Vista Explorer 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod with Tripod Bag
by Davis & Sanford
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List Price: Our Price: $19.95 You Save: $20.04 (50%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Vista Explorer 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod with Tripod Bag
Customer Review: Excellent value tripod - using it with the Rebel XSi
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my second tripod. My first was a Vanguard traveler that I bought for my Canon S1000 Point-and-shoot. It was a very compact tripod (16"-54") that worked out great for the P&S but was completely unusable when I got a Canon Digital Rebel XSi DSLR. That's when I got the Vista Explorer, for around the same price as the Vanguard. Its been about 6 months now with the Vista.
Pros:
1. Very inexpensive given features and weight rating. Was genuinely surprised with its build quality and features when I received it, given the price.
2. Holds the Xsi very securely at most of the orientations, heights and tilt angles. I have only the starter lens (18-55mm) on it and no attachments. I'm not sure how it would handle with heavier lenses, but I suspect it should do fine with most of the standard ones.
3. Has relatively smooth rotation, tilting and height adjustment, with locks abound.
4. The feet extensions have held very securely so far, which is more than I can say for the umbrella type extensions on the Vanguard.
5. 60" is a very good height for most purposes, and makes a world of difference from the 54" on my previous tripod.
6. Has built-in spirit levels which have proved very useful for ensuring level placement.
7. All of the adjustments and locks are quick and easy. Takes less than 2 minutes on average from bag to fully set-up.
8. Very light-weight, though sturdy.
9. Has a very convenient carrying handle built in.
10. Has a hook for weight attachment. I was planning to tie a bag filled with sand to it when taking pictures at the beach, but ended up not having to since it seemed to hold up to the breeze quite well even without it.
11. Comes with a bag. The Vanguard's bag was much better quality, but this one does just fine.
Cons:
1. The Vanguard easily fit into my backpack while flying. This is too tall to fit into a cabin bag.
2. The screw clamp for the sideways tilt doesn't quite lock the tilt however tight I screw it.
3. Rotation and tilt adjustments are smooth enough for adjustment purposes, but not quite smooth enough for video panning. But I hardly ever shoot videos anyway.
Overall, excellent value starter tripod for your starter DSLR.
Customer Review: Great for the price, but...
Summary: 4 Stars
This tripod is light and definitely for the amateur photographer, not for a pro. As others have stated, it's fine as a first tripod, and if you're looking for one on the cheap.
Features:
-The extendable legs are adjustable, and allow you to level your camera/camcorder, even on slopes or uneven surfaces.
-The included tripod bag isn't terribly fancy, but just that it's included is a plus.
-Built in bubble level. It's not much, but at least it's there.
-Pans and tilts - Meaning it goes, up and down, and left and right. Most (but not all) budget tripods do that anyway, so it's not a groundbreaking feature, but should be mentioned for something at this price range.
-Detachable head, for if you want to quickly remove your camera/camcorder.
Pros:
-Tall enough for most people (I'm 5'10"). Unless you are gigantically tall yourself.
-When folded, it's pretty small, and would be very convenient for carrying around.
-Fairly sturdy aluminum. It definitely supports the weight of larger cameras. That said, I wouldn't lean against it.
-It's fairly easy to detach the head, though you need both hands to put it back onto the tripod. (If you have multiple cameras/camcorders, I'm sure you can buy extra heads from the manufacturer.)
Cons:
-The plastic used for the feet, the head, and the handle just doesn't feel like it will last long. I have no doubt that with medium use, it'll start to wear and tear pretty quickly.
-Tilting and panning is not smooth at all, and ends up being sorta jerky.
The panning and tilting is not a problem for just photos, just don't use it for video. There are knobs on the tripod which allow you to loosen the head, but it's more intended for you to reposition and then retighten the knob. Certainly if you don't need smooth panning and tilting, then this one is fine.
For $25 (or less for those who got it on promotion), this is pretty good. If you want to move up beyond the ~$30 tier of budget tripods, the next step up are the tripods that are three or four times the price.
Customer Review: Bargain--Something For Almost Nothing!
Summary: 5 Stars
Every now and then a purchase can make you smile. This is one of them. You simply get so much for so little--in my case $19.99 with free Super Saver Shipping through Amazon. Twenty Bucks! That won't even get a couple into the local movie theater any more.
What you get is a very capable and light (1.25 Kg) tripod that will give most amateur photographers at least a few years of reliable support so you can devote some of your photo-budget to other desires. You also get a very serviceable shoulder bag in the bargain. The tripod is well built with sturdy aluminum legs, a precisely molded plastic friction-fitted, 3-direction mount and tab-tightened leg extensions. I seriously doubt that it will last it's full 10 year warranty, but it looks and feels like it will stand up to many hundreds to thousands of set-ups. It will very likely give plenty of warning when its days are numbered.
I've become used-to a 3-direction-type camera mount, so I don't see this as much of a disadvantage. I do believe that such mounts lend themselves better to inexpensive design and construction than ball-type mounts. For those set on a spherical mount, it would still make some sense to get this basic tripod and purchase a suitable mount separately.
There's no real point in my spelling out all the bells and whistles, like dual bubble meters and molded carrying handle, etc., etc. There are dozens of reviews that have done this very well. What I thought I could add is that ever rarer sense of wonder that every once in a while, when the word "bargain" still has some meaning in the English language.
Customer Review: light weight champion
Summary: 4 Stars
Let's be honest--this is not a professional grade tripod system and it doesn't pretend to be. It is however, a very damn good entry level tripod for use by most consumers and amateur photographers like myself. With that said, let's begin a quick overview:
1) Weight: It is extremely light weight. This is a double edged sword. The light weight is great for casual use and very portable, especially with the built-in handle mounted right on the leg. However, the light weight becomes problematic in even amateur photography when you're trying to take pictures with long exposure in the open where there is likely to be wind that could cause vibrations. This is mitigated by a small plastic hook at the bottom-center that you can attach 'some' weight--although nothing more than 10 pounds or so would be advisable.
2) Quality: plastic and tube steel. But it's a tripod so you shouldn't be looking for an air-craft aluminium and carbon fiber construction in the first place so this shouldn't be a big deal. the important thing is it feels solid and does the job well.
3) Height: Very important if you don't want to constantly hunch over to aim your sights. The 60' is a bit of an exaggeration--more like 58'-ish but that is pretty decent.
4) Cool make-sens features: built in handle is a nice touch. The water leveler is also useful. It comes with a cool little bag that you can throw in your trunk or keep on your wall somewhere.
FINAL VERDICT: if you're looking for a tripod for everyday use, you're not going to do much better.
Customer Review: Good overall, but controls are stiff
Summary: 4 Stars
This tripod is well made, light weight and considering the cost a good value. It is sturdy, has decent height and the little crank handle that adjusts vertical height using a tooth gear; a nice feature you don't expect to find a a low price tripod. My main gripe and what prevents me from giving it a five star rating is the motion of the controls are a bit too stiff unless you loosen the knobs more than you should have to and then you guessed it, then there's almost too much play. So there's no sweet spot where you always get smooth motion. It always just a bit too tight or loose. A sore point if you do a lot of panning. More so if you do telephoto, the shake introduced by the tripod either getting a bad case of the shakes from vibration it picks up as you pan if tension is too loose or tight gets annoying and can't really be overcome. In particular if you turn to move the camera into vertical (portrait mode)you have to really give the long handle a good counterclockwide turn, then again, the camera feels shakey so you quickly tighten it again making vertical panning in this position difficult.
While this model has two tiny levels, it really needs a third. The one used to level the legs works fine. The one that's designed to show if your camera is level also works well enough, but again if you go to portrait mode, there's no level to let you know if the camera is exactly horizontal on the X plane, only the Y plane (vertical). If you're picky (I am) an out of alignment horizon ruins the shot and makes you spend time in Photoshop getting it back into square.