Questions about the Gitzo GM3551 Monopod

Hi guys ... long time reader, first time poster.

I have a question for anyone who owns the GM3551. As this is a sort of unusual question, it's not something found in the technical specs, unfortunately.

Just as unfortunately, my local photo stores are more likely to stock ipod accessories than gitzo monopods... so here I am pleading for a little information from fellow tall guys.

I'm 6'8" tall with shoes on, but I'm also a heavy guy, so my tendency is to err on the side of heft and get a 5-series monopod. With all my head/plate/etc accessories attached to a GM5541, the viewfinder would end up at eyelevel with about 3mm to spare. Not really ideal if you want to shoot something flying occasionally. Even worse if I happen to be facing the wrong way on some stairs.

So, given there's no "tall guy" 5-series option, I'm left with the GM3551 which in pictures looks like a toothpick next to the 5-series tree trunk. The 3551 is too tall for most of my uses, so my question is...

How long is the GM3551 without the bottom-section extended? I'm curious if it's about as tall as the 5-series, and if so, I'm just going to grab one with confidence.

Unfortunately, the last section seems a little twiggy, which is the last thing I want if I'm going to be placing a little of my own heft on it, for added stability when shooting.

Thanks a lot for any information you can provide.


PS: I had considered getting by with a much cheaper 1564L, but the lack of Anti-Leg-Rotation would bother me a hell of a lot I reckon.

gentle nudge for a fresh set of eyes.... just in case anyone has one of these around.

milorad wrote in post #6351070
How long is the GM3551 without the bottom-section extended?

3551is 192cm extended. Collapsed it's 54cm. So I'd guess that 4 sections would be about 140cm...

You know, stupidly it didn't really dawn on me that the vast majority of the collapsed length would be the last leg section.

I reckon that's probably a really good guess. Thanks a lot for your input. Unfortunately 10cm more (even 8cm...) and I might have had something workable :/

Cheers for your response.

I just measured mine, and without the last leg section, the total length (just the monopod with nothing on top) comes to 155cm.

It may look like a toothpick next to the 5 series, but it can handle up to nearly 40 lbs which is more than sufficient for just about anything you pile on top.

SYS... *thank you* very much for taking the time to measure it.

At that height, with a tilting head, QR clamp, plate, lens collar, the hinged foot, etc, it'll be acceptable for me without the bottom section extended at least half the time, so that's a real bonus.

I really didnt want to mess with adjusting the bottom leg section to some arbitrary point every single time I expand the monopod. Now I know I'll only need to do it some of the time.

I probably shouldn't be concerned about the lower section, it's just that I want this to be the first and last monopod I buy, and I have joint-wiggle paranoia when thinking about a 5-section pod. I guess I've just used too many short and wiggly monopods before (even the manfrottos aren't brilliant).

I might look at one of those long spikes with a rubber foot on the end to add a few inches so I can forget about the bottom section entirely unless I'm shooting above my eyeline.

Thanks a bunch, that's really informed my purchasing decision quite a lot.

Yes, I was going to suggest that you also look into the stainless steel spikes (I have a short one but thinking about getting the long one, as well, for hiking).

I wouldn't worry too much about the leg joints going wobbly on you. You know, Gitzo, by designing their locking ring longer, the two tubes allow greater rigidity and prevent the monopod from bending. Along with this, the cone-shaped ring is designed to provide a stronger grip as vertical force is applied, i.e., the greater the gravity, the stronger its grip and the overall rigidity of the leg – hence it’s impressive 36.9 lbs load tolerance.

I'm only 5' 8" tall, but I find this monopod perfectly suited for me because I often find myself standing on top of a chair and shooting over a crowd of people. I'd much rather have an extra room for height to rely on than constantly vertically challenged.

Save your money and get the Canon 100 Monopod.

Its a steal at the price.

Buy two and you duel like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker !

Thanks a lot for the confidence boost SYS... I'll be ordering internationally, so returning for an exchange isn't going to make me happy with shipping costs

as for the canon 100, since I'm already paying for shipping I may as well get one of those too, just because I'm really curious about this $30 beastie... if all else fails, I might look at putting a coldshoe foot on that flimsy little ball head and jabbing it into the sand for some off-camera lighting at the beach

Hi
I am also trying to decide between the 2541 and the 3351.
Am almost settled on the 3551 with the long (12.5) cm metal spike for when I shoot with it resting in puddles etc, but wondered how big the top section is with grip? Is it comfortable doubling as a trekking pole on hikes?

thanks

ukfraser wrote in post #6366984
...but wondered how big the top section is with grip? Is it comfortable doubling as a trekking pole on hikes?

thanks

First, welcome to the forum!

I don't understand, though, your question regarding "how big the top section is with grip?" Did you mean how thick the grip is?

As for your second question, I AM using mine as a trekking pole on hikes BUT carefully. I had my previous monopod (Manfrotto) destroyed by doubling it as a trekking pole, and that's why I got the Gitzo. But that's your personal call.

Hi
and thanks for the welcome
sorry for the lack of clarity,
I surpose I was thinking about the total diameter including the grip

The series 3 had an external diameter of 32mm or 1.25" compared to the series 2 of 28mm or 1.125" which I can understand but I can't find the additional diameter of the grip specified anywhere.

I shouldn't think it is going to be that great and I am coming round to the extra height of the series 3 after looking at a Manfrotto/Bogen one which is nomally 5cm taller and doesn't seem long enough with a lens bolted directly on to it.

Out of interest do you ues a ball head or anything. I am still struggling with the concept of adjusting a 2.5Kg lens and holding the pod and adjusting a ball and socket head. I am expecting to see photographers evolve a short arm!

Well, I want to thank SYS for his help once more - my monopod has arrived and I couldn't be happier with both the bottom section extended, and retracted.

Top choice. Also as twiggy as the bottom section is, it's still rock-solid despite what the guy at the digital picture had to say about the previous version of this monopod with bottom section extended.

...

As for ukfraser, the grip is a comfortable size in the 3-series. To be honest, I wouldnt want it any smaller than it is. Using a metal ruler with one eye shut, I give it about 39mm. I wish I had some calipers here to measure more accurately.

As for a head, I thoroughly suggest mounting a tilting head on it... there's a manfrotto one which is very popular that I've been using for ages, but I've just ordered the high capacity head from Really Right Stuff, mainly because I'm being a snob and not wanting to leave a $25 manfrotto head on my new monopod.

... but also because I plan to use that on my tripod too

balls on a monopod are just the wrong idea - you don't need something that gives you lateral tilt and rotation at all... since you're on one leg and all. Tilt is great though... if you're shooting down from a standing height, or with a tall monopod, shooting up... tilt is fantastic.

In fact, I often just leave the head loose while shooting so I can frame freely while keeping the weight of my lens/camera/flash supported at a comfortable height.