To my understanding the Gitzo Basalt range sits between the cheaper aluminium and Carbon Fiber models. The material is a composite of ground basalt. It is pretty hard, weighs a little lighter than the aluminium models but heavier than the CF models. Being a composite matrix, it is quite similar to the Manfrotto Magfiber and other cheaper CF tripods where there is a lot of resin used (which adds weight). I've tried a friend's Basalt tripod and it is very similar to CF in terms of vibration dampening. However it doesn't have the G-Locks, which means the load capacity isn't as much as a similar Gitzo CF model. All Gitzo tripods are sturdy workhorses but I would advise spending a little more to get the CF models as there is the noticeable weight advantage and the G-Locks.
To my understanding the Gitzo Basalt range sits between the cheaper aluminium and Carbon Fiber models. The material is a composite of ground basalt. It is pretty hard, weighs a little lighter than the aluminium models but heavier than the CF models. Being a composite matrix, it is quite similar to the Manfrotto Magfiber and other cheaper CF tripods where there is a lot of resin used (which adds weight). I've tried a friend's Basalt tripod and it is very similar to CF in terms of vibration dampening. However it doesn't have the G-Locks, which means the load capacity isn't as much as a similar Gitzo CF model. All Gitzo tripods are sturdy workhorses but I would advise spending a little more to get the CF models as there is the noticeable weight advantage and the G-Locks.
not surprise once you look at the weight of the tripod, its barely 1/2 the weight of the 055prob. light tripod are easily shaken or have lower resisitance to vibration, that is also why some tripod have weight hook at the centre columnhttp://www.giottos.com/News/Leica_P31.jpg
from their test, manfortto 055prob and 055mf3 seems to perform better than gitzo g1198 basalt. which comes as a surprise. i have the 055pro, if anyone with 055mf3 or g1198 is willing, may be we can get together to do a test ourselves?
more of the test can be found here, look at the report german where more tripods had been tested.
http://www.giottos.com/News-MT-awards.htm
Basalt have G-Locks model too. Look at the explorer series GT2932EX.
not surprise once you look at the weight of the tripod, its barely 1/2 the weight of the 055prob