Photography News Issue 42

Photography News | Issue 42 | absolutephoto.com

97 First tests

GitzoSystematic Series 3 3SL £700

Specs

Price

£700

In the box Gitzo GT3533LS tripod, tools, spiked, regular and angled feet. Material Carbon fibre Leg sections Three Lock type Twist lock Attachment 3/8in Max height 152cm Min height 11cm Closed length 67cm Max payload 25kg Weight 2.04kg Contact gitzo.co.uk

Plainly this is a professional level tripod, with a price tag to match...

Unquestionably the first thing to address here is price. This Gitzo Systematic Series 3 3S L (GT3533LS) tripod costs around £700 and that’s a serious outlay for most of us. In perspective, it’s comparable to buying a decent lens, or a mid- range camera body, so what would owning the GT3533LS bring to your photography that those upgrades would also provide, particularly if you already have a set of legs that’s working for you? Plainly this is a professional level tripod, with a price tag to match, so it’s aimed at those shooting often, and in demanding environments, whether pro or serious enthusiast. It’s designed to support heavyweight cameras and lenses, too. So if you only use your tripod once or twice a month, or have lightweight kit, there’s plenty of reason to look elsewhere. What you should be getting for all that cash is a highly durable, beautifully engineered, and totally practical camera support. So, do you? Durable? Certainly. I’ve spent several months with this model, and while its quality was quite plain from the get-go, things can often work loose or malfunction after you give them some regular hammer. Not here. I’ve been using the GT3533LS almost daily, and had no problems whatsoever: no sticking or loosening of the leg locks, no gumming up or locks are simple and effective, easily pulling out to release, then slotting back in to lock. Above As a ‘Long’ model in the Systematic range, the GT3533LS has an impressive maximum height of 152cm, even without a centre column. Right The leg angle

and creating those ‘big’ foregrounds. As you’d expect at this price there’s a bubble level on the collar, too. The GT3533LS legs have a load bearing capacity of 25kg, so you can mount almost any combination of head, camera and lens. But they’re also very light – certainly lighter than they looks. The legs weigh just over 2kg, though this will obviously rise when a suitable head is mounted, like the GH3382QD ball head I mounted that weighs in at 770g. For shooting in a variety of conditions the GT3533LS legs come with a choice of three different feet, all of which screw in easily; there are 50mm rubber ‘cup’ feet which angle via an integrated ball, and give a very good grip, and also regular 33mm rubber feet, and spikes. KS

arms for holding lights, diffusers or clipping small subjects. I don’t use centre columns much even on tripods that have them, due to the way that shooting from them compromises stability, and with the GT3533LS’s maximum height of 152cm, there’s plentyof heightwithout one. The ‘L’ in the name stands for long, so the top section is about 55cm. This means the closed length is high; at 67cm it’s one for your check-in baggage rather than carry-on if you’re shooting on your travels. Practical? I’ve had no problems whatsoever in setting up and using the GT3533LS. The twist lock legs work perfectly, and sitting close together, you can loosen both at once to free both two sections. They’re not small or light in the turn though, so might not suit smaller hands. The locks at the knuckles, which control the angle of the legs are large and easy to grip in even in gloves, simply pulling out to release, before you lift the leg to the desired level. Pushed back in to lock, you can close through the three angles available with little clicks. Admittedly it takes slightly longer to do this than pressing a lever and moving the leg in one motion, but it certainly requires less effort. Angling the legs out to their maximum gives a lowest shootingheight of around11cm, which I found fine for focusing close

gritty action when sliding them out; I’ve used it in the sea and in mud, and a hosing down returns it to perfect condition (the G-lockUltra twist locks having been redesigned since the last model to stop anything entering the mechanism and causing problems). Beautifully engineered? Again, these legs fit the (significant) bill. The three-section carbon fibre design uses Gitzo’s Carbon eXact tubes, which employ different fibre compositions in each section, optimising them for maximum stiffness. What this means is that, as they get thinner, they maintain rigidity and, technical jargon aside, offer an excellent level of stability. At a whopping 32.9mm thick at the top, and with just the three sections to worry about, this all helps create a highly stable shooting platform (fewer sections tends to mean greater stability) and is aided by the wide collar, which forces the leg joints further apart (another positive for vibration free shooting). This collar is also highly versatile, and, hence the ‘systematic’ part of the name, and can be used without a centre column, or with a sliding or geared version installed. With levelling bases and video adaptors also available, you can pick the setup that works for your photography. The collar also features an Easy Link attachment with a 3/8in thread, where you can install gadgets like

Verdict

Using the GT3533LS is an excellent experience, but it does come with a significant price tag. That’s not to say it’s poor value though, as looked after it should last a lifetime. I’d certainly invest in one.

Top The redesigned twist leg locks are large and firm in use, locking with security, and preventing ingress of sand or mud. The legs

also slide very smoothly. Above The GT3533LS has

Pros Build, features, handling... the Bentley of tripods Cons Price, not great for travelling

removeable feet, so you can use one of three included options: spikes, rubber or angling feet.