Gitzo GM3551 The Gitzo GM3551 is the successor of the GM3550. The improvements are minor. They have added a belt clip on the hand strap and added a Power Disk for more secure locking of the head. Some users of the GM3550 have reported that they lost the removable rubber foot because they came loose. They have updated this with a self locking mechanism.
| Type | Material | G-lock | Parts | Minimum height | Maximum height | Weight | Supported weight |
| GM2341 | Aluminum | no | 4 | 49 cm | 156 cm | 610 g | 9 kg |
| GM2541 | Carbon Fiber | no | 4 | 53 cm | 160 cm | 500 g | 12 kg |
| GM3340L | Aluminum | yes | 4 | 51 cm | 156 cm | 780 g | 18 kg |
| GM3350XL | Aluminum | yes | 5 | 52.5 cm | 186 cm | 860 g | 18 kg |
| GM3351 | Carbon Fiber | yes | 5 | 54 cm | 192 cm | 620 g | 18 kg |
| GM5541 | Carbon Fiber | no | 4 | 55 cm | 162 cm | 860 g | 25 kg |
| GM5561T | Carbon Fiber | no | 6 | 41.5 cm | 155.5 cm | 750 g | 25 kg |
The build quality is really excellent but that's exactly what we would expect from a brand like Gitzo, which is known for it's quality of their camera support systems. From the moment you take it into your hands it feels sturdy. It doesn't matter how many legs you extend it supports everything without showing a glimpse of instability. With the maximum supported weight of 18 kg it can support almost every setup you can imagine. The top leg is nicely padded for a more comfortable feel. What I don't really like about it is that it scratches quite easy. I scratched mine with the rings around my fingers where I didn't have had this problem with previous kit I've owned.
But the maximum supported weight isn't it's only party piece. It extends from 54 cm to 192 cm. This means that even if you are 2 meters of height you can still used this monopod. This length also comes in handy when your feet are higher than the foot of the monopod, like in press tribunes or with wildlife photography. Secondly the minimum height allows you to sit down and still use the monopod.
Every monopod Gitzo makes is now equipped with the 'Anti Leg Rotating System' like Gitzo calls it. What it actually means is that you can twist the locks without having to hold one of the legs to prevent the legs from twisting and thus not being able to unlock or lock the legs. With it compact design it is possible to unlock all the twist locks at once making quick and easy to set up. The Gitzo GM 3551 also comes with the all new "Power Disk". It is made of machined solid aluminum and it now features two locking screws, one to lock the head, the other to safely lock the disc onto the column. The "Power Disc" gives a rock solid connection of the whole system for additional safety and stability. The new belt clip can be used to temporary attach it to you camera bag or belt although the latter isn't practical because it bangs against your legs. Instead of using it to attaching the monopod to something, I use it to hold together my camera strap or the straps from the longer lenses. It is also delivered with a bag to transport it in but this bag is far to big and thus really not practical to use.
Why I went for the GM3551:
I needed a monopod that was small enough so I could use it sitting down but also large enough to use it standing on top of something while carrying a large load. This meant I had two choices: the GM3551 and the GM3350XL. They are almost the same but the GM3551 is made of carbon fiber and the GM3350XL from aluminum. Because carbon fiber reduces vibrations much better than aluminum I went for the carbon fiber one. One other aspect that influenced my decision: carbon fiber doesn't conduct heat as good as aluminum does. This means that it doesn't feels that cold on a winters day. Don't go for a carbon fiber monopod just because of the weight difference because what is the point of saving 200 grams when you mount 4 kg or more of equipment on it.
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If you have some more questions or comments feel free to contact me!
