Gitzo GT3543XLS eXact carbon systematic X long series 3

Great tripod, the best I ever owned. Super happy with it.

Used mainly for long lens photography its the most stable tripod ive ever owned and wont need another for a long time. Lightweight and quick to set up aswell.

This is the tripod I have been looking for, great design and the extra leg extension makes it an all around tripod. Studio or outdoors this is a great addition to my camera gear.

I ordered the Gitzo GT3543XLS and was disappointed with the quality control. It had some white (greasy) material on the leg locks you twist with your hands, the box itself was covered in thick dust. Not a great start... Yes, its an amazing tripod. Super tall, very solid and stable. BUT, I decided to explore alternatives, and glad I did. I came upon the Robus RC-5570, so ordered to compare. The Robus is nearly as tall, nearly as stable, built with comparable materials and the fit and finish is absolutely stellar. I like the feel of the leg locks in my hands better as well. For me saving $400 on the tripod purchase and getting a product that is 95% of the Gitzo, made great sense.

Im tall...this fits me perfectly... Im not a huge fan of the wobbly foot pads...they always seem to be in the wrong place/orientation.