Name: Sunpak PRO 523PX2 Carbon Fiber Tripod with Pistol Grip QR Ball Head, Maximum Height: 64.25", Load Capacity: 6.1 lbs.
Brand: Sunpak
SKU: SUP523PX2
Price: 119.95 USD
Availability: Discontinued
Rating: 3.95 (23 reviews)

Sunpak PRO 523PX2 Carbon Fiber Tripod with Pistol Grip QR Ball Head, Maximum Height: 64.25", Load Capacity: 6.1 lbs.

Sunpak 523PX2

Sunpak

Sunpak 523PX2 3-section Carbon Fiber Tripod with Pistol Grip QR BallHead - Black

Adorama

Photography

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Sunpak 523PX2 

Buy: Sunpak PRO 523PX2 Carbon Fiber Tripod with Pistol Grip QR Ball Head, Maximum Height: 64.25", Load Capacity: 6.1 lbs. Closed Length: 25.1" to 30", Color: Black, Maximum Extended Height: 55.1" to 65", Maximum Height: 50.1" to 55"

I think this review may be pointless as I thought I bought the tripod on closeout.  It not rigid at all.  I have to use a cable on the camera as pushing the shutter causes shakes.  It is light though.

Carbon fiber, BUT

good inexpensive

Bought this to carry in my suit case when we fly out of town.

Good knock around tripod

Before I reviewed this product, I wanted to get some genuine, time-tested field experience with it. At this stage, I've used the Sunpak PRO 523PX2 for a little over a year mostly for landscape, night shots and macro photography. 

Due to the types of photos I'm taking, I usually have to hike quite a ways before I start shooting. I carry this tripod in its included carrying case (which has an internal zippered compartment I use for filters, cable release and bottled water) everywhere I go. I really appreciate the tripod's light weight and the padded case, especially after lugging around an old aluminum tripod strapped to my pack with bungee cords for years. At the time of purchase, this was the only reasonably-priced, carbon-fiber tripod I could find which extended over 5 feet. Fully extended it works well in most situations. At the top height, it can be a little shaky in a medium-stiff wind. During the setup and teardown, the legs unfold fast with the easy-to-use controls and afterward, it comes down just as quickly. 

The ballhead includes a pistol grip and quick release plate which are extremely convenient and fast-use during setup, adjustment while shooting and teardown. The tech specs rate the ballhead at 6.1lbs. The top load I've ever been able to put on it is just shy of 5lbs and it has deteriorated over the year. A DSLR & zoom lens combo causes the ballhead to droop. For most of the year, I've held it in place with my hand or adjusted the tripod legs in a way that I could lean the ballhead (with DSLR & lens attached) on a tripod leg to stabilize it. At this point, after adjusting every screw I can find, it's barely able to hold a DSLR & 50mm lens (less than 3 pounds). This is the primary reason I gave this product 2.5 stars.
 
A month ago, I gave up and bought a Manfrotto 496RC2 ballhead to replace the pistol grip ballhead. The Manfrotto is not a pistol grip and its quick release plate has a quirky safety feature that makes it not as 'quick' as the Sunpak quick release plate but, the 496RC2 (rated at 13lbs) SOLIDLY holds every DSLR/lens combo I have. 

To summarize, based on my experience with this product:  I'm very happy with the carbon-fiber tripod. I give it a BIG recommend. The pistol grip ballhead that accompanies it would probably work well for those who shoot with a point-and-shoot or some of the lightweight mirrorless outfits. If you own a DSLR and shoot with a zoom lens, you'll likely have to buy a different ballhead.

Great CF Tripod with light-duty Ballhead

Everything was suppossed to be perfect considering one don´t spend too much on a carbon fiber tripod but the thread on the quick release platform was very bad done so it´s impossible to attach it to any camera. Unfortunatelly I noticed that when returning to Mexico from my shopping trip to US. It seems the brand never paid atention to quality control. Without that single screw a tripod un absolutelly useless. Sometimes it´s worth buying a serious brand regardless the money.

somewhat dissapointed

Use for low light/time exposures, closeup (flowers, insects) and wildlife tele shooting.  This is a firm tripod with a very tight yet quickly adjusted pistol grip ball head. Leg latches are quick to release and adjust, making set up - take down fast.  Has held up well in the wet and dusty environs I'm often in.

Excellent, sturdy, reasonably priced

This is an easy to use tripod.  The quick release offers flexibility, and it is lighter than my old aluminium tripod. It's always a good idea to insure things are secured prior to using the tripod, and if you look inside the carry case you will find a zippered compartment with the operating instructions inside.

Very pleased

With the pistaol grip can move to any position.

Steady, rock steady

Use mostly for scenery photos with some shots of birds flying through.  The pistol grip makes following the flight of birds very easy.  Handy for wildflower photos also.

Very Easy to Use

Bought this for my wife.  The head fell off on our first trip with it

flimsy

Most of the knobs and levers are pretty easy to figure out.  But one of them was stuck so hard I didn't know whether it was supposed to be moved or not (I eventually did get it to budge, but with a lot of force).  An instruction manual would have been helpful, but one didn't come with it, and I can't find one on the web.  There are still a few things that I can't quite figure out.

Good tripod, but lacks a manual

With the exception of the quick release plate, which seems almost too large to insert into the quick release quickly, this is a fine product so far. I have used it for macros, telephotos, wildlife and other pictures.
If the ball head holds up over time with my relatively heavy tele lens, this will have been the best photo purchase I have ever made.

A great travel tripod.

This was a gift for my wife who is a photo enthusiast. The tripod works very well and only complaint is the screw holding the ballhead on can be mistakenly turned allowing the unit to become lose on the tripod. This can lead to the camer (a Nikon D7000 to float).

Tripod works wonders

Lightweight carbon fibre with fine quality ball head.  Pistol Grop makes composing quick...holds camera firmly.  I use it with 35mm film cameras and DSLR with 18-200 mm lens.  Should handle most DSLR equipment.Carrying case and padded legs makes it a great choice for hiking and backpacking.  I have owned it for 11 months and had no trouble with the grip or ball head.

Sunpak Pro Excellent Value

A great tripod at a great price. This was my first pistol-grip tripod and I'll never use any other kind. Moves so smoothly and locks into place tight as soon as you release. Works just as well for horizontal or vertical shots. My only complaint is that it was a bit heavier than I was expecting. But other than that I give it two thumbs up!

Excellent tripod!

I have used this for taking pictures of landscape, birds, deer and night photos of the moon. It allows me quick tracking of moving objects with the pistol grip and the combination of the pistol grip and ball head grip strongly and are very stable. I decided to chose this tripod because it had larger diameter legs than the next smaller version and am glad I did.

This is a great product and easy to use.

This is a very good tripod.  I use it with my D300 and it is rock solid

A great piece of equiptment

Well made.  I only wish it came with a ball head and not the pistol grip.
I ended up taking the pistol grip off and attaching a ball head to it.

Well made and lightweight

heavier than expected, wish it folded smaller. otherwise stable and with a great ball head. the pistol grip is oh-so-convenient

as advertised

I really like the tripod, the price was good, is stable but just time will tell me about pistol grip quality.

Good choice, reliable and light tripod!

The PRO 523PX2 Carbon Fiber Tripod with Pistol Grip QR Ball Head is light weight, but very sturdy and steady

great product at a great price

Overall I like the tripod and the head it comes with.  I had to hunt for the short center column.  It was tucked away in a pouch in the carrying case. [...]

Nice Tripod [...]

A GREAT CARBON FIBER COMBO DEAL- (includes Tripod, Pistol Grip {with Quick Release Plate} BALL-HEAD; and nice Case). I have been using SUNPAK Products for 30 Years, and have been buying from ADORAMA for over 20 Years: I am well pleased with both Sunpak and Adorama. [...]