Ravelli Professional 55" 65mm Video Camera Tripod with Fluid Drag Head, and Heavy Duty Carry Bag [AVTP]

.:BACKGROUND:. Hello, in order for you to find this review useful, I feel like I should give you some background info of myself. I'm a film student and I was looking for a tripod with these requirements [in order of importance]: 1) Inexpensive. 2) Fluid Head that allows me to do smooth panning/tilting with ease. 3) Sturdy enough to last me a few years and through rigorous shoots. I'm lucky enough to have experienced with a lot of different types of equipment through my school, which enables me to compare the the Ravelli tripod to the other tripod brands I've used (mainly Manfrottos). .:PACKAGING/SHIPPING:. The tripod arrived promptly and was securely packaged. Everything had its wrapper so it didn't look used. However, I did notice a few very noticeable scratch marks on the tripod handle and on the tripod itself. I haven't contacted Amazon/CheetahMounts about it yet since it doesn't seem to affect the tripod's performance, but it does look as if it's a refurbished/used model. Pics of scratches: [...] .:ACCESSSORIES:. The bag that it comes with feels a bit cheap, because the material is really thin, but it does get the job done. It has two different straps for you to carry either with your hands (like a briefcase) or on your shoulder (like a messenger bag). Picture of tripod with included bag: [...] The tripod also came with a mini tripod (!) which I wasn't expecting! It's basically for compact digicams, and it does have extendable legs which raises up to about 7 or so inches. There's also a backup camera plate. .:QUALITY:. The tripod is really well built. From what I can see/feel, they used mainly metal and only rubber/plastic for the handles and the feet. The tripod feels really solid, but not too heavy or bulky. The camera mount also feels really sturdy. Overall, the construction is very good, but mine did come with some scratches and scrapes as noted above. .:PERFORMANCE:. Like what the other reviewers have said, the fluid head is pretty stiff (even when the pan/tilt is loosened all the way). During certain pan/tilt movements, if you don't hold the tripod down, you may end up lifting one of the legs off the ground. This usually happens when I try to tilt from the lowest point to the highest point or vice versa. If you use your spare hand to hold one of the legs down, it isn't a big problem. Now, the head itself is very smooth. As you pan/tilt, you won't feel any bumps/jerks or sudden increase/decrease in resistance, but it does take some effort to keep a constant speed when panning compared to pricier tripods. It's easier to keep a tilt at a constant speed than panning, but I'm not sure if that's the tripod or just me. The legs are made of metal and should be sturdy enough if your camera stays within the weight limit Ravelli suggests. The locking mechanism is a big knob which makes locking/releasing your legs quick and easy. .:PERFORMANCE TEST:. The video I'm linking is made with the Ravelli Tripod so you can get a sense of what you can do with it. I made the video after owning the camera for about a week, so you can probably get better results with more practice. I used the rubber band technique for all of the movements which I recommend for anyone who has a cheap tripod. Basically, you wrap a rubber band on the tripod handle and use it to maneuver the tripod rather than the handle itself. The rubber band should help eliminate some of the jerkiness. Link to [...] .:CONCLUSION:. For its price, I would definitely say it's 5 stars. The fluid head is not perfect, but with some practice and the rubber band technique, you can still perform some amazingly smooth camera moves. It's also solid enough to last me a few years until I'm ready to upgrade, and even then, it's perfectly capable as a backup tripod.

See UPDATE Below... The Ravelli AVTP Professional 55" 75mm Video Camera Tripod with Fluid Drag Head is great for an advanced amateur, but "Professional" doesn't really belong in the title. Mine missed the mark in its critical debut situation - live coverage of a one-time event. I purchased the tripod primarily to support my camera(s) when using a 4-foot slider. It is very secure, and affords the static support I need when moving a heavy camera end-to-end. Its weight allows me to use the slider to capture near 90-degree verticals without fear of wiggle. The Performance Breakdown: - It's heavy, so it stays put. - The Panning is stiff, but smooth (I suspect that will loosen with use). - The TILT, however, jumps at the start of any upward or downward motion. After I start, it is smooth. So for video I plan to edit, it's annoyingly acceptable, but for live applications, I can't really use it. The Value Breakdown: - Under $150 for a heavy, stable tripod with a fluid drag head? Good deal. Comes with a nice bag, and a bonus table top tripod, too. Shipping Breakdown: - Delivered quickly and securely in a massive 4-layer box. Bottom line: I would not recommend this to a friend without first asking what they intended to use it for. As a static support, it's great. For live applications, you may want to shop around. UPDATE - July 2012: Cheetah Mounts went out of their way to contact me both by email and by phone to turn even the slightest of problems into no problem at all. The courteous Customer Satisfaction rep offered a complete replacement tripod, but since I only needed a head, that's all I accepted. Got it, put it on, and Voila! A perfect tripod system. I own some considerably more expensive systems, and you would have a hard time telling them apart by performance. In terms of sturdiness? The Ravelli beats the others hands-down! It's is incredibly rugged, and a bargain on top of that.

I wish I could give this tripod a 4 and 1/2 star rating but I can't so I opted to do a 4 star instead of a 5. So, this is my fourth Ravelli AVTP Pro 75mm Video Tripod. Let's get some things (CONS) out of the way before I dive into it... CONS: YES...there are better tripods out there than this. YES...if they took the video head off the Davis & Sanford and put it on this one...LIGHTS OUT! YES...this tripod is on the heavy side (weighs about 11 lbs). YES...this damn thing is only 54.5 inches when fully extended AND...did I say there are better tripods out there!?! So, why did I give it 4 stars. Well, for the money (the first three I bought, I only paid $100 but the fourth one I paid $156) this has to be one of the BEST out there. Currently, I'm not in the market to pay for a $1000 tripod. However, I needed something that was sturdy, could take a beaten and could hold some weight. I started building my rig up and it's gotten a bit heavy, which is kind of nice because I don't do a lot of shoulder rig shooting (I have a CAME-TV Vest rig for that). But, the added weight can be a great thing or can just suck and for me, it's been a great thing. I also use two of these suckers on dollys for my slider dolly (Glide Cam)...AWESOME versatilty. PROS: YES...this tripod & head can hold 27lbs of weight...yep...you read that right, 27lbs. Now, I haven't tested that yet BUT I've gotten as close as 20lbs and it's handled it like a champ. No sway, just solid BUT be careful when adjusting the ball head, that weight can get away from you really quick. YES...the tripod is heavy, which allows it to be very sturdy when putting on something that is light or heavy. I have yet to find ANY tripod less than $600 that can support the same amount of weight. Actually...nothing under $1,000. The head is nice, is it AMAZING, no, BUT, it is very nice. Just so I am clear, I was looking for something that could grow with me, support weight as I built my video rig AND this tripod being able to support 27lbs was the kicker for me. You really can't beat it. Yes, you can invest in a AMAZING video head (75mm bowl) and slap that sucker on the tripod legs, BUT that AMAZING video head will cost you some AMAZING money. This was one of my GREAT buys! One way that I've increased the height is adding the dolly but be warned, the wheels can make it sometimes difficult to pan smoothly. I guess I'm rambling now, but, if you are looking for a tripod that's sturdy, can hold a lot of weight, is a video tripod and a GREAT tripod for around $150, well, this is the one for you. If you can find one (video tripod) that's better at this price and can support the same (or 25lbs) of weight, then please let me know because I have yet to find one! Have any more questions...ask away!

As an owner of both the AVT and AVTP (Professional) models, I can say that the Pro model (AVTP) I received has a much, much better Fluid Head. I'm not sure why. Physically, both Heads look the same and seem to be of the same construction quality. The only visible differences are cosmetic: the handles on the Pro model are longer w/ different grips which are longer as well; the level bubble color on the Pro model is white, while the non-Pro model is yellow. The obvious difference is the way the Heads are attached to the tripod. The Pro model has a bowl attachment and the non-Pro has a traditional screw-mount attachment point connecting to the top of the center shaft. Although the differences seem obvious and minor, the quality of the pan movements are significantly different. For some reason, the AVT (non-Pro) model exhibits random "sticky" points during the pan. I've tried everything to get it to smooth out, but because of the inconsistency, it is an exercise in frustration to get a nice smooth pan for every shot - it's a gamble! The Pro model (AVTP) is a completely different story. First impression of the AVTP was, in a word, "Stiff"... both the pan & tilt were really, really stiff. In particular, the Pan was actually difficult to move without grabbing hold of the tripod legs first. Even with the tension knob completely loose, the Head would not pan with out putting some serious force into it. I've since fixed it by loosening the large retaining bolt that runs through the pan mechanism. (Looking at the underside of the Head, you'll see hole which shows the top of a large slotted bold. I loosened this by a 1/4 turn - which was really tight and required lots of force to budge it...) This act made a significant difference. The pan action is now glass smooth! It now matches the tilt action and I'm able to pull off really consistent & smooth pan & tilt combinations with very little or no backlash at full zoom!!! (Practice, Practice... I'm not a pro at all, but I really impressed with how easy it is to pull off professional looking pan & tilt moves now with the AVTP... Wow!!!) The non-Pro model (AVT) is probably going to be returned. I've been emailing CheetaMounts and they are trying to help resolve the "sticky" problem with the AVT Head... but I don't think it can be fixed. Here's what's in the AVTP box: * 1 set of Sticks/Legs (the tripod) * 1 2-way Fluid Head * 2 Handles/Arms (attach to the head) * 1 Canvas Bag Summary: After making an adjust to the pan mechanism, the Head on this model is really, really good. I was surprised with the difference between this model (AVTP) and the non-Pro (AVT) model. Personally, I'd skip the lower-end model and avoid the spotty performance - just get this model instead. Great features at a great price!

I co-own a small video production company and this is our tripod of choice. Soon we are going to get a second one. As many other reviewers have pointed out, this tripod delivers a LOT of bang for your buck. As with most professional or prosumer video equipment, tripods are overpriced. The gap in cost between this tripod and the next best thing from a popular company like sachtler, o'conner, or cartoni is huge. Saving money by choosing this tripod allowed us to invest more money in glass and other camera stabilization systems. Having used this tripod for almost a year now, I'd say the legs along would be worth the cost, and I haven't found any major cons with the legs at all (except that the rubber feet come off easily, and as of yesterday I've lost all three; fortunately I don't really care ab rubber feet and it still works fine). The head however does have one quirk that is worth noting. The tie-down which locks the tripod plate is located too high on the head, and once a camera is mounted, this tie-down cannot rotate fully because it hits the camera. It is a ratcheting thumbscrew, which means you can work around this problem, but in a run-and-gun situation it takes too long to do this. Fortunately for us, we shoot with DSLRs in cages, which raises the camera a few inches off the tripod plate and allows the tie-down to rotate freely. Other details which I liked about this tripod: it came with a carrying bag with a shoulder strap, an additional camera plate w/ 1/4" screw, and a THIRD spare 1/4" screw which lives in a threaded hole on the bottom of the tripod head. There is no counterbalance or real fluid movements like you would get on a more expensive professional model, but the pans and tilts are very smooth. Having the second pan handle is very useful, and of course can be removed if it isn't needed. This tripod is comparable to the Libec TH650, which would cost you three or four times as much, and I actually prefer this one to the LIbec. My plan is to use the Ravelli until the head wears down, then replace it with another 75mm head. I don't foresee the legs being unusable anytime soon as they are very sturdy. Hope this helps.

Bought this to hold a 4x5 calumet, weighs about 10 pounds, an SLR with large zooms and an 8x10 plate camera. LEGS: I find the legs to be more than adequate for my 4x5, and also the 8x10 which is a hair heavier, around 12 -14 pounds. I think it would be stable up to around 20#. If you don't extend the legs all the way - you can probably get quite a bit more. No place to hang a sandbag. When extended all the way, the legs have a slight wobble, about the same as the $200 model made by another manufacturer. Not extended all the way = totally rock solid. HEAD: As stated in prior reviews, the pan is stiff. Take care if you disassemble the head to adjust the slip ring, as there are steel screws into cast aluminum, which makes it easy to strip out the screw holes. The tilt is fine for still photography. The bowl - leveling knob turns easily and tightens fast and tight easily. The tilt adjustment lever was in an odd place as shipped, it takes about 45 seconds to move, so no biggy. The bubble - and - ring level is adequate. For stills, it's important that errant vibration settle down quickly and this tripod dampens vibration quite nicely. It does weigh 14 pounds. Any gripe I have with build quality is a little picky. There are some plastic pieces I would have preferred to be metal, but nothing I'm worried will break. I generally get irritated with steel holes in threaded aluminum, but if you are careful in disassembling it, then it will not matter. All in all, I'll buy another if this one gets stolen. I recommended it to freinds who shoot LF. I think it would work fine with an XL1. Probably overkill if you are shooting an SLR unless you are using a big telezoom (probably good for MF). Heavy, stable, tall, and a great buy. UPDATE: been using this for about a year now, and nothing has broken, except for the little string that holds the legs together when it's collapsed, a total non-issue. I've dragged this sucker up and down hills, set it up in rivers with most of the legs under water, let it roll around the bed of a truck; in short abused the heck out of it. Still works as new. The head is still stiff as a board, which makes composition difficult, but the tightness is good when you've got the shot framed and don't want you're 100+ year old plate camera sagging (my 8x10 weighs a lot) In short, the head is stiff, and locks down like a friggin vice. If you can afford another $200 for lighter legs and a more user freindly head, by all means, spend the money, but if you are doing Large Format Photography on a budget - this is the best quality and capacity for under $130. Better legs can be had for $100 - 200 with the same weight capacity, but a head that can reliably support 20 pounds is hard to come by for less than $150, so as much as I'd love to get something a little smoother, the $300 is not in the budget (I'd rather buy film) For the videographers out there, the P&T is super stiff, no matter what you do to adjust it, even after a year of use. If you can figure out how to sandbag the hell out of it, you can probably get pretty smooth pans out of it, but the pan is litterally so stiff that it occasionally moves the legs, even with the ~15 pounds of tripod weight and ~15 pounds of camera. Tilt is nice. UPDATE 5 years later - This became my "all weather" tripod as I didn't want to risk the nicer stuff in sand, salt, and water. As could be expected, it started to corrode here and there, and eventually just became too stiff to continue using, but to its credit, took five years of abuse. It never actually broke, just got a little worn out (and eventually I bought something lighter) so again, great budget buy for LF work. Even though the original has been recycled, I'm contemplating buying another as a back up.

Here's the background: I am a filmmaker and commercial director who shoots over 50 projects per year. From TV commercials and music videos, to independent films and television programming. That said, I travel a ton and need a solid tripod that can withstand the punishment of the road or air travel, and can also support the weight of my heavy DSLR rig (with rails, cage, battery, 2 monitors, mattebox, long lenses, and additional mounted accessories weighing in at a little over 20lbs). I have several high end heavy duty tripods in my studio, however, due to their cost, I always get nervous about taking them out on the road. So, I set out to find a product that could handle the wear and tear, as well as the weight, and still function as good as the day I bought it. In addition, I wanted to find one that was very affordable in the event that it didn't last, it wouldnt be a great loss. After spending a week checking out all of the products in the price point, and reading a million reviews, I finally landed on the Ravelli AVTP Pro with Fluid Drag Head. I was impressed by all of the positive reviews and by the features, especially considering the price! I ordered and took advantage of the free shipping, which led my item to arrive in only 3 days here in Ohio. Opening the packaging, I was immediately impressed by the solid, rather heavy-duty bag that it included. Upon setup, I could immediately tell that this tripod was a road warrior. The construction is solid and I love the weight. It is obvious that these sticks could probably easily support twice the weight that they are rated at with no problem. Next I setup my rig and put it through a test to see how smooth the head actually function. I was more than impressed. The left-right panning was smooth as all tensions without and 'sticky' spots. When it comes to the 'up-down' movement, even at the loosest tension, the movement was a little stiff, however, it was still smooth even with more tension added. All in all, this tripod performs on the level with items 3 or 4 times the cost of the Ravelli AVT Pro. My only complaint aside from the slightly stiff up-down motions was the little 'stick on labels' on the tripods leg locks. The labels indicate which direction to turn to lock and unlock the leg releases. Right out of the box during setup, the little stickers started falling off while unlocking the legs for the first time. Fortunately, they easily stuck back on to where they belonged, however, within the first 20 minutes of use, 3 of the stickers fell off and had to be re-applied. I have a feeling that within a month or two, none of those stickers will remain n the tripod. Of course, it's hardly a big deal, as those stickers arent even necessary in the first place, however, it's just one of those little things that kind of bum you out. The only other thing that may be bothersome to some is the weight. For me, the heavier the tripod the better. I need a set of sticks that can handle the weight and is built to last. This thing definitely feels like a tank. But, if you are the run and gun kind of shooter who likes to strap a tripod to your backpack, or carry it under your arm from location to location, you will certainly get worn out quickly. It's heavy, there is no question, but in my opinion...weight equals strength. If you want something light, than this tripod is not for you. If you don't mind the weight, however, and are looking for a durable set of sticks, this is the tripod for you! Lastly, the free additions included with the tripod were pretty awesome. First of all, they give you an additional tripod mount, so you can very quickly switch between 2 cameras. Or, have an extra laying around in case you lose one in your travels. Definitely a nice addition! Secondly, I was very impressed by the free mini tripod included. Much like the AVT Pro, the mini tripod is packaged inside a decently durable bag, and is built fairly solid. To my surprise, the mini tripod stood almost as high as the AVT pro (about 1 ft shorter). For a mini tripod, that was pretty impressive. Obviously, it's not something you would want to put your DSLR on, as the weight maximum on the mini tripod should probably be around 2 pounds. For my uses, it makes a perfect tripod for mounting one of my GoPros. It would also be useful for any tripod mounted accessories like a field monitor or etc. Can't beat it for a free item! In total, I rate this product a solid 9/10! The construction is solid, the included packaging is excellent for a bag, and the fluid drag head is smooth in all positions and tensions. This tripod can definitely handle almost any size camera package, and looks like it can stand the test of time. A true road warrior in my opinion. Plus, for the price....you can't beat it! I highly recommend to anyone looking for an affordable tripod that can stand the weight and has a great fluid movement. Plus, the added bonus of the additional mount and free mini tripod make it that much sweeter!

Been using it a few months now. In the past I've owned cheapo tripods, but after using very very expensive tripods for very expensive videographers, I decided it's about time to upgrade. First, the price is appropriate. Overall, it's built very well, very sturdy. The bubble level is a little difficult to read (I think my liquid disappeared. Not sure how), but using your horizon it's very fast to level on any surface. The legs are fantastic as others have mentioned. I use it with a Panasonic gh2, and Pentax glass. Not super heavy items, but not exactly a gopro. Panning is plenty smooth, even with a long lens. Tilt however, is a bit more difficult. It's great for fast movements, but for small/deliberate changes in tilt, it jumps on me 1 out of every 7 or so trackings. (not exact, but that's about what it feels like). I'm wondering if there's a way to adjust one of the screws to improve that area. I live near the ocean, and have used it to film surfing a few times. As such, the very bottom part of the legs are showing early stages of rust as well, but not in an area that'll be detrimental in any way. Others have mentioned the rubber feet come off easily. That is also true, but they pop back on just as quick. ---------------------- Overall, I recommend. It looks great, impresses clients. Panning is super smooth, tilt is a bit more tricky if you need consistency. Fortunately, I'm primarily a photographer, and video jobs are fewer between. Fantastic for astrophotography, as it won't budge in strong winds either. ------- Update / Edit ------------------------------------------------------------------- As others have mentioned, the customer service team backing the product are outstanding. Since the review, they've contacted me and helped sort out the minor minor issues I was having. Highly recommend on all accounts.

La uso para una cámara sony pesada y la sostiene muy bien, pero con una DSLR es compicado para moverla.

[EDIT : Je me suis rendu compte d'un défaut mineur mais un peu handicapant sur mon trépied : même serrée, la poignée du dessous ne tenait pas le bol lors d'un pan/tilt trop serré et la bulle foutait le camp. J'ai contacté le service client et ils ont été super aimables et ont résolu mon problème très facilement. Vraiment sérieux !] Je viens d'un Manfrotto BeFree Live (allez voir mon commentaire si vous voulez savoir pourquoi je l'ai renvoyé, la raison n°5 va vous étonner ! https://www.amazon.fr/gp/customer-reviews/R29XOKGF7DCT83/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_btm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01LZT8H1A#wasThisHelpful ) et je dois dire que pour 100€ de moins c'est le (tré)pied ! J'ai donc délaissé la mobilité pour la stabilité et la robustesse, je ne suis pas déçu. Première impression, le poids est assez important, ça muscle les bras c'est bien ! Les pieds du trépied sont en aluminium pour les tubes, et en alliage de métal pour les poignées de serrage et leur support (je ne sais pas ce que c'est mais c'est pas du plastique, c'est très solide). Contrairement à la photo qui montre des patins en caoutchouc relativement simples, les miens consistent en une boule enveloppée d'un patin plus large. De cette manière le patin peut pivoter dans n'importe quel sens autour de la boule (sauf en direction du pied bien sûr), et il s'adapte à tout terrain. A voir sur la longueur si ça reste en place mais c'est vraiment bien pensé. Les molettes sont faciles à tourner et elles ont une limite : il y a un frein qui fait qu'on ne peut pas serrer/desserrer plus que ça n'est nécessaire, c'est très pratique et on n'a pas à tourner la molette pendant des kilomètres ! La mise en place du trépied est donc très rapide. Quand on desserre les molettes, les tubes coulissent très facilement. On resserre, et c'est en place. Maintenant, pour ce qui est de la tête. Déjà, point positif : si vraiment la tête vous fait peur vous êtes toujours à même de la changer pour une plus performante plus tard, et garder les pieds qui sont eux franchement irréprochables. Dans l'ensemble elle est très satisfaisante et fait très bien son job (dans mon cas elle est beaucoup plus performante que mon ex Manfrotto). L'intégralité de la tête est dans le même alliage de métal que les quelques parties du trépied donc c'est robuste, exception faite de la poignée en caoutchouc à la machination assez pauvre, et la poignée de serrage de l'axe tilt, qui elle est vraiment, vraiment dégueu. Ce plastique-là est ultra léger quoi qu’épais, et coupé très grossièrement, il y a même du sable dedans (???) [EDIT : c'était juste sur le premier modèle, sur le nouveau elle est beaucoup plus propre] De plus quand on desserre cette poignée elle a un jeu énorme ça fait assez peur. Mais ce jeu disparaît complètement quand on la resserre. Donc j'ai un sentiment mitigé sur ce point-là, j'espère ne pas avoir de problèmes... La fluidité est franchement bluffante pour un ensemble trépied + tête vidéo dans cette gamme de prix. On peut ajuster la friction sur les deux axes, et d'après mes premiers tests c'est très bon. Le système de bulle avec poignée en-dessous via le bol 75 mm est une première pour moi et j'aime beaucoup ! La bulle est digne de confiance, facile à faire. Si vous ne souhaitez garder qu'un des deux bras de manipulation de la tête c'est possible, perso j'ai enlevé celui de droite parce qu'il gênait la poignée de tilt. Mais même avec les deux bras en place, c'est possible d'utiliser la poignée de tilt car sur la tête, toutes les vis/poignées de serrage ont le système "tirer pour changer la position". Si la vis est bloquée par un quelconque obstacle, vous tirez, faites pivoter la vis dans le sens opposé, relâchez, vissez, re-tirez, etc. Avec la quick release plate que je fixe sous ma crosse d'épaule avec tout le bazar dessus (2-3 Kg), j'enclenche sur la tête, je fixe, je tilte à 60° vers le bas, je verrouille la poignée de tilt, ça reste en place. C'est magique ! Un vrai trépied heavy-duty (j'ai pas testé avec de vraies rigs professionnelles de plusieurs dizaines de kilos cela dit, mais si vous avez ce genre de matos qu'est-ce que vous faites ici, hein, HEIN ?) Le sac fourni est très pratique, assez grand pour ranger le trépied sans aucun mal (pas comme pour Manfrotto qui mettait un sac beaucoup trop étroit pour le trépied BeFree Live, hum hum), et semble robuste, quoique la couture d'une des attaches internes était décousue à son arrivée mais je ne l'attache pas de toute façon, la fermeture éclair est solide et ce niveau de protection supplémentaire me semble dispensable. Des petits bonus arrivent dans le sac : un porte-clé LED et trois chiffons nettoyants antistatiques. On se demande quel est le rapport avec le trépied mais ça fait toujours plaisir ! Bilan : Un design excellent, une facilité d'utilisation enfantine, une qualité d'assemblage mitigée (jeu de la poignée de tilt), mais les matériaux choisis inspirent la confiance (sauf pour les deux parties plastiques). Foncez !

Un trípode muy robusto y a la vez económico Lo estoy usando todas las semanas y casi que todos los días, no le meto tampoco una burrada de peso, pero se nota que puede aguantar bastante, elegí este sobretodo por la rótula, una vez te acostumbras a usarla y a apretarla bien es un elemento super util, sobretodo si tienes que ir y plantar el trípode rápido.

Di questo cavalletto ho avuto in tutto due esemplari, uno dei quali poi donato ad un amico. Con esso, ho sostituito un cavalletto analogo, dotato sicuramente della stessa testa e prodotto dalla stessa fabbrica, ma con una struttura delle zampe un poco meno rigida (con colonna centrale e zampe a tre sezioni singole telescopiche) che già era un miracolo come rapporto prezzo/qualità, ma che mi aveva dato la sensazione che il limite della testa, come stabilità e portata, fosse superiore a quello del cavalletto. Questa versione con le zampe binate esclusa la terza sezione, nonostante l'assenza della colonna centrale e quindi un'altezza massima un poco inferiore, rappresenta a mio avviso il miglior acquisto possibile per il videomaker che muova i primi passi nel professionismo, abbia bisogno di qualcosa che si comporti in maniera veramente affidabile e di una testa fluida che sia tale e ben gestibile anche con carichi degni di nota. Chiaro che esistono prodotti di prestazioni superiori, specie per quanto attiene il rapporto rigidezza/peso (questo non è davvero leggero, siamo sui cinque chili e mezzo appena abbondanti compresa la sua custodia imbottita); ma con brand blasonati, per quel prezzo porti a casa un semigiocattolo, oppure a scelta una cosa costruita nel suo piccolo anche bene, ma minuscola, e adeguata a dei carichi DRASTICAMENTE inferiori. E' chiaro che cinque chili e mezzo non sono un peso sulla spalla che si porta a spasso in montagna per una giornata, a meno che non si sia molto robusti e/o ben pagati per farlo. Ma se si può tenerlo nel bagagliaio di un auto, e poi spostarlo qualche centinaio di metri solo per il necessario = arrivare nel punto delle riprese o delle osservazioni naturalistiche/astronomiche è perfetto e non serve davvero nulla di più. Io non occupandomi di videoriprese lo utilizzo in realtà per montarci sopra un telescopio schema Maksutov o rifrattore, e son rimasto davvero sorpreso di quanto il puntamento fosse facile e preciso grazie alla presenza di due maniglie per il brandeggio, e non una come molto più frequente. Il cavalletto è risultato perfettamente adeguato e persino sovradimensionato per i Mak 102/1400, il 127/1540 ed il 127/1900 e per i rifrattori da 102/500 e 120/600; gestisce ancora benissimo il ben più potente Mak da 150/1800 Synta (=Sky-Watcher, Orion...), il Bosma (visto come Konus e come Celetron) 130/2000 e ce la fa ancora anche col più pesante e lungo Bosma da 152/1800 (da noi visto sopratutto come Konus). Il Celestron C6 ci sta da papa, e il C8 è entro i limiti. Di più no, per ragioni di baricentro e non di peso in sé - dato che la testa reggerebbe nominalmente anche 12 kg; che ne gestirebbe benissimo 10 potrei giurarlo. Anche un pesante rifrattore wide field come il Bresser 127/635 è supportato adeguatamente, con la sola accortezza di realizzare una barra con contrappesatura dal lato anteriore che risulti inclinata fra i 45° ed i 60° verso l'anteriore quando l'asse ottico del telescopio è orizzontale; in tal modo il braccio di leva che compensa il momento verso l'osservatore diventa tanto più efficace quanto più si alza la visuale ed interviene tanto meno quanto più orizzontale è l'ottica, proprio come dovrebbe essere.

Ich habe nach einem Stativ gesucht, um einen kleinen Kamerakran zu montieren. Die Ansprüche waren hierbei ganz klar vor allem extreme Stabilität und trotzdem bezahlbarer Preis. Und hier bin ich genau fündig geworden. Positiv: + Durch die Doppelstreben scheinen die Beine ausreichend stabil für meine Zwecke zu sein. Die ersten Tests haben sie gut überstanden ohne dass ich zittern musste. + Die mitgelieferte Tasche ist sehr praktisch, zumal das Stativ (vor allem natürlich der 75mm ball head) schon ordentlich Eigengewicht hat. + Der Fluidkopf bewegt sich einigermaßen weich, der Widerstand für Pan und Tilt ist getrennt einstellbar, der Feststellhebel ist praktisch und gut erreichbar. + Das Stativ steht recht stabil und wackelt kaum. Negativ: - Die Beine des Stativs sind aus recht dünnem Alu gefertigt. Ich vermute, dass sie an sich gut halten, es aber nicht unbedingt überleben, wenn ein größerer Stein oder Mensch seitlich drauf fällt. - recht viel Eigengewicht (was aber zu erwarten ist) - Fluidkopf für diesen Preis natürlich alles andere als perfekt. Insgesamt: Ich würde das Stativ vermutlich nicht verwenden, um schöne und weiche Schwenks damit zu erstellen. Für leichte Kameras (DSLR und kleiner) gibt es dafür günstige Fluidköpfe, die besser laufen. Nur waagerecht oder nur senkrecht funktioniert noch einigermaßen, aber sobald man beides gleichzeitig probiert wird es schwierig, eine wirklich weiche Bewegung zu zaubern. Außerdem ist das Stativ natürlich recht schwer, es wird also auch sicherlich für mich nicht zu jedem Aufnahmeort mitgenommen. Für sehr schwere Kameras, und vor allem für Kamerakrans oder ähnliche Aufsätze, ist das Stativ aber wirklich stabil genug und lässt sich auch noch ohne Probleme Schwenken und Kippen. Für mich ist für diesen Preis absolut alles in Ordnung und ich bin von der Stabilität tatsächlich positiv überrascht. Würde ich für meine Zwecke jederzeit weiterempfehlen.