Award Sounds

Similar to the Radial Engineering Re-Amping Kit, the Gitzo GT2941L Series 2 Basalt Tripod is another product that simply works as it should.

I needed to upgrade my tripod. I've had a basic consumer tripod for years and I've known about its short-comings for a good many of those years. I'm glad I upgraded, the time was right with the current line of Gitzo's Basalt tripods being discontinued.

It's a 4 section tripod with a removable and reversible centre column. The basalt name indicates that the material is

between aluminium and carbon fibre in terms of weight. Gitzo suggest it's about 20% lighter than aluminium. Maybe I've chosen well, but it feels lighter than that. The GT2941L has been replaced by the Gitzo GT2942L which doesn't seem that different. As I type, I can't find information on the GT2942L on the UK BogenImaging site, but it has been released here and details are on other BogenImaging sites. I'm not sure the ground level leg angle is that useful to me since my chosen off-centre ball head can act as a base on the ground anyway.

What I like about it

Ease of opening and closing the legs. The quarter-twist of the legs is great, beats using levers (easier on the hands in the cold). You can unlock all sections on all legs very quickly

Stability. The tripod is proving to be very stable in all configurations so far. I can see why some would prefer a 3-section tripod. For the weight that I'm putting on it, 4 sections feel good enough to me.

Height. The tripod easily extends to eye level operation (just under 6 foot/1.8m) without having to use the centre column. Its maximum height without the centre column being raised is 151cm, but add a ball head plus camera and I found myself on tip-toe trying to see in the first time I used it.

Weight. The tripod, plus a decent off-centre ball-head and quick-release plate weighs less than my old tripod on its own.

Functionality. There's a lot of flexibility in this tripod. Possibly not as much as some of the really configurable Gitzos or Benbos, but the removable and reversible centre column will help to get the shots I want. Actually, by being careful with the head I chose, I should not need the tripod for table-top work. The head itself features as a table-top tripod. I've played with a bit more. One of the great features of the this head and tripod combination is that I can reverse the centre column (so that the column is upside-down between the legs), but still have the camera the right way up. The off-centre ball head of GH2750QR allows me to put the camera in a lot more positions that with a standard ball head.

Some points I don't like

There's very little to dislike about it really. If I have to pick, then:

The bag. The tripod comes with a bag, however you can only store the tripod in it; can't fit tripod and head attached. It sort of makes sense, how do Gitzo know what head you're going to use? So it would be awkward for them to bundle a proper bag with it. Also the bag has no handles. It's more of a dust-cover than a carry bag.

No leg covering. It would have been nice to have a covering on the legs to make it more comfortable to handle in the cold.

Leg angles. The angle that the legs forms from vertical isn't fully adjustable. In this way, I guess it's a compromise between stability and functionality. This tripod allows for 3 angles, adjustable by pulling out the Gitzo-branded stop at the top of the legs. With a combination of leg length, does allow you to get to most positions, but bear in mind that by adjusting the odd leg length results in a centre-column that isn't vertical. Again, the head comes in useful to mediate that.

That really is it. There aren't any major bad points yet.

Other Questions

Why not 6x? Well, the price difference.

Why not cheaper Manfrottos, Hamas, Giottos or other brand? This was one of the few tripods that gave the height I wanted. I was really attracted to the price-weight-function combination of the Giotto range and even some by Velbon and Hama, but I could not find one that extended to the height I required. I'd also set a maximum weight limit of 2kg for the tripod. I was hoping to get tripod, head and quick release plate in for less than 2kg, but the main focus was a tripod that was lighter than 2kg. For those few tripods that did extend to the height, weight became an issue. By the time I'd added up the cost, I was only about £20 off the price of the Gitzo.

I'm not the best person for advice on which tripod to get. Want better advice, try reading Thom Hogan's article. I did and I chose the products I did, knowing what compromises I was making and guessing what I'd be using the tripod and head for in the next few years.

Looks like Warehouse Express have some of the levelling version of this tripod left.