Page 60 - NyghtVision Magazine Volume 2 #2

53 PRODUCT REVIEW: SIRUI TRIPODS

verything we had been told was true. The enough to fit into small spaces easily (we car-
Etripods we used were light, easy to put ried ours to Paris in our duffle bags) yet large
together – (consider this for example – want enough to hold a tripod and a head. I should
to unlock every segment of each leg quickly? also note that despite being banged about a
Just turn all the locking rings with one twist good bit – going and coming – the tripods
of the hand) – rugged (even smaller models were undamaged.
supported the weight of our Canon 1Ds Mark . In Paris, we
IIs and Mark IIIs with Canon’s 70-200 L-se- 3carried the
ries lens flawlessly) – and they folded into a tripods all day
very small package. Oh, and one more thing and used them
– one leg of the tripod unscrews and becomes repeatedly on a
a monopod. variety of sur-
. With most tripods the center post is a faces. There was
1potential source of problems. When used, no movement,
especially with a heavy camera and lens, the even on uneven
center post can move or slide down. The for- surfaces includ-
mer results in images which are soft or out ing gravel.
of focus unless one remembers periodically . Quality:
to tighten it. The latter produces images that 4These are
are ever so slightly soft or out of focus. Nei- carbon fiber and
ther are acceptable. in our experi-

. The Sirui tripods have four leg seg- ence it is easy
2ments, not three. This has several ben- to cut corners
efits: that effect both
a. The tripod folds into a smaller form- the function and
factor which makes it easier to carry. When aesthetics of the
the center post is retracted all the way, the tripod. No cor-
legs fold backwards over it. This reduces over ners were cut here.
all size.
A final note: Our three tripods came with
b. Opening the tripod to its full length ball heads. We tend to get into circumstanc-
can be accomplished with one half turn of es where a conventional head just doesn’t do
one’s hand since all the locking nuts fit into the job. Some of the ball heads we have used
the palm of one’s hand.
have been subject to slipping – especially
c. Closing the tripod is a matter of with a 1Ds Mark II or III attached. Not this
quickly loosening each segment, turning the one. Even at severe angles, it remained tight.
tripod upside down, and then, much as one The unique design of this ball head assures
did setting up the tripod, quickly tightening stability and flexibility in the field.
each leg in a single turn.

d. The tripod comes with a small tool Need a tripod? There’s only one we can rec-
set and a very nicely designed bag. The tools ommend: Sirui.
should address most every repair one might
need to make in the field. The bag is small

nyghtvision magazine Return to Contents volume 2, number 2, summer 2012