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Bogen vs Gitzo tripods

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robodoc

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I currently have a Hakuba 6430 carbon fiver tripod (4 piece leg sections), but am looking to get a tripod with just 3 piece leg section. I will be taking a VanOs photosafari to Alaska in September, and am thinking about getting new tripod. My question is this: I get pretty tired of always tightening the leg sections which on the Hakuba are the same mechanism as on the Gitzo, the twisting leg lock. The Bogen on the other hand uses the Quick Action Locks, which would seem to be faster to set up and use. What seems to be the general preference? Is the Bogen system as sturdy etc. as the Gitzo? One of my concerns is traveling around constantly and always having to set up the tripod again. Am I being foolish to consider the Bogen over the Gitzo for this reason? Help oh wise warriors in the field! Oh, and by the way, I use a Markins M-10, my biggest lens to use with my D200 is Nikon 300 2.8 AFS.
--
Jeffrey H. Ferguson
 
I have a few of each (Bogen/Gitzo) and find they are ideally suited to different situations. If I'm going to be ANYWHERE near sand, the Gitzo doesn't get to come along - I'm tired of disassembling the legs to get the grit out. My Bogen tripods are the aluminum variety with the quick locking mechanism and are used when sand or saltwater emersion will be on the menu. Some of the screws rust out and I scrap the whole tripod periodically while only keeping the ballhead. They aren't too expensive so I tend to think of them as being an 18 month item in my line of work (tropical destination photography - lots of salty water!).

If I will be in clean urban environs or backpacking where weight is an issue, the carbon Gitzo's are the ticket.

Like you, I really don't like the twisting Gitzo mechanism. Didn't like it back when I had aluminum Gitzo's and don't like it any better on their carbon models. But they are nice and light.
 
I read on some photo website that Gitzo will be coming out with new tripods in early 2007 that have a quick-locking vs. twist legs.

Since your trip isn't until September, you might want to hold off a bit and see if the rumor is true.
 
Actually it's all over the Gitzo website:
http://www.gitzo.com/jsp/index.jsp

The new range is called G-lock and they are claimed to give a big increase in stability and max load for the same size and weight, also quicker operation. I'm waiting for one myself, probably the GT1540. This is a Series 1, but claims the same performance as the old Series 2.

Bogen are the US distributors for Gitzo and they have confirmed that the new G-lock will be available early 2007.

--
http://www.thedrunkenboat.net
 
Nicely summed up.
I can't wait for the new quick lock Gitzos.

One big advantage with carbon fibre; it neither gets too cold or too hot when used in extreme temps. With aluminum, ouch!
Tom
--
(See equipment list under 'profile')
 
I have owned many tripods (and studio stands) including Gitzo, Linhof, Davis & Sanford, Tiltall, Bogen, etc. My experience with the Bogen flip-lock was after a short amount of use the locks began slipping, and I had to replace the locking levers because they tended to snap off. Definitely not in the quality category of Gitzo tripods. I have a couple of Gitzos; both carbon and aluminum. They never fail and are rock steady support for their weight. One of them is over 20 years old and has seen a lot of use but still works like new.

Having said that, there is a new brand that you may want to consider that just arrived on the scene called Induro. These are almost identical to the Gitzos with both carbon (latest 8-layer) and alloy, are of very high quality and cost less than the Gitzo equivalent. I looked at them at PhotoPlus and really find it difficult to see any difference between the two brands besides price. If anything, the Induro seems to offer more features.

Check out http://www.indurogear.com/ before you buy.
 
Hmm, I have to say that I have never had issues with Bogens like you describe. I have a pair of 3021's one is the "pro" model and about a year old, the other is about 20 years old. After about a month of use with both of them, I had to tighten the leg clamp (flip lock) using the supplied wrench. It was about a one minute job and, considering the design, I would have been very suprised if it wasn't needed. I seriously suspect that the new Gitzos will require an adjustment like this after a break in period also.

But, other than this very minor adjustment, I have had no issues with either tripod at all.

DIPics
nzav said:
I have owned many tripods (and studio stands) including Gitzo,
Linhof, Davis & Sanford, Tiltall, Bogen, etc. My experience with
the Bogen flip-lock was after a short amount of use the locks began
slipping, and I had to replace the locking levers because they
tended to snap off. Definitely not in the quality category of Gitzo
tripods. I have a couple of Gitzos; both carbon and aluminum. They
never fail and are rock steady support for their weight. One of
them is over 20 years old and has seen a lot of use but still works
like new.

Having said that, there is a new brand that you may want to
consider that just arrived on the scene called Induro. These are
almost identical to the Gitzos with both carbon (latest 8-layer)
and alloy, are of very high quality and cost less than the Gitzo
equivalent. I looked at them at PhotoPlus and really find it
difficult to see any difference between the two brands besides
price. If anything, the Induro seems to offer more features.

Check out http://www.indurogear.com/ before you buy.
Click to expand...
 
..and my leg locks have been just fine, but I have to watch myself because sometimes I pinch my hand when locking them down....boy that smarts!

I have had to tighten the locks on both my tripod (3021BN) and my monopod, but as a previous poster said it isn't that much of a deal.

I am hiding and watching for the new Gitzo with the new leg locks. I might buy me one of those if it works and the price is right.

In a previous life (in TV News) we used Gitzo monster tripods and the twist locks on the legs were sometimes a real pain to deal with. You needed to make sure you really had them locked before you mounted a $50,000 ENG camera on them. (back in the late 70s the ENG did cost that much)

--
CDL



See Profile for gear stuff
Pbase Supporter

http://www.photobama.com/
 
I am not disputing that others may not have experienced the issues I had with Bogen's plastic levers, but I, and other pro photographers that used them on location shoots have had to deal with these issues.

I found the flip-locks to be unreliable and too fragile to be considered pro quality. The issues I had may not happen in a couple of decades worth of hobby use, but the abundant use of plastic by Bogen does not inspire confidence. I had to carry the adjusting wrench with me whenever I went on location because the legs would slip without warning. This can be a very big problem when it happens during a shoot requiring perfectly registered multiple exposures. Actually, any maintenance procedures that you have to do on equipment during a pro shoot is not a good thing, especially if the client is present.

Pound for pound, the Gitzo tripods are steadier than their Bogen counterparts, and they stay that way through years of hard use while the Bogens keep loosening up and getting more wobbly. There is a good reason why Bogen sells two different lines with a substantial price difference.

My Gitzo tripods have never slipped or required replacement parts. The legs lock with compression fittings that by their very nature are self-compensating for wear so you do not need to carry a wrench around to keep tightening them up. I have one that is very beat and is so old it still carries a "Full warranty for life - plus incarnations" label on one of its legs; I have yet to take advantage of it! It will probably outlive me. I am only sharing my experience with Bogen and Gitzo tripods; your mileage may vary.

Before anyone starts flaming me as a "poster boy for Gitzo," I will only say that when a better pro tripod hits the market (which the Induro just may be), I will not hesitate to upgrade my current tripods.
 
I have used both types of tripods. Honestly have had good service from both. I noticed that the Gitzos that I have tend to stay in the closet a lot more. The convenience and speed of the Bogen just makes it better for the work that I do. I have also had the clean out the Gitzos much more often (well, never for the Bogen) because their leg lock mechanism is much more succeptable to grit etc. If you are using it for static work (landscapes, architectural etc) my personal recommendation would be the Gitzos. If you are using it for something where quick setup and takedown matter (portraits, weddings etc.) as I do, then the Bogens get the nod.

I suspect that, because of the nature of the beast, you will have to adjust the new style Gitzos as you occasionally have to adjust the Bogens. I have no issue with that but some might.

DIPics
nzav said:
I am not disputing that others may not have experienced the issues
I had with Bogen's plastic levers, but I, and other pro
photographers that used them on location shoots have had to deal
with these issues.

I found the flip-locks to be unreliable and too fragile to be
considered pro quality. The issues I had may not happen in a couple
of decades worth of hobby use, but the abundant use of plastic by
Bogen does not inspire confidence. I had to carry the adjusting
wrench with me whenever I went on location because the legs would
slip without warning. This can be a very big problem when it
happens during a shoot requiring perfectly registered multiple
exposures. Actually, any maintenance procedures that you have to do
on equipment during a pro shoot is not a good thing, especially if
the client is present.

Pound for pound, the Gitzo tripods are steadier than their Bogen
counterparts, and they stay that way through years of hard use
while the Bogens keep loosening up and getting more wobbly. There
is a good reason why Bogen sells two different lines with a
substantial price difference.

My Gitzo tripods have never slipped or required replacement parts.
The legs lock with compression fittings that by their very nature
are self-compensating for wear so you do not need to carry a wrench
around to keep tightening them up. I have one that is very beat and
is so old it still carries a "Full warranty for life - plus
incarnations" label on one of its legs; I have yet to take
advantage of it! It will probably outlive me. I am only sharing my
experience with Bogen and Gitzo tripods; your mileage may vary.

Before anyone starts flaming me as a "poster boy for Gitzo," I will
only say that when a better pro tripod hits the market (which the
Induro just may be), I will not hesitate to upgrade my current
tripods.
Click to expand...
 
As I said, I have found plenty of reasons not to trust my ability to deliver the sharpest images using the Bogens, while you obviously have not encountered those issues. That is why I said "your mileage may vary..."

Perhaps in my field of work (advertising and commercial images), the demands are greater on the equipment. I routinely clean all of my equipment (not just tripods) after a shoot in an inhospitable environment as part of regular maintenance. The Gitzos have been used on sandy beaches and hauled up on mountain tops (thank goodness for carbon fiber) without binding or having any need for on location repairs or adjustments; I doubt this can be written off as luck. Can't say the same for the Bogens.

The miniscule amount of time it takes to twist lock a leg versus flipping a lever has never bothered me or made an impact on my workflow on location. Watching one of the tripod's legs slowly collapsing as I am shooting and resetting up the shot after cranking the locking adjustment however, does.
 
thanks for all the good road warrior advice. I think that from what I've been hearing, the Gitzo may be the way I go. Now the next question is how about the new "G-Locks" - will this change anyone's opinion? Are they as good as whatever the old mechanism was?
--
Jeffrey H. Ferguson
 
See, where your routine maintenance includes (I presume) dissassembly and cleaning of the leg joints. My pre shoot checklist includes taking 20 seconds and checking the tightness of the legs. I also do this same thing for lightstands. Professional gear is often pretty easy to maintain but it is often a requirement to do so. But I have never had to actually dissassemble the legs like I have on my Gitzos.

I suspect I may like the new Gitzos though. And, I suspect you will dislike them. For both of us, the same reasons as the Bogens...

Just for the record, my oldest tripod is actually a Tiltall. I still find times it is the exact right tripod to use. Even though it is a pain to clean if I have to do so.

DIPics
nzav said:
As I said, I have found plenty of reasons not to trust my ability
to deliver the sharpest images using the Bogens, while you
obviously have not encountered those issues. That is why I said
"your mileage may vary..."

Perhaps in my field of work (advertising and commercial images),
the demands are greater on the equipment. I routinely clean all of
my equipment (not just tripods) after a shoot in an inhospitable
environment as part of regular maintenance. The Gitzos have been
used on sandy beaches and hauled up on mountain tops (thank
goodness for carbon fiber) without binding or having any need for
on location repairs or adjustments; I doubt this can be written off
as luck. Can't say the same for the Bogens.

The miniscule amount of time it takes to twist lock a leg versus
flipping a lever has never bothered me or made an impact on my
workflow on location. Watching one of the tripod's legs slowly
collapsing as I am shooting and resetting up the shot after
cranking the locking adjustment however, does.
Click to expand...
 
Gitzo WAS the best there was. They have a lot of very viable competition nowadays. Yes, I still own a handful of Gitzo products but they aren't the end-all and be-all when it comes to tripods like many thought they once were. Bogen makes a very capable product for a LOT less money.

Do you want to spend your money on a better camera and airfare to an exotic destination or on an overpriced tripod to impress your camera club friends?

A tripod does nothing but steady a camera...and many tripods can do it very well.

If you really just want a great stand that costs a bundle, look to FOBA/
mark
http://www.markpix.com
 
Dennis Lathem said:
..and my leg locks have been just fine, but I have to watch myself
because sometimes I pinch my hand when locking them down....boy
that smarts!
Click to expand...
I have the 3021, an older model, and the leg locks do pinch me sometime. They can loosen, but as mentioned you simply tighten a bolt once every so often (and that can be a long time, I think the bolts tend to work themselves out more with tripod transport than with use).

I have seen the newer 3021 models though, and the clamps they use now make it almost impossible to pinch yourself. Or at least it seemed that way.

I have to agree with the original poster that I really prefer the clamp style lock over the twisting lock. The clamp is far, far faster - and with the 3021 compacting the whole affair is as simple as undoing all the clamps and turning the tripod upside down, then in almost one motion clamping all the legs down at once. To me the nice ting about the clamps is that generally they are truly clamped down - with twist locks there is always the question of if you actually twisted down enough to hold the load you are about to place on the tripod! There is no visual confirmation as with clamp locks that all legs are tight. A clamp might slip a little, but it's only going to slip slightly to start with and then you can simply tighten it again.

I too am interested in what Gitzo might do with clamp locks, but I can say after having used both Gitzo and Manfrotto tripods in the field that the Manfrotto can work just as well. You really are only giving up a little wieght and some extra length, for the flexibility of more rapid deployment and teardown.

--
---> Kendall
http://InsideAperture.com
http://www.pbase.com/kgelner
http://www.pbase.com/sigmadslr/user_home
 
I guess my Bogens are old enough to not have the quantity of plastic that others are claiming to have problems with. I use my equipment professionally in some very outragous conditions and I'm not known to baby my equipment at all.

My 3021 is almost 19 years old and the 3001 is 17 years old. I've never needed to replace anything on them yet. However, I do maintain them periodically--every few years. The old friction levers on the 3021 keep working loose, but the plastic "wrench" cable-keeper is always handy and easy to retighten a loose nut. I need to do that maybe once or twice a month. I did try locktite on them once and it seemed to help, but I've never gotten back around to doing it again. The extent of my maintenance is to wipe things down with a WD40 saturated towel after being exposed to nasty elements. This also keeps the screws from rusting.

Disassembly? Maybe once. Sand, water, salt, snow aren't an issue. The only problem I have with the 3021 is the tendency to resonate in windy conditions--when that happens I need to shorten the legs a couple inches.

Tough? Well, during a very hard landing, my 3001 with medium-duty ball-head punched through the end of an overhead cabinet of an MD-11. Just added another scratch in the paint. That was 10 years ago.

I was working in a pro camera shop when I bought those tripods and my boss (third generation owner of the shop), said that a good tripod is a career purchase. He didn't hesitate to recommend the Bogens to me. The only reason why I'd replace the 3021 is because of something other than wearing out.

Other than wanting to replace the heads to get a new plate system (mine have the hex plates), I've never seen a reason to change.
 
They have started shipping them over a week back. I am getting mine the day after tomorrow. I debated a bit between the 2-series (GT2540) and the 3-series Gitzo (GT3540L or GT3540LS).
robodoc said:
Does anyone have the new series of Gitzos with the G lock, etc.?
Are they even available yet anywhere?
--
Jeffrey H. Ferguson
Click to expand...
--
--- Anil ----
Gear: A couple of cameras & tripod/flash
 
robodoc said:
I currently have a Hakuba 6430 carbon fiver tripod (4 piece leg
sections), but am looking to get a tripod with just 3 piece leg
section. I will be taking a VanOs photosafari to Alaska in
September, and am thinking about getting new tripod. My question is
this: I get pretty tired of always tightening the leg sections
which on the Hakuba are the same mechanism as on the Gitzo, the
twisting leg lock. The Bogen on the other hand uses the Quick
Action Locks, which would seem to be faster to set up and use. What
seems to be the general preference? Is the Bogen system as sturdy
etc. as the Gitzo? One of my concerns is traveling around
constantly and always having to set up the tripod again. Am I being
foolish to consider the Bogen over the Gitzo for this reason? Help
oh wise warriors in the field! Oh, and by the way, I use a Markins
M-10, my biggest lens to use with my D200 is Nikon 300 2.8 AFS.
--
Jeffrey H. Ferguson
Click to expand...
Well, for wedding work, the Bogens or Manfrottos are a no-brainer for me, I can't stand those gitzo things.

Patrick
 
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