Gitzo GT5560SGT Systematic Giant 6X Carbon Tripod

[michaelbiondo]

Hi, I am shooting with a cambo 2X3 (with a canon 1ds mark III on the back) and my old tripod is showing it's age and size limitations. Looking around for a new rig and this is all I really see in the uber-large carbon fiber department. I think I need the carbon fiber since I walk around with this setup (monorail resting on my shoulder) and I figure that spending more on the lightweight carbon fiber is preferable to spending more on back surgery. here are the specs on the Giant 6X, does anyone have experience with this bad boy or any ideas regarding other options?
Thanks,
Michael


Load Capacity 55 lbs (25kg)

Maximum Height 102.4" (260cm)

Minimum Height 6.7" (17cm)

Folded Length 28" (71cm)

Head Attachment Fitting 3/8"

Weight 7.5 lb (3.4kg)

[rainer_v]

Hi, I am shooting with a cambo 2X3 (with a canon 1ds mark III on the back) and my old tripod is showing it's age and size limitations. Looking around for a new rig and this is all I really see in the uber-large carbon fiber department. I think I need the carbon fiber since I walk around with this setup (monorail resting on my shoulder) and I figure that spending more on the lightweight carbon fiber is preferable to spending more on back surgery. here are the specs on the Giant 6X, does anyone have experience with this bad boy or any ideas regarding other options?
Thanks,
Michael


Load Capacity 55 lbs (25kg)

Maximum Height 102.4" (260cm)

Minimum Height 6.7" (17cm)

Folded Length 28" (71cm)

Head Attachment Fitting 3/8"

Weight 7.5 lb (3.4kg)

its fantastic, but dont forget to add a middle column.

[jing q]

I love mine.
I got two columns for it, the carbon fiber quick release one and the geared aluminium one (which is longer than the tripod itself actually...but gives an impressive height of an extra metre or so)

if you're going for a tall tripod you might as well get the tallest yes.

Hi, I am shooting with a cambo 2X3 (with a canon 1ds mark III on the back) and my old tripod is showing it's age and size limitations. Looking around for a new rig and this is all I really see in the uber-large carbon fiber department. I think I need the carbon fiber since I walk around with this setup (monorail resting on my shoulder) and I figure that spending more on the lightweight carbon fiber is preferable to spending more on back surgery. here are the specs on the Giant 6X, does anyone have experience with this bad boy or any ideas regarding other options?
Thanks,
Michael


Load Capacity 55 lbs (25kg)

Maximum Height 102.4" (260cm)

Minimum Height 6.7" (17cm)

Folded Length 28" (71cm)

Head Attachment Fitting 3/8"

Weight 7.5 lb (3.4kg)

[Jeffreytotaro]

I have the aluminum version too and the the carbon one is so much lighter and a pleasure to use.  The leg locks work great and have never bound-up or broken.  It does get pretty darn hot in the summer sun though.  That dark carbon really soaks up the heat.  I use it with an Arca Cube head and it a very stable system.  At full-height its also very stable but maybe hang a weight off of the center column hook to make it even better or wind resistant.  Not sure there is anything else to compare it to - get it!

[John Collins]

I have the 5541 and can recommend it without reservation. If you need the height then the Giant will be necessary, I have not used all the leg extension available on the 5541 & so am quite happy with the four leg model, it weighs a bit more than a pound less. You won't go wrong with the 55 series Gitzo.

[arc-technika]

I'm there with Jeffrey on this one. I've had several versions of the 3 and 5 series 6x's and this thing blows them out of the water. I just returned from Salton Sea, CA with 35mph winds and the tripod held up valiantly, never losing footing or transferring vibrations up the columns to the head. I'm also using a Cube on mine and I have never once felt like the tripod was going to tip with the head opened and rotated to 90°, even with an Alpa 12 Max sideways. You'd be surprised how sturdy this tripod is, even when fully extended out.

You might want to check around on eBay. I purchased mine from an older photographer not wanting such a beast of a tripod, he sold it to me for $800, practically brand new.

I have the aluminum version too and the the carbon one is so much lighter and a pleasure to use.  The leg locks work great and have never bound-up or broken.  It does get pretty darn hot in the summer sun though.  That dark carbon really soaks up the heat.  I use it with an Arca Cube head and it a very stable system.  At full-height its also very stable but maybe hang a weight off of the center column hook to make it even better or wind resistant.  Not sure there is anything else to compare it to - get it!

[michaelbiondo]

Thanks for the feedback everyone,  I will go for this one. I was also thinking of the arca cube, expensive but seems to be the only game in town for a large lightweight geared head.
Michael

[geotzo]

Thanks for the feedback everyone,  I will go for this one. I was also thinking of the arca cube, expensive but seems to be the only game in town for a large lightweight geared head.
Michael

Go for it. It costs a small fortune but will last for ages... don't forget to buy a set of spikes for outdoor use.

[BJNY]

BTW, according to bogenimaging.us site

Gitzo  GT5560SGT Replaced by:
GT5561SGT

[bcroslin]

Can anyone recommend a Gitzo tripod that's not quite as big as the 5560? I'm looking for something sturdy enough to put a RRS BH-40 on and I'm shooting with a 503cw, grip and a phase back.

Every time I look at the Gitzo web site I get dizzy with the different names and number conventions. Why can't they just make a small, medium and large?  

TIA

Bob

[jing q]

Can anyone recommend a Gitzo tripod that's not quite as big as the 5560? I'm looking for something sturdy enough to put a RRS BH-40 on and I'm shooting with a 503cw, grip and a phase back.

Every time I look at the Gitzo web site I get dizzy with the different names and number conventions. Why can't they just make a small, medium and large?  

TIA

Bob

there's the 5 series and the 3 series. 3 series is more compact and does a good job too. One good reason to get the 5 series is if you like to extend your tripod to at least full body height (for some reason most tripod manufacturers seem tot hink that most people only need their tripods to go up to 1.6m)

[JeffKohn]

Can anyone recommend a Gitzo tripod that's not quite as big as the 5560? I'm looking for something sturdy enough to put a RRS BH-40 on and I'm shooting with a 503cw, grip and a phase back.

Every time I look at the Gitzo web site I get dizzy with the different names and number conventions. Why can't they just make a small, medium and large?  

TIA

Bob

I have the 3541 XLS. It's an extra-tall version of the 3-series. Without using the 4th leg section, I can shoot at full body height (I'm just under 6 feet tall), in fact I don't need to fully extend the 3rd section. The 4th section is nice to have when I need the extra height though, either due to uneven terrain or when I need to get the camera up high for perspective. I highly recommend it.

[michaelbiondo]

Yes the Gitzo product line is uber confusing. Check out this screenshot from the Bogen USA site...

[bcroslin]

Yes the Gitzo product line is uber confusing. Check out this screenshot from the Bogen USA site...

That's what I've been looking at. Ugh. All I want is something that has 3 section legs, will extend to a little over 5 feet and can support between 20-30 lbs. I think the GT2932 will work. Don't need carbon - just want something sturdy with the gitzo leg locks.

Thanks for the help.

[Dick Roadnight]

I have a Manfrotto Agnoscope... it is only good for about 10Kg of camera, but has a max height of 10m, and weighs about 60Kg.

It is from pre-live-view days, and comes with a CCTV view finder and power head.

[Mark_Tuttle]

I have a G410 Studex tripod for which I purchased a G528 geared center column. Works great but very heavy.

Currently considering getting either a series 3 or 5 CF tripod.

Does anyone know if the G528 geared column can be used with a Studex CF tripod? I'd like to be able to use the geared column for those occasional instances where it would come in handy.  I've heard that the smaller geared columns work on the smaller CF tripods, but what about the big ones?

Thanks,

Mark

[bcroslin]

My Gitzo GT2932 Basalt with an Arca Swiss Z Ball quick release arrived today and I'm super happy with it. The legs are sturdy enough for my 503CW and having a real ball head makes all the difference in the world. I looked at the RRS BH-40 and the Acratech head but decided to go with old faithful.