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Automated Teller Machines with Security Cameras
ATMs or automated teller machines are electronic machines that are often found outside banks or near a variety of shops and convince stores. These machines provide a great service to the public by allowing them to withdraw money from their bank account by simply scanning their credit card as well as type in a previously chosen security code. The average individual does not have to wait for a bank to open or even speak to a real person; he or she can simply use those machines any time they want without any hassle. Of course these machines are loaded with actual cash money that can be given to the users who withdraw it legally. And where ever you have money, you have some sort of criminal elements which strive to get a hold of it illegally.
For ATM machines it is best to use two kinds of cameras. The first camera should be an obvious camera that is set up on top or very close to the ATM machine. The second camera would be a hidden camera installed inside the ATM machine itself to allow it to capture the facial features of the customer. Those two cameras severe different but complementary purposes. To start with, the obvious camera can greatly assist in deterring away any type of crime or suspicious activity near the ATM machine. On top of that, it would help the viewer to conceive what is happening around the ATM machine and will present the bigger picture in a better view compared to the small hidden camera. on the other hand, the hidden camera will do a great job at identifying potential hackers and thieves who try to break into the machine or try to force others into giving them their money using the ATM machine. Even though those two cameras do different things, their combined footage tell a more complete story and tend to make police investigations go a lot smother
We shall discuss two simple, but real life, examples just to give you an example of how these two cameras would work together. In a strange video captured by an ATM security camera a woman was shown to walk up to the machine and start to deduct some cash amounts from her account. She was also talking on her cellular phone and not paying attention to her surroundings. When suddenly, a man wrapped his arm around her neck and grabbed her throat while pointing a gun to her head using the other hand. He commanded her to withdraw everything from her account. She complied. But luckily, the small hidden camera was able to capture a clear image of his face and he will soon be arrested.
In this case the hidden camera was more helpful than the overhead camera. In another case, two burglars decided to steal the entire ATM machine and run away with it. They used a fork lifter to do this unprecedented act. The hidden camera was not very clear since they were operating at a relatively far distance. But the over head security camera showed a much clearer image of the entire incident.
Adam Tyc – head cam (CZ 75 SP01 SHADOW )
 Professional Ball Head Camera Mount List Price: Sale Price: $12.99 You save: $3.00 (19%)  Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating:  DescriptionMini ball head with single knob for ball and pan functions. Features
ReviewsAdvertised load capacity too optimistic Using the Giotto’s 3/8 inch socket by taking out the 1/4 inch bushing, mounting this diminutive head on my Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro Tripod Legs (Black) gives me just barely under 2 turns of threading, which is solid enough for most point-n-shoots on this, admittedly, overkill tripod for such a purpose. Mounting the head to my Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ4K 8.1MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) gives me almost exactly 2 turns; to my Fujifilm Finepix F70EXR 10MP Super CCD Digital Camera with 10x Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD, over 2 1/2 turns; and, in a pinch, to my Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Black Gold Special Edition (Body Only), just over 2 1/4 turns. I have no idea how long the threads will last, but all of these connections are well within the sturdy range. My only negative observation is that the advertised load capacity for this ball head is overly optimistic: this is fine for point-n-shoots, but when I have grabbed this in a pinch for my Nikon D60 with a lightweight lens, the mount is anything but steady, even on the Manfrotto, even though the total weight of the camera, lens (a Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras, battery, card, and camera strap weigh in at ONLY 2lbs, 1oz — less than HALF of the Giotto’s advertised “load capacity” of 4.4lbs. It holds together, but just barely, and it’s a bit wobbly. I know this product is not designed for a DSLR, but shouldn’t any product perform steadily at _under half_ of its advertised load capacity? Just in the odd case that someone would consider getting this mount for the Manfrotto tripod mentioned above, I’d recommend against it — the thumbscrew on the ball head is so close to the wide base of the ball-head mounting surface on the Manfrotto and is so short, that it’s quite difficult to tighten. I haven’t noticed that problem mounting the Giotto to quick-releases on cheaper tripods, though. My complaint is that the effective weight rating for this product appears to be under half of what it advertises. Great micro ball head Works as advertised Light weight ball head for P/S cameras Strong, any position  |
 Ravelli AVT Video Camera Tripod with Fluid Drag Head List Price: Sale Price: $78.39 You save: $120.61 (61%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating:  DescriptionThe Ravelli AVT is constructed of pressure treated aluminum and is unrivalled in The Ravelli AVT is a high performance fluid drag video head that provides continuous drag control and operates on both pan and tilt axis with independent pan and tilt locks. The Ravelli AVT tripod head features finely machined parts for greater positioning with smooth, definite action. An easy to use fluid head comprised of titanium-line components for up to medium format and utilizes full two-way action allowing you to isolate the plane of motion and make precise adjustments to your compositions. Features
ReviewsGREAT GREAT GREAT>>>>>>>>>>…….GREAT Ravelli AVT Camera Tripod Fluid Head is a DRAG This product is a waste of time if you plan to use it on a video camera Terrible tripod for video Poor Quality Tripod |
 GoPro Head Strap Mount for HERO Cameras Sale Price: $14.99 DescriptionThe Head Strap Mount keeps the Helmet HERO camera mounted to your head without a helmet. The Head HERO is the same accessory that comes with the Helmet HERO camera and works well as a replacement or spare strap. It keeps your hands free and allows you to stay focused when climbing, swimming, performing search and rescue operations or any other activity where a helmet isn’t needed or required. Features
ReviewsYou forget you have it on your head! Surprisingly Comfortable One tip: Practice with the strap on your head before using it the first time. The camera needs to be pointed down at a greater angle than you would initially suspect. Its not a flaw of the product, just my perception. After one adjustment I was able to easily simulate a first-person view instead of having 80% sky in every picture. Total adjustment and testing time was less than 5 minutes but required a computer or TV to verify recordings – so do this at home before starting your activity. Head strap for GoPRo Dork-O-Vision Perfect |
 Ravelli AVTP Professional 75mm Video Camera Tripod with Fluid Drag Head Sale Price: $134.69 DescriptionThe Ravelli AVTP is a complete Professional 75mm Video Tripod including legs, mid-level spreader, dual fluid head and carry bag. The legs are a 3-Segment Interlocking Crutch-Type design with a mid-level spreader providing oustanding stability for Video Cameras up to 27lbs. The legs utilize large ergonomic lock adjustment knobs and rubber feet for stability. Interchangeable heads connect to the legs using a standard 75mm bowl with a separate lock adjustment providing pan and tilt adjustment in addition to the head. The head features dual continuous drag fluid movement for both 360 degree pan and 180 degree tilt as well as dual handles for more precise control. There are independent locks for both the the pan and tilt axis. The camera secures to the head using a quick release video plate with a separate safety latch to prevent slideoff. The carry bag is large enough to hold the legs, head and spreader and is included for your convenience. Features
ReviewsPretty solid Great for the price! Hello, in order for you to find this review useful, I feel like I should give you some background info of myself. I’m a film student and I was looking for a tripod with these requirements [in order of importance]: 1) Inexpensive. I’m lucky enough to have experienced with a lot of different types of equipment through my school, which enables me to compare the the Ravelli tripod to the other tripod brands I’ve used (mainly Manfrottos). .:PACKAGING/SHIPPING:. The tripod arrived promptly and was securely packaged. Everything had its wrapper so it didn’t look used. However, I did notice a few very noticeable scratch marks on the tripod handle and on the tripod itself. I haven’t contacted Amazon/CheetahMounts about it yet since it doesn’t seem to affect the tripod’s performance, but it does look as if it’s a refurbished/used model. Pics of scratches: .:ACCESSSORIES:. The bag that it comes with feels a bit cheap, because the material is really thin, but it does get the job done. It has two different straps for you to carry either with your hands (like a briefcase) or on your shoulder (like a messenger bag). Picture of tripod with included bag: The tripod also came with a mini tripod (!) which I wasn’t expecting! It’s basically for compact digicams, and it does have extendable legs which raises up to about 7 or so inches. There’s also a backup camera plate. .:QUALITY:. The tripod is really well built. From what I can see/feel, they used mainly metal and only rubber/plastic for the handles and the feet. The tripod feels really solid, but not too heavy or bulky. The camera mount also feels really sturdy. Overall, the construction is very good, but mine did come with some scratches and scrapes as noted above. .:PERFORMANCE:. Like what the other reviewers have said, the fluid head is pretty stiff (even when the pan/tilt is loosened all the way). During certain pan/tilt movements, if you don’t hold the tripod down, you may end up lifting one of the legs off the ground. This usually happens when I try to tilt from the lowest point to the highest point or vice versa. If you use your spare hand to hold one of the legs down, it isn’t a big problem. Now, the head itself is very smooth. As you pan/tilt, you won’t feel any bumps/jerks or sudden increase/decrease in resistance, but it does take some effort to keep a constant speed when panning compared to pricier tripods. It’s easier to keep a tilt at a constant speed than panning, but I’m not sure if that’s the tripod or just me. The legs are made of metal and should be sturdy enough if your camera stays within the weight limit Ravelli suggests. The locking mechanism is a big knob which makes locking/releasing your legs .:PERFORMANCE TEST:. The video I’m linking is made with the Ravelli Tripod so you can get a sense of what you can do with it. I made the video after owning the camera for about a week, so you can probably get better results with more practice. I used the rubber band technique for all of the movements which I recommend for anyone who has a cheap tripod. Basically, you wrap a rubber band on the tripod handle and use it to maneuver the tripod rather than the handle itself. The rubber band should help eliminate some of the jerkiness. Link to [...] .:CONCLUSION:. For its price, I would definitely say it’s 5 stars. The fluid head is not perfect, but with some practice and the rubber band technique, you can still perform some amazingly smooth camera moves. It’s also solid enough to last me a few years until I’m ready to upgrade, and even then, it’s perfectly capable as a backup tripod. Stiff Head / Great Customer Service A good tripod Revalli AVTP Tripod |
 Joby GP3 Gorillapod SLR-Zoom Flexible Tripod with BH1 Ball Head with Bubble Level for Digital SLR Cameras List Price: Sale Price: Too low to display DescriptionThe Gorrilapod SLR Zoom attaches to SLRs (with zoom lenses!), video cameras, and your own tripod head, and can support a whopping 6.6 pounds (3kg)!The BH1 Ballhead is designed to work with the popular Gorillapod SLR-ZOOM model, the ball head affords users the ability to easily tilt and rotate their cameras, while the Gorillapod provides unwavering support on almost any surface. The ball head is capable of a full 360-degree pan and 90-degree tilt. When locked into place with its indexed adjustment knob, the ball head, like its eponymous Gorillapod, can support up to 3 kg (6.6 lbs). The ball head also includes a quick-release bubble level clip that can remain attached to a camera for effortless, instant setup, ensuring a perfectly level photo every time. Features
ReviewsIt’ll Hold King Kong of Minipods Enter the Gorillapod which has worked beautifully for just such shots. I went for this configuration with the ball joint mount to increase the possible angles of attack in my photography and I’m glad I did. The way the articulated legs are constructed, I’ve been able to get my camera into all kinds of positions I could only get handheld before if I could get them at all. You may have seen pictures of the Gorillapod wrapped around tree branches and other objects and I’m here to tell you that’s a completely practical application of the versatility of this tripod. It’s very well constructed, easy to use, and lightweight making it easy to tote around to use about anywhere cameras are allowed. Glad I bought, but . . . Works fine in landscape orientation (normal camera position) on relatively level surfaces. But when wrapping the legs around an angled object, you’re back to depending on the (small) ball head to keep the camera level — which again is difficult to do without drift when trying for portrait orientation. So far I’ve not found the Gorillapod as practical or versatile as I’d hoped and imagined. So I’ve used it far less than I anticipated. I’ve heard exactly the same reactions from a friend who bought his Gorillapod a week before I did. Am I disappointed? Maybe I was expecting too much. Yes, it’s easy to carry and I will use it (or try to) in some situations. Is it overpriced? Not really, in my opinion. Will it replace your tripod? Not even close. Is it essential? No. Helpful? Yes. Frankly, I imagine I’ll ultimately use it more often to position a Speedlite than to hold my camera. For THAT, it’s terrific. Will hold a shoe mount multiclamp, Speedlite and umbrella — as long as there’s something to wrap the Gorillapod’s legs around. You can quickly set your light in some interesting positions, depending on the environment. I love this tripod/ball head combo. The Joby GP3 is a heavier-duty tripod than what I need for my Panasonic Lumix FZ28 digital camera (as well as a couple of hand-held prosumer HD camcorders I own), but I wanted the ball head, wanted to err on the side of caution as far as sturdiness is concerned, and think that someday I will step up from my “bridge” camera (the Lumix) to a digital SLR. My son-in-law is a professional photographer and he tried the GP3 with one of his gi-normous digital SLR’s with a giant zoom lens attached, and the tripod and ball head held the monster stably and my son-in-law was impressed and said he may have to pick up a Joby GP3/ball head combo. The tripod/ball head combo is as portable as can be. When hiking in the woods I carried it attached to my camera which was slung ’round my neck, and it never got in the way when I was walking and when I took a few hand-held shots, and I barely noticed the extra weight. When carrying it in and around the hospital, I simply bent one of the legs in such a way that it held to part of the handle of my camera bag and it was as unobtrusive as can be. I also own an original Joby tripod which I use for Flip and Vado mini-camcorders, and when I had a problem with that Gorillapod’s locking mechanism (a mechanism not found – or necessary – on the GP3), I emailed Joby and received some of the best customer service I’ve ever received (I say that as someone who once managed customer service reps). That excellent customer service experience convinced me that Joby stood behind its products and was an ethical, trustworthy company, and so I had no problem paying what I would say is a price on the high side for this tripod/ball head combo. The ball head itself is as smooth as can be and is easy to adjust. The flexible tripod legs are not as easy to adjust as are the flexible legs of the original Joby tripod, but that is to be expected given that the original is only meant to hold up to 11.5 ounces while the GP3 (AKA the SLR-Zoom) is meant to hold up to 6.5 POUNDS. It just takes more force to adjust the flexible legs, but they adjust just fine and adapt well to tree limbs, chair arms, the rails of hospital beds, backyard deck rails, fences, etc. They are also easy to re-straighten if you straighten each leg one movable part at a time (a procedure that takes much less time than it sounds like it might take). I consider the Joby SLR-Zoom/ball head combo a great addition to my modest collection of digital photography supplies and accessories, and am glad I sprung for it. I want to add that one reason I wanted this ultra-portable tripod was so I could take more photos using my camera’s timer (so I can get sharper photos than I typically can when hand-holding the camera, and occasionally include myself in shots; unfortunately my Lumix is not designed to be used with a shutter release cable), and this combo is ideal for that. Good for a DSLR |
 Dolica AX620B100 62-Inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head List Price: Sale Price: $44.93 You save: $21.06 (32%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating: DescriptionDolica¿s 62″ Aluminum Proline Tripod is ideal for both indoor and outdoor photography It is perfect for events, sports activity, capturing that one amazing shot Designed for use with Point-N-Shoot cameras and / or Digital SLR cameras Tripod Features: Professional Aluminum alloy construction and able to support up to 13.2 lbs Base thread: 3/8″ Ballhead, quick release plate, bubble level and compass 90 degree vertical platform Standard-wide angle, semi-wide angle, full-wide angle Quick release leg locks and non-slip rubber feet. Features
ReviewsGreat Deal As far as I can tell, it has all the right features, it looks nice, is super lightweight, and it’s easy to use. I am ordering another one for my office. Not perfect, but a great value. Fit and finish is quite nice, even when compared to the true pro-quality tripods. As expected, the ball head isn’t perfect, but is actually pretty nice for the money; But the mount/seat (more specifically, the female threads of the mount/seat) are not of great quality, so you may find a little extra movement after a lot of use. I remedied this with some Loktite and a bit more torque on the hex stud that goes through the ball. Being made out of aluminum, it is nice and light, but a little too light for confident use at full extension… I am always within reach of the camera when using this tripod. The leg locks are on the cheap side (no surprise there), but function well. Overall, it’s actually a pretty decent tripod for the money, but don’t expect greatness if you plan on using more than occasionally. If your a total beginner to photography, this tripod would probably work well for you. But if you are at a higher experience level, save your money. Awesome for the money! really great, except the ballhead knob. But, the knob part of ballhead needs some improvement. I have to constantly screw and release it to adjust the angle of my camera during shooting, but the end of the knob does not hold the end and easily comes out and falls down. Actually I lost my knob on my first trip with the tripod. Other than that, I recommend this tripod. Canon 50D |
 Manfrotto 234RC Monopod Head Quick Release – Replaces 3229 Sale Price: $40.50 DescriptionAn excellent addition to your monopod, this simple tilt head to allow a camera on a Monopod to be turned 90° to provide either vertical or horizontal format. With quick release camera plate system and secondary safety lock you can quickly and easily mount your camera on the monopod. This replaces the Bogen Manfrotto 3229. Features
Reviewsexcellent, easy to use, as it said, head quick release. best go with my d200 Not My Favorite Manfrotto Product Simplicity For me, this head screws onto the Manfrotto 682B Self Standing Monopod (Black). Attachment couldn’t have been easier, thread on the bottom of the head to the top screw of the monopod. Bam, job done. What I really like about this head, the quick release mechanism. The lock is positive. In order to release the head, you have to swing brass pin, then rotate the large lever. If you’ve seated the brass pin correctly, it is almost impossible to accidently remove the quick release. There’s a beefy butterfly style screw on the inside of the quick release mount to attach the mount to your camera. With a bit of work, it is possible to move the camera screw to three other offset positions (you have to remove a snap ring with needle nose pliers to release the screw). This is a nice option for smaller lighter cameras. The tilt mechanism is just about genius. Loosen a good size wing nut and the mount will rotate 90 degrees left or right. Full stop at either end is 90 degrees. The only minor issue, there is no detent or marker for 0 degrees. On a monopod this is not a huge problem, you’re probably going to be leaning forward or backward anyway. On a tripod this would be a big problem. I really like the ability to switch very quickly from horizontal to vertical compositions with this head. Like everything from Manfrotto and Bogen, this head is way over engineered, the casting is hefty and strong. This head will fit all the Manfrotto monopods, including the carbon fiber series. If you don’t need quick release and want to save a little money, this head is virtually the same thing: Manfrotto 234 Monopod Tilt Head (Replaces 3232). Another football season starts in a few weeks. This year I am prepared with camera supports that will finally work. Excellent product and service A good basic monopod head When it came time to get a head for my monopod, I went straight for the bogen/manfrotto’s – maybe my hopes were just too high, but I expected it to be a little different. Right off the bat – it’s solid. It doesn’t feel like it’s going to fall apart or break on you, I have no concerns there. It also looks quite nice and uses the great “Quick Release” system (Manfrotto also makes a normal “234″ head, without the quick release). Using multiple lenses, or when you’re in a hurry, you’ll want the quick release system (and the great thing is that you can use the same plates on multiple heads! I can pop my camera off the 234 and then right onto my 322RC2). Great! My problem came with the actual control of this one – I must have just not read close enough (or assumed for the better) but it’s only got a single-axis tilt. That means it’ll tilt forward or backwards. It won’t tilt side-to-side or spin – just forwards/backwards. While this probably won’t be an issue for most, being able to tilt it to the sides (while also tilting forwards/backwards) is something I do a lot with my other ballhead. Not being able to do it and get the angles I needed with this one was a big disappointment. Maybe I just expected too much out of it — it works great on my monopod and superclamps, it just didn’t give me all the control I need. |
 Manfrotto 322RC2 Joystick Head Short Sale Price: Too low to display DescriptionTake the versatility of a ball head, add true ergonomic control and you get the 322RC2: a photographic head that allows you to unblock, move, position and lock your camera with one hand in one position thanks to the revolutionary design of its grip handle, which incorporates the ball lock lever and can also mount the 322RS shutter release accessory. A friction control wheel lets you regulate the power of the blocking mechanism to match the weight of your camera/lens. The 322RC2 is made from magnesium for lightweight performance, and is designed to keep the weight of your kit as close as possible to the tripods centre of gravity by way of its reduced height. It is this fact, matched with the precision construction of the 322RC2 that gives the head its load capacity of 5kg. Complete with built-in bubble spirit level and quick release camera plate (standard 1/4 screw, with secondary safety pin). Suitable for use with 35mm or medium format cameras.FEATURES: The built-in, carefully hand-set bubble spirit level helps make sure your horizons really are horizontal. Separate control for pre-setting the friction of the ball when unblocked. The position of the red line indicates the approximate amount of friction applied. The compact, rectangular 200PL quick release plate system fits neatly under small-bodied still cameras up to SLR (even with tele lenses) or small medium format, or under small video cameras or spotting scopes. Its rubber pad gives a good grip without damaging the camera, and its angled sides ensure that it also fits perfectly and tightly into a wide range of Manfrotto heads reversible center column allows head and camera to be mounted below the tripod – useful for: low-level shooting (because it keeps the tripod and your equipment out of the mud); working with heav Features
ReviewsLove Joysticks Well Built Prodcut Love this quick release head Joystick Head a must have |
 Joby BH1 Ball Head with Bubble Level for Joby GP3 SLR-Zoom Gorillapods List Price: Sale Price: Too low to display DescriptionBuilt with the serious photographer in mind, the Joby Ballhead is lightweight and compact, yet still robust enough to support SLR cameras with zoom lenses. It further extends the functionality of the Gorillapod by allowing even more creative camera positions and an improved ability to capture great shots! Full 360-degree panning, and 90-degree tilt Position your camera at virtually any angle; get portrait or landscape shots with ease Adjustment knob easily locks the Ballhead into place, securing it tightly. The slim-line quick-release clip with bubble level stays connected to your camera and snaps into the Ballhead for nearly instant setup. The adapter screw allows the Ballhead to accommodate both 3/8″ and 1/4″ threads, allowing it to be used with virtually any tripod. Features
Reviewscamera ball connection joby tripod head Great little ball head for spotting scope Little Gem I didn’t have a chance to test the next in line Joby Ballhead X ($70 minus coupon from their website)and ended up with slightly bigger but very lightweight(197g)and sturdy Benro BR368 Aluminium Ballhead (with little effort it fits into the bag attached to the tripod). $48 from Amazon, see my review Too flimsy for the job |
 Sony VCT-R100 Lightweight Compact Tripod with 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head List Price: Sale Price: $27.36 You save: $7.63 (22%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating: DescriptionMarketing Information: With Sony”s VCT-R100 Lightweight Tripod, you add a creative and original twist to digital imaging. Ultra-portable and expandable, the tripod can be adjusted for the perfect height and the perfect shot. Its quick-release, 3-way pan head is easy, convenient, and ideal for steady shooting with your camcorder or digital still camera. Product Model: VCT-R100Product Name: VCT-R100 Lightweight TripodProduct Type: Floor Standing TripodTechnical InformationMaximum Tripod Height: 39″Minimum Tripod Height: 14″Tripod Load Capacity: 3lbPhysical CharacteristicsWeight: 23.28 oz Approximate The Sony VCT-R100 Lightweight Tripod with 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head is a compact, lightweight tripod small enough to fit into a back pack. The VCT-R100 folds up to a short and incredibly manageable 14 inches and reaches a maximum height of 39 inches to give you a comfortable using position without requiring you to break your back bending in half. The VCT-R100 has a 3-way pan/tilt head that makes it easy and convenient to point your camera where you need it without having to adjust the tripod itself, and ideal for steady shooting with a camcorder or digital still camera where you need to follow the action without moving yourself. This tripod is capable of supporting a little more than two pounds, and is constructed of durable black aluminum. The VCT-R100 weighs 1.8 pounds, has four leg stages, utilizes flip locks to lock its legs in place, and includes a center column and brace. This unit comes with a handy carrying case, a manufacturer’s limited 1-year warranty on parts, and 90-day warranty on labor. Features
ReviewsExcellent travelling tripod My tripod weighs 646 grams (almost 23oz). Since it doesn’t weigh a whole lot, it is not the steadiest tripod on three legs. Its legs are solid and it has no problem holding up a DSLR, of course, but a strong wind may effect long exposure shots – this did not happen to me, but I sense the possibility. I will test this aspect when I take the tripod to Iceland in the fall! And while I like to use the timer for tripod shots, I think it would take a steady hand to manually press the shutter for a long exposure photo without a little blurring. Again, I think these are issues to expect with any lightweight tripod. The legs are easy and fairly quick to adjust. The rest of the controls are a breeze to operate. The screw mount is very nice. It takes no time at all to attach the camera. Without having dragged this tripod through much rough travelling, it feels like it will be durable; I hope to use it for many years! Thanks to previous reviewers for convincing me to buy the Sony VCT-R100! Value for money Great Mini Tripod! Great backpacking tripod 1. To have a portable light weight tripod to take hiking and backpacking with me. 2. To have a tripod to go along with the camera I purchased for use at my wedding. As far as number one goes. This tripod does very well. It is very compact and light weight. It fits perfectly in the side straps of my small camera backpack (Caselogic TBC-307 SLR Camera Backpack). I barely even notice I am carrying it. My only two gripes are that it does not have a quick release bolt as advertised. Though the twisting one is easy to use. And that when panning horizontally it isn’t 100% smooth. Vertically it is perfect, but left and right it jumps just a little. Now number two. I will now for sure in 2 days during the rehearsal, but I suspect that I will need to elevate the tripod just a little to avoid the looking up appearance in the wedding video. My camera (Panasonic GH1) does have a fully articulating screen so the height of the tripod works just fine in most any other situation. With out an articulating screen you may find the height a little short. Summation Well made well designed, lightweight, specs on Amazon are wrong It is lightweight, but DOES NOT feel flimsy. Everything about this tripod has a solid firm feel to it. The locking mechanism is cam-lock like heavier tripods (the reason I chose this over the SLIK Compact-XL which has a twist lock mechanism that I have found tends to fail over time). The technical specs on Amazon ARE incorrect. This tripod DOES NOT HAVE a quick release as the specs say it does. No sharp corners anywhere, which is great so you don’t have to worry about tearing a hole in your rain jacket(or anything else for that matter) because it is packed in the backpack along with your tripod! Does NOT have a crank handle to raise the platform, which I LOVE. Nobody I know adjusts the camera height so precisely as to require a crank handle ! A quick twist lock mechanism holds the platform in place, AND there is some kind internal limit pin to prevent you from pulling the platform shaft right out of the guide tube (nice touch when you are in a hurry) Full extended the height with the platform raised is a complete 39.5″ to the platform so even for a tall person it is not a lot of bending over. Comes with a nylon carrying case which is convenient when just going for a short hike/walk. Would have given it 5 stars but for the fact that it does not have the quick release. |