Photofocus

NOTE: Induro is distributed by MAC Group who advertises the X-Rite Color Checker Passport on Photofocus. Also note that last week, Induro named me as one of their Tier 3 representatives. I started using Induro tripods PRIOR to them naming me to Tier 3, or prior to MAC Group becoming a sponsor and likewise, wrote the majority of this review before that date as well. But for the cynical among you, I wanted to make these facts known.

Forgive me if I sound like a teenage girl in love – but the new Induro tripods have me swooning. I’ve written once about the Induro CT-214 here. Now I finally have that tripod’s big brother – the Induro Carbon 8x Tripod CT-414 and it’s a lovely beast.

As I wrote in the last article, I was a Gitzo man for a long time – but pressured to find quality solutions for my audience that were more affordable, I started searching for a tripod that was as good as a Gitzo but not quite as expensive. I’ll spare you the gory details of my search. I looked high and low for almost a year, with no decent prospects – until I tried the Induro that is. But all was not perfect yet. I didn’t have the large Induro so I still needed one of my Gitzos for heavy work. Then I finally got my hands on the 414. I sold the Gitzo the next day. For the first time in two decades, I do not own a Gitzo tripod. It feels strange to say that, but not too strange. All I have to do is pick up the Induro and I’m good to go.

The 414 is the largest of Induro’s carbon fibre line. It’s VERY well made. It’s stout, yet it doesn’t seem bulky. The smallest details were attended to when this baby was put together. There is a bubble level to help you keep things lined up. The leg locks are big, fat and beefy and easy to grab on to (sort of like me :)) The legs are dust and moisture resistant and I know this because I’ve put them through Hell already.

You get both rubber feet and stainless steel spikes with the CT-414, along with a cool little tool kit (that fits in the included bag) a carry bag and instructions.

One of my favorite features on the 414 is the closed cell foam grips on all three legs. There’s no need to buy leg warmers for this tripod. Those are included and it makes the tripod easier to handle in weather.

Now back to beefy. This monster can support up to 55 pounds! It stretches to 77 and one half inches in height and weighs only 6.3 pounds. It compares favorably with the Gitzo GT5541LS. The Gitzo weighs the same and supports the same amount of gear, but costs around $200 more. It also doesn’t come with spiked feet. The Gitzo doesn’t have a center column while the Induro does. This is either a benefit or a problem to you depending on how close to the ground you want to get. The Induro goes much higher than the Gitzo.

I wasn’t originally looking to replace my own tripod when I started trying to find less expensive solutions for my audience, but I was so taken aback by the obvious quality to price ratio in the Induros I couldn’t resist.

I now have two Induro tripods and love them both. They are well designed, well built, easy to carry and load and sturdy as a rock. If you’re looking for a tripod, at least give the Induro a look before you spend more for a Gitzo that doesn’t offer any better quality.

Highly recommended.

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This post sponsored by the Digital SLR Store