Gitzo GT3540XLS carbon fiber tripod first impressions

Yesterday’s entry discussed the reasons I ordered the GT3540XLS.

There is almost no difference in weight: 2009 grams for the G1325 and 1995 grams for the GT3540XLS. That’s less than 1%—meaningless especially when the weight of the ballhead is added in. Perhaps that is impressive, since the GT3540XLS is four sections, as compared with three for the G1325.

One nice thing I noticed immediately is that the GT3540XLS stands almost exactly the same height as the G1325 with two sections extended (same as G1325), but with the 3rd section in reserve for those “cliff-side moments”. Same weight, same height, more versatility—good stuff. My initial impression is that the GT3540XLS resonates a bit more (bad stuff), but that is very preliminary and subjective, so I’ll have to test to be sure as in The Sharpest Image.