Consiglio primo treppiede

“ I bought this as I was limited by my budget.

It gets the job done, i.e. when you need longer exposure and also when you are shooting beyond 200mm.

I would say that it is value for money, it even comes with a bag. However, this tripod would not satisfy your need as your experience grows, and you want to do more.

Here are some of the observations:

1. The legs are not stiff fully extended, i.e. if you will use it at locations where there are a lot vibrations, then it would not work. If you do not extend the last leg, it is a different story all together.

2. The ballhead is not smooth and while tightening it, it will shift a little. So landscape is fine, but if you are shooting bird in a distance, it would be a challenge.

3. The ballhead creeps. The focus point will drop a little after you have tighten and let go of the equipment.

I have since replaced the ballhead with Vanguard SBH-250 (US$79.99). This ballhead is rock solid, no shift and no creeping. Now it really exposes the weakness of the legs.

My next upgrade would be to replace the legs with Vanguard Alta series with the adjustable center column. I like the price point of Vanguard, it is much cheaper than Manfrotto, but it outperforms Manfrotto. Yes, it is made in China, but so far the quality control is great.

If you have lots of money, go for Gitzo. If you are on budget and you can fork out about US$200+, you should start with Vanguard, you will be satisfied with what you can get at that price point. „