Velbon Ultra Maxi SF Tripod
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Details:
Brand: Velbon
EAN: 0017915911017
Feature: Compact, lightweight travel tripod suitable for modestly sized digital and film cameras
Label: Velbon
Manufacturer: Velbon
Model: ULTRA-MAXISF
Publisher: Velbon
Release Date: 2004-04-23
Studio: Velbon
Features:
Compact, lightweight travel tripod suitable for modestly sized digital and film cameras
Twist-lock leg system requires simple twist and pull to adjust leg height
2-section center column and multi-angle legs for low-angle photography (6.2 inches)
Sturdy die-cast aluminum alloy ball-head system with suggested 6.6-pound load capacity
Includes carrying case; measures 12.87 inches when folded, weighs 1.65 pounds
Editorial Review:
Whether you need a tripod for a digital, 35mm, medium or large format camera, video camera, binoculars or scopes, Velbon has a model with the quality, craftsmanship and exact features to meet your needs. Ultra MAXi series are new Twist & Lock leg systems designed for fast and easy set-up, with the benefit of other MAXi features.
User Reviews:
Summary: Perfect Travel Tripod
Comment: I’ll admit I was skeptical of paying $120+ for such a tiny tripod, but my skepticism was unfounded. This tripod is great. I just returned from 10 days in Eastern Europe and the compact size and ultra-light weight of this tripod made it perfect for the killer stairs of the Prague Castle. The legs deploy and collapse with a simple twist and the unit feels very solid considering its light weight. I was shocked to see guys walking around with full-sized tripods, I can only imagine what a pain that was.
One recommendation: pick up the Velbon QRA-3 – Quick release adapter, as manually fastening the camera to the tripod for each use will get old quickly. I just ordered mine from B&H PhotoVideo (about $30 w/shipping). There are other quick-releases out there, but the velbon unit weighs just 2 oz and should compliment the tripod well.
Summary: Ball and socket is lacking, but size, wieght and sturdiness are second to none
Comment: I’m fairly new to the world of photography and I needed a tripod that was relatively inexpensive. My other primary concern was that it’s light and folds up small. I was planning on taking this tripod with me hiking and travelling so it needed to easily fit into my backpack and shouldn’t add too much weight. After reading some reviews of the more inexpensive brands, I decided to spring for it and spend the money on this Velbon.
Sturdiness:
Very sturdy, even with extension arm. Wind really wasn’t a problem at all and never did I feel like it was going to collapse under the weight of my dSLR.
Portability:
This is where this tripod really shines. Folded up, it’s a little over 1 foot long. It fits across the bottom of my backpack with ease, takes up no space at all. It’s also very light, I really don’t notice a difference on my back when it’s in the bag and when it’s out of the bag.
Height:
To be honest, I wish it unfolded just a few inches taller. It comes up to about my chest (neck if the extension arm is extended). That can make composing hard shots sort of a pain on the back, but for it’s folded size, it’s a concession I’m glad to make
Ease of use:
The ultra maxi both shines and falters here. The twist lock motion of the legs took a few days to get used to, but once I got the hang of it, it was incredibly easy to use. Just 4 clicks when twisting one way unlocks, 4 clicks the other way locks. VERY nice, VERY simple (once you get used to it). The real setback of this tripod is the included head. First, the lack of quick release is a REAL hindrance. I found myself not using it sometimes because I didn’t feel like screwing/unscrewing my camera onto it. I’m also always afraid I’m going to drop the camera during this process. Once I did get it screwed on, the ball and socket were hard to adjust. In essense, you can only adjust one tilt plane at a time (first, you have to adjust the forward/backward tilt, rotate the ball socket, then adjust the left/right tilt. This was sincere pain.
So in conclusion, I’m very happy with this purchase. I’ll probably be replacing the head with a quick release version that’s also easier to adjust, but all in all, I’m glad I spent the money (it was a little out of my budget).
Summary: Backpack Tripod
Comment: The tripod is just what I needed, it is light, folds small enough to fit in my backpack and sturdy enough for my spotting scope. Amazon shipping was really slow but the price was right.
Summary: Short little thing…
Comment: This tripod is short and the ball head is a bit cheesy but mostly metal so if you have strong hands you can get it to clamp pretty tight to hold gear that is off balance or heavier then what the head is rated for. I’m not really a fan of the twist locks but the aluminum seems sturdy enough as long as you are easy on it.
I was well aware of the size and quality when I bought it, as it was purchased with the purpose of being able to bicycle tour and take landscape shots with. With these things in mind, unless you are buying it for a small person/child I would skip this one. If you need light weight and don’t mind spending only slightly more, Manfrotto makes several options that are taller and will be more versatile.
Summary: Excellent Tripod
Comment: Excellent tripod which is very compact and also easy to extend and set-up.
Popularity: 9% [?]