Last year, I bought my last Gitzo tripod ever. The biggest myth ever perpetuated on photographers across the globe is that Gitzo makes the best tripod on the market. And for years, I bought into this myth. As another professional photographer recently quipped, “Gitzo’s is the best tripod – when they’re actually working!” Unfortunately, we both agreed that’s not very often.
Last year’s purchase was a Gitzo GT2542L. That’s $750 for a tripod, an amount that most weekend or amateur photographers might find offensive. A tripod? Yes, a tripod. It’s kinda important to what I do so I don’t mind investing that much money in one. You would hope, however, that the price would be justified by it’s quality and world-class service, right?
Remember. It’s one year since this purchase. Two of the legs stops are gone. Just gone. Disappeared. A minor nuisance, but one I could live with. I am busy traveling, leading workshops, and haven’t had time to fix these small problems right away. Then last month, one of the leg locks quit working during the workshop I was leading in the Smoky Mountains. I had a backup, but it was a bit embarrassing a the time. The actual lock is made up of two pieces (D0402.28 and D0301.24 if you’re listening, Gitzo) and the two pieces separated leaving the tripod entirely useless. The part was small, plastic, and seemingly inexpensive-looking so I decided to order the part as soon as possible so it would be ready for my Peru trip.
The service and parts departments are buried within it’s slick website. There is no place to order parts except via an email. I did that. No response. I called the phone number on the website and ended up with the parts department which is apparently one person and a single phone line, which is always busy or unavailable with an option to “leave a message.” I did that. Twice. Still no response.
So I left for Peru with a different tripod. Not my first choice, but it worked just fine. This particular tripod was one-third of the price and it actually worked! When I returned home form Peru, one of the first things that I did was call Gitzo once again. The line was busy – as always – but I could leave a message once again. I have yet to receive a response.
In my office I have a virtual graveyard of older, expensive, Gitzo tripods. Most have frozen up leg-lock issues. Worthless junk. Gitzo supposedly improved the design on the locks but last year’s purchase nullifies that notion for me. It’s one thing to be the price leader, but when the quality doesn’t match the price nor does the customer service, what’s the point?
So I’ll do my best to get this one fixed, but that’s it. It’s utterly insane. It’s also time to find a new tripod.
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37 Comments
sorry to hear the crappy luck Richard… I still think Feisol is a better bang for the buck tripod!
What tripod you looking at now? I recently bought a new tripod, the manfrotto 190CXpro4 with a Giottos head and although the tripod is super sturdy and I haven’t had any issues with it, I’m looking to upgrade. The kit weighs just over 4lbs which is a little heavy for long hikes. I’ve been looking at Gitzo but have read stories like this about their service. I really love my Giottos head so I was thinking of going with one of their tripods because I’m really impressed with the quality of the head I bought.
Just wondering what your thoughts were on your “new tripod”
Richard,
Have you looked at “Really Right Stuff” they have their own line of tripods that I heard are really nice.
Love your work.. I wish I could make it to one of your workshops!
..doug
I am not a professional but I too have a Gitzo, a smaller GT2541. I had used it for about a year when I also had some issues and questions. I never, ever got a response. I now use a Really Right Stuff tripod…mainly what sold me after the sticker shock was their superb customer service. Answering every dumb question a novice could ask, yet still treated me as if I was their biggest account. ALWAYS making sure my understanding is complete and that I am satisfied with the service
I am open to suggestions on a new tripod, so keep them coming. This experience with their “parts department” is shocking, actually.
I don’t blame you. I don’t take very well to poor customer service.
Rotten luck, and sorry to hear about the poor service. Makes me want to give my Induro CT414 that much more of a hug. Still early days for me and it, but it’s been great through its first season of work.
That stinks. When you decide on your new one I would love to hear what you decided to go with!
When it’s all said and done… you need a “My Gear” page.
I think it is fair to say Gitzo was once the best available, but maybe that has changed. (I did read that they moved production from France to Italy in 2005)
The last Gitzo tripod I bought (I’ve owned four) was 2011 and I very nearly bought another brand because the competition (Feisol, RRS, etc) has really stepped up their game and done so at a far lower price.
Only once did I ever need a repair and I had no trouble with the service, but that was many years ago.
Richard,
Sorry to hear of the issues you are having. I’ve experienced the frustration in trying to find a way to order replacement parts for my Gitzo tripods. I can find the parts easily enough but how to actually order them was not very clear.
Anyway, if you are interested in getting the parts, I think Manfrotto as the US distributor handles all the replacement parts. Or at least that is how it seems, given that Manfrotto responded to my questions to Gitzo. I use this email: parts@manfrotto.com and have good luck getting a pretty fast response. The last time I ordered a part (Sept. 2012) I corresponded with Josh Meltzer in the Manfrotto Parts Department, Direct Line: +1 (201) 818-9500 Ext. 250 (I used the email posted above).
Hope that helps and I am anxious to see what tripod brand you go with next. As others have said, I too have heard good things about RRS tripods as well as Feisol.
Mylan
I agree, after spending a ridiculous sum on a very expensive carbon leveling model, I now have to carry a tube of super glue in my camera bag ready to fix it. The legs fall out of their tubes, or the feet stubs come out. NEVER buying a Gitzo again.
Manfrotto every time #ftw
Nothing worse than having a critical piece of gear fail in the field – I feel for you. For what it’s worth, I’ve been using an Induro CT414 for a couple of years now and it still works like new. Used it extensively all through Iceland – you know what that’s like!
Good luck.
Have a look at Redged, great all weather, all conditions tripods, great customer oriented.
They don’t sell you their most expensive tripod but are selling you a solution for your specific needs.
Aftersales dept. is great and they are sponsoring a great number of pro users worldwide to test and give constructive feedback on developing even better equipment.
no sensitive parts found so far.
I can relate. I purchased a brand new Gitzo (forget the model#) and when I took it out of the box and attempted to set it up one of the legs came undone. I was in my friend’s office at the time because I wanted to impress her with the unboxing of my shiny new Gitzo, and it turned out to be rather embarassing for me as I spent the next 30 minutes trying in vain to re-assemble the leg. She has an Induro CT214 tripod and proceeded to show it to me while I was fussing with the broken Gitzo. It is every bit a quality tripod (i believe the induros to be better) as the Gitzos and it was $200 cheaper and came with a carry bag w/strap, tool kit, foam wraps on ALL legs and interchangeable rubber feet and spikes. Bottom line: I couldn’t be happier with my Induro CT214!
Sorry,about your bad luck with your tripod, had always heard Gitzo was supposed to be good…never owned one… Have a Manfrotto and absolutely love it!
I’ve been using a Really Right Stuff TVC-33 with an Arca Swiss Monoball Z1 ballhead for a year now – I am really right impressed! It’ solid, reliable AND completely American made.
Thanks, Richard, for sharing your experience!
Hi,
Can suggest Benro, some says it´s a “Gitzo”, I don´t know. For me it works very well, solid and good quality. And it is the half of the price of a Gitzo. Here in europe we have a good support from the Main dealer of Europe. Before I had a Feisol, for the price a really good tripod but very soon I got problems with the legs, nothing big but very sensitive for dirt and dust.
I, too was disappointed with Gitzo because of a parts issue. However, after using both an Induro and a Feisol, I found them lacking in rigidity – although they have otherwise very nice features, and eventually bought another Gitzo. I suspect RSS would work, but they are more expensive and heavy.
I’ve had 2 Gitzo’s for a couple years and have never had an issue with either, I think they’re great. That said, if I were to start over I would buy a Feisol for half the price and equal quality. If money were no option I would get a RRS
Richard, I know EXACTLY what you mean! A couple years ago, I needed a new tripod, so I asked my good friend Marc Adamus for advice. His response was so spot-on and hilarious that I saved it. I shall quote it for you:
“I hate every [tripod] I’ve ever owned. I’ve had to pay way too much and gotten little or no customer service. Gitzo is popular, expensive, has no customer service, doesn’t honor their warranties and just all-around sucks except for the first six weeks you own the thing. They’re nice if you don’t get them in dirt, sand, water, ice, snow or really use them in any way that does not involve balmy temperatures and pavement next to your vehicle, and don’t mind spending $700.”
So, um, yeah. I think Marc pretty much hit the nail on the head and his experience clearly gels with yours. And, unfortunately, mine as well.
Since 1972 I make use of a Gitzo tripod… An aluminium tube sturdy one. Now, I’ve restored (renewed rubber grips several times and cleaned) it and enhanced with a Manfrotto Joystick. It is quite a heavy tripod, not suitable for long walks. Therefore I use a Manfrotto 4-lid legs lightweight tripod, which got broken a few months ago. Ordered the new part, which came rightaway. During mounting the other part on the same leg broke. Sent to the Manfrottoretailfirm. Got it repaired completely free of charge. That’s what I call good service…
Sorry about your bad luck Richard. I thought it was just me– I bought a new Gitzo about 5 years ago, and took it to the Colorado San Juan mountains for an autumn shoot. Stopped at a roadside spot and set up my tripod into the higher elevation’s snow only to have one leg completely sheer off at the tripod center collar! I didn’t have a spare tripod, so the rest of the trip’s photos were garbage and it took a few months to ship the tripod back to get it repaired by Gitzo. Since then, the tripod has worked fine, but I now always bring at least a monopod with me as a backup.
Next time around, I’ll look at RRS or another smaller USA vendor of quality stuff. My RRS Ballhead has been bomb-proof for over 7 years now and if it ever failed, I know their staff is very responsive to their customers.
Sorry to hear about your Gitzo problems. As a newbie, I was shooting with a Manfrotto. In roughly 2 years, the leg joints started to snap. Although it was under warranty, they said that “it looks well-used”, and refused to honour the warranty. I suggested that they offer me a discount toward a new Manfrotto. They said “no”. So I bought a Gitzo. Compared to the Manfrotto, it is a pleasure to use. And although it has been subject to the same amount of use, after two years it is still looking, and working, like new.
I have a Gitzo circa 1990′s. to date i’ve had no problems with it. (Sounds like that is a lucky thing from comments above.) It’s heavy – Aluminum. G1335C Made in Italy. It’s heavy so I’m Not crazy about draggin it deep into the woods but I have. And I’ve literally used it as a walking stick on a few occasions. It’s been in rivers, too. Nice and solid. I’d like to find a lighter version for hiking but it sounds like I should look at other brands.
Gitzo. I had never trusted them much anyway, not forgotten those Gitzo clones out there from China.
Had been using the Italian made Manfrotto for over 25 years. They are bulky and heavy, but then it works. My 20+ years old tripod’s plastic locking levers broke. Called and prepaid for the replacements and got it within 3 months, and for about US$8ea. Only recently, I have noticed that there are cheaper models under the same brand, Made In China. Oh no, i seriously don’t think it will last as long. Lets see….
I’m at the point where I must upgrade my tripod, based on your experience I’ll certainly give Gitzo a miss. Thanks for sharing this information.
Please let us know what you decide upon as your next tripod. I am looking to upgrade also.
KB
Sorry to hear about all the headaches. I have to say that, so far anyway, I’ve had excellent luck with my GT 2451 Mountaineer. The only problem I’ve had with it was that the upper casting broke leaving me with a bipod and a monopod. I have to say it was likely my fault pushing the legs down into deep snow, causing them to put too much force on the leg stop. Lesson learned the hard way!
That said, I sent it off to Manfrotto, the U.S. distributor, and they replaced it under warranty no questions asked.
I really like the Induro I have, they are worth checking out.
I’m sorry to hear of your trials and tribulations with Gitzo, for the money they charge one could at least rely on a good parts dept at the very least.
I use a Manfrotto 055CX03PRO with a Manfrotto geared head and find them to be excellent. I have also read good things of the Induro tripods and heads but they are Gitzo expensive!
I would really like to know what you decide to buy and would love to see a, “what’s in my camera bag” type post as I am a gear junkie, ain’t we all?!!!
All the best for the festive season.
Andy
I have been using the same Gitzo Tele-Studex since 1973. the only problem I’ve ever had was the head’s knobs shattering during airplane. A couple years ago I took the stids to a machinist and he mounted some new knobs similar to the current round ones Gitzo uses. Not a problem since.
Howdy,
Gitzo is now owned by Manfrotto… I think that has been the case for a while which makes sense why they are not as good as they once were… What a shame..
Cheers. SR.
Sorry to hear this things.
I bought myself ± 30 years ago a Gitzo Gilux Reporter and i am still working with it although had to replace the rubber griprings a few years ago. I do and did a lot of studio and nature fotography and yes you have to maintain your gear ones and a while. Wash off the dirt and sand, tighten the screws and lubricate the moving parts but really thats all i do.
In the old days they where made in good old France and made out of aluminum.
cheers
I can completely relate to the poor quality of Gitzo tripods. They are not suitable for professional use.
I bought two 3540LS models 4 years ago when they were replaced by the 3541LS. Since then I’ve had to repair two of three legs when the glue failed where the top leg section attaches to the casting. It was replaced with epoxy and is fine now. I’ve had the tripod feet come off a number of times – and lost 4 to date. I’ve fractured the metal casting at the top of the leg section when I fell in the Smokies. The replacement part took 5 weeks and cost $160 – for a single leg section. And I’ve had the tripod plate come off with my ballhead and camera attached. Luckily I caught the camera by the strap and had no damage. I added the third party plate to secure the top plate. So at this point I have a 4 year old tripod with 7 failures due to design or workmanship.
I’ve heard great things about the Feisol tripods and will probably turn to them for my next tripod. They had a good display at the NANPA Summit last month and have some excellent new designs. The product is manufactured in the US and carries both a lower price and better availability of parts.
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