My next upgrade...

[brad-man]

Have to disagree about the Traveler. The 1542T is 3.5" taller extended than the 1541T. I like that 3.5" on the extended end more than I don't like it on the collapsed end. I have an Acratech GPS on top and the setup folds to 23". The TQC-14 is half a pound heavier, and, more importantly, costs $370 more...

It really comes down to personal need, I think. 23" collapsed is too long for me - my travel tripod+head needs to fit inside a carryon hard case like my Storm im2500, and the RRS set does that (even when in its custom-fit bag). I usually ignore the center column when looking at extended height - even the best center column adds too much vibration for me (try some testing with the center column down vs. up), so I consider center columns as 'raise in case of emergency only' and for that, the extra couple inches of the TQC-14 (center column down) helps.

Oops. My bad. It's 23" collapsed the normal way. When the legs are folded up over the head, it shrinks to 20.5." Since my case is 25" long, I don't bother to flip the legs up.

 

[Haydn1971]

I've been drooling over the 135mm for awhile now and your recommendation makes trying to avoid it even harder! It may be the perfect stopgap between now and me saving up to replace my 70-200 with the f/2.8 version. Now you're making me re-think which lenses to go with

After reading the reviews on the 6D, I pushed the button and bought one, after seeing the results myself with my 50 & 135mm lens, I was tempted by a second hand 17-40mm, it was battered and felt tired, walked out of the shop with a brand new 16-35mm. After seeing the results from the 16-35 on the 6D, my feelings about crop, even with the mighty fine 10-22 & 15-85 that I still own, I've committed myself to a full frame pro kit. The 6D is transient and I see me replacing this in 4-5 years, the lenses are keepers, so rather than faffing with lens that I'm not wholely satisfied with, I will be getting exactly what I want.

What's do I want next ? The 24-70mm f2.8 II now please ;-) what else ? I want the extra bits forms Lensbaby, I want the 8-15mm fisheye at some point in the future, but not sure if I want one of the 70-200's or the 100-400 or a 300mm prime...

The moral is that the lenses will stay with you for a decade or more, the camera will be replaced a lot sooner

 

[Loswr]

Have to disagree about the Traveler. The 1542T is 3.5" taller extended than the 1541T. I like that 3.5" on the extended end more than I don't like it on the collapsed end. I have an Acratech GPS on top and the setup folds to 23". The TQC-14 is half a pound heavier, and, more importantly, costs $370 more...

It really comes down to personal need, I think. 23" collapsed is too long for me - my travel tripod+head needs to fit inside a carryon hard case like my Storm im2500, and the RRS set does that (even when in its custom-fit bag). I usually ignore the center column when looking at extended height - even the best center column adds too much vibration for me (try some testing with the center column down vs. up), so I consider center columns as 'raise in case of emergency only' and for that, the extra couple inches of the TQC-14 (center column down) helps.

Oops. My bad. It's 23" collapsed the normal way. When the legs are folded up over the head, it shrinks to 20.5." Since my case is 25" long, I don't bother to flip the legs up.

Thanks, that makes more sense. Does your 25" case work for air travel as a carry on? I've got a bigger hard case than the im2500, but it's too big for an overhead - the im2500 and Peli 1510 are typically the largest permitted.

 

[brad-man]

Have to disagree about the Traveler. The 1542T is 3.5" taller extended than the 1541T. I like that 3.5" on the extended end more than I don't like it on the collapsed end. I have an Acratech GPS on top and the setup folds to 23". The TQC-14 is half a pound heavier, and, more importantly, costs $370 more...

It really comes down to personal need, I think. 23" collapsed is too long for me - my travel tripod+head needs to fit inside a carryon hard case like my Storm im2500, and the RRS set does that (even when in its custom-fit bag). I usually ignore the center column when looking at extended height - even the best center column adds too much vibration for me (try some testing with the center column down vs. up), so I consider center columns as 'raise in case of emergency only' and for that, the extra couple inches of the TQC-14 (center column down) helps.

Oops. My bad. It's 23" collapsed the normal way. When the legs are folded up over the head, it shrinks to 20.5." Since my case is 25" long, I don't bother to flip the legs up.

Thanks, that makes more sense. Does your 25" case work for air travel as a carry on? I've got a bigger hard case than the im2500, but it's too big for an overhead - the im2500 and Peli 1510 are typically the largest permitted.

I don't know, I've never flown with it. I just stick the pod in whatever carry on bag (clothing) I'm bringing. The rest of my camera gear goes in a dedicated photo bag, from a Lowepro Pro Runner 450 when loaded up, to a Think Tank Urban Disguise 40 v2.0 when traveling light. I save the Pelicans for when I'm going to extreme places cause they be heavy.

 

[Loswr]

I don't know, I've never flown with it. I just stick the pod in whatever carry on bag (clothing) I'm bringing. The rest of my camera gear goes in a dedicated photo bag, from a Lowepro Pro Runner 450 when loaded up, to a Think Tank Urban Disguise 40 v2.0 when traveling light. I save the Pelicans for when I'm going to extreme places cause they be heavy.

Gotcha. I usually pack the gear in a Lowepro Toploader + Lens Case(s), Flipside 300 or 400 AW (depending on how much), then put that in the Storm im2500 for the flight, in case I'm forced to gate-check it (full overheads on airlines where I don't have priority boarding, or regional jets where the bins are too small). That way, I have protection during the flight, and a way to carry my gear around at my destination.

 

[DCM1024]

Enjoy whatever upgrade path you choose, especially since you say you'll be able to add all of the gear by summer.

Last January 2012, my kit was a t2i with 18-55 and 55-250.

Got a tax refund and wanted a 5d2 kit but not quite enough $$$, so purchased a 7d and 17-55 f/2.8.

Fist year of wedding photography, did over 20 weddings, added oben tripod and ballhead per b&h recommendation (love it). Added rx-100 (saved photo and video at 2 different weddings - love it).

Added 5d2 kit which was quickly replaced by 5d3 kit (love it). Decided to raise prices on photography, even if it means loss of jobs. Just booked most expensive job to date yesterday 2013 is for lens upgrades. I already have Elinchrom strobes and Canon flash with modifiers.

Enjoy and have fun on your upgrade path