Manfrotto Introduces the New and Improved NeoTec Monopod

Bassano del Grappa, Italia (PRWEB) August 23, 2005 -

? Manfrotto, the world?s leading manufacturer of photographic support products, is introducing the new and improved 685B NeoTec Deluxe Monopod with four new features including a safety lever, foot pedal, leg warmer and suction cup foot. From the NeoTec line of Pro Photo Supports, the 685B is built around an innovative self-regulating mechanism inside the leg that delivers unmatched speed, stability and ease-of-use.

This revolutionary new mechanism allows the user to quickly and easily extend each leg to the desired height by simply pulling downwards. There are no locks, knobs or levers of any kind to contend with. Once the leg is extended into position, NeoTec?s patented internal mechanism automatically locks it there by pushing outwards on the tubing, exerting more locking power and further stabilizing the tripod as additional weight is added.

The 685B system features a new safety lever that prevents accidental deployment of the locking release mechanism. To close the monopod, the safety lever must be activated, which then allows the grip action handle to be depressed. The lever is simple to operate while still maintaining the one-handed closing operation.

The updated monopod also features a lightweight rubber foot pedal to make opening or closing the 685B simple, and a protective leg warmer on the bottom leg section to provide protection against the elements and a comfortable grip. Also, the 685B includes a suction cup foot for extra ground support and increased grip.

All these features add up to Manfrotto?s most advanced monopod, while maintaining the extremely powerful NeoTec locking system to withhold a wide range of camera systems, making it the ideal tool for everyone from the extreme sports photographer to the advanced amateur.

Featuring the same opening and closing mechanism of the other tripods in the NeoTec line, the 685B monopod is designed for support with unprecedented speed. The 685B can fully extend to 166 cm / 65 inches and collapse to 71 cm / 28 inches. It has the capability of supporting payloads up to 8 kg / 18 pounds and features the same ?upside down? leg construction, further ensuring its durability and reliability in all environments.

Manfrotto products are distributed exclusively by Bogen Imaging in the United States. For information, contact Bogen Imaging at info@bogenimaging.com or 565 East Crescent Avenue, Ramsey, NJ 07446-0506.

About Manfrotto

Gruppo Manfrotto are world leaders in the manufacture of professional camera and lighting supports for photography, video, broadcast and entertainment. For 35 years, Manfrotto has been building the world?s widest range of tripods, heads and dedicated accessories to support professional and semi-professional still cameras, from the traditional small, medium and large format to the latest digital camera. Every product in the Manfrotto range is designed to provide a perfect combination of important features such as: load capacity, size, stability, transportability, interchangeability and construction quality ? guaranteeing unique inimitable reliability and longevity.

About Bogen Imaging:

Since 1959, Bogen Imaging (formerly Bogen Photo) has been a leading source for photographic, cinematic and video lighting, supports, and accessories. Many of the most respected manufacturers of precision products for the photographic, video, Cine and lighting are distributed in the U.S. exclusively by Bogen. These include Manfrotto and Gitzo tripods and heads, Kata protective carrying systems and accessories, Avenger lighting grip, I.F.F. ceiling mounted lighting suspension, Metz on-camera flash systems, Gossen light meters, Elinchrom studio lighting systems and a wide host of additional product lines which round out the most complete range of exceptional accessories in the business.

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Gitzo Introduces Traveler Monopod Featuring Breakthrough 6X Carbon Fiber Technology

Orlando, Florida (PRWEB) February 28, 2006

When it comes to traveling with photographic equipment, one thing is true for all photographers on the move ? size matters. Gitzo, revered throughout the world for its precision, quality and innovation in bringing new products to market for both the professional photo and video markets, is proud to announce the Traveler GM2560T 6X Monopod.

The lightest and most compact carbon fiber monopod Gitzo has on the market, the Traveler, when completely folded, stands at a diminutive 14.3 inches, weighs less than one pound and fits in any case. At 56.1 inches when fully extended, the Traveler rises as tall as most standard Gitzo monopods. This Traveler monopod also incorporates Gitzo?s revolutionary 6X technology tube, which reduces overall monopods weight up to 25% percent without sacrificing strength or stability.

Available in a six section leg configuration and with a maximum capacity of 9.9 lbs, the new Traveler 6X monopod is ultra light and incredibly fast to operate with the incorporation of the Anti Leg Rotation (ALR) system. The ALR system allows for a fast and smooth setup, yet maintains the uncompromised locking strength of the traditional Gitzo twist lock system. Just loosen all twist locks at the same time and pull down the leg before tightening them, making setup a mere 6 seconds.

The Traveler 6X monopod also features a Safe Lock Disc. This new top plate, composed of a techno-polymer compound, makes it possible to control the locking torque without prematurely stopping camera rotation and ensuring that users? equipment is safely and effectively locked in place.

New 6X Carbon Fiber Technology

The existing 1.5mm Gitzo carbon fiber tube wowed the world with its unsurpassed strength, stability and remarkable lightweight form factor. Utilizing a three-crossed multilayer carbon structure, bonded together at high pressure and temperature by high quality resins, Gitzo was able to offer professionals a carbon fiber tube that proved to be the ultimate in vibration absorption, strength and stability.

Tapping into its revolutionary resources and utilizing its unmatched experience with composite materials, Gitzo was able to develop a new, six-crossed multilayer 1mm carbon fiber 30 percent lighter than the previous generation that features the same exceptional performance of stability and vibration absorption and unbeatable quality.

By fine tuning its market leading three layer technology to a six layer, with advanced parameters in terms of pressure, temperature and bonding resins, Gitzo was able to create the 6X generation. The six-crossed multilayer tubes measure only 1mm, but are equally as strong and as stable as the 1.5mm, three layer carbon fiber tubes. The 6X range represents, once again, Gitzo leadership not only in introducing unique and world-first innovations, but above all in creating the best products in terms of quality and performances.

Gitzo products are distributed exclusively by Bogen Imaging in the United States. For information, contact Bogen Imaging at info at bogenimaging.com or (201) 818-9500. ????

Additional information and hi-res images are available by accessing the Bogen Imaging Press Room at: http://www.bogenimaging.us

About Gitzo:

Professionals the world over acknowledge Gitzo tripods, monopods, heads and accessories as setting the industry?s standards for excellence. Innovations such as the first uses of carbon and basalt fiber to make tripods and magnesium to make heads, matched with a design policy of ?no gimmicks and no compromise on quality,? put Gitzo products in a class of their own. Gitzo?s carefully crafted products form a comprehensive range of supports for large, medium and small format cameras, for film or digital technology, for still photography or dynamic video, for studio or location work. Precision assembly, high quality materials and fine control are all qualities that represent Gitzo products.

About Bogen Imaging:

Since 1959, Bogen Imaging (formerly Bogen Photo) has been a leading source for photographic, cinematic and video lighting, supports, and accessories. Many of the most respected manufacturers of precision products for the photographic, video, Cine and lighting are distributed in the U.S. exclusively by Bogen. These include Manfrotto and Gitzo tripods and heads, Kata protective carrying systems and accessories, Avenger lighting grip, I.F.F. ceiling mounted lighting suspension, Metz on-camera flash systems, Gossen light meters, Elinchrom studio lighting systems and a wide host of additional product lines which round out the most complete range of exceptional accessories in the business.

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