Equipment - Tripods

Full-size Tripods, Travel Pods, Monopods, Ballheads, and Other Camera Supports

To be honest, I don't use my full-size tripod much with my photoethnographic work. They are often too heavy and clumsy. If I travel with a large tripod, I always end up leaving it in the hotel and only rarely regret not carrying it. The only real time when I need a full size tripod in the field is when I'm taking environmental portraits indoors or when I'm dong video work. I also use a tripod when I'm taking landscape or nature photographs and macrophotography, such as document copying. Of my many full size 'pods, I'm fondest of my Velbon Carmagne 640II carbon-fiber tripod with Acratech head. Using the text or images on this website without permission on an ebay auction or any other site is a violation of federal law.

This review starts with compact table-top tripods and then moves onto monopods, larger field tripods, and ballheads at the end.

Although I generally try avoid lugging around my full size 'pod, I regularly carry table-top tripods in my pack, which is why I start this page off with the smaller mini tripods. The best of the bunch are the Ultrapod II and the Leica Tabletop Tripod.

Technique: With the exception of the Leica tabletop tripod, all of the mini-tripods are not solid enough to fully control the vibration/pressure caused by pushing down on the shutter release and the SLR mirror going up. Use the following technique: 1) frame the photograph; 2) on a SLR, use your camera's mirror pre-release to flip the mirror up; 3) and put the camera on a self-timer or use a remote release to take the actual photograph. This will prevent the vibration caused by the mirror flapping or the pressure of your shutter finger from degrading the quality of your photo.

Name	Comments	Photograph
Ultrapod I Pedco MSRP $14.95	The Ultrapod I is a tiny, extremly lightweight folding tripod, but because it is so small it can only carry the smallest of compact 35mm cameras (i.e. point and shoots). SLRs and larger RF cameras are definitely too heavy for this. The tiny plastic ballhead is what makes it flexible, but is also the weakpoint. There's a limit to how much you can crank it tight. You can't really can't use the ballhead to tilt the camera for portrait shots, it flops over. Did I mention the Ultrapod I is only appropriate for point and shoots? Even the Leica CL + Canon 35mm f/2 pictured here was a bit too heavy for the Ultrapod I. The camera kept on wanting to flop. For almost every situation, I'd recommend getting the Ultrapod II instead. The Ultrapod I might be suitable for the newest generation of super-small digital cameras, however. This does make an excellent slave flash (hairlight / background light) or mini-hotlight stand, however. Folded: 4"W x 1.5"D x 2"H Open: 5.75"W x 5.5"D x 4.4"H Maximum Load: 1.5 lbs / 680g Weight 1.5 oz / 43 g Full Specs
Ultrapod II Pedco MSRP $21.95	The Ultrapod II is a much heftier and larger version of the Ultrapod I. It's still made of resin plastic, so it's lightweight. It can comfortably hold my EOS-3 with 50mm f/1.4 but the 100mm f/2.8 USM is a bit too heavy and out of balance for the mini-ballhead. Leica M cameras are no problem. The velcro strap on the Ultrapod II makes it easy to attach to poles, trees, fences, car doors, etc. This makes it easy to get over the height limitation of a tabletop tripod. The ballhead on the II is much beafier than the I and can be used for limited macrophotography. The unique articulating head provids a lot of flexibility. This is one of my favorite travel minipods. Folded down, it takes up literally no room in my pack. When using the Ultrapod, you do have to think about how to balance the camera on the pod somewhat. You can put the camera in a position that will flop the entire thing over. Using the strap can help a lot. Folded: 7.5"W x 2"D x 2.5"H Open: 9"W x 8.5"D x 6.25"H Maximum Load: 4 lbs / 1800g Weight: 4 oz / 113 g. Full Specs
Tabletop Tripod with Ballhead Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Tripod $80 Ballhead $160	The classic Leitz tripod and ballhead combination has been in production for over 50 years with very little variation. The legs lock with a wing-nut on the bottom. The legs can be splayed at any angle. This tripod is often used as a chestpod. Although it looks odd, it's very effective braced like this. The entire unit folds flat, but the 'L' shape is a bit more difficult to pack than the Ultrapod II, which I can put in my pack's water bottle pocket. The Leitz ballhead is sold separately and can be quite expensive. This is a very solid tripod/ballhead and could easily carry my Hasselblad 500cm w/ 80mm if I wanted it to. Because this came in many variations, I'm giving the specs for my version which was produced in the 1970s (I think). If you know the particulars of this model, please let me know. The solid metal ballhead is the most rigid of the miniheads. It locks extremely tight but can be released with a quick turn of the ergonomic knob. As you can see, the Leica M series cameras have the tripod screw on the right hand side, which makes for a very unbalanced camera when on a tripod. The great advantage though is that the Leitz tripod was made to work with that unbalanced weight, and as a result is very secure. It's much harder to flop it over than the other minipods. Apparently several companies made various types of clones of the Leitz tabletop tripod. A nameless Chinese clone is below, but Bogen, Minolta (TR-1), and Spiratone also produced copies. Folded: Open: Maximum Load: ?? Weight: 12 oz / 340 g
Chinese Clone of Leitz Tabletop Tripod with Ballhead ~ $30	I found this clone of the Leitz tabletop tripod with ballhead at Central Camera in Chicago. Compared to the original it sports a push-button leg release (the big red button) instead of a wingnut, but this means the leg angle is not adjustable like the original. You can only splay the legs at 120° equilateral angles where they click-lock into position. It's smaller, shorter, and slightly heavier (+60g) than the Leitz original. With the clone, I'm worried about the brass screw used to lock the ballhead, it looks like it will strip if you crank it too much. Whereas the legs of the Leitz original are elegant and spindly, almost like an organic creature, the clone's chunky, square legs look like they came off a 1970s era Japanese cartoon robot. I bought it to display my cameras at home, it won't be getting much field use because of its weight and lack of rigidity. Clone vs. Leica + Much, much, much cheaper + Built-in ballhead + Push-button leg release - Ballhead is not removable / exchangeable - Legs can only splay at 120° - Legs do not lock rigidly - Heavier and shorter Folded: Open: Maximum Load: ?? Weight: 14 oz / 397 g
Don't even think of using text/images on this page for an eBay auction! :-P

Name

Comments

Photograph

Ultrapod I
Pedco

MSRP $14.95

The Ultrapod I is a tiny, extremly lightweight folding tripod, but because it is so small it can only carry the smallest of compact 35mm cameras (i.e. point and shoots). SLRs and larger RF cameras are definitely too heavy for this. The tiny plastic ballhead is what makes it flexible, but is also the weakpoint. There's a limit to how much you can crank it tight. You can't really can't use the ballhead to tilt the camera for portrait shots, it flops over.

Did I mention the Ultrapod I is only appropriate for point and shoots? Even the Leica CL + Canon 35mm f/2 pictured here was a bit too heavy for the Ultrapod I. The camera kept on wanting to flop.

For almost every situation, I'd recommend getting the Ultrapod II instead. The Ultrapod I might be suitable for the newest generation of super-small digital cameras, however.

This does make an excellent slave flash (hairlight / background light) or mini-hotlight stand, however.

Folded: 4"W x 1.5"D x 2"H
Open: 5.75"W x 5.5"D x 4.4"H
Maximum Load: 1.5 lbs / 680g
Weight 1.5 oz / 43 g

Full Specs

Ultrapod II
Pedco

MSRP $21.95

The Ultrapod II is a much heftier and larger version of the Ultrapod I. It's still made of resin plastic, so it's lightweight. It can comfortably hold my EOS-3 with 50mm f/1.4 but the 100mm f/2.8 USM is a bit too heavy and out of balance for the mini-ballhead. Leica M cameras are no problem. The velcro strap on the Ultrapod II makes it easy to attach to poles, trees, fences, car doors, etc. This makes it easy to get over the height limitation of a tabletop tripod.

The ballhead on the II is much beafier than the I and can be used for limited macrophotography. The unique articulating head provids a lot of flexibility. This is one of my favorite travel minipods. Folded down, it takes up literally no room in my pack.

When using the Ultrapod, you do have to think about how to balance the camera on the pod somewhat. You can put the camera in a position that will flop the entire thing over. Using the strap can help a lot.

Folded: 7.5"W x 2"D x 2.5"H
Open: 9"W x 8.5"D x 6.25"H
Maximum Load: 4 lbs / 1800g
Weight: 4 oz / 113 g.

Full Specs

Tabletop Tripod with Ballhead
Ernst Leitz Wetzlar

Tripod $80
Ballhead $160

The classic Leitz tripod and ballhead combination has been in production for over 50 years with very little variation. The legs lock with a wing-nut on the bottom. The legs can be splayed at any angle. This tripod is often used as a chestpod. Although it looks odd, it's very effective braced like this. The entire unit folds flat, but the 'L' shape is a bit more difficult to pack than the Ultrapod II, which I can put in my pack's water bottle pocket.

The Leitz ballhead is sold separately and can be quite expensive. This is a very solid tripod/ballhead and could easily carry my Hasselblad 500cm w/ 80mm if I wanted it to.

Because this came in many variations, I'm giving the specs for my version which was produced in the 1970s (I think). If you know the particulars of this model, please let me know.

The solid metal ballhead is the most rigid of the miniheads. It locks extremely tight but can be released with a quick turn of the ergonomic knob.

As you can see, the Leica M series cameras have the tripod screw on the right hand side, which makes for a very unbalanced camera when on a tripod. The great advantage though is that the Leitz tripod was made to work with that unbalanced weight, and as a result is very secure. It's much harder to flop it over than the other minipods.

Apparently several companies made various types of clones of the Leitz tabletop tripod. A nameless Chinese clone is below, but Bogen, Minolta (TR-1), and Spiratone also produced copies.

Folded:
Open:
Maximum Load: ??
Weight: 12 oz / 340 g

Chinese Clone of Leitz Tabletop Tripod with Ballhead

~ $30

I found this clone of the Leitz tabletop tripod with ballhead at Central Camera in Chicago. Compared to the original it sports a push-button leg release (the big red button) instead of a wingnut, but this means the leg angle is not adjustable like the original. You can only splay the legs at 120° equilateral angles where they click-lock into position.

It's smaller, shorter, and slightly heavier (+60g) than the Leitz original. With the clone, I'm worried about the brass screw used to lock the ballhead, it looks like it will strip if you crank it too much.

Whereas the legs of the Leitz original are elegant and spindly, almost like an organic creature, the clone's chunky, square legs look like they came off a 1970s era Japanese cartoon robot.

I bought it to display my cameras at home, it won't be getting much field use because of its weight and lack of rigidity.

Clone vs. Leica

+ Much, much, much cheaper
+ Built-in ballhead
+ Push-button leg release

- Ballhead is not removable / exchangeable
- Legs can only splay at 120°
- Legs do not lock rigidly
- Heavier and shorter

Folded:
Open:
Maximum Load: ??
Weight: 14 oz / 397 g

Don't even think of using text/images on this page for an eBay auction! :-P

Monopods

I never used a monopod much in my photography. Now that I'm doing videoethnography, I'm starting to use them more since they help steady longer shots. I have two monopods: one is a hiking cane that converts into a monopod and the other is a dedicated Velbon monopod, the RUP-43.

Velbon RUP-43: I chose this model because it was light (437g) and collapsed into a small package only 53 cm (20.8") long. There are some professional monopods from Gitzo that are much stronger and taller, but they're a bit of overkill for my purposes. The RUP-43 has only one major downside that I can see -- you can't change out the ballhead as it's built-into the top of the monopod. So if you want to use your own ballhead instead of the provided unit, you're out of luck. The ballhead does not come with a quick-release, only a standard 1/4" screw.

Technical Details

Ballhead Name

RUP-43

Manufacturer

Velbon

Gitzo

Place of Manufacture

Japan

France

Date of Manufacture

Body Materials
and Leg Thickness

Aluminum legs

Round cross-section
26mm/23mm
20mm/17.2mm

Leg Design

4 leg sections
Flip-lock

Max Height
Min Height

163.7 cm
53.0 cm

Weight Limit

2 kg

5.7kg

8kg

6kg

Camera Support

Built-in ballhead
38mm platform
1/4" UNC screw

61cm

54cm

64cm

Weight

437g (0.96lbs)

1.6kg

1.51kg

2.35kg

Retail price

¥5280 (Bic Camera 2007.6)

$303

$459

Note: Using the text or images on this site in an ebay auction without permission is a violation of your ebay Terms of Service. I will report you to ebay if I discover such a violation taking place. This may result in your account being cancelled. I also reserve the right to file claim for civil penalties.

Full Size Tripods and Ballheads

To be honest, I don't use my full-size tripods much with my current street photography. They do come in handy for macrophotography and landscape photography.

Note that most full-size professional tripods are sold with the legs and the head separately. This is becauses pros are divided as to whether they prefer pan-tilt heads (best for video work and some macro work or large format photography) or ballheads (which I think are superior in most regards for field photography). Also, good tripod leg makers such as Gitzo don't necessarily make the best heads.

When you budget for a full-size tripod, budget for the legs ($200~300 for regular ones; $300-600 for carbon fiber) and a good ballhead ($300-400). Using a cheap ballhead on expensive legs is a travesty. Using the text or images on this website without permission on an ebay auction or any other site is a violation of federal law.

Name	Comments	Photograph
Gitzo Explorer Tripod G-2220 MSRP $292	This is my main studio and field tripod for my medium format work as well as macrophotography. The unique column design means that you can extend the column at any angle to the ground. This is great for field macrophotography. The legs can be splayed at any angle and locked at any length. The carbon fiber version is a bit lighter (only 300grams), but much more expensive. I've been very happy with this tripod, my main complaint is the weight, but it adds rigidity. A reader recently asked me about whether the Gitzo was suitable for use with her Pentax 67 -- a very large medium format SLR. Here's my response: Well, everything's relative. The Explorer is fairly solid so as long as you don't extend the head, I think it'd be fine. The problem is that the head is off balance and so if you extend it more than 6", then it can vibrate. So I try to avoid extending it -- which sort of defeats the purpose of the tripod's design. It's best for lighter cameras. Even my EOS 3 is a bit heavy for it. She ended up buying the Gitzo and these are her comments: Thanks for the advice...I did end up buying the Explorer and used it with my Pentax 67 all last weekend. I picked up my firts two rolls yesterday and am happy with the results. I shot most of the frames at 1 second (testing stability), but also some at faster speeds. I did have the head extended as much as 10" and did notice camera shake at these long exposures. Since these are my first rolls I have nothing to compare the images to (for image blur), but they seem pretty good. I am glad I got the Explorer because of its versatility, but realize I might compromise image quality for the versatility of the tripod. My back and neck are also glad I didn't buy a heavier tripod. p.s.: I also hung my daypack (filled with roughly eight pounds of stuff) from the column hook hoping to provide a good counterweight to the extended head with camera + just plain mass to the weight of the tripod....should add rocks next time to beef up the counter- weight even more. - Lisa Palacio Sounds great! I should add that if you're hanging things from the column hook, you should make sure that the weight is not free hanging but touching the ground slightly. This helps ensure that the center column doesn't start acting like a bottom heavy pendulum (instead of a top-heavy pendulum in the former case).
Velbon Carmagne 640 II Carbon Fiber Tripod MSRP $xx	This is my field tripod for 35mm and smaller medium format work as well as video work in the field. It's light and quick to setup and work with. The 630 series has 3 leg sections (taller both open and folded, slightly lighter, and more rigid) and the 640 series has 4 leg sections (4" more compact when folded). The latest Carmagne series feature leg locks that prevent the lower legs from rotating when you're trying to lock them. This makes it much easier to lock them. Otherwise, I have no complaints. These are much cheaper in Japan than in the USA. I have no idea how to pronounce "Carmagne."
Don't even think of using text on this page for an eBay auction! :-P
Arca-Swiss Ballhead MonoBall B1 MSRP $360	This is my main working ballhead and my favorite for my heavier cameras. I use it for my Canon EOS-3 system, Hasselblad medium format, and large format. For everything else it's massive overkill. The specs are incredible, a working load of 40kg (90lbs!). This allows it to easily carry even the largest medium format or view camera. It's also a huge chunk of alloy metal, very heavy. The ball is aspherical, which means that it doesn't suffer from ballhead flop that can damage your camera. It has excellent variable tension. The ballhead is expensive but worth every penny. I have not suffered from the Arca-Swiss "freeze" problem, but it's easily solved. I use Really Right Stuff and Kirk plates on all my cameras. These are Arca-Swiss compatible quick-release plates, but are much more rigid. They form a very secure bond with the camera.
Acratech Ultimate Ballhead MSRP $280	I wanted a small and light ballhead to use with my carbon fiber tripod. The Arca-Swiss B1 is excellent in all ways except that it is machined out of solid metal and weighs a ton. The Acratech seems to be the answer to my prayers. It's very lightweight and very solid. So far, I'm 90% satisfied with it. Unfortunately, the newly redesigned clamp on it interferes with the ClearSight Hasselblad QuickRelease that I have mounted. I'm working with the company on getting this fixed.
Velbon PH-163 MSRP $	This was my smaller and lighter travel ballhead that I used with my Velbon 630 carbon fiber tripod until I replaced it with the Acratech. The Velbon's not nearly as nice as the Arca-Swiss but is almost half the weight and one third the price. In particular, the more expensive AS has a very nice dampened motion that allows you do very nice pans and sweeps with your lens. With the PH-163, you have to loosen the head, orient the camera, and lock the head. There's really not a good middle-ground resistance setting.
Don't even think of using text/images on this page for an eBay auction! :-P

Name

Comments

Photograph

Gitzo Explorer
Tripod

G-2220
MSRP $292

This is my main studio and field tripod for my medium format work as well as macrophotography. The unique column design means that you can extend the column at any angle to the ground. This is great for field macrophotography. The legs can be splayed at any angle and locked at any length. The carbon fiber version is a bit lighter (only 300grams), but much more expensive. I've been very happy with this tripod, my main complaint is the weight, but it adds rigidity.

A reader recently asked me about whether the Gitzo was suitable for use with her Pentax 67 -- a very large medium format SLR. Here's my response:

Well, everything's relative. The Explorer is fairly solid so as long
as you don't extend the head, I think it'd be fine. The problem is
that the head is off balance and so if you extend it more than 6", then it can vibrate. So I try to avoid extending it -- which sort of defeats the purpose of the tripod's design. It's best for lighter cameras. Even my EOS 3 is a bit heavy for it.

She ended up buying the Gitzo and these are her comments:

Thanks for the advice...I did end up buying the Explorer and used it with my Pentax 67 all last weekend. I picked up my firts two rolls yesterday and am happy with the results. I shot most of the frames at 1 second (testing stability), but also some at faster speeds. I did have the head extended as much as 10" and did notice camera shake at these long exposures. Since these are my first rolls I have nothing to compare the images to (for image blur), but they seem pretty good.

I am glad I got the Explorer because of its versatility, but realize I might compromise image quality for the versatility of the tripod. My back and neck are also glad I didn't buy a heavier tripod.

p.s.: I also hung my daypack (filled with roughly eight pounds of stuff) from the column hook hoping to provide a good counterweight to the extended head with camera + just plain mass to the weight of the tripod....should add rocks next time to beef up the counter- weight even more.

- Lisa Palacio

Sounds great! I should add that if you're hanging things from the column hook, you should make sure that the weight is not free hanging but touching the ground slightly. This helps ensure that the center column doesn't start acting like a bottom heavy pendulum (instead of a top-heavy pendulum in the former case).

Velbon Carmagne 640 II Carbon Fiber
Tripod

MSRP $xx

This is my field tripod for 35mm and smaller medium format work as well as video work in the field. It's light and quick to setup and work with.

The 630 series has 3 leg sections (taller both open and folded, slightly lighter, and more rigid) and the 640 series has 4 leg sections (4" more compact when folded).

The latest Carmagne series feature leg locks that prevent the lower legs from rotating when you're trying to lock them. This makes it much easier to lock them. Otherwise, I have no complaints.

These are much cheaper in Japan than in the USA. I have no idea how to pronounce "Carmagne."

Don't even think of using text on this page for an eBay auction! :-P

Arca-Swiss
Ballhead
MonoBall B1

MSRP $360

This is my main working ballhead and my favorite for my heavier cameras. I use it for my Canon EOS-3 system, Hasselblad medium format, and large format. For everything else it's massive overkill. The specs are incredible, a working load of 40kg (90lbs!). This allows it to easily carry even the largest medium format or view camera. It's also a huge chunk of alloy metal, very heavy.

The ball is aspherical, which means that it doesn't suffer from ballhead flop that can damage your camera. It has excellent variable tension. The ballhead is expensive but worth every penny. I have not suffered from the Arca-Swiss "freeze" problem, but it's easily solved.

I use Really Right Stuff and Kirk plates on all my cameras. These are Arca-Swiss compatible quick-release plates, but are much more rigid. They form a very secure bond with the camera.

Acratech Ultimate Ballhead

MSRP $280

I wanted a small and light ballhead to use with my carbon fiber tripod. The Arca-Swiss B1 is excellent in all ways except that it is machined out of solid metal and weighs a ton.

The Acratech seems to be the answer to my prayers. It's very lightweight and very solid. So far, I'm 90% satisfied with it. Unfortunately, the newly redesigned clamp on it interferes with the ClearSight Hasselblad QuickRelease that I have mounted. I'm working with the company on getting this fixed.

Velbon PH-163

MSRP $

This was my smaller and lighter travel ballhead that I used with my Velbon 630 carbon fiber tripod until I replaced it with the Acratech.

The Velbon's not nearly as nice as the Arca-Swiss but is almost half the weight and one third the price. In particular, the more expensive AS has a very nice dampened motion that allows you do very nice pans and sweeps with your lens.

With the PH-163, you have to loosen the head, orient the camera, and lock the head. There's really not a good middle-ground resistance setting.

Don't even think of using text/images on this page for an eBay auction! :-P

Technical Details

Ballhead Name

Carmagne 640 II

Carbone 443

G1228

Explorer AL

Manufacturer

Velbon

Manfrotto

Gitzo

Place of Manufacture

Japan

Italy

France

Date of Manufacture

Body Materials

Carbon-fiber legs
Aluminium center column

Aluminium legs and center column

Leg Design
diameter

4 leg sections
Twist-lock
28mm diameter

3 leg sections
Flip-lock
xxmm diameter

4 leg sections
Twist-lock
28mm diameter

3 leg sections
Twist-lock
28mm diameter

Max Height
Col Raised
Col Lowered
Min Height

151cm
124cm
14.7cm

173cm
130cm
29cm

154cm
132cm
32cm

162cm
126cm
11.5cm

Weight Limit

6kg

5.7kg

8kg

6kg

Folded Length

44.7cm

61cm

54cm

64cm

Weight

1.58kg

1.6kg

1.51kg

2.35kg

Retail price

$303

$459

Ballhead Name

Ultimate Ballhead

Monoball B1

BH-55

PH-163 / PH-273QL

Manufacturer

Acratech

Arca Swiss

Really Right Stuff

Velbon

Place of Manufacture

USA

Italy

USA

Japan

Date of Manufacture

Design

Unique 45° open ballhead design.

Fully trapped elliptical ballhead with traditional single notch design

Fully trapped spherical ballhead with dual notch design

Controls

Primary ballhead friction control.

Secondary drag friction control (normally locked)

Pan head friction control

Primary ballhead friction control.

Secondary friction limiter.

Pan head friction control

Combined ballhead and panhead friction control.

Weight Limit

10kg

40kg

23kg

? / 5kg

Height

104mm

114mm

94mm

109 / 114mm

Ball Diameter

54mm elliptical

55mm

Weight

450g

770g

840g

400g / 455g

Retail price

$280

$400

$455

Fluid Video Heads

Ballhead Name

PH-278DV

Monoball B1

BH-55

PH-163 / PH-273QL

Manufacturer

Velbon

Arca Swiss

Really Right Stuff

Velbon

Place of Manufacture

Taiwan

Italy

USA

Japan

Design

Faux fluid video tripod with spring counterbalance in tilt

Fully trapped elliptical ballhead with traditional single notch design

Fully trapped spherical ballhead with dual notch design

Tripod mount

1/4"

QR Plate

Proprietary (magnesium)
QB-7

Controls

Tilt friction control
Pan friction control

Pan head friction control

Primary ballhead friction control.

Secondary friction limiter.

Pan head friction control

Combined ballhead and panhead friction control.

Weight Limit

3kg

40kg

23kg

? / 5kg

Height

104mm

114mm

94mm

109 / 114mm

Ball Diameter

54mm elliptical

55mm

Weight

1.1kg

770g

840g

400g / 455g

Retail price

¥9800

$400

$455

Links to more tripod information:

Ron Bean has an excellent review of tabletop tripods (a must read)
SubClub has a great review of mini tripods
WebSiteOptimization.com
Tripods and ballheads by Thom Hogan
Steven Scharf has a great review of small field tripods
Robert Segal has an excellent (if a bit dated, 2002) review of travel/field tripods on his site (local PDF version)
EOSLightbox: Arca-Swiss B1 vs. Acratech Ultimate
Acratech Ultimate Ballhead
Really Right Stuff BH55:
- Luminous Landscape
- Moose Peterson Preview
- Digital Outback Photo (Paul Caldwell) - very extensive review w/ photos

Copyright © 2002-10 by Karen Nakamura. All rights reserved. This page and its images may not be reduplicated in any form. Use in ebay auctions strictly prohibited, violaters will be reported. Please do not jeopardize your feedback ratings by engaging in copyright violations, it is a violation of Federal and International Copyright law as well as ebay terms of service.