The Gitzo GT4533LS Systematic 4 Series is another spectacularly stable tripod from the Gitzo systematic line. Both the stiffness and damping are excellent. It was so good that it was incredibly difficult to measure. This tripod should support just about any photographic equipment that you can think of.
| Name | Gitzo GT4533LS Sytematic |
|---|---|
| Class | Systematic |
| Stiffness About Vertical Axis | 2187 +/- 30 Nm/rad |
| Damping About Vertical Axis | 2.08 +/- 0.21 Js/rad |
| Stiffness About Radial Axis | 6409 +/- 28 Nm/rad |
| Damping About Radial Axis | 1.12 +/- 0.11 Js/rad |
| Retail Price | $970 |
| Weight | 5.15 lbs (2.334 kgs) |
| Manufacturer weight rating | 55 lbs |
| Maximum Height | 61.0 in (154.9 cm) |
| Minimum Height | 21.0 in (53.3 cm) |
| Center Column | No |
| Base Diameter | 2.8 in (7.1 cm) |
| Folded Length | 27.5 in (69.8 cm) |
| Folded Circumference | 15.3 in (38.9 cm) |
| Folded Volume | 512.0 cu. in. (8.4 liters) |
| Leg Material | Carbon Fiber |
| Leg Sections | 3 |
| Primary Leg Angle | 24 deg |
| Leg Locks | Twist |
| Top Tube Diameter | 37.2 mm |
| Second Tube Diameter | 32.8 mm |
| Third Tube Diameter | 29.0 mm |
| Exchangeable Feet | Yes |
| Foot Type | Rubber Platform |
| Bottom Hook | Yes |
The stiffness and damping data are the averages of 10 trials for each measurement. The reported error is the standard error, except in the case of the damping data. I have set the error in the damping at 10% as the standard error metric does not appropriately capture the error in fitting to the data. All of the reported specifications are measured, with the exception of the weight rating. The tripod is measured at full height.
Example data for oscillations about the vertical axis of the tripod:
This was a spectacularly difficult to measure due to the exceptional amount of damping.
The high damping results in a low Q system and therefore a broad frequency peak.
Example data for oscillations about the radial axis of the tripod:
What a mess. We are seeing some aliasing with the pixel pitch in the construction of the plot. Looks like a reasonable fit to the data though.
There is less damping about the radial axis resulting in a narrower peak. Still excellent performance though.