I just bought an RRS Ascend 14 travel tripod for $1650. As soon as I took it out of the box, I knew what I was looking at - the tripod equivalent of a $10,000 bicycle. The design and build quality are exceptional. I used to build bicycles that were works of art and performance. Most cyclists thought it was nuts, but I would send good riders on test rides in the hills and they would return shaking their heads and checking their savings balances. The harder you use them, the better they work. Until you know this level of quality - you can't understand it. I have several good tripods I have collected over the decades. They are all going away. It's obvious that there is no comparison.
I’m an avid mountain biker myself, and this is an excellent analogy. It’s a level of quality that you just can’t comprehend until you’ve actually tried it for yourself.
I was fortunate in borrowing my mom's tripod that was so cheap and worn out it rattled. "Buy once; cry once." Yeah, no. I bought a good tripod the first time. Then I bought a tall, good tripod. Then a short, good tripod. A tabletop tripod. I now use 5 different tripods depending on the situation. I will, however, say that I haven't found a need to get rid of any of my tripods. I find it funny that people are shocked at the price you pay for photo gear, but won't bat an eye if you buy a motorcycle or sports car.
Oh man, I'm looking to buy a video tripod with fluid head, and after watching a gerald undone video, thought a manfrotto would be enough, now you're telling me those things break after a few years. Next options are Siriu and Sachtler, $2K & $4K.
To be fair, I never owned manfrotto’s most expensive stuff. I’m sure they make good quality tripods, and I can’t speak to their video heads at all. I’m in the market for a video tripod myself, but I don’t really have thousands to invest in it right now so I’m going to be looking for a budget option of some sort. I’ve heard good things about leofoto - maybe look into them as well.
I thought the same thing until I bought one - it really is a long term investment if you’re going to be into photography for the rest of your life. I’m definitely not well off, I just got sick of wearing out cheap tripods. I have absolutely zero doubt that this tripod will still be going strong and holding my cameras in 30 years when I’m in my 60s, even if I use it every day. There are VERY few tripods I could say that about on the market today.
$2000 for a tripod is just insane, There are great, quality tripods out there that dont cost anything like this. And they do exactly the same job. My Sirui ST-124 is a superb, quality tripod that does exactly what this one does. That is to keep my camera rocksteady and i get the same results as this $2000 tripod. Mine cost (In US) $200. Sorry but this is nuts.
The Sirui looks like a solid option if you’re on a budget, but make no mistake - if you shoot with it regularly and don’t baby it, you’ll be replacing it on a regular basis. I had several tripods in that price/quality range and they all loosened up and wore out after a year or two of regular use. If you ever need a replacement part, you’ll probably be out of luck and have to scrap the whole tripod since they change them so often and don’t have great customer service. If it’s working for you, that’s awesome. I spent a full decade thinking that tripods this expensive were ridiculous as well, but respectfully, you really can’t understand the difference in quality and stability until you handle one in person. I thought I knew what a stable tripod felt like before I bought this, but I was definitely wrong.
I’m not sure when you checked prices, or maybe the pricing is different where you are - here in the states, the pricing at BH Photo for the gear you listed comes out to $1,861, so it’s about the same price as the RRS that I reviewed in this video.
@@destin-danser In the late eighties I was also a part time professional photograher and in that period Gitzo was already top notch After 35 years again I took my passion again but now in the digital world of photography I have bought my Gitzo were I also live in the Netherlands Build quality from the Gitzo is unmatched I have still an almost 35 years old monopod from Gitzo and that one works still perfect
@@Bikerbeest I’ve certainly heard that gitzo makes excellent products, though I’ve never had the chance to use one. I personally prefer the design and look of RRS, and since they’re both excellent and cost the same amount, that’s what I chose. Glad to hear you’re enjoying the Gitzo! Thanks for commenting.
@@Bikerbeest Yes. I have a Gitzo that is 30 years old and tough as nails. My new RRS Ascend has the same kind of quality, but has modern refinements that make it better. Of course, that is an unfair comparison, but I am equally impressed with the quality.
I just bought an RRS Ascend 14 travel tripod for $1650. As soon as I took it out of the box, I knew what I was looking at - the tripod equivalent of a $10,000 bicycle. The design and build quality are exceptional. I used to build bicycles that were works of art and performance. Most cyclists thought it was nuts, but I would send good riders on test rides in the hills and they would return shaking their heads and checking their savings balances. The harder you use them, the better they work. Until you know this level of quality - you can't understand it.
I have several good tripods I have collected over the decades. They are all going away. It's obvious that there is no comparison.
I’m an avid mountain biker myself, and this is an excellent analogy. It’s a level of quality that you just can’t comprehend until you’ve actually tried it for yourself.
I was fortunate in borrowing my mom's tripod that was so cheap and worn out it rattled. "Buy once; cry once." Yeah, no. I bought a good tripod the first time. Then I bought a tall, good tripod. Then a short, good tripod. A tabletop tripod. I now use 5 different tripods depending on the situation. I will, however, say that I haven't found a need to get rid of any of my tripods.
I find it funny that people are shocked at the price you pay for photo gear, but won't bat an eye if you buy a motorcycle or sports car.
Oh man, I'm looking to buy a video tripod with fluid head, and after watching a gerald undone video, thought a manfrotto would be enough, now you're telling me those things break after a few years. Next options are Siriu and Sachtler, $2K & $4K.
To be fair, I never owned manfrotto’s most expensive stuff. I’m sure they make good quality tripods, and I can’t speak to their video heads at all.
I’m in the market for a video tripod myself, but I don’t really have thousands to invest in it right now so I’m going to be looking for a budget option of some sort. I’ve heard good things about leofoto - maybe look into them as well.
Nice tripod, 2K is ridiculous for any tripod by non well-off standards.
I thought the same thing until I bought one - it really is a long term investment if you’re going to be into photography for the rest of your life. I’m definitely not well off, I just got sick of wearing out cheap tripods.
I have absolutely zero doubt that this tripod will still be going strong and holding my cameras in 30 years when I’m in my 60s, even if I use it every day. There are VERY few tripods I could say that about on the market today.
$2000 for a tripod is just insane, There are great, quality tripods out there that dont cost anything like this. And they do exactly the same job. My Sirui ST-124 is a superb, quality tripod that does exactly what this one does. That is to keep my camera rocksteady and i get the same results as this $2000 tripod. Mine cost (In US) $200. Sorry but this is nuts.
The Sirui looks like a solid option if you’re on a budget, but make no mistake - if you shoot with it regularly and don’t baby it, you’ll be replacing it on a regular basis. I had several tripods in that price/quality range and they all loosened up and wore out after a year or two of regular use. If you ever need a replacement part, you’ll probably be out of luck and have to scrap the whole tripod since they change them so often and don’t have great customer service.
If it’s working for you, that’s awesome. I spent a full decade thinking that tripods this expensive were ridiculous as well, but respectfully, you really can’t understand the difference in quality and stability until you handle one in person. I thought I knew what a stable tripod felt like before I bought this, but I was definitely wrong.
I have the Gitzo GT 4543 Ls and with ball head GH 4383 LR and it is 500 Euros cheaper Gitzo is already for many decades top of the bill
I’m not sure when you checked prices, or maybe the pricing is different where you are - here in the states, the pricing at BH Photo for the gear you listed comes out to $1,861, so it’s about the same price as the RRS that I reviewed in this video.
@@destin-danser In the late eighties I was also a part time professional photograher and in that period Gitzo was already top notch After 35 years again I took my passion again but now in the digital world of photography I have bought my Gitzo were I also live in the Netherlands Build quality from the Gitzo is unmatched I have still an almost 35 years old monopod from Gitzo and that one works still perfect
@@Bikerbeest I’ve certainly heard that gitzo makes excellent products, though I’ve never had the chance to use one. I personally prefer the design and look of RRS, and since they’re both excellent and cost the same amount, that’s what I chose.
Glad to hear you’re enjoying the Gitzo! Thanks for commenting.
@@Bikerbeest Yes. I have a Gitzo that is 30 years old and tough as nails. My new RRS Ascend has the same kind of quality, but has modern refinements that make it better. Of course, that is an unfair comparison, but I am equally impressed with the quality.