Large Tripod Comparison/Review (Gitzo, Manfrotto, Leofoto, Sirui)

I won!

Guys if you vibrate to the legs, you actually measure the very opposite than the stiffness.
The less stiff tripod, the more it absorbs the vibrations and they will not reach the camera. You should vibrate to the camera. Or even better, drop something soft like a tenis ball from the same position to the camera.

Unless I missed it, I didn’t hear anything about load capacity of given heads & legs. I’m on an average of 5Lbs of 35mm & 10Lbs Medium & large So I would like a higher weight headroom in my gear. I’ll carry the extra weight

can you add SEEDER's tripod next time?

The main thing that would keep me from buying a Gitzo is the hideous hammered metal finish...it just looks trashy and cheap.

Clueless male model has no idea that the pan at the bottom of the head is a deal killer. If I have to see one more guy pointing $thousands in gear at a petunia I am going to scream. And, "anyways" is not a word outside a trailer park. Completely clueless, amateurs will love this guy.

Haha "barely used."

Awesome video, I’m so much smarter now!

just got the Sirui W 2204 used and it's the best i've ever had. the only issue is the weight with a leveling adpator and manfrotto fluid head - total close to 7# - ??? will look for another head maybe a mono pod two way - any suggestions welcome.

You made up my mind for me. I'm 6'9. It was tall, yet came in 2nd for compactness. I shoot in the water quite often. It was stable. And you tied it up in the end with the monopod which was not mentioned earlier. Great review.

The only one I would trust with an A1 and the 200-600 would be the Gitzo unless you have the RRS or PMG ones.

My rubber manfrotto feet now have chair knobs. They sure wear through until the aluminium or carbon starts to show and scratch floors.

I was searching for tripods for dual use with my R6mkII and RF 100-500mm and stumbled, Hudson Henry’s channel for the first time, and really liked the combination he uses:

Leofoto LM-324CL Summit Series Extra Long 81” Version ($455)

Leofoto LB-75S Leveling Base ($108)

Manfrotto MVH500AH Fluid Video Head with Flat Base ($128)

Kirk Quick Release Bridge System for Manfrotto MVH 500 Fluid Video Head ($145) — Converts Fluid Head to Arca Swiss.

The entire rig is under 7 pounds and fits into the supplied carry bag for the tripod with the fluid head attached. It is an amazing combination with the tripod and the Kirk replacement bridge based on suggestions Hunter made to Leophoto and Kirk.

i didnt know he was 5'3

I know this video is kinda old now, but a couple of thoughts... I'd be interested to see how the Leofoto LQ-324C would stack up. Since the one tested was so light and compact, you could up it to the 32mm thick legs and have a taller tripod at similar weight to the others and no doubt even more stable than the tested tripod with the 28mm legs. It seems to be it would have been a much closer match than the shorter LQ-284C that was tested. To me the interest here is between the Sirui and Leofoto. Both seem to have some pros and cons.

Having said that, in this review there is a lot of emphasis put on shooting at a standing eye level. I feel like I'm rarely shooting like that. I guess it depends on your use. But I'm either in the studio doing table top photography and often well below eye level... or I'm out doing some landscape photography and sitting down on a rock with the tripod in water getting down nice and low. Unless I'm trying to shoot over a barrier or railing next to a path or something, I rarely have a tripod set to towering heights (I'm about 6'2").

Well that was unexpected, lol. I think wind and shutter shock are your #1 sources of tripod leg quivering...ahem. The other thing not mentioned here, is the center column hook, to hang a weight from i.e.: your camera bag. It adds stability to a lot of tripods in wind. I use mine, as I take 8-30 sec shots of skylines regularly.

what's your height Chris? and the height of your eye relative to the ground (min 5 , gitzo with head and camera)? thanks

The thing I like about the Gitzo is the massive and lethal spike that can penetrate the thickest woodland floor thatch, muddy ground or beach. They make the Gitzo really steady in the softest of surfaces

Good review, but I'd appreciate a review of the Leofoto Ranger CEX leveling series of tripods, thankyou.

One thing is very important for me: It should be easy to attach a strap, because I do not use backpacks and a tripod bag adds additional weight when walking around. At the moment I have a Manfrotto and it has two points to attach a strap. It seems attaching a strap to a Gitzo is much more complicated.

I love that the Gitzo only has three sections, because that means you safe a lot of time each time you tighten or untighten the legs.

I use Sony a7iii, please suggest a multi purpose tripod for both photography & videography

Can you please review the Leofoto G4 geared head?

Star gazing is a problem, tripod will not keep still, weight of zoom lens etc, big problem.

That Gitzo is so stylish, imaging owning that and a Leica you would just drip sex appeal.

is this dude 5'4

Let me tell you the best tripod I can recommend, is the sirui AM-284 with the sirui K-40x, carring this tripod it's kind of confusing because makes you feel you forgot your tripod, real lightweight, attachment on the head base, I never use this but great future, the head with a load capacity of 70 lbs. Why to pay for a gitzo or linhof head 1,200 plus, that's what I paid back in 2008, I sell me tripod and I went for a manfrotto tripod with a manfrotto head, then I got the sirui head 3 years ago, I can compare with my linhof, so smooth, light and very, very sturdy ballhead, I love it, last month I bought the sirui legs AM-284 and I put for sale my manfrotto mt055 xpro 3.
I personally I recommend this Sirui AM-284 with Sirui K40x head.
Been in Photography since 1979, I know what I recommend after I had the best tripods around, now I know once I just paid for the name and that's gitzo, one thing for sure, the best tripod won't make the best photographer, once I meet this lady who used to work with a home made wood tripod and had beautiful images, been around with rich photographers carring gitzo and nikon d5 with horrible work.
Don't make a mistake, don't waste your money, invest it.

Very nice vibration test! I am sure a lot of women loves to test tripods with that

Anyone knows INNOREL tripod? It seems like very good.

Wasn't impressed with the Sirui build quality when I was playing with their tripods at a local camera store.

"Not only do you have to pay for Gitzo with your wallet but you also have to make a blood pact" hahahah 😂

Interesting but did not compared load capacity??? or what´s the deal with load capacity??

What I'd really like to see is a Leofoto LM-324CL and leveling base (I believe the LB-75S is correct?) vs. similar (and pricier) units with both a 3 axis head and a heavily loaded gimbal (FF DSLR & super tele)

Actually by having more legs you are de-coupling the members. Each leg can then in theory absorb some of the ground movement or shaking. There are many factors like design, however the basic concept is similar to how bridges and also sidewalks dare built. Every so many feet they are physically separated from each other. Buildings also can share some of this with floating floors, etc. Sound studios decouple the walls so the vibration (sound vibrates) is interrupted.

You said you subjectively like 3 legs but this was a real world test- despite your comment to the contrary. More legs, in these conditions at least and with these tripods proved to be more stable. 3 legs are more convenient but that is about it. Strength, Rigidity and Vibration are 3 different things. A steel pole would be very strong but it would also translate a lot of vibration.

I don't know much about these things but it would seem like the best bang for the buck would be to grab the Leofoto (even pre-owned for <$200'ish) that suits your needs, then invest in a high quality ballhead=winning.

Thank you

Great detailed review! I've tried quite a few tripods over the years and have consolidated to a Leo and the Peak Design TT

i use a manfrotto 290. Looking for another tripod as good quality but want to reach up to 10 feet. Current tripod only goes up around 5 feet.

Hello Chris, I have a Sirui N-2204, the one not water proof but, I’m ok with it all the same.
I have a question about the ballhead. I bought it with a Sirui G-20kx; would there be much difference from the one you used in the test, the K-20?
When I put my Sony GM 100-400 it tends to go down a bit and I don’t know whether to make the upgrade or stay with my G-20.
Thank you,
Fabrizio

Great comparison. Would be interested to see a review on the Robus 5570 and their related center column.

Great video. Thank you.

On a tripod vibrations come from the head not the bottom, it's very different.
Vibration source is mirror slab for reflex cameras and wind on longer lenses.

weakest point are:
lens collars and or misfittet plates
heads
central columns

About 10 years ago I had a Gitzo head with a hollow shaft and spirit level within it. The shaft was weakend and I had terrible vibrations. Meanwhile Gitzo changed it with a massive shaft and I changed also the head, and guess what, no more vibrations

No sane person would use an old outdated tripod like this Manfrotto for a reliable review.
Why didn´t you take the actual MT055CXPRO3 Carbon from Manfrotto instead?
You lost your reliability, DP Review!

Thanks guys for this as I was looking at two of those. I ultimately decided on the Leofoto LS-284CEX as it has no center column and gets up to 58" without head on just the sturdy legs. Trying the Acratech Long Lens Head with lever clamp. Very happy as extremely lightweight and sturdy.

would really appreciate a comparison of all Manfrottos

Hey if its not too late do the manfrotto line. Please.

I prefer fliplocks for the simple reason that my wrists start complaining if I repeatedly use twistlocks. I have an iFootage TC6, and it has some great features that these tripods lack, in particular a levelling bowl, and feet that can be changed from spikes to pads without swapping anything out. But I somehow never realised until this video that it's possible to use only the short section of the centre column in order to shoot low to the ground without inverting it. I feel silly that this hadn't occurred to me, but it's really useful info, so thanks :)

Damn I’m a lot shorter than you so LQ-284c is perfect for my height 😀

Why author points to plastic at Manfrotto? Sirui is the same plastic I think?

What about a Rollei C6i Carbon? I guess that brand is not really a thing in the US market, but they seem great value for money in Europe.

I very much like to see an episode to demonstrate the Gitzo line. Thanks.