If both companies had been based entirely in the USA, RRS could have easily sued Leofoto out of existence, because their earliest product lineup was almost entirely comprised of virtually identical clone products. Literally, the only thing they changed was the name etched/printed on it, and the actual blueprint measurements by a millimeter here or there. I also wanted a tripod that I could use with a good quality head. Generally, the higher quality tripod heads have a wider base diameter for more stability so I wanted to ensure the tripod didn’t limit my options in choosing a tripod head. The most stunning impression when holding the FLM CP10-A1 and CB-24E is just how light it all is. At only 0.6 lbs (277g) combined weight, it is far and away the lightest mini tripod and head in this review group. The legs themselves weigh a scant 5 ounces (140g), which makes their firm and stable feeling even more surprising. The design of the legs strongly resembles the steel rods underneath the Novoflex BasicBall, but these are made from aluminum instead, and more notably, the FLM legs are permanently attached. 10 year warranty

Tripods keep your camera still for sharper and clearer long-exposure shots. Tripods are necessary for HDR photography and help with framing and composition. Tripods can also be used as a stand for other photography equipment such as lights, reflectors and Wimberly plamps.

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FLM China has been manufacturing tripods and parts for its own market for several years, building a well-deserved reputation for innovation and precision. The same high standards and precision will now run through the DNA of the new GX-series ball heads. Tripods are essential for landscape, panorama, product, tech, still life, macro, Astro, flora, storm, architecture, food and drink, special effects, and some styles of portraiture photography. In addition to this, tripods are required for videography, editorial and photojournalism work. Tripods are necessary for time-lapse and self-portrait photography too. The tripod comes with some spiked feed attachments which is a nice addition and they are good quality, you also get an Allen wrench to tighten these. The Allen wrench is also used to take the tripod apart for cleaning. There’s a loading hook that you can use to add ballast if needed, I’ve never felt the need to use this but is a good addition nonetheless. I feel like I did my homework for a few months on tripods and for what I use it for (landscape photography, currently living in the front range of Colorado), this is my “dream tripod set up” and the price point was very competitive.

Centre hooks: Centre hooks are not always essential; however, if you’re working in windy conditions or environments where you need to weigh your tripod down for more stability, you need a centre hook As with all Gitzo products, the Gitzo GM4542 Series 4 4-Section Carbon Monopod is made to exceptionally high standards. Most photographers will agree with me that Gitzo is by far one of the best tripod makers around. I go mountaineering a lot so I need something stable and not too heavy. I cant decide weather the Gitzo series 2 traveler or the Mountaineer, as I do many long exposure shots in the sea I just don´t know if they will be stable enough as they are very light.Or if I shouldn´t spend so much money and go for another brand. Note that this graph is relative only to this class of tripods. The weight and test equipment was adjusted to provide a conclusive result for this size of tripod.So once you factor in these elements, you aren’t left with very much choice in the tripod market. For those reading with a bit more knowledge on the subject you’ll be thinking ‘yeah that’s going to cost you!’. Generally, with the above criteria, you’re looking at the top end of the market and the brands which are geared towards professionals and serious hobbyists. In the mid-market, there’s always a trade-off, for example, you’ll find something that reaches the height you want but it will weigh quite a bit. This was the dilemma I was in but after much research, I eventually decided upon the FLM CP30 L4 II. Yes, it’s bigger than popular, highly marketed carbon fiber tripods from many other manufacturers, which is exactly why I bought it. That philosophy may not align with everyone, however it’s one of the main reasons (along with price point) for why I chose this model and FLM in particular. The poor presentation? Yes, the presentation is for sure not on the same "professional" level as you may be used from other companies or expect. But at least I don't care as it is about the product, not the presentation!

A tripod is an essential piece of equipment a photographer can own. That said, a tripod is not always required for photography; for example, when shooting up-close portraiture, fast sports, and fast-moving wildlife such as Kingfishers, Peregrine Falcons, Cheetahs, Leopards etc., photographers tend to handhold instead of using a tripod system.

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section legs are a real pain to set up, and a compromise in strength and longevity. The anti-rotation design that these tripods all use, namely the cheap plastic shims, are a major cause of break-down. So I'm very curious to see how this "uni-shim" design holds up to long-term abuse. (And if spares are conveniently available!) Next, '3-series' is another Gitzo tripod term referring to the different size ranges of their tripods, and it has been adopted by other manufacturers to some degree to indicate the tube diameter and general size of their products, as well. Generally, it means the top leg tube diameters of the tripod legs are between 33-36mm, although some exceed this.