GEAR
BUYERS’ GUIDE
PEAK DESIGN CARBON-FIBRE TRAVEL £599/$650 peakdesign.com
1.27kg/2.8lb, yet the five-section legs and centre column mean it goes up to 152.4cm/60in high – which is plenty for most uses. Legs are top-quality carbon fibre and the lever-lock leg clamps are beautifully designed. The payload is 9.1kg/20lb, ideal for smaller cameras.
The Peak Design carbon-fibre tripod has a cult following since it is so compact and light, packed with unique design elements. It folds up to roughly the same size as a decent water bottle. Legs are flat and wide, so they close up tightly to a triangular-shaped centre column. The whole thing weighs just
Pros: Super-light and tiny
Cons: No separate pan or tilt control
SACHTLER FLOWTECH75 MS WITH AKTIV8T HEAD £2797/$3690 sachtler.com
to be screwed on and locked down with a grub screw. The camera goes on a quick-release plate that clicks into place securely. There are 15 steps of counterbalance and seven steps of pan and tilt drag adjustment. The Sachtler Flowtech75 MS with Aktiv8T head kit weighs 5.7kg/12.6lb, with a max payload of 12kg/26.5lb.
If you want the latest, most high-tech tripod and head combo, go with the Sachtler Flowtech75 MS tripod and Aktiv8T head. The lightweight, carbon-fibre Flowtech75 MS legs are quick to set up and fold flat. The Aktiv8T fluid head mounts to the legs using a single lever lock, rather than having
Pros: High-tech and quick
Cons: Not the cheapest!
SIRUI BCT-2203 VIDEO TRIPOD KIT £1284/$1099 mtfservices.com
illuminated spirit level on the base and a second top level on the head. Metal spikes will dig into the dirt, and may be covered with rubber feet to avoid floor damage. The head has three-step drag adjustment, while all friction can be removed for a resistance-free motion – ideal for fast pans. To get the balance right, counterbalance is seven-step adjustable.
Sirui’s BCT-2203 is a premium carbon-fibre tripod, featuring a broadcast-quality head with adjustable counterbalance and drag, plus a spreader. It also comes with a very smooth pan and tilt head, the Sirui 75mm BCH-20 fluid head. This kit comes in a nice carrying case, has two pan handles and both a mid-level and ground-level spreader. There’s an
Pros: Better value than many brands
Cons: Drag is three-step only
VELBON DV-7000N £199/$220 velbon.co.uk
locking knob. Most unusual is the geared centre column – crank a side handle and this moves up or down. It adds weight and a level of complexity, but you can adjust head height with precision. The payload is 6kg/13.2lb, so it’s a very affordable system with an old-school look.
Velbon’s DV-7000N is a full-size video tripod from the brand’s professional range. The Vel-Flo 9 fluid head has a smooth pan and tilt movement. Large pan and tilt locks feature on the head and a spirit level allows fast set-up. There are 29mm aluminium upper legs and a central brace, which can be adjusted with a
Pros: Top value for money
Cons: Not the most current tech
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