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PRICE: £54.90
UKDIGITAL.CO.UK
NovoMantis T3 tripod A mini tripod can come in mighty handy for any number of reasons, not just supporting a camera. Here, we test Novo’s latest
LEFT The Mantis T3 is a solid mini tripod that suits many purposes, and its two section legs add extra versatility
SPECS › Prices Mantis T3 £54.90 Novo MBH-25 micro ball head £59.90 Mantis ET25 tripod column extender £24.90 › Material “Superweave” carbon fibre › Maximum height 27cm. 34cm with MBH-25 › Minimum height 4.6cm. 11.5cm with MBH-25 › Closed length 21.5cm. 28cm with MBH-25 › Maximum payload 5kg › Feet Rubber or stainless steel spikes › Weight 500g. 660g with MBH-25 › Fitting 3.8in › Mounting plate Arca-Swiss compatible › Weight 160g Contact ukdigital.co.uk I FOUNDTHET3A HUGE BENEFIT IN ABIRDHIDEWITHA SPOTTINGSCOPE ATTACHED
MINI TRIPODS ARE so useful, yet many are not very substantial and are limited in their versatility. But that’s not the case with the NovoMantis T3. It’s a carbon- fibre tripod with two sections, twist leg locks, three leg positions and the option of rubber or spiked feet. The tripod is sold legs only, with a 3.8in screw thread for a head of your choice. For this review, I used a ball head fromNovo’s range, theMBH-25, which sells for £59.90 and is compatible with Arca-Swiss plates. This combination can take a 5kg payload. I used the T3 and theMBH-25 with full-frame DSLRs, mirrorless cameras of all sizes – including medium format – and with a wide variety of lenses. I even managed a go withmy spotting scope. Whether shooting at near ground level, off a table or even a church pew, the duo performed brilliantly, delivering pin-sharp shots, even at long shutter speeds.
I found the T3 a huge benefit in a bird hide with a spotting scope attached, too. I do actually have a mini tripod that I normally use for this. It holds my scope on the narrow shelf in front of the viewing window, but while it’s stable, the locking head could be better: the legs only have one position and there’s no height adjustment. With the T3, I could easily set the most comfortable height, even on the narrowest shelf, with great stability and, when needed, I could quickly swap between the scope andmy camera. The T3 even came in handy for holding my FujifilmX-T2 onmy workstation, while I used it as a webcam– I had a microphone strapped to one of its legs. Novo also offers the Mantis ET25 tripod extender at £24.90. This carbon fibre column, comprising two sections, adds 35cm of extra height, which is useful. WC
LEFT The Mantis T3 is robust enough for full-frame and medium format cameras, as well as long telephoto lenses and spotting scopes. It is a useful piece of kit and doesn't take up much space in
I don’t think I have ever been so enthusiastic about a mini tripod, but the Novo Mantis T3 tripod is a brilliant piece of kit. It’s versatile, beautifully made and so useful. If you have the budget, the MBH-25 ball head at £59.90 is definitely worth having, while the extender at £24.90 adds even more versatility. Thoroughly recommended. Verdict
the camera bag. I tried it with the MBH-25 micro ball
head and, while it costs more than the Mantis T3 itself, it’s a great partner for the tripod
PROS Build quality, lightweight, multipurpose CONS Nothing I can think of
34 Photography News | Issue 82
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