In order to use longer exposure times without shaking, I laid me from above tripod counterarguments to the Giotto.
First Impression:
- Solid construction
- Very sturdy tripod leg
- Clever camera circuit for different types of threads (so I can also my second camera with the Giotto use without extra adapter)
Field experience:
2 weeks Caribbean /> 80% Humidity / Temp> 30 ° C / salt water and lots of sand well spread by the wind in the air / The baggage was not exactly squeamish handled, as our suitcases impressively demonstrate :-(. - but the robust Giotto is indestructible.
With my EOS 450D incl. Battery pack and the lenses 28-80mm / f2,8-4 L USM (good kilo weight) or the 200mm / f2.8 L USM I have so tack-sharp, steady shots hinbekommen.
There is indeed the old photographers rule that one should maximally use the inverse of the focal length of the longest exposure time free hand, so at most 200mm 1/200 sec (CropFactor not counted since it would only be 1/320 sec actually!.
Thanks to the Giotto I could safely expose to 1/60 sec at 28 mm even 1/8 sec without shaking at 200 mm. In went even something that ended up being a matter of luck.
Now if you still use an image stabilized lens ...
I have at least hinbekommen a tropical thunderstorm at night with 5 sec knackscharf. The sturdy and extremely robust Giotto jammed while firmly between the balustrade and a rain gutter on the ground.
Conclusion:
The Giotto is now becoming one of the party, well stored on photo backpack, I do not notice the almost 700g and if necessary I am quickly ready to fire, the recordings not possible before, or at least made easier with Unshärfe are now knackscharf. Although not suitable for long exposures, but that's not my focus.
My full recommendation for this unassuming but enormously useful part photographic equipment!