Cheap Carbon Tripod & Modification

[rwfox]

Carbon Triopo


I needed a light weight tripod for my travels having bought a Gitzo 2541L last year after discussions on this forum. The Gitzo is a really nice bit kit but a little heavy / expensive to drag around on holiday.
I found this Triopo GX-1127 carbon tripod on Ebay and for $180 delivered it was so cheap that it was worth a gamble. It’s very similar to the gitzo 1127? in specs.

Weight 1140 grams; Rated at 9kg; fast lock legs, reversible centre column, etc. http://www.triopo.cn/enHtml/ Its comes in 3 or 4 leg sections and is well made.

Having put a Markins base plate on the gitzo I wanted one for the Triopo but this tripod has a sprit level on the platform.

So I have had one made at the local machine shop to suit (cost $50 for alloy section). I then made the centre stud from a 3/8 stainless bolt and added a small shackle. The modified tripod weight is 1064kg. I am so pleased with the modification that I though others maybe interested.

Attachments

Tripod with centre column removed, fine thread.
Tripod with centre coloumn removed, fine thread

tr1.jpeg (14.55 KiB) Viewed 26098 times

Fitted with base plate

tr2.jpeg (15.02 KiB) Viewed 26098 times

Base plate parts

tr3.jpeg (17.96 KiB) Viewed 26098 times

Centre stud mounted in base plate with shackle

tr4.jpeg (12.81 KiB) Viewed 26098 times

Total weight 1064 grams

tr5.jpeg (28.03 KiB) Viewed 26098 times

Last edited by rwfox on Mon 14 Feb, 2011 6:37 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[rwfox]

More shots

Attachments

Very low set without centre coloumn

tr6.jpeg (28.68 KiB) Viewed 26095 times

leveling base with Ball head fitted

tr7.jpeg (23.7 KiB) Viewed 26095 times

[tasadam]

Nice one!
What's the total weight with the head as well?

They look very similar to the Benro tripods.
Take care of it, particularlt the centre sleeves.
See the Benro sleeves from my old tripod here.

[Liamy77]

i used to hang a bag full of rocks / my daypack, anything heavy under my light weight tripod for a bit of extra stability - from where that caribiner is in the above pics.. but i had heavy pricey (old now) gear.... hope this helps someone...

[rwfox]

Tasdam.......The weight of my Markins Q3T is 366g so this modified tripod with the Q3T is 1432g in total. I am not sure of the leveling base weight at this time. (at work) update Leveling Base is 250g.

The GX tripod-1127 standard centre column base is 50mm , however I had this one made 55mm which gives the leveling base good support.

Your Benro tripod looks like it had a fair bit of grit through those fittings? to wear like that.

Liamy77 .......I was planning to use the carabineer as suggest, particularly in windy conditions.

Last edited by rwfox on Mon 14 Feb, 2011 6:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[photohiker]

Tasdam.......The weight of the Markins Q3 is 385g so this modified tripod with the Q3 is 1449g in total. I am not sure of the levelling base weight at this time. (at work) I will check latter.

That's pretty light. I have one of the originals - Gitzo 1127 MkII, and with a Q3 on a Kirk Column delete plate it weighs 1607g. Make it 1600, there's a bit of west coast sand in it at the moment.

Probably mine has heavier walled tube on the legs - it would be about 5-6 years old now, and I'm sure they are lighter now. Be interesting to see how this knock-off stands up to a bit of abuse, please keep us posted.

[rwfox]

I think the tube could be lighter. They suggest its got a bulletproof fibre in it (ballistic fibre) and hence gives it more strength.

They rate this tripod at 9kg that's 500g more than the gitzo. I have updated the weights above now I am at home. The Q3T is lighter than the standard Q3 weight taken from the web page.

If it last my holiday I will be pleased and I won't need to worry about losing it.

[north-north-west]

Nice.

I have to get a light tripod. My Manfrotto weighs too much to carry around in the bush.
Besides, I appear to have lost the quick release plate. Which means it's unuseable until I replace the thing.

[Liamy77]

Nice.

I have to get a light tripod. My Manfrotto weighs too much to carry around in the bush.
Besides, I appear to have lost the quick release plate. Which means it's unuseable until I replace the thing.

Hi NNW
you should PM this to franco somehow i have a hunch he can fix this
Liam

[tasadam]

Your Benro tripod looks like it had a fair bit of grit through those fittings? to wear like that.

I put the Benro down as a mistake. Those centre white bits were cheap Chinese plastic and nothing more.
Due to circumstanced that were both unforseen and unfortunate, I no longer have the Benro tripod (or the camera and lens that is still attaced to it and 8Gb memory card that is with it).

We now have two carbon fibre tripods, Gitzo GT2542L and GT1541. Centre columns have been removed in both.
I have the Acratech GV2 ballhead on the 2542, and the Acratech Ultimate on the 1541.

Total weight of the 2542 setup (as weighed) is 1791 grams and the 1541 kit comes in at 1458 grams.

So your kit with the levelling base comes in at (1432 + 250) 1682 grams is that right?

[rwfox]

Tasdam...........................

That's correct my set up including the 250g leveling base is 1682g and the GT1541 with leveling base would be 1708g very similar.

However, the Gitzo GT1541 cost around $620 without the additional base. So regardless of what you put on top, the copy is about $400 cheaper.

I would not claim this tripod is equal to a gitzo but it is very good for the price. I went for the 3 section model to get the larger tube diameters for stiffness. As I put a fair bit of weight on it.

I have noticed that when using the nodal rail its better with the legs fully extended to give it support. Or if used lower the legs would need to be set wider.

I do like the look of those Acratech ballheads particularly the one you can use as a leveling base. But I think you would get feed-up changing it all the time.

[tasadam]

However, the Gitzo GT1541 cost around $620 without the additional base. So regardless of what you put on top, the copy is about $400 cheaper.

Exactly my point, for similar weight you have saved aa lot of money. And exactly what I did when I bought the Benro, unfortunately the quality wasn't what it could have been. I had the Benro M-128, they did make improvements inthe C-128.

But I think you would get feed-up changing it all the time.

Sorry, I don't understand this, changing what?

[rwfox]

The Acratech GP model you can take off the clamp and mount it upside down instead of carrying a leveling base.

But I think you would get feed up having to unscrew it all the time. The Acratech leveling base is quick to use and very well made and good value at $150.

[tasadam]

... GP model you can take off the clamp and mount it upside down instead of carrying a leveling base...

Never done that myself. It suits my needs as it is. The Nikon D700 has a built in level, and the D200 has one of these.

[rwfox]

Tasdam..........
......
..Not spirit level, tripod level as at the bottom of this page for the GP model. http://acratech.net/product.php?productid=76

[tasadam]

I see... That's a different head to the one I've got.
I suppose it's possible to go with just that option if one felt inclined, but agree it would need to be quick and easy or you'd hardly bother.

[rwfox]

In the Quest to save weight and still have a reliable tripod for single row panorama shots. I have invested in an Acratech GP-S ball head that can be inverted to act as a leveling base as well.
The weight of this ball head is 410g and combined with the modified tripod weights 1473g in total.
My Markins ball head is 368g and Acratech leveling base is 253g a total 621g.
So the swap has saved 210g and that covers the weight of my the nodal rail.

I just realized that I also had the top of the tripod stub re-machined to suit the smaller base, of this ball-head when inverted. So that has also saved me a few grams.

Attachments

Acratech GP-S ball head

Acratech GP-S inverted to form leveling base.

[stillife]

Hi,

I just purchased this same tripod as yours.
May I know where to fabricate a bush like yours?
How much it costs to do so?