When you’re in the market for a new tripod, tripod head or even monopod, one question always comes up: how much payload can the item in question safely support? Not only to properly operate your valuable equipment, but also for safety reasons: Fully rigged cameras can be quite heavy! Gitzo and Manfrotto have now joined UNI/PdR 105:2021 which establishes an official reference practice for payload safety providing full transparency about payload measurements to consumers. Until now, the maximum weight at which a given tripod or tripod head could be safely used depended on the manufacturer’s specifications. So if the marketing team decided that 20 kg sounded much better than 18.6 kg, then so be it. Manfrotto and Gitzo, both part of the Vitec Group, now follow a new method for determining two crucial values when it comes to tripods and heads: Safety Payload and Max Payload. image credit: Manfrotto/Gitzo Both values are determined by an independent third party, the so-called UNI. According to Manfrotto’s (and Gitzo’s) websites, “the reference practice UNI/PdR 105:2021 has been published by UNI (Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione) the independent Italian pan-sector regulatory body recognised internationally CEN and ISO. As such, UNI is entrusted with the development, publication and promotion of standards and best practices to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the socioeconomic system together with consumer and environmental protection.“ New Reference Practice for Payload Safety So from now on, every tripod, monopod or tripod head you buy from Manfrotto or Gitzo will carry a certification...
Published By: CineD - Wednesday, 7 July, 2021