2014-01-28T19:00:00
Rated 4 out of 5
Very nice tripod at a great price
I needed a tripod that was designed for small video cameras and lightweight DSLR rigs. My short list contained the Libec LX5, Manfrotto 502, and Sachtler ACE. The Libec had the most attractive price, but I ultimately chose it because it was the one I knew the least about. Aside from a promotional video from Libec and one negative review on B and H, I couldn't find anything online. I was curious, so I decided to try it for myself. I knew I could send it back if I didn't like it.
First, it's a great looking tripod. The legs look strong and the head looks solid. I know it's functionality that really counts, but looks are important, too. Some budget and DIY equipment looks too cheap, and this could give producers the wrong impression of you.
Starting with the legs, they actually feel quite strong. The tubing seems thick enough to survive years of abuse - I mean, love and affection. The locks are strong and unlock with just a quarter turn. The midlevel spreader is removable, which is a nice feature if you want to get low shots. Without the spreader, the legs can be held in place with shot bags or something heavy. Some higher priced tripods, like the $800 Sachtler FSB4, do not have a removable spreader, so this is a nice feature on a cheaper set of sticks.
The feet have spikes for use outdoors or on carpets, but they can be covered with the included rubber feet. These are great because they provide a lot of surface contact with the floor.
Now on to the heart and soul, the head. Contrary to the other review, I think it moves quite smoothly. I wish LX5 had pan and tilt drag adjustments, but I knew it didn't when I ordered it. I like a lot of resistance, but I'm actually pretty happy with the pan and tilt action of this head even without the ability to adjust it. One thing to remember, the pan and tilt locks only have two positions: locked and unlocked. If the lock lever is placed halfway between those two positions, you might feel some friction and your movements will be jumpy. This might be what the negative review was talking about, but as long as the lever is completely in the unlocked position, it won't be an issue. If for some reason I end up disliking the head in the future, which I don't anticipate, but if I do, I could always keep using the Libec sticks and put on a different head.
The head balances perfectly with my Canon XA10 built up with an LED light, shotgun mic, and wireless receiver. My Canon 60D with 17-50mm and 50-150mm lenses also balances. It was important to me that the camera stay in place when I remove my hand from the handle, and this head does exactly that. However, my Canon XA10 without accessories was too light for the head to do this.
A few other things...The handle works just fine as long as it's tightened completely. The head is easy enough to level, but there's a lot of friction where the ball fits into the sticks. This may smooth out over time. I have average to big sized hands, but don't have any trouble fitting my hand under the head to unscrew the ball leveler. I wish the bubble level was illuminated, but you have to spend about $300 more for that feature. Ha! It's a little heavy, but comes with a bag so it's easy to carry.
The quick release plate is metal and locks into position just fine. I mounted a Manfrotto QR system on mine though since I have Manfrotto plates on all my cameras. This just makes swapping them much easier.
In conclusion, I think this is a killer deal. It has great features at an attractive price. Some online retailers even package the LX5 with a Libec zoom controller for another $. The zoom controller sells for $80 by itself, so for a total of $ you get a really nice system that rivals the Manfrotto 502 and Sachtler ACE.
Matthew W.
