Comments on: Gitzo GT5541LS tripod

By: DAVID ZAMMIT

DAVID ZAMMIT — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:44:45 +0000

Richard,
I agonized long and hard choosing between the 5541 and the 3541. I went with the 5541LS ’cause I tend to “oversize” with consideration of future needs. I was not disappointed. It is a large tripod but once you get over the initial “wow, did I over do it?” moment, you get used to it pretty quick.
For as big as it is, it’s light and with a large lens “sail”, in a hard wind, it will blow over. Mine did; with a 400 2.8. Lucky for me, it had a T shirt over it to protect from the sun (which enhanced the sail effect) and it fell into loose sand. No damage at all, except for my wife lunging for it and getting cactus in her shin for her effort.
My advice, point one leg opposite the wind direction and use some (lots of) sand in a bag suspended from that hook.

By: Richard Peters

Richard Peters — Sat, 15 May 2010 04:47:54 +0000

No worries Good choice, worth buying for the future as you never know what lenses will be in your bag further down the line

By: matt

matt — Fri, 14 May 2010 21:48:34 +0000

Yes, of course, I do things like that all the time myself and I know it’s annoying when someone points it out. Based on your review I’m going to purchase a GT5541LS instead of the GT3541LS I was going to get. The largest lens I use is only a 70-200 VR11 but as weight is not an issue for me I may as well use the most sturdy tripod I can get without going to a Sachtler. Thanks again.

By: Richard Peters

Richard Peters — Fri, 14 May 2010 13:05:18 +0000

Well aware which way it should be, just over looked it! Well spotted, thanks for pointing it out! Appreciated

By: matt

matt — Fri, 14 May 2010 12:54:37 +0000

Nice review. However you need to get your grammar right. In your very first sentence you say, “Whether your a medium/large format photographer ……”.
It’s not your, it’s you’re which is an abbreviation for you are.

By: Merv

Merv — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:34:35 +0000

Hi,
Nice review, great to see actual pictures in context. They convinced me it was the tripod I wanted, and it arrived today. I cannot wait to try it out with the gimple head and 600mm lens.

I have been trying to use a set of 055 legs with the gimble head and 600mm, but i’m getting better results with a monopod, which I know should not be right. This new set of legs should help sharpen things up!

Merv.

By: Rob McEwen

Rob McEwen — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:31:44 +0000

Thanks Richard, a really good, informative review – as usual!
My friends think I’m mad – lusting after a 600 quid tripod !?

By: Richard Peters

Richard Peters — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:29:39 +0000

Hi Rafael, glad you enjoyed the review. As yet I haven’t found a situation where the spiked feet would have helped in my opinion…but that’s not to say they would never come in handy. I don’t know what type of terrain you shoot on but if you think they might be of use to you then maybe pick a set up and keep them in your camera bag.

By: Rafael Bonilla G

Rafael Bonilla G — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:04:58 +0000

HI,good review.
I’m just planing to buy this tripod, but I want to know, what do you think about the 1.5″ long spike set for Gitzo tripods?

By: George DeCamp

George DeCamp — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:38:47 +0000

You did an excellent job with this Richard. Thanks for all the effort you put in!

George