Found a cheap Carbon Fibre backup tripod, can you spot anything wrong with it?

[mrk]

The tripod arrived today, the returns sticker said it came from the UK so they must have a distro warehouse somewhere here.

Anyway, what do I think of it? Well it's not as quality feeling as the RedSnapper as far as the plastics used go but other than that it feels good enough to hold my 5D3 + 1.4 glass. The legs are thinner than the RS legs and the centre column is as well so I can't use the RS shorter column on this which is a shame as it spider legs as well as the RS tripod does. The ball head movement is not as smooth as the RS ball head I have (RSH-12) but the ball is smoother and the quality of the head is near enough the same as the RS head.

Because the legs are thinner, there is more flex in them than the RS tripod, this may be a problem if the tripod is extended fully but I never use it like that so not an issue here. The base plate and bracket is of the same design and shape as the RS parts so I don't need to swap plates around when switching pods.

The monopod section is actually very neat. If anything, this is a £100 carbon fibre monopod

The compass on the end of the ball head adjuster knob seems pointless as it's pointing sideways (!).

It doesn't have spiked feet options like the RS tripod does.

The bag that comes with it is padded but the strap is not so the RS bag is of much better standard for carrying and comfort. it also doesn't have an inside zipped pocket like the RS one does. The RS bag costs £10 from them direct and to this day I have not seen a better bag for that kind of price. Truly remarkable given how good the quality of it is.

Sad news time though, my RS ball head has stopped panning, like it's seised in its position

I've emailed RS about this as well as a small issue with 2 of the legs and am awaiting a reply as they said to send a message on TP forum in the big RS thread.

Pics:

Verdict?
It's definitely a decent backup tripod but as a primary tripod to be used outdoors under varying weather conditions I'd always have something a bit beefier. I'm hoping RedSnapper can sort out the faults that have cropped up on my ball head and tripod legs because I really do like that otherwise I will probably look elsewhere. There's no reason why a quality ball head like the RS one should seize up!

 

[mrk]

Update!

I've taken only this new one to Stoke with me in order to see how it fares out in landscaping and it's done quite well, I also got a reply from Red Snapper while out shooting and they will take my ball head and tripod in to see what's wrong and either repair or replace both.

In action:

I'll saw the centre column in half effectively making it a short one for better spider legging.

 

[Clown]

I just bought one.

 

[mrk]

Cool what do you have at the moment? Feedback when it arrives!

 

[Clown]

I have a cheapo plastic one

 

[Rojin]

Update!

I've taken only this new one to Stoke with me in order to see how it fares out in landscaping and it's done quite well, I also got a reply from Red Snapper while out shooting and they will take my ball head and tripod in to see what's wrong and either repair or replace both.

In action:

I'll saw the centre column in half effectively making it a short one for better spider legging.

Can't you just reverse the centre column? OK the camera is upside down, but this is always what I have done if I want to get lower.

 

[mrk]

No need to do that! The legs flip the other way so less faff but I like a shorter centre column as that's what I'm used to on my Red Snapper.

 

[D.P.]

Update!

I've taken only this new one to Stoke with me in order to see how it fares out in landscaping and it's done quite well, I also got a reply from Red Snapper while out shooting and they will take my ball head and tripod in to see what's wrong and either repair or replace both.

In action:

I'll saw the centre column in half effectively making it a short one for better spider legging.

You should remove th center column entirely, center columns do nothing but magnify vibrations and remove stability. Camera should be mounted as close to the apex of the legs as possible.

 

[mrk]

How would I attach the ball head without a column to screw it on to though?

 

[D.P.]

How would I attach the ball head without a column to screw it on to though?

The ball head should fit straight of to the top of legs, if it doesn't the tripod should have come with an adapter that lets you do this.

If this is impossible I would send the tripod back as unfit for the purpose. The only time I have seen a center column remotely useable was on a set of massive Gitzo 55 series legs, even then it should only be used in emergencies. Center colums amplify any inherent vibrations and. Abuse massive instability even on good legs, nasty things. It is like trying to balance a broom upside down on your hand, forces and ,ovements are magnified by the length of the column.

It is just extra unneeded weight that is highly detrimental.

 

[mrk]

Seriously?

Even the Red snapper needs /a/ centre column because the ball head screws into that column. Only an adapter (basically an even shorter column that's as long as the thickness of the hole of the column mount) would solve that^^

I would not call it unfit for purpose though because the Red Snapper will not vibrate or be unstable at all with the short column.

 

[Raymond Lin]

The ball head should fit straight of to the top of legs, if it doesn't the tripod should have come with an adapter that lets you do this.

If this is impossible I would send the tripod back as unfit for the purpose.

If it was never designed to do this then how is it not fit for purpose?

I don't think there is a British Standard for tripod design for all tripods have the adhere to...

You make it sound like the centre column is totally useless and pointless. It is not.

You can use it to attach the camera at 90 degrees.
You can use it to mount the camera upside down.
You can gain extra height when it is needed.

 

[mrk]

I've sawn the centre column now and way hay, red snapper levels of spider legging

 

[mrk]

So a 2nd one turned up in the mail today and I didn't order it....Hmmmm

 

[D.P.]

If it was never designed to do this then how is it not fit for purpose?

I don't think there is a British Standard for tripod design for all tripods have the adhere to...

You make it sound like the centre column is totally useless and pointless. It is not.

You can use it to attach the camera at 90 degrees.
You can use it to mount the camera upside down.
You can gain extra height when it is needed.

I never said the center column was useless, if it was useless then they wouldn't exist. But they massively degrade stability so should be avoided when at all possible. Good tripods let you remove the center column and put some adapter plate in to allow the use of the tripod without the center column. If one is constantly using the center column to get extra height then the tripod is too short.

 

[D.P.]

So a 2nd one turned up in the mail today and I didn't order it....Hmmmm

Last time that happened to me I was also charged twice, check your bank balnce! With any luck you might have got a 2 for 1 sale

 

[mrk]

Oh payment for the original was done through Paypal and my balance only shows payment for the first! This was bought off eBay remember so they can't take payment twice without me authorising it!

And to think, this morning I ordered a replacement centre column as I shortened the sawn off one even more today and shaved off too much!!

 

[D.P.]

Seriously?

Even the Red snapper needs /a/ centre column because the ball head screws into that column. Only an adapter (basically an even shorter column that's as long as the thickness of the hole of the column mount) would solve that^^

I would not call it unfit for purpose though because the Red Snapper will not vibrate or be unstable at all with the short column.

Have you properly tested for vibrations, best method is to put the longest lens at full extension on the tripod (with larger lenses this typically means mounting the lens, and some lens the stock tripod mount is unsuitable. Tape on a laser pointer to the very end of the lens, turn off the lights and tap the end of the lens. The laser pointer shouldn't measurably move. None of the red snapper tripods I have ever tried passed this basic test with a 70-200 2.8.

 

[D.P.]

Oh payment for the original was done through Paypal and my balance only shows payment for the first! This was bought off eBay remember so they can't take payment twice without me authorising it!

And to think, this morning I ordered a replacement centre column as I shortened the sawn off one even more today and shaved off too much!!

Then you are probably good, but legally the shop has the right to demand the tripod to be sent back to them(they should pay for all shipping and incurred costs to you). Unlikely they will do anything, but I wouldn't sell it on eBay immediately.

Definitely seems like a bargain at half price!

 

[mrk]

I don't shoot with anything longer than 85mm (soon) and the only tripod use is with UWA mostly anyway or now, the 50mm

But I can confirm I've not had any vibration issues at these FLs on the ball head and short column combo. My RS tripod is not a carbon one though and weighs quite a bit.