Gitzo G2220 Explorer

I'm a user of model G2227. As a person who likes to do macro photgraphy, initial view of this tripod is excellent considering that it can go to any angle that you want it to. But after one and half years of use, the bolt securing the center column snap off suddenly, and I was not using any excessive force. After checking with the local dealer, it seems that this is a common problem. I'm not sure if users in other countries have encounter a similar problem. When I receive the spare part, I guess I will remove the bolt and screw in a stainless steel bolt instead.

Good for macro work. Light weight.

Poor materials used in constructing this tripod.

Manfrotto 550B.

Slow

Not durable, screw-on parts lost easily, esp. for hiking trips. Not easy to setup when wearing gloves which maked it very difficult to use during cold weather.
The tripod is good for city and every day use though.

The tripod is extremely flexibly, and can get to very low position, which is very convenient for macro-shots.

I have used this tripod for three years now. Most of time I used it in cities and parks and carry it for short distances. I took it for one back country trip a year and half ago, I accidently knock the tripod down when I was setting up the camera. The tripod fell and hit a piece of rock and created a dent. I was surprised it damages this easily since the tripod is not yet fully extended and it fell less than 3 feet.
Afterwards, the dented leg cannot be extended anymore.

Another unpleasant thing followed was that one of the plastic shim broke a year ago. I believe I had less than 60hour of use when it happened. Fortunately, the leg is still useable without the shim.

Late winter this year, I took this tripod for a snowshoeing trip. It was disastrous. I lost a knob of the tripod head (the tripod came with a gitzo ball head), a weight hanger knob and a foot of one of the leg. I had a theory of why this would happen. It might have to do with the sharp temperature changes in the mountain. This tripod has tens of screw-on parts and they are made of different materials that will expand and shrink differently with temperature changes. Small parts got loose and lost during the hiking trip.

One more weakness that I have found during this trip was that you cannot easily extend/tighten the legs when wearing gloves, so it is extremely unpleasant to use in cold weather.

I have a heavier bogen and a low-end silk.

customer service reponds quickly.

I wanted a 'portable' tripod to use in the field. I had tried Velbon's latest and quickly sold it on eBay. I bought the Gitzo on reputation and it has served me well for the past few years. I do VR panoramic work - this little tripod lets me get low to make rooms look big, or lets me go high for scenic pix. Well worth the money, in face it seems a better bargan after seeing the new crop of wanna'bes from other makers.

Solid support and great customer information support. Can go to positions few others and offer.

The plastic clips must be released before closing the tripod - not a problem, just another step.

Velbon, Bogen, Star-D

Via e-mail. Quick and friendly, exactly what I needed to know

Perhaps the most versatile tripod on the planet. Easy to setup (contrary to other comments)lightweight and well made. Goes into positions other tripods simply can not.

Versatile positions for setup lightweight stable at all positions

takes some understanding to maximize ease of use, but not a problem once you've figured it out.

Benbo 2227 Gitzo

N/A

Bought this tripod to replace my Bogen 3221WN... As a wedding photographer, the Bogen was just too big and bulky for my work... and although the Gitzo is pretty much the same size as the 3221, it is far easier to handle and lug around while folded... Unfortunately unfolding the Gitzo is quite a task... Not only do you have to deal with the quirky Gitzo twist locks but you also have to flip three stiff locks and play a little guessing game as to how far out to spread the individual legs... Comparing the two, the Bogen feels sturdier and is much easier to set up than the Gitzo... The legs on the Gitzo seem to be a bit on the flimsy side as compared to the big Bogen... WARNING... not less than a week old and one of the little plastic shim inside one of the legs has already broken!

Very portable... Unique design... Seems smaller than it really is...

Difficult to set up... Lacks sturdiness... Plastic shims inside legs are delicate!

Bogen 3221 Bogen 3001 Velbon el'Cheapo

Hopefully they will be good at replacing the plastic shims