Good Tripod For Those Who Travel Light
Written: Dec 25 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Light-weight, Almost 5 feet, Easy to set up and break down
Cons: Not as sturdy as I would like, Expensive
The Bottom Line: Good tripod for those who travel light. Only average in sturdiness. Recommended to those who have the extra money to spend and a need for light travel.
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| noangels's Full Review: Sunpak Platinum Plus TravelLite 56.5" Tripod - 620... |
If you have ever tried to take a still image indoors with no flash, you know that you have to hold very still. Almost impossibly still. I decided that I would no longer attempt the impossible. I purchased the Sunpack TravelLite Tripod, mainly for use with my Canon Powershot Elph SD 600 and I have been satisfied with my purchase.
Why I chose this product
Flashes tend to suck the life and emotion out of photos, and it is sometimes impossible to get that perfect shot, with proper exposure indoors, without the camera being completely steady. It seems no matter how much I tighten my muscles or what I prop my arm up on, I cannot achieve the stillness required to get some shots. One of my more recent shots that required a tripod was the shot of our Christmas tree. A flash on a Christmas tree reduces the lights to tiny colored dots and ruins any ambiance it may have. I was inspired to write this review after I used my trusty tripod to get the picture I wanted.
I already had a gorilla tripod that can hook onto other objects, but I wanted something free standing. I was looking for something that would be tall enough for most photos, but that wasn’t too bulky to carry around. I planned to use several other digital cameras and a digital camcorder with the tripod. This tripod seemed to be one of the lightest and most compact tripods available.
Ease of Use
The tripod comes almost fully assembled, with only the top piece that holds the camera needing to be screwed on. It is made of all metal and weighs only 2.1 pounds. It is adjustable to four different heights, with the legs extending to each height with a simple pull. The maximum height is 56.5 inches. A clicking sound informs you when the leg has locked into position. The legs are easy enough to extend that my five-year-old nephew could do so with no trouble at all. The mount has a level to help you determine if the tripod is positioned correctly. The head of the tripod swivels around completely and can be moved at an angle. I found it simple to adjust to any position necessary. I was able to take pictures with the camera in both a horizontal and vertical position. The tripod eliminated blur due to the movement of my hand while using slow shutter speeds. Packing the tripod up is also an effortless task, with the legs retracting with a small push on the feet. It packs up to a mere 14.6 inches in size.
Sturdiness
This tripod can support up to 3.3 pounds. This was fine for my needs since my heaviest device is less than 2 pounds. I assume this is a very firm weight limit since the legs are very easy to collapse. A few times, the legs retracted after I leaned on them a bit too much or adjusted the camera a bit too roughly. The legs have rubber feet on them to assure they don't slide. The adjustable head sometimes comes a little loose when you turn it too many times, although it is easily tightened again. Your device is held in place securely by rubber, in addition to the screw.
Compatibility
This tripod is compatible with any camera that is less than 3.3 pounds and has a standard hole for mounting on the bottom.
Travel
As I stated before, this tripod weighs a mere 2.1 pounds. It was perfect for me to carry with me on vacations and easy to move it around the house. The tripod comes with a convenient nylon carrying case that you can carry on your shoulder for easy transport. Its quick setup and break-down make it a perfect sightseeing companion.
Price
I purchased this tripod for $20 with an employee discount, but regular retail price is $52.99. I felt that the retail price is too expensive, but a better value than some of the heavier tripods out there.
Overall Thoughts
If you have the money to spend, this is a great tripod to travel with. It is perfect for someone who wants those stunning shots on the go. It is also useful for family portraits (using the self timer) and video. Be careful how you lean against this one though; easy to retract means easy to retract when you want to or don’t want to. If you’re buying on a budget, you may want to consider how important size and weight is before you buy.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
noangels
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Member: Jamilynn
Location: Staten Island, NY USA
Reviews written: 226
Trusted by: 42 members
About Me:
So glad to almost be done with Christmas shopping!
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