The thing is -- I reasoned with myself about the cost of this, and in the end, I said f* it, I'm gonna make this investment and never have to invest in a tripod again for a veery long time, if ever. Gitzo is even beyond the classic 535 sticks I used to own. This crazy things skies out at 9' and those lunar lander feet still feel like nothing can shake it at all. A monster in every way, including cost. Worth it.

I've been using a Gitzo Series 2 Mountaineer with a Really Right Stuff BH-40 head. With the Nikon 80-400 mounted on a D-7200 the head would occasionally slip. This became a real problem recently while using an RRS gimbal with the above combination. The head slipped in such a way that I couldn't loosen the clamp for the ball and so the whole contraption was stuck. Time for a beefier system all around. The difference with the Series 3 Gitzo and the RRS BH-55 head is remarkable. It's far sturdier than I expected and the added weight from the Series 2 is negligible. I considered the RRS Series 3 tripod but the price difference was considerable especially with the Gitzo MIR.

I use this tripod with the 405 geared head for shooting interiors. The most stable tripod I have owned that didn't weigh a ton!
I have not tried to raise it as high as it can go but even for everyday uses it beats my Manfrotto carbon fiber sticks for stability.

Gitzo... in a word, the Gold Standard in tripod design! If you want the very best of the best, settle for nothing less. This tripod is not only excellent in form but function as well. It is as strong as it is rigid and capable of supporting just about any camera load you can imagine!
I use this particular tripod for landscape photography as well as astrophotography supporting some large equipment loads and it handles it with no shutter or vibration whatsoever! The systematic series 5 exceeded all my expectations and fulfills everything the company promotes about it! You can’t go wrong!

I haven't had time to try it in complex situations, but from my limited use, I can already say that I have never used such a sturdy tripod! I also added the rapid center column. The Manfrotto column I've been using for years was the weak point of my old setup. This Gitzo tripod with the column are like an oak tree. It's not budging!
A bit heavy, but what can you expect from an 11' tripod! ;-))

This tripod is a beast! I've never used a tripod that requires a ladder, and I was concerned about stability. The ladder still has me worried, but there are no issues with the tripod. It's very well built and rock steady, even when I increase its ridiculous height with the optional center column (note: I have not yet used this in windy conditions, where it will probably be a challenge to stretch it to full height without introducing some motion). I'm shooting tethered with a tablet app that allows me to adjust all camera settings, including focus, remotely from ground level -- and that makes all the difference. I have a long list of photos I look forward to shooting now that I have this -- it's really going to open some doors.

I purchased this tripod for architectural photography work and it does not disappoint. The sturdiness and solid construction make it a real treat while using it out in the field when it's time to break out "the big sticks"!
One thing to note, I didn't anticipate my Benro 3 way geared head not clearing the mounting plate, but that is easily avoided with an extender from Manfrotto. The folks at BH helped me troubleshoot that.
Finally, even extended all the way, which is a long way up, I felt ther tripod was very stable and secure.
It's not cheap, but it's not cheaply made and definitely a long term investment for those serious about gear performance in the field.

This tripod is huge. If youre an average photographer its overkill. I do architecture and need to get up high and have a sturdy beast. Its surprisingly light for its size and how high it will go!

This tripod has been perfect for my architectural photography. Super stable and the height is awesome. I have been very happy with this tripod.

I had been using a lighter weight tripod with lighter equipment. It was fine but with the purchase a heavier lens I was close to the weight limit for that tripod. This Gitzo only weighed about half a pound than my old tripod. In the past I have preferred lever locks for quick adjustments to the terrain but the twist locks on the Gitzo are the very good and make the ability to do adjustments almost as effortless. Not only does the Gitzo easily handle the additional weight, it is incredibly stable because of the material used and the design of the feet. My rig would be more stable if I could screw it into a tree stump but there wouldn't be much difference. If you are balancing equipment that is worth anything and weighs more than 8 pounds you will want a tripod like this one. On a light weight tripod all you have to do is easily and accidentally knock it over once (I did that) and you will have more than paid out what you would have paid for the Gitzo.