[SAMTANG321]

小弟現欲選購一支脚能作經常用及長久用的, 看了許多後現有以上3支作考慮中;
1.) 現有用開1541T之CHING能否給小弟一些對此腳之評價, 是否真的很輕及好用?
2.) 我看過2580T但覺後重, 有沒有CHING有在用中, 如何?
3) 在討論區見有CHING對2530之評價也很好, 此又如何?

本人不高只1米7多, 器材暫亦最重只不過BODY+70~200+外閃吧了, 不想腳太重可輕鬆上路, 請指教.

[fish30d]

I don't have 1541T but I have 1550T. 1541T can carry more load, 4kg if I remember correctly, but 1550T can only carry 2kg (these are official figures, which are very conservative, I have 5D2 +100-400 +580EX on it and still no problem, besides, you can always add weight on the hook to increase stability).

The reasons I chose 1550T are:
1) light, only 1kg
2) fully folded only 14" (1541T is 16"). This is extremely important feature for me because I can just slip it inside a backpack!
3) I don't need it to carry big load, mainly 24-105 or 100-400 with 580EX, more than adequate.

A word of advice, if you are buying the Traveller series because of its special folding design, remember to choose a ball head correctly! Not many ball heads are suitable. Don't buy Markins because even though they say they are for the Travller series, they are too big and the legs cannot be fully folded. I am using Photo Clam 33NS, fit perfectly after folded!

Good luck.

[SAMTANG321]

好多謝CHING之詳細解答, TKS!

我有去睇過你支1550T, 非常小巧精緻, 好靚, 現賣$4,300. CHING你係唔係每次均要開盡中軸才行的呀, 另如不換波頭是否承載不了如此裝備的呀? 咁如加上換波頭後變成要$5,500附近, 咁是否買2580QTR会好些呢, 慼覺像会SAFE D, 往後如若加重些少仍行.......!

其實現我正在煩, 買得此些脚就係貪佢輕及方便, 会肯不加思索便肯帶出街, 如買2580QTR, 雖会紮實些, 但成1.7KGS, 有2頭唔到岸之感, 而CHING1550T
SIZE其實我很喜歡, 只是有些擔憂............

[fish30d]

Sam, to answer your questions:

1) No need to fully open the central axial, depends on the height you want.

2) The ballhead that comes with 1550T is very inconvenient, you cannot attach quick release plate to it, so mounting your camera on it is very troublesome. Besides, changing to a better ballhead will give you more load weight.

3) Yes, if you buy a seperate ballhead, the cost will go to around $5,600 ( I bought my Photo Clam 33NS in Korea for $900, plate $200, but in HK I think it retails at around $1,250 for just the ballhead). You may argue for that price you can buy 2580QTR, but don't forget you are looking for light-weight. If you can accept 1.7kg, there are many other choices you can consider.

4) As for load weight of 1550T, as I said, the official figure of 2kg is very conservative. I don't have any problem using it with 5D MkII (850g); Big White 100-400 (1.1kg) and 580EX (around 400g). Besides you can add weight to the hook at the end of the central axial to give more stability. If you are going to use it during travelling, I don't think load weight is a concern (unless you go to Kenya and bring a 500mm to shoot tigers:))) What equipment do you have that cause you the concern?

5) Of course the other alternative is the one that you mentioned in the topic, 1541T. It weight the same as 1550T and can carry 4kg load. The reason that I went against it was because it is 2" longer than 1550T when folded. To me this is very important, because like you, I love to travel and would like to bring a tripod without hesitations. Being 2" shorter allows me to put it inside my backpack! Also, I know what equipment I have, I know for sure I don't have to worry about load factor.

If you are worrying about load, unless you have to mount 500mm or 800mm on it, otherwise, weight is not a concern. Changing the ballhead is a must for both 1541T and 1550T, but you don't need to change it immediately, you can use the one that comes with the tripod first (but you will soon find out what I mean by inconvenient).

Good luck!