Gitzo parts

<p>Does anyone know where or how to obtain Gitzo parts? I bought a GT3542 for Christmas and would like to purchase an additional head mount so that I don't have to remove my ball head from the column top in order to install my gimbal head. The way the head attaches to the center column is pretty neat and makes for a really quick change as long as you can get your hands on the mount. B&H couldn't help me and now days after not hearing back from Gitzo, I'm open to suggestion. Gitzo acknowledged the receipt of my initial inquiry but that was it. I'm NOT impressed. The tripod is nice but I had heard of their dismal customer service and can relate. Is there another place I can look? I'm in the US so I'd rather eliminate the overseas component if possible. Thanks for any help you can offer.</p>

<p>Tom</p><div></div>

<p>Tom,</p>

<p>I assume you looked here? <a href="http://www.gitzo.us/service/spare+parts/">http://www.gitzo.us/service/spare+parts/</a></p>

<p> </p>

<p>Yes. That's where I went to make my request. It's basically a general email to them letting them know what you want (parts, service, information...). There is no order form or anything. I listed the parts I needed by part number (from their parts breakdown) and there was an automated reply informing me that they would get back to me soon in response. They haven't. Hence the shout out.</p>

<p>Tom</p>

<p>The simplest approach would be to buy a short column, and switch it with the column holding the ball head.</p>

<p>http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/548651-REG/Gitzo_GS3511KB_GS3511KB_Carbon_6X_Low.html</p>

<p>I don't know if the column adapter would work on the upper end of the column, but it might be an alternative. Personally, I would just swap columns.</p>

<p>http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/548662-REG/Gitzo_GS3320D_GS3320D_Column_Adapter.html</p>

<p>Thanks Edward, but that's not the issue. On this generation of Gitzos, the column is separate from the head mount and is removable by twisting a silver collar (in the pic is has teeth). The whole metal mount removes from the column (or the column removes from the mount) and typically you would do that to get to ground level. To the best of my knowledge there is no short column available and if there was it would still need to mate with the part I'm trying to get my hands on. This could be a quick-interchangeable system if the mount were available as an assembly. As it is, Gitzo lists three parts to get what I want.</p>

<p>Tom</p>

Tom, I have shared similar frustrations with the Gitzo product line support. You may not find what you are looking for so I

agree with Edward's recommendions to consider purchasing a second complete column. You might want to look at the

much more expensive Really Right Stuff leveling base that allows you to hot swap your ball head with a Wimberley or

other gimbal head. The system with two plates for the ball and gimbal are well over $350. Probably less than ideal given

the high cost, but you have already invested heavily in a quality tripod no doubt to support very good gear. Good

hunting.

<p>Thanks for the tip Edward(s). I suppose if I don't hear back from them soon and can't find a venue for the parts I want, I'll knuckle under and get the stem. Had I known any of this I would have looked elsewhere for a tripod. But the planets aligned for me to get the GT3542 with the Christmastime rebate and a standing credit at B&H. I cleared out two Induros to get this, a CT214 and a C413. The Gitzo seemed to be in the sweet spot for strength & weight and with the stem being removable from the head, I thought it a simple task to ready my gimbal for a swap-n-go. Not quite buyers remorse, but almost. I can GET things in two days from Amazon, but can't get a response from Gitzo in a week. Very sad.</p>

<p>Tom</p>

<p>News flash... I still have my short carbon column from my Induro CT214. Guess what? Same diameter, fits perfectly. Problem solved. Who knew? I'll have to invest in another spring-loaded hook for short column since the threads are different between the two but I can get 10 of them for the price of the Gitzo short column and B&H has them in stock.</p>

<p>Thanks for the push to look in another direction.</p>

<p>Tom</p>

<p>Tom, you just answered an important question I was not able to google tonight when I asked myself if other brand columns would work. Five years ago I needed a very short column for my Gitzo 2530 mountaineer to get to ground level. I did not trust the ground set that came with the tripod. It cost me $60 bucks but a I found a short column without the the adapter plate in the back of the store. It was discontinued. Now I think Gitzo has gotten out of the business of making short columns. I was hoping with all the different brands that there would be some cross compatibility. Thanks for sharing your discovery. I have preferred using the systematic over the mountaineer series because I can choose between columns and base plates. I generally prefer the base plate but having interchangeable columns with respective heads is actually much quicker and easier than using a strap wrench to change heads on a base plate.</p>

<p>Edward, this worked out as well as I could have hoped for. The head sort of dwarfs the column but the lock-up is very good and there is zero movement. This GT3542 has a bit of a unique column grip. It tightens normally but when you go to loosen it, there is a moment when the collar lock nut feels as if it releases. A definitive change in the loosening tension that tells me that once locked, the column is very secure. And I find it odd that the 2-series Induro column fits the 3-series Gitzo. I'm not complaining but I would have thought it would have been marginally bigger in diameter. I included an iPhone shot of the column with my Nest gimbal head attached.</p>

<p>Tom</p>

<p>oops</p><div></div>

<p>Gitzo customer service is a joke. So is their website. Trying to have my defective tripod replaced or fixed has become a nightmare. They refuse to answer or respond to me in any way. I have tried every avenue and came up empty. Does anyone have any clue how to get through to these scoundrels? </p>