Giottos Vitruvian VGRN 8255
Giottos Vitruvians are those cunning
folding-design tripods, where the legs hinge right up and back on themselves.
Then the center column slides up in between, leaving a space just big enough
for the head. The result is about 0cm knocked off the closed length, making
this VGRN 8255 only 38cm (15in) long, and combined with exceptionally low
weight, perfect for travelling light. There are some compromises though. The
design suits smaller tripods best; this model has five leg sections, meaning
there are more joints and slimmer profile legs that are inevitably less rigid.
The head needs to be quite small, too, to fit in the space available, though
there are a few heads that are made specifically to make the most of this. The
little Vitruvian has another trick up its sleeve: one of the legs unscrews and
bolts into the center column to create a handy monopod.
Giottos
Vitruvians are those cunning folding-design tripods, where the legs hinge right
up and back on themselves
Verdict
Despite the tiny closed size, it makes a
decent working height. Though well made, the design dictates it cannot be as
solid as similarly priced rivals.
Details
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Price: $480
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Material: Carbon-fiber
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Length closed: 38cm
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Height: 133cm
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Extended: 157cm
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Min: 31cm
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Weight: 1.1kg
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Leg sections: Five
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Max leg diameter: 25mm
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Leg locks: Collar
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Manufacturer’s load rating: 6kg
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Website: www.giottos-tripods.com
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Overall: 4/5
Vanguard Auctus Plus 323CT
They
can be simply pulled off to leave a normal rubber foot, and that also removes
to reveal a spike
This is a monster tripod. And, like most of
Vanguard’s premium-range products, loaded with extra features. Most obvious is
the large geared center column that extends the height by an extra 34cm to
getting on for 7ft with a head and camera on top- just the job for wedding
groups, though you’ll need a small stepladder, too. Geared center columns are
also really nice to use for fine adjustments in the studio. At the other end,
you can’t miss the Vanguard’s ‘snow-shoes’ – they’re good on most surfaces and
kind to carpets. They can be simply pulled off to leave a normal rubber foot,
and that also removes to reveal a spike. At full height, there’s a most of
leverage on the leg joints so it’s perhaps no surprise they flex a little. However,
with length to spare, reducing the height to normal levels stiffens things up
well. Inch markings on legs are useful, too.
Verdict
The downside of size is weight, and loaded
with the hefty geared center column mechanism, too, 3.6kg is not to be taken lightly.
Details
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Price: $540
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Material: Carbon-fiber
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Length closed: 74cm
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Height: 144cm
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Extended: 178cm
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Min: 20cm
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Weight: 3.6kg
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Leg sections: Three
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Max leg diameter: 32mm
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Leg locks: Collar
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Manufacturer’s load rating: 18kg
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Overall: 4/5
Induro CT313
The
Induro CT313 is a really nice tripod to use
If you want height, this is the one. The
Induro CT313 is the tallest here and will put your viewfinder at almost six
feet, and on to nearly seven feet with tripods on the less expensive side of
Gitzo. The leverage on the leg locks at full height causes some flexing, but
the trick of sliding a couple of inches of leg back inside the upper section
works well with this Induro, and with the height a little reduced it is very
solid indeed. It’s well made with large rubber collar locks around the fat
sectioned legs. The center column is a wide 32mm, too, helping it to slide
smoothly and locking easily with the large triple-winged collar. The Induro
CT313 is a really nice tripod to use; chunky and with everything easily
grippable, very strong and stable at normal heights, but with a lot of extra
length in reserve. Yet it’s surprisingly light at only 2.1kg.
Verdict
There’s a lot to like here. Big and solid,
and, although bulky, it’s light enough for carrying. But at over $750, it also
has big competition.
Details
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Price: $765
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Material: Carbon-fiber
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Length closed: 71cm
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Height: 158cm
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Extended: 185cm
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Min: 38cm
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Weight: 2.1kg
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Leg sections: Three
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Max leg diameter: 32mm
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Leg locks: Collar
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Manufacturer’s load rating: 18kg
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Website: www.profoto.com
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Overall: 4/5
Gitzo GT3541 Mountaineer
Weight
is low, yet everything feels taught, rigid, locking solid
You can tell this a really good tripod just
by looking at it – it’s made by Gitzo. Another clue is the price. Gitzo makes
nothing but the best tripods, and while some of the better Chinese clones can
run them close on performance, and beat them on price, there’s none better than
this classy Italian brand. Grasp the fat 32mm top sections and put it up.
Weight is low, yet everything feels taught, rigid, locking solid. Making a good
tripod is not rocket science; they all have three telescoping legs hinged to a
central camera platform. The difference is really in the design integrity of
the joints, quality of materials and manufacturing precision. Gitzo has all
that totally sorted. If $900 is too much, Gitzo’s aluminum and basalt versions
are significantly cheaper and only a bit heavier, all available in different
sizes/leg sections, with some different design options.
Verdict
With Gitzo, there’s no need to worry about
performance – it will be excellent. If the spec suits, and the price is
affordable, you’ll not regret it.
Details
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Price: $900
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Material: Carbon-fibre
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Length closed: 54cm
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Height: 135cm
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Extended: 168cm
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Min: 44cm
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Weight: 1.9kg
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Leg sections: Four
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Max leg diameter: 32mm
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Leg locks: Collar
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Manufacturer’s load rating: 18kg
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Overall: 4.5/5
Overall conclusion
Just about every possible size and design
of tripod is represented here, from the tiny Giottos Vitruvian, right up to the
imposing Induro and Vanguard giants, with everything in between from under $300
to $900. With this much variety, picking a Best Buy is tricky business and in
some ways there are several Best Buy on test here with each of the
more-than-average Highly Rated awards representing something special in their
category.
Overall Best Buy, the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3,
only won by the narrowest margin over the Highly Rated Giottos MTL 8261B, with
the Manfrotto snatching it because of the extra versatility of its simple but
effective tilting center column. It makes getting down low really easy, but if
that’s less of a priority, the Giottos is also an excellent choice in the
popular mid-size sector.
If low weight is a priority, two lighter options
stood out. The Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 is a scaled-down clone of the larger 055
model, losing some height and a little bit of stability for a 25 percent
reduction in weight, but retaining all the other virtues. The Slik 724 CF runs
a little taller, packs a little smaller, and can also get down to it pretty
swiftly with the split center column. Moving up the range, there are really
only two reasons to go large: either because you need the height, or because
you’ve got some heavy and probably expensive equipment. Either way, you’re
serious about your photography and need something of quality, built to last.
The Induro CT313 is tall and strong, but it
also pushes the price quite high, too. It’s not much cheaper than the Highly
Rated Gitzo GT3541, and for performance and quality, the Gitzo wins on
everything except height, though if you want that as well, Gitzo makes a
long-leg version, too.
