Gitzo Basalt tripods - opinions???

From what I have read, basalt hype is just a marketing ploy for fiberglass. Beyond that I havent heard much of gitzo's latest offering.

Regards

RFC

 

If you would like to try the fiesol. I have it setup with a ball head and QR clamp for a sidekick.

Just let me know.

 

Chris,

Excellent choices all the way around. Which Markins did you get?

We need to get down to the pond (or even better, over to Guntersville) sometime after you get them and do some shooting.

 

You got all the right stuff. Guess that's the advantage of visiting a board like the Cafe, Nikonians, or DPR. You can see what is getting the best results, and make wise choices on your own gear purchases. Now all you need is a 1.4 TC and a Better Beamer.

Let's go over to Guntersville this weekend and give it all a good workout. 8)

 

What do you mean you never know? Don't you check the tracking info every few hours to watch the packages' progress to your doorstep?

 

I've noticed UPS is not nearly as consistent about being on time compared to FedEx, it can be really frustrating especially if you pay extra for service faster than standard ground. I had one package from B&H get all the way to the Houston warehouse on time and even show as "out for delivery", but it never came. No status updates, nothing. After several days I finally had B&H put a tracer on the package and UPS admitted they had lost it. Fortunately is was just a photo vest, umbrella clamp and lens pen; if it had been a lens I would have been bouncing off the walls. But I'm sure nothing like that will happen to you.

 

I looked at basalt 1298 before getting the CF 1258. I was not impressed. Seems to be too much of a compromise - shorter height, did not operate smoothly and legs not near as stable at CF. It was more like a Bogen or classic Gitzo, IMHO. I would suggest just going all the way to CF, if you can. It is just too much of a half way approach - not really cheap nor as stable as CF. Its only prior advantage was the ALR, but the new 6X CF has it now.

 

I bought a basalt weekender Gitzo a while back as a tiny extra tripod.

Frankly, I don't see any difference between "basalt" and carbon fiber. They are very similar materials. Same goes for wound epoxy tubing, which I have used to fabricate a few things (not photography related).

They are all fibers embedded in epoxy, urethane, etc. They seem to vary in strength more than properties I would imagine matter for a tripod.