Sirui T2205X vs T1204X: help me decide please!

DScience · May 6, 2016

Hi there again! Since people were so helpful with my last conundrum, here is my other. As you can tell if you read any of my recent threads is i've gotten into landscape photography while backpacking in the mountains, thus weight is a PREMIUM!

I currently have two tripods that I am considering for my adventures, the Sirui T2205X & T1204X. Here are the key differences:

T2205X: 2.7 lbs, 14 inches folded, 5 sections, largest diameter legs = 28mm, shortest = 16mm, has retractable spikes. EDIT: max load = 26 lbs

T1204X: 2 lbs, 16 inches folded, 4 sections, largest diameter legs = 25mm, shortest = 16mm, does NOT have retractable spikes. EDIT: max load = 22 lbs

EDIT: Also i'll be using a D750, and mainly a 20mm f/1.8G, and 50mm f/1.4G, with a L bracket, and filters, and a panning clamp, all on top a 36mm ball head (Sunwayfoto FB36III).

Now, I know .7 lbs might not seem like a lot, but when i'm hauling 10 lbs of camera gear on top of 30lbs of backpacking equipment, every gram counts! Thus I would like to keep the T1204X, but here are my concerns:

-I do a lot of long exposure (30 seconds to several minutes) as well as HDR work. Thus my real question is: Will the extra 'weight' and the slightly thicker upper diameter legs amount to a significant difference in image quality? For instance will the stability of them be that much different? Is it worth the extra weight?

jennings_w · May 6, 2016

I can't answer your tripod question, but how do you like your Sunwayfoto FB36III? I'm in the market for a tripod head and haven't been able to make up my mind. It's going onto a 20 year old set of Bogen 3021 legs, so not too concerned with weight, holding a D7000. I've also been looking at the Sirui K-20x or K-30x heads. Thanks.

DScience · May 6, 2016

jennings_w said:
I can't answer your tripod question, but how do you like your Sunwayfoto FB36III? I'm in the market for a tripod head and haven't been able to make up my mind. It's going onto a 20 year old set of Bogen 3021 legs, so not too concerned with weight, holding a D7000. I've also been looking at the Sirui K-20x or K-30x heads. Thanks.

Oh man, glad you asked...

I've been doing A LOT of research on this stuff for a while now, and I know the exact tripod head you should get. It's THIS one right here, and i'll explain some things. So this ball head that I linked, the Desmond FB-44 ( you can look at their site), is basically the exact ball head as an older Sunwayfoto FB-44, and this ball head retailed for like 2-$300. It's an amazing piece of equipment, and to compare it you would have to get a Sirui K30X. And the Desmond, when it's in stock, is only $70! It's such an amazing deal, and I asked their rep and they said more should be available within a week or so. That bad boys is amazing. EDIT: I just searched amazon and look what I found! It's a Sunwayfoto FB-44! I would get that thing right now if you have a solid tripod and don't care about weight. I love the FB-36 so much, but it's only for portability. I actually notice a very small droop when I have my D750, L bracket, and 16-35mm at certain angles. But when I tried the Desmond FB-44, it was ROCK solid with anything I put on.

Now, after a while I found a very similar ball head, here, Called a Cameraplus FB-44, which is again an exact copy of the Sunwayfoto FB-44. However, I am not certain it's up to the standards of the Desmond. (Desmond is an amazing company, they also make a crazy good carbon fiber tripod for $200 that competes with $1000 gitzos.) Here is another to consider, the Desmond DLOW-55, basically a replica of the RRS ball head. I actually myself might get this and the Sunwayfoto FB-44 and see which I like more, the 55 is more robust!!

Hope this hlep!

BTW, I think the DLOW55 is probably better than the Sirui K30x even, but I am not sure.