Originally Posted by
WESELDAR
This tripod just came in the mail today, and since it was requested, I thought I'd do a review of it. I will begin with what was included, then the specs, then the review, so skip ahead if that's all you care about. Here goes nothing:
INCLUDED:
-The Legs of the Tripod
-The Head of the Tripod
-The Arms to attach to the head
-An Instruction Manual
-2 Quick-Release Camera Plates
-A Miniature Tripod
-A Tripod Bag
SPECS:
Model: AVT Model Tripod
Unit Heights: Collapsed- 28 3/16"
Min Operating- 26 1/4"
Max Operating- 59 3/4"
Unit Weight: 9 LBS
Unit Materials: Tripod- 100% High Grade Aluminum
Carrying Case- Nylon
Total Footprint: Min- Radius: 10 1/4", Foot to Foot: 17 3/4"
Max- Radius: 21 1/2", Foot to Foot: 38 1/4"
Height Leg Locks: 2 Height Leg Locks
Feet Materials: Removable/Adjustable Rubber Feet, Aluminum Turf Spikes
Max Weight: Supports up to 16 LBS
Quick Release Plate: 3.5" x 2.25"
Tilt: 180 degrees, 90 degrees upward or 90 degrees downward
Center Column: Geared Elevator Shaft Extension Up to 9.75"
REVIEW:
I shall begin from the bottom up.
Feet
First, the feet. These are of a black rubber material, and are removable. They seem quite durable, and I would really only want to remove them if I wanted to replace them. If you swivel the feet a few times, you will see some nice aluminum turf spikes protrude a small hole at the bottom of the feet. These stick out an inch or so and would definitely help support the tripod if you were out in the wilderness filming. All in all, I'd say the feet are very rugged and will definitely last a long time; however, there are no replacements included and they might be hard to find on the internet if you needed to change them out, but I guess that's to be expected.
9/10
Legs
Now the legs. The legs are completely made of aluminum and are of a very sturdy build quality. They extend out twice, and at the second extension, they are quite long. The support piece that keeps the legs firmly spread apart is also aluminum, and adjustable, ensuring that when you want the legs to stay open they stay open, and when they are to be packed in the case, they remain closed. A little feature I am also impressed with is the fact that they put foam on two of the legs, ensuring that the D.o.P. has a good, warm grip on the tripod when he must move the camera, especially on cold days. All in all, the legs of the tripod are of excellent quality and I have no qualms about putting my rig on them.
10/10
HEAD, ARMS, AND QUICK RELEASE PLATE
The head of the tripod, probably the most important part, is very well built, very easy to control, and is superb quality. Now I am not a tripod expert, but this head definitely moves very fluidly. It is much easier to get smoother pans and tilts with this tripod than any of my previous ones. The head lifts very easy with the turn of the crank, and is very strong. All of the adjustments have very durable, plastic knobs on them, and they all hold fast and strong. Also, the head is removable, so if you want to attach a better, more professional one to the fantastic, sturdy legs, you can! Though you may not be able to get the perfect, butter smooth pans that you would from a more expensive, professional tripod, you can definitely get closer with this tripod.
9/10
The arms of the tripod (there are two of them) are very sturdy, well built, and attach quickly and easily. It's so easy to take one off for a quick pan, and reattach it to do a nice, slow tilt. The handles on them are large enough to easily grasp, and can give you ultimate control. My D.o.P. will be very grateful for having these two amazing arms to control the movement of the camera with.
10/10
The quick release plates, there are two, for mounting your camera was a great feature added to this whole awesome package, and it definitely blurs the line between Prosumer and Professional. The quick release plate stays on the tripod head very well, and, being of metal construction, does not appear that it would break any time soon. It attaches well to any camera with the standard tripod mount, and will keep them secure. And, if you're in the middle of a shot where you have to go from a slow pan directly to a fast-paced, handheld shot, you just turn a knob and press a button, and you're off. All in all, the quick release plate is a fantastic way to safely and securely attach your camera to this great tripod.
10/10
ACCESSORIES
The included accessories are a miniature tripod and a carrying case. The miniature tripod is a good little toy, but it doesn't really have the durability to hold anything REALLY big, like a camera. I'd say its main purpose would be to hold a (small) light or a microphone. A nice thing to toss in, though. The last accessory is the black Ravelli carrying case. Made of black nylon, this bag is a great accessory, and really makes it easier to carry the tripod from place to place. It is very durable and tough, and looks like it could go through a lot. My only disappointment is that the straps are very thin, and don't seem to be stitched on with the most quality. I'm sure it will hold strong for the most part, though. All in all, these accessories were all right, just not as great of quality as the tripod its self.
8/10
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the Ravelli AVT Tripod is a great piece of equipment for any hobbyist, independent film maker, or really anyone that needs a great, high quality tool. Though it may lack some of the features and control of more expensive, more professional tripods, this tripod is a great one for only $70.
56/60
A
Thanks for reading my review of the Ravelli AVT Tripod. If you have any questions or comments, please reply below.
Thanks,
Wes
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