Digital SLR Photography

For a medium size standardtripod, the Gitzo 2542 is as goodas it gets.Strong and light, itstands tall and closes down small.Perfect, if it wasn't for the price.WHAT'SSOSPECIALabouta£600tripod?ComparethespecificationoftheGitzoGT2542tothemuchcheaperBenroMach3TMA38C:bothhavefourlegsections,they'rethesame137cmheightwithcentre-columndown,virtuallythesameclosedlength,haveasimilarminimumheight(15cmvs18cm),andbothcomewithoutanyextrafeat ureslikeatiltingcolumn.ThemostnotablephysicaldifferenceistheGitzoweighsahandy300glessat1.7kgwithitsslightlyslimmerlegsections(29mmvs32mm),butofcoursethereisoneotherthing–at£600theGitzocostsnearlytwiceasmuch.Apartfromthebrandname,youcan'tseethedifference–it'sundertheskin.Butyoucanfeelit,andwecouldalsomeasureitinthewind-buffetandvibrationtests.TheGitzo'slegsmaybeslimmer,butthey'restiffer,andthecollarlocksarestronger.There'snoticeablylessfl exandtheGitzojustfeelsmorerigidandsturdy.Thistranslatesintoimprovedperformance,withgreaterresistancetovibrationandresonancethroughthelegs.You'reunlikelytonoticeitinnormaluse,butindifficultsituationslikeawindyhillsideorlongexposures,lookcloselyatimagesandyou'llseeit.GitzoMountaineerGT2542TestconclusionLOTSOFBESTBUYANDHighlyRatedrosettesawardedhere,thoughthat'sonlytobeexpectedwhenthebudgetgoesover£300.Inpriceorderthen:TheManfrotto190Go!isHighlyRatedforitsadvancedspecification,includingatiltingcentre-columnandlowweight.Overallperformanceishigh,butitmaybealittleshortforsome.TheBenroMach3TMA38CisalsoHighlyRatedandalthoughthefeat ureslistisrelativelymodest,it'saverygood,solidtripod.ABestBuyawardgoestotheBenroGoPlusTravelFGP28C.Notonlyisita``````goodmedium-sizedtripod,thearticulatingcentre-column,detachablemonopod,andtravellerdesignareallreallyusefulextrafeat ures,andwellexecuted.TheBestBuyGitzoExplorer2531EXissimilaronsomeaspects,butinaverydifferentpackage.It'sexpensivetoo,butforwhatitdoes,nothingdoesitbetter,oroffersmorestabilityatawkwardangles.TheManfrotto057C4-Gstandsapart,ifonlybecauseofitsgiganticsizeandmilitary-gradebuild.It'snottobetrifledwith,butintherightsituationit'speerless,withanexcellentgearedcentre-column.It'saBestBuy,andvalueforwhatyouget.FromGitzo'sacclaimedSystematicrange,the3542LSlookslikethepick,``````presentingasolidplatformcapableoftakingonanything,yetremaininglightandmanageable.Consideringthere'snocentre-columnit'sexpensive,butHighlyRatednevertheless.TheGitzoMountaineer2542isnothingfancyonthefeat uresfront,butverystrongforitssizeandlowweight.Ithasgoodheight,andcandroptothegroundintwosecondswithitsquick-releasecentre-column.Asanevery-daygeneralpurposetripod,itcomesHighlyRated,atacostofcourse.Thethree-sectionBerlebachdeservesamention,ifnotarosette.Thewoodisnostalgicandbeautiful,seductiveeven,butlesspracticalandcumbersome.Thetwo-sectionmodelsofferbetterstability.``````Build qualityFeaturesStabilityValueOverallSPECIFICATIONSVERDICTBESTFEATUREGet down!Centre-column detaches inacoupleof seconds``````BenroGoPlusTravel FGP28C GitzoExplorerGT2351EX ManfrottoMT057C4-GNove mber2016Digital SLR Photography 115Premiu mtripods\GearStreetprice:£600Normalheight:137cmExtendedheight:165cmMinimumheight:15cmLengthclosed:56cmLegsections/angles:4/3Standardlegangle:23°Legdiameters:29, 25, 22, 18mmLeglocks:CollarsCentre column:Sliding, adds 28cm heightMonopodoption:NoAccessories:Storage bagWeight:1.7kgLoadrating:25kg(claimed)Warranty:SevenyearsWebsite:www.gitzo.co.uk