Are All Camera Tripods Built Alike?

Chris Pirillo — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:29:45 +0000

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You’d think that all tripods are the same. They all have three legs, right? But saying that is tantamount to saying that all cars are the same, because they have four wheels. A few weeks ago, I broke yet another tripod. I’ve owned several, and they just never last. So now that I had no more tripod, I asked some friends what they recommended. One good friend, Usrbingeek, recommended the Manfrotto Pro 055XPROB.

The 055XPROB makes the Manfrotto-patented horizontal center column feature even easier to use. By extending the column to its highest vertical position, it can be swung round to horizontal without removing the head or disassembling the column itself, so switching between framing and positioning setups is more convenient than ever. The ergonomics of the leg angle release mechanism and the quick action leg locks themselves have also been greatly improved. 804RC2 Pan Tilt Head With Quick Lock The 804RC2 is a 3-way photo head constructed of an ultra-durable and lightweight technical polymer that easily withstands the daily rigors of the professional photographer. A unique spring feature has been added to the 804RC2 to assist in the tilt motion of the head to compensate for heavier, off-center loads. The ergonomically designed handles fit comfortably in the hands, while the standard quick release plate fits snugly in the low-profile receiver.

I was impressed as soon as I took it out of the box. It’s extremely sturdy. Of course, there are plastic parts to it, but not where it matters most. This particular series has been recommended to me by several photographers. When they saw the box for this sitting on my desktop, they were all impressed. I didn’t realize I would need an adapter, but that’s ok. I’ll get one, and it’s easy to get.

I spent about $150 on this. Before you freak out… keep in mind I’ve spent far more than that in total on ones that subsequently broke. To me, it’s worth it to spend more for a product, in order to know that I’m getting a quality piece of merchandise. My chair, for example, was expensive. However, instead of buying a cheap one that wouldn’t last and wouldn’t be comfortable, I chose to just buy ONE chair. It hasn’t let me down yet. So, I went with my gut and bought the more expensive tripod, as well.

The nice thing about this tripod, is that once I mount the camera, it can turn the camera essentially 90 degrees. The stand itself is capable of holding up to 15 pounds, which is nice.

Don’t buy this without checking with me first. Just like with any product, I can probably save you some money with a coupon.

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Are All Camera Tripods Built Alike?

Chris Pirillo » manfrotto

Are All Camera Tripods Built Alike?