2013-09-26T21:00:00
Rated 4 out of 5
Solid tripod with a few quibbles
I bought this tripod several months ago to replace a lighter-duty aluminum model, and tried out several comparable models from other major brands in a store before buying the Auctus 283CT from Adorama. Overall, I'm very pleased with it. I shoot a lot of HDR and long exposures, and it is rock solid stable and dampens vibration much better than my old aluminum tripod. It's ruggedly built and looks like it will last a long time. I like the heavy leg tension bolts - my old one had allen screws on the underside of the top casting that didn't do a thing, and it lost tension within a year. The leg adjustment collars operate smoothly and are well sealed - I've had no problems with grit getting into the works when shooting on sand, mud or in the water. You can actually feel air pressure resistance and hear the hiss of air running out when you collapse them. I do a lot of hiking and hill- and stair-climbing (waterfalls, towers, etc.), and while it's a little heavier and bulkier than my old one, it's only by a few inches and a pound or so and I haven't found it noticeable, especially in return for the added height and stability.
The nitpicks:
1. The instructions are entirely graphical and mostly useless. Text instructions would be good for some of the features and maintenance instructions would be desirable.
2. The center column does not slide up and down smoothly, and I don't like the design. In theory, you turn a bottom collar to adjust tension, then lock and unlock it with a top twist-ring that has little ears on it. But the ears are too short to get at under the base of my head, and the whole thing seems redundant - I'd get rid of the top ring entirely. And there's a little rotational play in the center column, even when fully locked.
3. The leg angle adjustment requires two hands and there isn't much to grab onto to raise the latches. It's difficult with wet hands and will be even worse with winter gloves.
4. The weight hook is (was) threaded rather loosely onto the bottom of the center column. It fell off and was lost on one of my first outings.
5. To remove the center column extension for low-angle shots, you rotate a knurled knob at the bottom which twists a threaded rod into the upper section. The two parts fit together very securely, but it takes a lot of twists to assemble/disassemble. Maybe that's a necessary tradeoff for a tight joint, but it does slow me down.
WILLIAM P.
2012-05-29T21:00:00
Rated 5 out of 5
Great Tripod
I was looking to upgrade my tripod and was going to go with a different popular brand, but the rebate deal for the free ball head was unbeatable. I'm glad I bought this tri-pod! Not only does the carbon construction make a difference with the weight, but it's a sturdy tripod that allows me to shoot all terrain (outdoor portraits, beach weddings, architectural details on location, etc.). I'm very pleased with the performance and quality, which is comparable to the other brands I researched.
AshPhoto
