The compact 4.5" tall 3-Way fluid Head from Gitzo is a pan-and-tilt head with independent vertical, lateral, and pan locks. The locks disengage to enable you to move the head with a vertical range of -70° to +90°, in a lateral range of -30° to +90°, and in a full 360° pan. Each axis has an independent fluid cartridge to ensure that every movement is met with effortless smoothness without sticking. The Arca-type clamp at the top of the head also provides a 90° rotation that helps you switch from portrait to landscape orientation, as well as shooting straight to the ground. The two-axis bubble level rotates to match your orientation and ensures your horizon is straight. At the same time, the 2.1 lb three-way fluid head can support camera equipment weighing up to 28.6 lb. Its handles are retractable to easily store away.
- Load Capacity: 28.6 lb
- Height: 4.5"
- Weight: 2.1 lb
- Arca-Type Compatible
Gitzo GHF3W Overview
Gitzo GHF3W Specs
| Head Type | |
| Base Mount | |
| Camera Mounting Screw | |
| Quick Release Plate Type | |
| Friction Control | |
| Load Capacity | |
| Weight |
| Head Type | |
| Base Mount | |
| Camera Mounting Screw | |
| Quick Release Plate Type | |
| Number of Bubble Levels | |
| Friction Control | |
| Independent Pan Lock |
| Lateral Tilt | |
| Vertical Tilt | |
| Panning Range |
| Load Capacity | |
| Weight |
| Package Weight | |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) |
Gitzo GHF3W Reviews
Worse investment ever.
I do not recommend this specific one not even to my worse enemy, I don't use so often I have to send it already 2 times for repairs on different issues. Now I will have to send it once again to Arizona, thistime the locking mechanism isn't locking, and luckily I caught my R5 with my 1.4x teleconverter & my 100-500mm. On top of its price, I already spent $480.00 on repairs and this coming 3rd repair will add USD$400.00 more if I decide not to dump it in the garbage.
Light and stable
The header explains it all. I have used Leica SL2 Sigma 150-600 lens. This heed on Gitso traveler was excellent stability and easy to use.
Way better than original Gitzo head
What a pleasure to use. I bought a 2312 80th anniversary Gitzo in 1997 with the stock head. The new 3-way head blows it away.Easy to use and creamy smooth! Recommend for all still photographers!
Excellent update to the pan classic 3-way pan/tilt head.
It's pricey but completely worth it. Solves the perennial issues of limited range on many pan/tilt heads—especially vertical format forward tilt—and it gets rid of the sloppy control issues of a ball head. The retractable handles are a major plus improving the cross section and making it more packable. The one flaw is that Arca style QR plates that are not made by Gitzo don't seem to work that well. I purchased an Arca branded plate and it doesn't work with the quick release mechanism. Small issue.
The best head, especially for your Gitzo tripod!
I read the other reviews first like always. There weren't many but one person was insistent that this thing was terrible. Thankfully I know how to take these with a grain of salt. Definitely user error on that end. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with this head. The tension screw is so easy to manipulate to work with the provided plate or your own compatible plate. In this case I use one I already had because it fit my Hasselblad correctly. The one provided is pretty big and would be good for cameras with a large base. As for the functions, it flips to 90 degrees just as fast as it would if you were to adjust horizontal angle. The extending handles are awesome and really bring the overall size way down when it is not in use or locked into position that doesn't need changing which reduces the likelihood of smacking a protruding handle. There's an integrated spirit level if you don't have one on your camera and it is easily seen if your camera body isn't enormous. It takes such a small twist of the handle to get it to the point where you can adjust tilt and angle. The panoramic adjustment part is a little tight at first but does break in a bit, albeit a little slowly. No big deal. Just get used to it and there's no issue. One thing I find to be the most important aspect is that feeling of assured lock. You lock your camera in on any other tripod and you always want to try to pull it off to make sure it locked in place and you double check the lever to make sure its all the way down. Not with this. Once the tension bolt is properly adjusted to the base plate you are using (or the original that comes with the head), all you have to do is make sure you get the back end in the slot and lined up in the center and drop it forward. That thing will lock into place with a surefooted pop that is unmistakeable. You can even feel that the camera is no longer in your control. It is on that head and it isn't coming off. It is the first tripod head I've ever found that I can trust to hold my camera while I move the tripod from outside all the way back into the house. There's about $12k sitting atop that tripod head and I have ZERO worries about it coming loose or swing around and dropping and smacking the edge of lens on something. That can easily happen with a ball head. Not this one. VERY satisfied with it. Finally, the build quality is top notch like all Gitzo products. I have one of their biggest and largest capacity tripods and it looks like it was made just for it. The finish matches and all that good stuff. Small things are still important to me. In conclusion... You want a solid tripod head? Buy this thing. Other heads in this range of comparable price don't hold a candle to it. It is that good. Ignore the bad review. That was definitely user error. It is a simple Allen wrench adjustment and the comment there was borne of laziness. This profession doesn't have room for that. So if you aren't lazy, you'll figure it out pretty quick. And Gitzo fans will definitely love it! Of course there's always a con, right? This is really nitpicking but I had to list something. It looks like a fluid head. It is listed as a fluid head. It doesn't move like a fluid head. It moves like it is on a bearing only with no soft resistance. So just keep that in mind the first time you try to adjust tilt and/or angle with the levers expecting resistance. There's really none to speak of. But that doesn't take away from the five star review. I know how it behaves now and it is nothing I'd send it back for or trade for any other fluid head. Hope this helps dispels and remove and doubt created by someone that doesn't know how to operate an allen key. Just my two cents.
Defective latch mechanism
Harout speaks without knowing. I tried adjusting the screw on the side of the head and it did nothing to eliminate movement in the plate holder mechanism. In any case, why should using the supplied Gitzo quick release plate require any adjustment at all? This just reinforces my impression of poor design and testing by Gitzo.
Gitzo 3-Way Fluid Head - Hidden Issue
This three-way fluid head from Gitzo is built incredibly well. It will allow camera rotation in any direction you desire. I would really like to keep it. HOWEVER, and a huge (for me) HOWEVER is that the head will only reliably accept and lock on to a "GITZO ARCA PLATE." Let me explain. I have three cameras and three "standard" Arca L-Brackets. None of these standard Arca plates will lock into the Gitzo head. The best you can expect is for a standard plate to sit in the Gitzo head without locking. This allows me to move my camera up and down when gently lifting on the lens. Worse, since the standard Arca plate is not locked it will easily release - read that unexpectedly release - if you accidentally touch it in a right to left movement. My decision is now, do I want to put a "GITZO ARCA PLATE" on each of my cameras or just return the 3-Way Fluid Head. Lastly, the GITZO ARCA PLATE will reliabily lock into the standard Arca Plate receiver on my monopod. So at least that is not a hidden issue. BUT, with a GITZO Arca plate on my three cameras, I will no longer be able to use L-Brackets (short of putting them on and off). Hopefully the above was clear. Why do we need to encounter this issue with a $626.00 3-way fluid head?
Built like a Tank, but.....
Bought two of these - both behave in the same manner. Like most Gitzo stuff, this head is solid. Two serious flaws. The lever release requires TOO MUCH force when releasing from the locked position. Bear in mind that one hand is holding your camera kit. When the force is overcome, the lever release operates suddenly. This surprise could really unsettle the hand holding the camera kit. I don't know why Gitzo did not choose to install a lever release clamp (like Really Right Stuff's). The other problem I see is with the release allowing the head to be rotated 90 degrees. This release also requires excessive force. Then it releases suddenly.
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