Subject: Gitzo 1297 Basalt vs Man 055MF3 + Horizontal arm users

[sonny_jet]

Hi. I shoot most kinds of photographs. Has anyone used either of

these ? Particularly the Basalt series? Someone previously said "they

are a poor man's Cardbon fibre".

 

Here in the UK, the Gitzo Basalt 1297 is about 40 pounds (70 dollars)

cheaper than the 055MF3. Do you find that you use the horizontal

postion of the Manfrotto a lot? Will the manfrotto 322RC2 head fit

on both tripods?

 

As I see it:

 

Man 055MF3

Pro's:

 

1. Horizontal Arm (but can it support same load vertically as well as

if camera was horizontlly positioned?)

 

2. Minimum Height is very good (10cm or so)- could be great fun.

 

Con's

 

1. 400g heavier than Gitzo (I will be travelling with it a lot in the

near future)

 

Gitzo Basalt 1297

Pro's

 

1. Slightly cheaper

 

2. Lighter (1.6kg)

 

Con's

 

1.No Horizontal Arm

 

2. Minimum distance not so good (but I have been told you can change

the centre column to get a v. low minimum height. However, not sure

how much this costs)

 

 

 

Thank you

[jim_gross]

I have the 3021BP Pro with a BG486RC2 head and will be moving to a RRS HB40 head. The tripod is similar in specification to the 055MF3. I have used the cross bar and it works will, but most of the time I use it at full height or at 4" (11cm) the legs this way and that. I like the flexibility of the tripod and have just ordered the 055MF3.

 

I prefer the lever locking clamp of the Bogen over the knob type Gitzo tripod. It is just hander and if you are on the ground, with one hand you can still adjust a leg.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Jim

[joel_blacher]

I had a 3021Pro and while I found it to be a good piece of equipment, I find that the Gitzo 2220 Explorer is far superior for work requiring the lateral arm feature. The Bogen is pretty flexible, but the time required to re-orient the arm to the lateral position got to be a real drag for me in the field. The Bogen was taller without the column extended if I remember correctly. If you only use the lateral arm every so often then the 3021 is excellent; if you do a lot of macro you might consider the Explorer (BTW the aluminum version is only a little heavier than the CF version, so you don't have to worry about that).

[akira]

I'm using the Basalt 1297 with a G1277M ball head. I find this combo very handy and lightweight (2.1kg).

 

With the 1297, you can reverse the center column to set the camera in a very low position. I've never used this set-up in the field, but if you are using SLR cameras and not cameras with waist-level finders, you can at least have an option without raising the cost.

 

Hopr this helps.

 

Akira