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MINI TESTS
LIBEC TH-Z TRIPOD £350/$349 idx-europe.co.uk
Libec’s new TH-Z tripod and head combo will set you back £350/$350, putting it in the low to mid-range price, and meaning it’s an affordable option for those starting out in videography. But does it prove value for money? Despite having aluminium legs, the combo is pretty light, at only 3.5kg/7.7lb – 1.1kg/2.4lb of which is the head. It comes with a padded nylon carry case, and though the padding is thin it’s better than nothing. The case also has accessory pockets, hand and shoulder straps. The straps aren’t padded, but the thickness of them and lightness of the legs means it’s a comfortable carry. The TH-Z’s three-section legs operated smoothly and easily, without the refinement of spring or air cushioning. They use individual screw locks, which means set-up is fairly slow, but you do get to tighten the legs very securely. When tightened the legs showed no creep, and though there was some flex it’s only slight. The legs can’t twist due to their design, and there’s a ballast hook under the collar if you need more anchoring. The legs use a plastic mid-level spreader attached to the bottom of the first leg section. With the tripod at full or two-thirds height it’s well away from ground obstacles, so you can use it in uneven locations easily; with legs retracted it sits about 55mm from the ground. The spreader’s three screw locks are low profile, and when stowed there’s a thin metal clip to hold the legs together.
SPECIFICATIONS Head fitting: 75mmball Counterbalance: Fixed Dragmode: Fixed Tilt angle: +90°/-80° Bubble level: Yes, illuminated Plate sliding range: +/-30mm/1.2in Leg sections: 3 aluminium Height range: 71.5 to 161.5cm/28 to 63.5in Maximumpayload: 5kg/11lb Spreader type: Mid-level Weight: 3.5kg/7.7lb
The feet, which have been reshaped from Libec’s previous ALX tripod, are large and rubberised, and gave very little slip even in the wet. They’re removable using a T15 torx bit, but if you’re hoping to find spikes underneath you’ll be disappointed. That said, when was the last time you used spikes? The TH-Z has a maximum height of 161.5cm/63.5in, which is fine though not outstanding, and the lowest height is 71.5cm/28in, so there’s most likely all the variety in shooting you’ll need (unless you want to shoot at ground level, or over most people’s eye line). The head fits neatly into the tripod’s 75mm bowl and levelling is easy: a large, hollow clamp handle
below the collar loosens the head, and it moves smoothly in the bowl until tightened. Guiding you, the head has an illuminated bubble level, and this can be removed to replace the battery, though no claims are made about weather sealing. The head complements the legs nicely. It’s light, and though lacking some features puts in a good performance. It has pan and tilt locks but no means of setting the tension or drag, unless you count nearly locking the movement to create resistance, which isn’t ideal. Counterbalance is also fixed, and while adjusting the balance plate means stability is easy at low angles, if you tilt the maximum +90° or -80° there is some springing back. It’s not a big problem once you get used to it, but does need pressure to keep the camera position static. Overall, the head panned and tilted with impressive smoothness. The head comes with a sliding balance plate of about 110mm long, and this is compatible with Manfrotto and Sachtler heads, as well as other Libec models. It has a separate lock and quick release mechanism, and makes mounting the camera very speedy. KS. PROMOVIEMAKER RATING: 8/10 The TH-Z is an affordable video tripod and head combo. It lacks pro-level features and build, but performs well in its range. Pros: Light, stable and affordable Cons: No drag or counterbalance
ABOVE Easily adjustable, the tripod’s different heights cover most shooting scenarios
LEFT A clamp handle enables smooth levelling of the tripod’s head
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AUTUMN 2019 PRO MOVIEMAKER
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