is gitzo 6x really better?

[aizan]

if you've traded in, say, a gitzo 1325 for a 3530, would you say that the load capacity truly has doubled? does the 6x carbon fiber make much difference?

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

John Travolta says it...

 

[peter_n]

Well, I don't have a 1325 (wish I did) but I do have a 1228 and I recently acquired a fairly heavy panoramic kit. The 1228 handles it with ease so I don't see the point of trading up. If you are tripod-less, seriously consider the new 6x stuff unless the price of used/new old stock is extremely competitive. If you're trading up yourself you've presumably factored in what you'll likely be buying in the future, as I did. Gitzo stuff is so good you only need to buy one and you are set for life.

 

[mervynyan]

I have 2007 3530S, it is big and light, hard to pack on the trip. My gear at most is 10 lbs, so load capacity is really a moot point.

 

[aizan]

i like the smaller size of the 2530 compared to the 1325/3530. it's supposed to have the same load capacity as the 1325, too.

 

[David Goldfarb]

I don't know if it's worth trading up for, not having made that move myself, but I'm very happy with my GT5540LS legset. It's really solid and has excellent vibration damping characteristics, and with a flat plate, not including the head, it weighs 7 lbs., which I would consider the weight of a "medium sized" tripod, so when I bought it, I could sell off three other tripods.

 

[bennyng]

I traded up a set of the older Gitzo tripods/monopods for the current line up because of the G Lock function and the non rotating legs. As for the extra benefits of the 6X carbon Fibre tubings, I don't really feel any incremental performance. The load capacity certainly has not doubled. Perhaps marginally increased.

Cheers,

 

[David Goldfarb]

I should have mentioned, the G-lock collars and non-rotating legs are indeed a big improvement. The main reason I never bought a Gitzo before was that I didn't care for the locking collars.