Hey, so, I have a Gitzo monopod I'd really like to sell, but I can't find a model number. I'd really like to be know what it's made of. It's pretty light in comparison to my CF tripod, which makes me suspect CF (but I still don't know how to rule out aluminum). The 'pod, including threads, is dark gray-black. It's not magnetic. I don't have a good way to weigh it... does anyone have any ideas as to how to determine what material it's made of?
CF is black with typical striations of fiber/resin, whereas anodized aluminium has a more uniform matte appearance. Too, resonance of CF is different from aluminium. E.g., does it audibly ring when struck? The other possibility is Gitzo basalt construction, which looks more like the CF variety. Perhaps you can post a photo and someone will recognize it.
Might be one of their basalt models. The basalt material doesn't have the visible fibers like CF, and it's oddly slippery to the touch. It doesn't resonate if you tap it, unlike the aluminum, either. Got a picture you might post?
Try cutting a leg with a hacksaw. If the chips are bright and shiny, it's aluminum. If the chips are black, it's carbon fiber. If the chips are the hacksaw's teeth, it is basalt.
