Bird watching makes completely different demands on equipment used for video or photo applications. Almost all birdwatchers currently use tripod heads specifically developed to support video or photo equipment, which means the heads tend to be larger, heavier and more complicated than is needed for bird watching. This Gitzo head has been developed with one aim in mind: to make them the first, the only, 100% bird watching heads. An unconventional technical approach was used in developing these heads to guarantee ultra stable, precise observation, thanks to three innovations and improvements: fluid cartridges designed specifically for bird watching, the Single Lock System and high-precision internal components and mechanisms. Fluid cartridges on pan and tilt axes give ultra smooth movements that adapt perfectly to speed – from delicately controlled at low speeds (the holy grail for birdwatchers, this makes distance spotting and tracking much easier), to almost completely friction-free at high speeds (useful when fast equipment repositioning is required). A single lock is the other specific innovation for bird watching. Pan and Tilt movements are locked and frictioned in parallel by a single large control knob, making head adjustment simpler, faster and more effective than ever before. All internal mechanisms are tuned to give maximum control and to eliminate even the smallest give or play. The overall design has been optimized to produce a head which is extremely solid, yet lightweight and compact. Stability, precision and structural rigidity: these strengths perfectly match Gitzo carbon fiber tripods, especially the Leveling series, for additional speed and versatility. This combination gives birdwatchers extraordinary performance and portability. With this head, Gitzo continues its long history of inventing and creating products which are highly specialized and uniquely effective.
