NUKE PROOF! Rock of Gibraltar! Warm to Touch! Quiet in the Field! Low Reflection! Compact! Extremely Light for Size! Should last a lifetime, plus All Reincarnations!

It takes awhile for the user to get the twist-lock order/torque just right. You can get it wrong if you're new to these twist-locks or not paying attention. If seen some folks get these twist-locks so tight that they need two people or a strap-wrench to lossen the legs. Twist-locks HATE SAND or CRUSTY SEA SALT..!

When you're shooting with BIG GLASS (500mm f/4) or BIG BODIES (Mamiya RZ67), this Gitzo tripod has no substitutes..! The G1548 is the Gold Standard in my book… But to make this tripod even better, spring for the Gitzo G-1321 Level base (another $130) to mount between your ball or Wimberley head; trying to level any Gitzo CF tripod is a little annoying because of the twist-lock leg clamps, but the Gitzo G-1321 Level base also prevents any tripod leg from “folding-under” and collapsing the entire rig..! The total cost about to give you an aneurism..? Watch places such as eBay like a Hawk and you ought to be able to score everything for less than $600-700, if you’re patient.

Customer Service

Never needed!

Similar Products Used:

Gitzo Carbon Fiber G1228, G1325 and Gitzo G-1412 Pro Studex Mk2

Super Stiff...

You can never blame the unsharp images on your tripod

This is the mother of all carbon fiber tripods...I use it for my sinar 8x10 and 4x5...This one is worth every penny you pay for it...Don't look back...

Customer Service

never used

Similar Products Used:

bogen

- Short - Light - Tall (can be very tall with the 1518 fully extend, I use with one section of the leg is kept inside)

- very expensive - Carbon cannot be thrown around like the normal makes, it will crack! - fat and bulky, but the weight helps to reduce this a bit

The paradoxes of this tripod is that although it is short and light, it is very sturdy! My review don''t comes with field testing as I believe those are very much subjective to your encounter outside. My first impression with the tripod comes when I was caught in a dilemma on whether chosing the 1348 or the 1548 at the shop with only a difference of SGD10. 1348 seems so light but feels sturdy as well. Once the 1548 comes wide open, the difference can be immediately felt. There is simply no compromise in the strength and weight it offers. The other tripods that comes close to give me the sturdy feels are the 1500 series aluminum tripods.

Customer Service

Not used. Have to return to the shop for repair.

Similar Products Used:

Manfrotto tripods, other gitzos from the shortest to the tallest

Fairly short collapsed size. Easy to fit into a Pelican case for airline travel. The large leg knobs offer good purchase for loosening and tightening. Don''t overtighten!

There are lots of knobs to tighten when setting this one up. I usually only collapse the bottom, smallest leg sections when placing the pod in the car when moving from site to site. I also don''t like the looks of the leg tips. They are plastic and make me miss the metal spike tips of the 1410 Gitzo I owned previously.

I bought this tripod to benefit more from it''s compact size when collapsed than for the benefits of carbon technology. I already owned a metal Gitzo 1410 tripod which was very heavy and stable. However, I immediately found, after using the new pod, consistently increased sharpness in my supertelephoto shots and a higher rate of ''keepers'' based on sharpness than I had experienced when using the metal pod. The 1548 is now my only large tripod and I''ve since sold the 1410 as it was not being used. Please note; my value rating is high because I purchased the item from England at a tremendous discount from domestic prices. I think all carbon pods are way too expensive here in the States.

Customer Service

Haven''t used it.

Similar Products Used:

Bogen, Gitzo metal and one other carbon tripod (1325)

ultra strong and stable
light weight for its strength
damps vibration well

none

This tripod has changed my life. My 645 long lens photography has gone from acceptably sharp to razor sharp. The difference is noticeable to me (and to my wife) with a 4x loupe. Handles great in the field.

Similar Products Used:

Bogen 3046

Relatively light weight for a big lense tripod.

None

This is the biggest carbon fiber tripod that I could get my hands on. People who say that it is not as stable as metal haven't tried it. This big monster weighs less than my smaller metal tripods. Since owning this product (1 year) I haven't used another tripod in the field.

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

Bogen