Gitzo Traveler GT1542t (1 Viewer)

I have just bought a Gitzo Traveler because I was finding my Manfrotto 055 a bit too heavy. For some time now my daily walk around the marine lake has been me and my old Leica 8x32 bins. My lovely Leica 65APO was left in the hall because I just couldn't be bothered to take it with me.
I decided this was madness as why spend £2k+ on a scope and then not put it maximum use. Did the homework on weight etc and decided the Gitzo would be ideal, spoke to the guys in the shop re suitability etc.
The angled 65mm is 1.5kg the Manfrotto 128fluid head 1.0kg and the 055 tripod 2.5kg thus 5kg in total.
The new tripod is beautifully made and weighs just 1.0kg this means the new setup is only 3.5kg with the four section legs out the tripod is very stiff no flexing and I just can't believe how light it is.
From now on the scope will be with me on all my birdwatching walks and the new investment means the Leica will be used most days of the week rather than car trips to reserves etc.
Money well spent indeed.
Ian

Thanks for the information - looking for a tripod upgrade myself. How much more weight do you suppose would be comfortable and stable on your new Gitzo?

Best,
Jerry

Jerry
The technical spec says the load is ok up to 7kg or 15.43 lbs, I have mounted my Nikon D3 with 400mm lens on it and it seemed ok but if you were using it in windy conditions then a more substantial tripod would always be better.
The Leica 65 is more than happy on it and I would think the 80mm version would be good as well.
I bought it from a specialist shop who sell DSLRs and all the leading brands of scopes, swarvoski, zeiss, Kowa etc they said the Gitzo spec was conservative so my 65 is well within its performance envelope.
It is also really well engineered, check out the pics on the web of the mount where the legs join the core body of the tripod and you will see what I mean
Hope this is of some help. I only wish I had bought it when I got the new scope!
Rugs
Ian

Ian-palmer said:

The angled 65mm is 1.5kg the Manfrotto 128fluid head 1.0kg and the 055 tripod 2.5kg thus 5kg in total.
The new tripod is beautifully made and weighs just 1.0kg this means the new setup is only 3.5kg with the four section legs out the tripod is very stiff no flexing and I just can't believe how light it is.

Click to expand...

Makes quite a difference, doesn't it? :t:

Now, the next step will be to go for a lighter head. The 128 is a bit on the heavy side for birding light, so you might want to try to find a lighter head that suits you and your style of birding ... :king:

Hermann

128 fluid head

Herman
The 128 is a bit heavy but the options seem to be limited, only using 128 because could not justify the cost of changing it at present

Ian-palmer said:

The 128 is a bit heavy but the options seem to be limited, only using 128 because could not justify the cost of changing it at present

Click to expand...

I use a Gitzo 2180 for my EDIIIA:

http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=3085050&postcount=2

Works pretty well.

Hermann

I made a set up in my local retailor shop withe gitzo 1542 and a gitzo 1720 qr birding head.
I was suprised about the functionality of the head itself, the feeling was very decent and sturdy and ergonomic.
However the tripod choice in the end went to the 2542 instead.Main raison is that the round plate on the tripod cannot be decently fixed by a small allen key.With the 2542 is seemed more secured.I mean that while panning with the head , the round plate of the tripod just keeps its position.
In the end , i bought the 2542 /2720 qr set up as best solution for the swaro 65 and am very happy with it now