Gitzo developed a new and unique technical compound named soulid 238®. This special techno polymer is 30% lighter than magnesium, but just as strong, with good vibration damping. The lightness and strength of soulid 238® make the G2180 the perfect combination of style and high tech materials. Besides exceptionally smooth movements, high quality engineering and assembly, the G2180 features a sophisticated, adjustable and highly accurate counterbalance system. The G2180 is fine tuned for use with medium sized spotting scopes, but is also ideal for DSLRs with long lenses and or compact DV camcorders.