Gitzo G1325 Mountaineer Carbon Fiber Tripod

by Gitzo

Product Details

• Item Weight: 4.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds
• ASIN: B00009XVPT
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003

Product Description

A workhorse for professional photographers. This tripod will support long telephoto lenses on 35mm, medium format, and even light view cameras. These tripods are an ideal balance of strength and weight for photographers on the go. The G1325 Mountaineer is a three-section carbon fiber tripod with flat plate. It is ideal for photographic or video work and features interchangeable column capability. The flat plate can be removed and replaced with a grooved rapid column or geared column for extra height. Unparalleled strength Gitzo carbon tubes use an exclusive process based on pull winding of long carbon fibers that are precisely wrapped and combined under high pressure and temperature with epoxy resin to a 1.5mm wall thickness. This manufacturing process ensures stiff, light tubes resistant to bending, have good tensile and compression strength, a high degree of stability in extreme temperatures, absorbs vibration and withstands fatigue better than other carbon fiber tube processes. H.I.S. Mountaneer tripods are constructed using a "screw thread and adhesive" dual jointing technology pioneered by Gitzo. Called "H.I.S." (Hybrid Interconnecting System), thus construction technique provides greater strength and stability. All Mountaineer tripods are performance models with sliding stops that allow the legs to be set at different angles. The G1325 has a flat plat mounting system instead of a center column. Optional center columns are available separately such as the carbon Rapid (G1318) or aluminium Geared (G338) columns.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best, November 24, 2004

By 

Douglas A. Greenberg (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gitzo G1325 Mountaineer Carbon Fiber Tripod (Electronics)

This is the G1325 carbon fiber Gitzo tripod without any center column. It's incredibly stable, well-constructed, and beautifully finished, and will support as much as an equivalent aluminum tripod weighing nearly twice as much.

I bought this tripod for use with my largest bird photography rig, consisting of digital SLR, large 500mm. telephoto lens, and frequently, 1.4x or 2x teleconverters. The G1325 handles this load beautifully, and is light enough to carry in the field.

People who would like a tripod that includes a center column can either buy the versions of this tripod that come equipped with one (for example, the G1327, which includes a rapid column), or else add a rapid or geared center column to this basic model. Yet another option is to purchase and use a G1321 leveling base, which tilts 15 degrees in any direction to allow level framing of photos even in situations where the ground may be sloping.

Some photographers may be shocked by the high price of this item, but there is truth in the old saying that no one ever regrets buying the best. This is an item that will last for many years and will pay dividends in the form of the many sharp, vibration-free photographs it will enable its owner to take.

It should be noted that some photographers never get used to the twist-release leg section controls for which Gitzo has become famous (or infamous). Personally, I have found the flip-lock relases of Bogen/Manfrotto tripods easier and faster to operate, but the Gitzo legs are more durable and with repetition the opening and closing of the legs becomes quite easy and routine.

Overall, this is quite simply the best tripod I've ever owned, and I could not be happier with it.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gitzo MK 2, October 19, 2005

By 

Gerald Reed "Jerry" (Essex, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gitzo G1325 Mountaineer Carbon Fiber Tripod (Electronics)

In preparation for a three week Everglades bird photo shoot, and realizing that any tripod that I might take would be on my sholder more than it was on the ground, weight became an important consideration. I mated this tripod and the WIMBERLEY head which has the ARCA Swiss type quick release for lenses. I carried the tripod for three weeks and was very happy that with my choice. I recommend the three section leg. The four section leg, while shorter and will fit more easily in luggage, the bottom-most section is too small and is therefore not as stable - the whole idea - as the three section leg.

Jerry Reed
Giclée Maker
http://www.newlightimages.com/