Gitzo Systematic Rapid Centre Column, Carbon

The rapid column is the light way to put height back on a Systematic tripod. It swaps into the same top casting as the flat plate and gives a friction-locked slide instead of a crank, which is faster to set and 0.6 kg lighter than the geared column on the Series 2-4 fitting.

The tube is carbon fibre, so the column does not become the soft part of an otherwise carbon tripod, and a safety catch stops it dropping clear if the collar is released with a head still fitted. The Series 2-4 version is 45 cm tall and 0.48 kg; Series 5 versions fit the 90 mm casting, with the XL adding travel for the tallest working heights.