6x Carbon Fiber Construction: Gitzo carbon fiber tripods are lightweight and durable. Carbon fiber is probably the most popular material used in tripod construction because it is stronger and lighter in weight than aluminum or basalt, and does not conduct heat or cold to the same extent as the other materials do. These factors are particularly important for a travel and backpacking tripod that needs to be carried for long distances over rough terrain and will be subjected to extremes of temperature. I’ve found all three Gitzo carbon fiber tripods that I have owned to be exceptionally durable and reliable.
Anti Leg Rotation System with G-Lock: A standard on the 6x carbon fiber models, the ALR design and G-Lock leg locking system make for one easy to use tripod. Since the legs of this tripod are rather small, when collapsed I can unlock all of the legs with one quick twist of my hand, pull on the bottom segment to extend all of the sections, and run my hand up the legs, tightening each lock quickly. The whole process takes maybe 15 seconds. To collapse, I simply do the opposite.
My first Gitzo tripod was an older model G1325, which was developed prior to the ALR and G-Lock systems. It wasn’t until I got my more current 6x carbon fiber models that I realized what I was missing before ALR and G-Lock. These systems not only make setup and break down faster than before, but locking a leg in place is much easier, as I simply have to turn the joint until it stops, without cranking down on it, and I know it is locked and won’t slip at all.
The legs can be locked in one of two positions, either splayed out quite far to enable you to get as low as 6.9 inches from the ground, or upright. The leg joints that marry the legs themselves to the base of the tripod are different from those on my current 3 series tripod, as they operate by being flipped sideways with a flick of your thumb, allowing the center column to be inverted. I actually prefer this design to Gitzo’s standard three setting joints, which need to be pulled out with your fingers or pushed out from behind, as I find them easier to operate with gloves on or when my hands are half numb. I’ve also never had the problem of getting pinched with these thumb flip joints the way I have with the three setting joints.
Self Concealing Design and Feature Packed Center Column: The reversible grooved non-rotating rapid center column is easy to adjust and locks in place securely. One feature of the GT1541T that makes it unique is the fact that the legs can rotate 180 degrees completely around the center column, effectively inverting the center column so that it nestles compactly between the tripod legs. This saves about 3.5 inches of length of the collapsed design. The center column also has a hook that hides away nicely inside the base, out of the way when not in use. This allows you to hang weight from the base of the tripod to provide extra stability in windy environments.
Four Leg Sections: The four leg sections of
the GT1541T allow it to fold up into a pretty small package, relative
to other tripods capable of supporting the same load.
Ground Level Set and Safe Lock Disk: Provided on top of the center column is a Safe Lock disk that is designed to cut vibrations and improve the grip between the tripod and head. What the disk does allow you to do is easily remove the center column, in order to cut weight or get closer to the ground. To do this, unscrew the disk from the top of the column and the hook from the bottom of the column to slide the column out from the base. Then reattach the disk and hook to one another through the base using the included reversible bolt. No tools or other hardware is required for this adjustment, and it’s easy enough to do on the fly or in the field. The center column itself only weights a measly 0.2 lbs, so you don’t save a whole lot of weight by doing this, but on extended trips, every bit counts, and with the center column in place, it’s impossible to get the tripod much lower than 14 inches or so.