Gitzo GT2830 Basalt Series 2

Just got this tripod today form B&H Photo and must say I am totally impressed. For those that don't know Gitzo makes this line as an alternative to their Carbon Fiber line up. For gain of 4 ounces in weight and a savings of $125 on average depending where its purchased from its a no brainier in savings. To look at the tripod you almost can't even tell its not a CF model.

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Yeah, but it's got that ugly orange color to it...

Nah, just kidding... these are nice legs... I thought long and hard about getting the Basalt model. I ended up with the 3531 CF legs instead, but I'm sure I'd have been happy with the Basalt as well.

Enjoy your new legs... now go out and shoot!

Yeah I kinda like the orange top plate and the leg accents. Once the head is attached you only see the plate outer ring and the leg clamps accents are hardly noticeable.

Looks great - i had hoped to get one of these, but couldn't find it in UK, so went for a Manfrotto Carbon Fibre one instead.

I was thinking basalt about a year ago but, for the additional cash, more weight and lower stability (weight rating) decided against it. Not saying it is not a perfect option for others, just didn't seem "right" for me. My previous setup included a 055XPROB which left my house, reluctantly, so weight and size were an overriding consderation when I went looking for a replacement.

I'm sure it will work GREAT for you. Enjoy.

bohdank wrote in post #9998964
more weight and lower stability (weight rating) decided against it.

Out of curiosity compared to which tripod?

basalt one is indeed a great buy but rarer than hens teeth in the uk. rather than go for it I opted for two, a gitzo traveller (fantastic) and an old manfrotto/bogen for stability.....though I might be pursuaded to pick up a big basalt one on my hols to USA this summer.

why do so few people stock the basalt ones here?

Doctor Diesel - i couldn't find a Gitzo basalt one for love nor money, and ended up getting a manfrotto carbon fibre 190CXPro4 (which is actually great).

Tsmith wrote in post #9996836
Just got this tripod today form B&H Photo and must say I am totally impressed. For those that don't know Gitzo makes this line as an alternative to their Carbon Fiber line up. For gain of 4 ounces in weight and a savings of $125 on average depending where its purchased from its a no brainier in savings. To look at the tripod you almost can't even tell its not a CF model.

I think you just ripped yourself off.

There is a carbon fiber Gitzo GT2531 RIGHT NOW on the big auction site for $550 shipped. Seller is an authorized dealer, so full warranty. I don't know if direct linking is permitted but do a search under seller name "kirkphoto333". With the Microsoft/Bing.com cashback scheme (currently 8% cashback if paid using PayPal) you can get a mint carbon fiber GT2531 with a full lifetime warranty in your name for about $510. AND because the seller is an authorized dealer, you also get the $40 rebate (valid until June 30). So the basalt GT2830 (which doesn't qualify for the rebate unless you buy it with a head) for $475, or the carbon fiber GT2531 for $470.

Why on earth are you paying MORE for the basalt Gitzo vs the CF one??

Looks nice, not a fan of the orange, but it looks nice

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Tsmith wrote in post #9999012
Out of curiosity compared to which tripod?

Any company that makes both CF and Basalt such as Gitzo. Just look at the 2 you compared.

I was not looking at anything specific back then but when I noticed Basalt pods I compared them to the same company's equivalrnt CF pods and Aluminum ones. In some cases..... I don't remember which company it was, the AL pods were virtually the same weight as the Basalt ones. Since then I have felt that Basalt really doessn't have a place in the market. Appears the buying public agees since Basalt hasn't taken off in all these years.

Just my opinion.

hyt wrote in post #9999961
I think you just ripped yourself off.

Why on earth are you paying MORE for the basalt Gitzo vs the CF one??

Not hardly as if I really wanted to play the rebate game I'd ordered the Gitzo head then sold it and took advantage of the $100 rebate vs the $40 on the CF.

bohdank wrote in post #10000613
Any company that makes both CF and Basalt such as Gitzo. Just look at the 2 you compared.

I was not looking at anything specific back then but when I noticed Basalt pods I compared them to the same company's equivalrnt CF pods and Aluminum ones. In some cases..... I don't remember which company it was, the AL pods were virtually the same weight as the Basalt ones. Since then I have felt that Basalt really doessn't have a place in the market. Appears the buying public agees since Basalt hasn't taken off in all these years.

Just my opinion.

I could be wrong but I believe Gitzo is the only company that makes them using Basalt. All the Aluminum tripods that I've seen and dealt with that even come close to compare to this quality weigh more and the Basalt material is on average 30% lighter than Aluminum.

Tsmith wrote in post #10003986
Not hardly as if I really wanted to play the rebate game I'd ordered the Gitzo head then sold it and took advantage of the $100 rebate vs the $40 on the CF.

Actually, if you did that you'd be wasting your time - Gitzo ball head resale values are notoriously bad because most people who buy at this level know better than to invest in one. Check out the new retail prices on a GH2750QR or G1178M, for example, then see what they actually sell for (completed auctions). It's around $50-$150 less depending on model. Whoops, there goes your rebate. And this is without considering the time wasted taking pictures of the ball head and listing it, and then having to pay the associated seller fees (listing, ending, PayPal).

As far as the "rebate game" as you call it is concerned, I've always bought Manfrotto/Gitzo on rebate, and have used Bing for years, with all positive experiences (and have saved thousands in the process). A penny saved is a penny earned, as the saying goes. And there's absolutely no reason to settle for a second-class item when the top-tier one can be gotten for less. To top it off, basalt has been shown in at least one major test to be demonstrably inferior to both carbon fiber and aluminum in vibration reduction.
http://www.kikkertspes​ialisten.no …ester/stativtes​t_2006.pdf

Look, just trying to help here. But if you're happy with what you have that's all that really matters.

hyt wrote in post #10004528
To top it off, basalt has been shown in at least one major test to be demonstrably inferior to both carbon fiber and aluminum in vibration reduction.
http://www.kikkertspes​ialisten.no …ester/stativtes​t_2006.pdf

Look, just trying to help here. But if you're happy with what you have that's all that really matters.

Really I appreciate your buying advise and maybe others can or will use it on future purchases but I really don't think I got "Ripped Off" in my buying choice.

Your link to testing leaves a lot in question as that tripod is a 4 leg section type that notably won't be as rigid as a 3 section it was tested against and to top it off its 5 years old so not quite relevant to design changes over the years. Also it appears to be smaller in size ...

Tsmith wrote in post #10003986
I could be wrong but I believe Gitzo is the only company that makes them using Basalt. All the Aluminum tripods that I've seen and dealt with that even come close to compare to this quality weigh more and the Basalt material is on average 30% lighter than Aluminum.

Manfrotto, who owns Gitzo, also makes Basalt. I don't recall what I was looking at, at the time.

Basalt tripod legs are roughly 20 percent lighter than aluminum legs and better at damping vibration. Source http://www.compositesw​orld.com …bers-alternative-to-glass