’m feeling a little tired or doing a longer hike will I switch to the lighter FLM setup. But I don’t do backpacking and rarely hike more than 8 miles in a day - in fact I find most of my images within a couple miles of my truck.
You will find the quality of that legs/head will be the equivalent of the beautiful Sony 300/2.8 GM you have. I think you are going to be blown away at the construction, finish, smoothness, and stability compared to whatever cheap tripod you said you've been using. You could always try it out, and if you decide it’s not for you B&H has an excellent return policy. ...Show more →
Thanks for your reply and validation! I have no idea why it was so heavily discounted, but it seemed hard to pass up and try out. Im in my 30s so hiking with a 5.8 pound tripod set up shouldn't be overly difficult for me. In fact it might be good for me to hike with a bit more weight now so that I can keep strength and hopefully continue hiking when I'm In my 60s.
The tripod came in today and it's great. A super solid piece of gear that would seemingly last a lifetime.
My first impressions are that:
1) it's a huge step up from my cheap tripod.
2) everything is very nicely built and put together.
3) with my A1ii and 300 gm on there it's about 63.5" without the center column extended and with other lenses that don't have a separate tripod foot it's about 62". This isn't completely eye level and requires me to bend ever so slightly to get my eye through the viewfinder. I can't tell if this will be a big deal or not.
4) it is definitely large, it fits on both my hiking backpacks, both a shimoda action x 40 and an osprey kestrel 38 without too much fuss but it's large, not subtle and throws the backpack weight off a bit.
5) The ball head is nice (and heavy). I like how it has a tension knob for when the ball is released, can have it quite loose or quit taught for framing and tracking.
6) It seems very stable even with the center column extended, granted I was only testing this in my living room without wind or anything.
So I guess the $700 question is whether I will keep it or not and whether it's the best tripod for me? If I return it I will probably go for the FLM CP30 L II or 34 L II and some ball head. Why are the Gitzo GT3532 tripod legs alone $1400 when not on sale, versus the FLM which are $500 or $700? With the FLM I get more height, lower weight, similar load capacity, don't have to use a center column, etc. I really am no tripod expert so what makes this a better buy than an FLM? Why are the legs 2-3x more expensive?
Also I wonder what the resale value is if I decide not to return it and a couple years from now want to sell it? If I was basically guaranteed to get my money back that would change things for me vs losing hundreds on a sale.
p.3 #2 · Recommend a tripod and tripod head for Sony 300 GM 2.8
billsnature wrote:
I have a Gitzo 200 series (GT2540) Mountaineer (4 leg sections) and a 300 Series Mountaineer with three leg sections. I see either one as being more than adequate for the 300mm GM with a 2X TC on it. The lens is really light and well balanced. If I had it to do over, I think a Gitzo 200 series with 3 leg sections would be ideal. On my 200 series I removed the center column and use a Markens platform to stiffen up the center plate and make it very rigid. It's great but I would like 3 leg sections over 4 for speed. The 300 series was great for old DSLR and 500mm f4 or 600mm f4, but it's an overkill for 300mm GM or 400-800 G.
As to head... Depends on what your shooting. For birds in flight, any lightweight gimbal head is best, for mammals, you should look at Flex Shooter Pro which is a really cool concept. Like a gimbal that will do landscape work better than gimbal. For landscape only there are many low-cost great ball heads....Show more →
Thanks for your reply. The 3532 + GH3382QD came in the other day and it's great but I'm still not sure if I will keep it or not. I feel like I got an incredible deal on it at $699 new. I'm trying to decide between returning it for an FLM CP 30 LII/CP 34 LII or keeping it. Right now the 300mm 2.8 is my heaviest lens, but some day I will have a 600 f/4 or even the sigma 300-600 f/4 so I'd like to have something that can work with those lenses as well. The flex shooter pro looks like a great ball head for both landscape and wildlife. Maybe keeping the legs and selling the GH3382QD ball head is the move? I'm not sure.
p.3 #3 · Recommend a tripod and tripod head for Sony 300 GM 2.8
duncangr wrote:
Flex-shooter Pro Mini with Lever - behaves like a gimbal but much smaller, handles A1 + 600 f/4
Peak Design Travel Tripod
Home made ground pod
The flex shooter looks great! I see the mini has a weight limit of 21 pounds where as the pro has a weight limit of 100 lbs, but is only 0.5 pounds heavier. An A1ii + Sigma 300-600 f4 is about 11 pounds and I think that's one of the heaviest set ups there is on a sony. It sounds like the mini would handle it, although 21 pounds vs 100 pounds is a big difference obviously and has to bear out somehow I would think.
p.3 #4 · Recommend a tripod and tripod head for Sony 300 GM 2.8
Swimming_trouble_718 wrote:
The flex shooter looks great! I see the mini has a weight limit of 21 pounds where as the pro has a weight limit of 100 lbs, but is only 0.5 pounds heavier. An A1ii + Sigma 300-600 f4 is about 11 pounds and I think that's one of the heaviest set ups there is on a sony. It sounds like the mini would handle it, although 21 pounds vs 100 pounds is a big difference obviously and has to bear out somehow I would think.
I had the bigger one but left it with my brother in SA - it is bigger and heavier and sturdier and the mini seems to work just fine with a 600 f/4.
p.3 #5 · Recommend a tripod and tripod head for Sony 300 GM 2.8
Swimming_trouble_718 wrote:
Thanks for your reply. The 3532 + GH3382QD came in the other day and it's great but I'm still not sure if I will keep it or not. I feel like I got an incredible deal on it at $699 new. I'm trying to decide between returning it for an FLM CP 30 LII/CP 34 LII or keeping it. Right now the 300mm 2.8 is my heaviest lens, but some day I will have a 600 f/4 or even the sigma 300-600 f/4 so I'd like to have something that can work with those lenses as well. The flex shooter pro looks like a great ball head for both landscape and wildlife. Maybe keeping the legs and selling the GH3382QD ball head is the move? I'm not sure. ...Show more →
If it were me, I would keep the legs for sure!! If you could keep the legs and return the head for credit, I would do that. If you can't, I might keep the legs and sell the head on Forum. What you paid is a great price for legs only and the head was free.
p.3 #6 · Recommend a tripod and tripod head for Sony 300 GM 2.8
billsnature wrote:
If it were me, I would keep the legs for sure!! If you could keep the legs and return the head for credit, I would do that. If you can't, I might keep the legs and sell the head on Forum. What you paid is a great price for legs only and the head was free.
Thanks for your reply! I’ve been surprised by the lack of formal tripod reviews so I’m having to come to forums to get more information. Curious why you would opt to keep them versus getting other legs with similar load capacity? I’m still going back and forth on whether I should return them for the FLM CP30L4 II or not. They have the same load capacity, the flm is lighter, packs down smaller, doesn’t have a center column etc. but on the other hand I have to imagine the Gitzo 3532 legs are $1400 (nearly 3x the price of the flm) for a reason and I got a great deal on them so maybe I should keep them?
p.3 #7 · Recommend a tripod and tripod head for Sony 300 GM 2.8
Tripods are highly subjective
There 'll be a zillion different ways of using it thus zillion suggestions
For me, a birder strictly, few things I need in a tripod:
1) lightweight but sturdy (legs diameter the thickest possible, carbon material)
2) Tall enough for eye level use (prefer not to have to use the center column which tends to be wobbly)
3) Head has to facilitate both stills and video thus fluid head but also has to be light (used to use Gimbal but now only use fluid head)
4) Twist legs (skin got eaten by the clipped legs many times so avoid, tighter in the long run)
5) 4 sections (faster to deploy, more sturdy than 5)
Once you narrow down your needs then it's much easier to pick the right tripod combo
Cheers,
p.3 #8 · Recommend a tripod and tripod head for Sony 300 GM 2.8
Swimming_trouble_718 wrote:
Thanks for your reply! I’ve been surprised by the lack of formal tripod reviews so I’m having to come to forums to get more information. Curious why you would opt to keep them versus getting other legs with similar load capacity? I’m still going back and forth on whether I should return them for the FLM CP30L4 II or not. They have the same load capacity, the flm is lighter, packs down smaller, doesn’t have a center column etc. but on the other hand I have to imagine the Gitzo 3532 legs are $1400 (nearly 3x the price of the flm) for a reason and I got a great deal on them so maybe I should keep them? ...Show more →
I don't know enough about FLM to say if it would be as stable or as good as the Gitzo or not. I have tried a lot of legs over the years and always keep coming back to Gitzo CF legs. I have a 2, 3 and 5 Series legs from Gitzo. I tried RRS and did not like them as much, but I am sure I am a minority opinion on that. FLM looks interesting. I would love to consolidate to one set. Anyone looking for a 5 series Gitzo Carbon Fiber tripod, let me know.
