Rogeti T32 tripod system - yes, good tripods are nicer to use...

Looking at the new Rogeti T32Max tripod system. Carbon fibre legs and a wide range of accessories make for an excellent support system. Keith Cooper has been using the tripod for architectural, industrial and landscape photography for several months.
There is far more information and specs at Rogeti
tinyurl.com/2jb286h3
Currently $899 - sales link
For all of Keith's Rogeti videos/articles see Keith's Northlight Images web site:
www.northlight-images.co.uk/c...
www.northlight-images.co.uk/v...

[@andyvan5692]

I've just researched a few videos on this, the reason for that small "kip lock" knob on the head is, if you get the tripod they make T32MAX it connects this head to the column system by a disk nut which has two wings on the end reminiscent of a wingnut but horizontal not angled up, the small knob is sized appropriately as the clearance between the knob and the nut is 5 mm or so, so no larger knob will work with this system.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - it is a pull to set position knob as well, so you can have the lock movement easier to activate. I've not come across this as an issue when actually using the tripod in my work.

[@johnsmith1474]

I have the L bracket for my 5D4, so I've looked at the website, Rogeti equipment is remarkable for the extensive design features and what seems to be beautiful build quality. Even the simple L bracket has both both more good (3 levels, ruled scale with large readable numerals, body-shaped acceptance area, even a magnetically-held built-in "coin key" to turn the bolt) and less negative (bulk, weight) than competitors. It's very sexy equipment, and not so expensive considering. It is interesting about how the art & science of camera stand equipment is so complex. When you think a model of tripod does it all, you find out something that is not quite right, as with the feet on this unit, or legs that don't have multiple angles - a problem in many settings like on stairs. What I find, even in my limited experience, is that we (happily) wind up owning more than one tripod. P.S. Cooper you should offer to rewrite the Rogeti sales website. The photography is great, but it is larded with cringy English translations ("With an overall view and research, Rogeti finally got the wormhole to the new era of professional tripod, where a series of center columns with sorts of function sharing the same tripod legs platform") ouch. Then there is the science fiction claims (the legs locks are farther from the ground to help limit exposure to ground viruses). They could use your help here (or even mine).

[@KeithCooper]

I have contributed to a few descriptions, when I was testing the original TSE frame, but yes it could do with some 'adjustment' Definitely agree about that L bracket - the coin and magnetic attachment was one of those nice design touches you appreciate.

[@markflanagan521]

Treated myself to a new carbon tripod, Rollei Beta mk ii with Rollei T5S mk ii ballhead on sale direct from Rollei Germany for 200 euros a bargain. Best tripod i have ever owned and the Arca plate is so nice to use and it can convert to a mono pod by removing one leg in its design. beautifully crafted with perfect resistance when lining up for composition. Thats enough about me , i will with the video now

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - I don't tend to use ball heads for my architectural/interior work, but I do have a few hefty ones which I'm much more likely to use for industrial jobs. Like all these things it depends on what you want to do.

[@ateliercunha2876]

Nice presentation. Thanks Keith. It is a pity that the brand still does not sell within the European market, from the member countries. This means that we have to import from outside the EU which is expensive and time consuming ,-( I look forward to representations in these countries for direct purchases. This brand is presenting very interesting products.

[@KeithCooper]

Ask them directly, that or nip into Switzerland :-)

[@yaohuang6659]

Hello Keith, Nice review on this tripod. Have you try their TSE FRAME Mark 3+ for Canon TS-E 17mm & TS-E 24mm II ? would love to see this product review.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks I use the TSE frame regularly See my Rogeti reviews here www.northlight-images.co.uk/category/articles-and-reviews/rogeti/ Note that I've been writing detailed reviews since 2003 - I only started adding videos to supplement them in Mid 2020

[@yaohuang6659]

@@KeithCooper Thanks Keith. I just recently purchased your book. can't wait to read it. cheers

[@kitminlee9169]

Hi Keith great vid, a couple of questions, 1) when the legs are folded inwards to its storage position, and I right they don't taper inwards like most tripods. Curious about this as when storing the tripod horizontally in long bag the three legs are "floating" so you wouldn't want to put too much pressure on the legs, i.e pack other things ontop of it. Secondly, I often carry a tripod on side of roller camera bag with the leg ends inserted into the side pouch, is this possible if the legs do not taper at the end. Think if they don't taper then this could put a lot of stress at the top part if something presses against the legs. Thanks!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - 'floating' doesn't give a feel for the solidity of the legs - there are hard stops in the folding joint at the 'zero' position. As to the bag - yes that could be an issue - from the lack of taper, not any lack of rigidity. I can see how these features might not be useful in some scenarios - thanks for asking - not a concern which had occurred to me.

[@kitminlee9169]

@@KeithCooper Thanks for your response. Am sure the legs are stiff enough with some lateral flexibility, but I would prefer less "shear" where the carbon rods insert into the metal head. I can't see why the legs were designed like this except for asthetics. Think if the legs were tapered to the end when folded it would take less space in a bag and avoids stressing the top part of the legs.

[@KeithCooper]

I completely forgot that there is an end plate which serves this very function .. see: rogeti.com/products/rogeti-t32max-tripod About half way down the page - it takes the geared column as well I'll have to do a short update video - I just never use it, so forgot :-(

[@kitminlee9169]

@@KeithCooper Thanks Keith, I see it now. Interesting, this will definitely solve the issue of the shear, but personally I would still like to see a tapered design to avoid using this. It's another bit of gear to carry and takes time to put on each time i pack away for work. The selling point for me is this tripod with gear column is the lightest available with good height. Adding this "end cap" is another thing to carry, and the tripod still takes up more room that if it was tapered. It's odd the gear handle stick out like that as well. I wonder if this was an after-thought? This device also stops me for attaching the tripod to the side of a roller bag. I know this won't be an issue for most photogs, i'm all about saving weight and space when transporting my gear from job to job.

[@KeithCooper]

Ah - weight and space just mean a big enough car for my work ;-)

[@Mr.HarryPotter]

Thanks for the review specially when Rogeti doesn't put up a good talking video to promote this or sell these at famous US stores. Did you ask them why they used Aluminum poles instead of Carbon fiber as in the legs?

[@KeithCooper]

I suspect they would like to have them more widely available... CF as of itself doesn't automatically impress me. My own thoughts are that the poles are very thin and light. CF would be distinctly thicker (if not to crumple) and not take the threads. It's a case of the best material for each part and not "CF Everything" More than that, you'd need to ask them...

[@Mr.HarryPotter]

@@KeithCooper Thanks so much Keith.

[@andyvan5692]

nice review, and explination of the parts, but is this a 35 mm camera tripod only?, ie can MF and LF cameras go on it?

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - I use it with a GFX100S, but of course, that's not 'real' MF is it ;-) Worked just fine with an H6D100C and HTS1.5 adapter. As to LF - no idea, that's a different century for me. Probably not hefty enough ;-)

[@andyvan5692]

@@KeithCooper thanks, Yes probably not, as it has a 1/4" screw thread!, so MF only. great review, esp. as it's a relatively new company, at least for me, in Australia but good job YOUR reviews do a better job than rogeti do, for my money they do a "short", not a professional explanatory video (how to guide), like you do.

[@KeithCooper]

@@andyvan5692 Thanks - they've just asked me if I'd like to test a lighter weight 'travel' version of the T32

[@andyvan5692]

@@KeithCooper one other tip, Hasselblad makes a QR clamp system for BOTH H and V system cameras (uses that aluminium foot thing on the base, NO plates needed), quick too, just a 1/4 turn of a flag and a safety button and either body just slides off, no need for multiple turns of a knob, and also a great platform, aka to assemble lens to body, ext. tubes, hoods, without fumbling around, a GREAT accessory.

[@oneeyedphotographer]

I have thought a lot about tripods recently, especially since I found some crooked horizons. There are lots of head designs, mostly flawed. I want to shoot more panoramas, including some with multiple layers. So, I need to pan on a level surface. Then, I need to tilt the camera, but still pan on a level surface.

[@KeithCooper]

That's what I have a gigapan EP for - allows for lots (100+) of shots, with exposure bracketing etc. Of course that's for my work, so I've an excuse... ;-) www.northlight-images.co.uk/use-a-survey-tripod-for-the-gigapan-epic-pro/ For manual shots I use a normal pan/tilt head, but with a levelling head (manfroto 338) between tripod and head. www.northlight-images.co.uk/induro-phq-series-pan-heads-review/ TBH though I often just take the shots of a larger area than needed and crop after stitching - far less hassle ;-)

[@jpdj2715]

For single row panorama purpose, I modified a magnesium ballhead from Manfrotto (MF) that I use in the portrait studio. Took the MF-proprietary quick release (QR) off the top of the ballhead and replaced it with a panning Arca-QR-compatible pano disc (Sunwayfoto). This, I generally carry on a very lightweight MF carbon traveler tripod. Between the L-bracket that's always on the camera and the now Arca mount ballhead I only need a nodal slide (rail) for panos. As I grew up in a professional photography culture where there was only one solid outdoors tripod brand (Gitzo), I have been looking at a Systematic series 5 for 50 years almost now, but never bought it. I do regret not having bought the "Oceanic" version that supposedly could deal with salt water, but do not really need the heft. It really depends on the photography (use cases). Interestingly, this Rogeti has the legs upside down and so if it's feet - the end caps on the legs - are waterproof, then this means it should be able to stand in salt water. The biggest challenge may be vibration that, if not caused by human/operator error, may stem from heavy enough wind. That has a simple solution, IMO: hang your (likely heavy) camera bag from, under, the tripod - attach to the center plate, not the column. In very heavy wind this may be another challenge, but if that's the case, then nothing may be good enough, and it may be a reason to do some artsy dragging the shutter motion blur genre ;). If you however want to be able to level at the plate where the three legs are hinge-joined, then I suggest you buy into a tripod model that can hold a half-bowl. These half bowls (for leveling) are standardized in two sizes: 75mm (~3") or 100mm (~4"). That levels very quickly but you cannot combine it with a center column. I do have a 3D panorama bracket/hinge/rail set and if I need to use that, I bring a much sturdier aluminum tripod that I bought 40 years ago (Slik Master), but I would not bring that to the (ocean) beach.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - picking tripods is always problematic - one reason I stick very heavily in this video to a review of how this particular one suits my own use ;-) I always forget just how attached some people get to their favourites... Where I need absolute solidity and levelling I still use a full survey tripod with tribrach and adapter - that said, the massive spikes on the legs need handling with care [or a proper spreader]. It takes 30 seconds to swap the camera for the total station were I to need to accurately survey a location ;-)

[@oneeyedphotographer]

@@jpdj2715 Like the Benbo. It's been around quite a while. A strange beast by all accounts. I've been using a Manfrotto 190XB, and I often don't extend the legs at all. And I often go wandering with one prime lens and perhaps no bag at all. From what I've seen, most photographers don't give much thought to the height of their camera, I'm quite picky. I have been using levelling bases, just not as well as I thought. I have been thinking about a bowl. Leofoto and Sunwayfoto have some ballheads with two panning bases, I've decided I don't like ballheads. Once you have the tripod top level, the head becomes a very expensive means of tilting the camera.

[@oneeyedphotographer]

@@KeithCooper Apart from Benbo, check out Miller. Makes Gitzo look cheap.

[@johnvaleanbaily246]

And I thought Tripods were all the same. A nice case of lateral thinking at its best.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - I've found that after a few months use you definitely start to notice differences in quality