Like most nature photographers, my ‘pod is usually tied to my hip. It is a pretty rare occasion that I go shooting without it. (except when I forget it at home – but that is another story!, ahem) For many years now, my Gitzo 1348 carbon fiber tripod has been my workhorse. Light to hike with, plenty stable enough for a 500 f4, a min. height low enough for those crazy macros, and a max height high enough to prevent a 6’7″ photographer from getting a backache looking through the viewfinder. It has been in salt water, mud, sand, snow, muck, seaweed, and held up well.

Sounds pretty good eh? Well, nearly perfect with one major, PITA design flaw – the leg locks. Anyone who has one of these first generation Gitzo CF pods knows exactly what I mean. You are constantly fighting with these stupid things in adjusting each leg section – where each lock from the top down must be progressively tighter than the one below it in order to loosen the lower one. Otherwise it just twists the whole leg in place. You simply learn to live with it – and curse under your breath on occasion. (quite frequently actually)

Well, Gitzo came out with their next generation recently, and because carbon fiber tripods are still not cheap, I forced myself to look away – I could live with the inconveniences of my current one. They put a pretty big carrot out there for current users of their tripods – anti-twist leg locks! Curses! Well, in theory – time fumbling with equipment can cost you precious moments of light and time. (How’s that for justification!)

So I caved – and ordered the new 6X model a GT-3540XLS. (from Naturescapes, free shipping, fast service, good pricing!) And like the 1348, this is the only one in the new series that has a max height tall enough for those of us who need it on occasion (with no center column which are the root of all evil.) It supposedly has a bit higher load capacity than the 1348 due to improved stability and construction, can extend taller than a 1348 (!), retains the abiilty to go flat to the ground for those craaaazy macros and shorebirds, and even slightly lighter. With only 3 leg sections extended, it is nearly tall enough for me – with the 4th section, it puts the camera over my head. Worth the expense? Maybe, maybe not – I suppose time in the field will tell. Pods with this height ability tend to be more expensive than others. But I do know that one field frustration is finally gone and maybe finally I could call it perfect.