I was looking for some CF tripod legs to cover pleasant weather and overseas trips/travel, when a light rig is preferable - and what a task it's been, for the following reasons:
1. manufacturers changing their ranges seemingly extremely regularly
2. Very confusing and very long serial numbers for products
3. Inconsistent specification sheets ('folded length' supplied, but not weight? For a travel tripod? C'mon!!)
4. Online retailers supplying all the information until the order page, when they say 'we don't know when we are expecting further stock'
5. Tripods that only seem to be able to be purchased with a ball-head, but not as legs (when you don't need another head - although I feel like I might now...)
6. Absolutely no reference to birding or scopes in publicity - all seems to be photography/videography
7. Reviews of tripods that spend the entire time talking about the ball-head
There are probably more, but -as I have negotiated this jungle and put an order in - I don't want to think about it anymore.
I thought what I wanted was quite simple. Lightweight, three-section, clip locks, small folded size, removable centre column, capable of holding around 4kg. Simple it has not been.
However, it is done, and I never want to go through it again.
1. manufacturers changing their ranges seemingly extremely regularly
2. Very confusing and very long serial numbers for products
3. Inconsistent specification sheets ('folded length' supplied, but not weight? For a travel tripod? C'mon!!)
4. Online retailers supplying all the information until the order page, when they say 'we don't know when we are expecting further stock'
5. Tripods that only seem to be able to be purchased with a ball-head, but not as legs (when you don't need another head - although I feel like I might now...)
6. Absolutely no reference to birding or scopes in publicity - all seems to be photography/videography
7. Reviews of tripods that spend the entire time talking about the ball-head
There are probably more, but -as I have negotiated this jungle and put an order in - I don't want to think about it anymore.
I thought what I wanted was quite simple. Lightweight, three-section, clip locks, small folded size, removable centre column, capable of holding around 4kg. Simple it has not been.
However, it is done, and I never want to go through it again.