Large Tripod FEISOL CT-3372 M2 combined with the old CT-3371 - old meets new for a working photographers hybrid long lens tripod
Combining the Feisol CT-2271 with the CT-2272 M2 to create a hybrid Feisol tripod, old meets new for 2020
The new CT-3372 M2 combined with the old CT-3371 legs, and old leveling cup with base plate. The cup and tripod are new, and carbon legs and leveling base are off the old CT-3371. ©tonybynum
The hybrid Feisol CT-3372 M2. The rescued legs and leveling base from the original CT- 3371 combined with the new Feisol CT-3372. Why, how, and how much?
Why Feisol
I purchased the original carbon CT-3371 Feisol Tripod legs back around 2006 or so. At the time, Feisol wasn’t well known, in fact, they didn’t even have a US dealer yet so I ordered it direct from Taiwan. I was looking for a carbon tripod that would hold large, heavy 5oo, and 600 mm f4 lenses attached to full-size professional DSLR bodies.
I decided on the Feisol CT-3371 for its lower price point. Keep in mind that back in 2006 carbon fiber tripods were NOT inexpensive! My plan was to use it in the wet, salty mash for duck photography and rather than take the chance of wrecking a $2000 tripod I was going to dedicate this tripod to the marsh. I reserved my more expensive tripod for land and clean water, and went ahead and took my chances with a tripod selling for a third the price but still, carbon and built stout enough to hold safely 25 lbs. I equipped the Feisol with a leveling base and spiked feet (both at additional cost). I don’t recall the price but it was less than half what the big brands were charging at the time.
Breakage and Repair
Over the course of a few years, I managed to break the leg collars. The cast aluminum is not strong enough and too much pressure will break the casting. In 2009 I sent the unit back to Feisol for repair. I had broken two of the top leg locks and needed them repaired. Breaking the top leg locks is not uncommon especially when you’re putting the legs deep into snow, mud, or sand. I’ve broken the same parts on the more expensive and supposedly better built Gitzo units too and it’s not cheap to fix, plus you’re out for a bit while it’s being repaired.
The results of too much pressure on the top of the tripod while pushing the legs into the mud or snow. The cast aluminum is not strong enough to take the pressure. All three leg locks eventually broke. ©tonybynum
As you can clearly see, all three of the top leg sleeves broke out. This view is the top of the tripod where the legs are attached to the center collar. In this image, the center piece (leveling base in this case) has been removed and the tripod is sitting legs spread out flat. Notice, one pin and the springs are still in the top sleeve (top center of image), the pin and springs will eventually fall out. Needless to say, the tripod is hard to operate when there are not leg locks! ©tonybynum.com
Feisol fixed the tripod for a price, then sent it back. I took it back out and by 2018 I had broken all three top leg collar locks again. At this point, the tripod was almost useless to me. So, after the spring waterfowl season, I emailed Feisol and asked about getting the tripod fixed. Feisol said $85 to fix it with OEM parts and send it back. With shipping on my end, it was about $100 bucks, seemed reasonable to me so I boxed it up and mailed it.
After a few more emails back and forth with Feisol (their customer service was fantastic), I asked if they had a stronger center support piece. Much to my surprise, they said yes and for about $60 more I could have them put a machined billet aluminum top collar on the old legs and update the leveling base plate. I said go for it.
The result us the older CT-3371 legs with the new CT-3372 M2 solid machined aluminum top collar and leveling plate bowl insert. The following images illustrate the pieces and the combination of parts to make the hybrid unit, plus a shot of the tripod with the King Cobra gimble head.
Unboxing the Hybrid CT-3371 CT-3372 M2. Nicely wrapped.
The new tripod with the CT-3372 M2 collars and the old CT-3371 legs.
The new leveling bowl that will replace the flat plate and quarter twenty threaded bolt. There are three small hex key bolts to remove then the plate. The leveling bowl replaces the plate and once the bolts are replaced, it fits securely into place.
The new top collar with bubble level, and plate. I’m removing the allen head bolt so that I can replace the flat plate with the leveling bowl.
The new leveling base bowl.
The new ball head plate removed, the new leveling base bowl, and the old bowl off the old collar.
The old leveling base. It will fit into the new leveling bowl.
The new old leveling base inside the new bowl.
Notice the angle of the leveling base. It’s not a lot of movement, but it’s enough to quickly level your gimbal head quickly and accurately.
The older head and the new sold aluminum base both have leveling bubbles.
The Kirk King Cobra gimbal head attached to the new hybrid Feisol CT-3372 M2 read for the marsh!
Old meets new. The Hybrid CT-3371 and CT-3372 M2 with leveling base and Kirk King Cobra gimbal (King Cobra is discontinued).
Summery & Conclusion
I’m happy with the results. For just over $150 bucks I was able to have a solid tripod. I was worried that if I went with the old cast aluminum I’d be back in another few years having it replaced again. This fix should now allow me to use this tripod for many years without breaking it. I still have to be careful to not put too much pressure on the legs when they’re in the mud or snow, but now I’m positive this new unit will last a long time.
As a professional photographer, customer service is important. Feisol helped me combine my old broken tripod with the newer components making for a better tripod in the end. It would be hard to find better customer service. They were quick to respond and willing to help find solutions and recommend alternatives. I gladly recommend Feisol to anyone looking for a reasonably priced, solidly built carbon tripod with great customer support.
Leave a comment or ask me a question. I’ll be happy to answer.
Tony
Micro four thirds and 4k video - is it time to switch?
I've mentioned micro four thirds, aka "mirrorless," in previous posts. As fast and as far as technology has taken imagery, there still are trade-offs no matter the type of photography you choose. 35mm digital single lens reflex cameras (DSLR), along with crop sensor DSLR's are used by most outdoor photographers due to their size, availability, quality construction, quality lenses, and finally, price. I guess one could say, DSLR's today occupy the space on a graph where price and quality meet. Of course there are better cameras with bigger sensors that offer better results, but for most, me included, they are not important to my workflow.
Outdoor sports and adventure photographers, wildlife photographers, and journalists are always looking for smaller, lighter, faster tools, while maintaining a minimal level image and product quality. That minimum level for image quality is today still largely based on the demands of magazine publications i.e., print. So, while I don't like to think I'm compromising on quality, I must in order to get my gear where I need to go - as mentioned, it's a balance between size and quality output. I use full frame Nikon cameras, and large aperture lenses when I'd prefer to use a 50 mega pixel back on a medium format camera resulting in even better files, but that's just not realistic for me, after all I'm a photographer first because I enjoy it!
Micro four thirds cameras offer that smaller size equivalent to DSLR's. But the image quality is still not there for print. I have not found a regular place in my professional photographic workflow (although I do own and use a Nikon AW-1 - a small, interchangeable lens camera - but that's for very specific purposes). The Nikon AW-1 while not a micro four thirds camera is a micro, mirrorless, interchangeable camera that fills a similar niche. The Nikon AW-1 is actually an eight to three ratio and not four thirds. I will go into more detail about this camera in a future post, but for now I'll get back to micro four thirds.
I've spent dozens of hours using the Panasonic Gh 3 and a good selection of prime as well as zoom lenses. For video, I doubt you can find a better set up, for the price, than the new Gh4. But for stills, mainly because I shoot a lot of low iso in low light, the micro four thirds, like the Gh3 still don't produce the quality of files I need for still photography.
I've heard people like Dan Cox say that micro four thirds are good enough for his work and I know there are other's that would agree. Just take a look at Dan's camera bag and read his blog posts about micro four thirds. I love the photo of his camera bag, makes me get scared of photography. In fairness, I like Dan, we are friends, so I'm not ripping on him, I'm pointing out that he's a fantastic, successful photographer and use's four thirds systems. Here's the link to Dan's blog.
Simply put, imagine if you need the quality of a full size DSLR with wide aperture lenses and yet you have the occasion to use a smaller, lighter micro four thirds camera. If size and portability are part of the equation, packing two systems does not make any more sense than leaving the DSLR at home altogether. So, I'm not sure how it helps anyone in my business to support four thirds when it's only marginally useful and if you do any amount of travel, it's nearly useless to try to stuff both systems (or more) into your carry-on. . . If you have a different view, or a real solution to this dilemma please share your thoughts by commenting below, we all would love to hear them.
On January 10, 2015, I'm not ready to change over to micro four thirds as my primary, commercial photography tool. It's not time for me to switch, but it is time to take notice and work one into to my photography business more completely.
If you are interested in learning more about 4k video, and micro four thirds photography, the following video does a great job of showing the benefits of 4k and the weight and ergonomics of micro four thirds. If you're a photographer and have been considering some video work, this video may help you make the move to owning at least one small micro four thirds camera system. 4k might well be the intersection of quality and price when it comes to high quality video. I suggest you take a closer look.
Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog. If you're on social media, lets continue the learning and the discussion - twitter: @tonybynum, Instagram: @huntphotos, and Facebook: @Tony Bynum Photography