Novoflex Microstativ Tabletop Tripod with BALL 19 Mini Ball Head

Comments about Novoflex Microstativ Tabletop Tripod with BALL 19 Mini Ball Head:

I wanted a mini tripod to bring along with me when traveling, specifically for macro shots on ground level (to take pictures and video of plants and animals in the intertidal zone of the Pacific ocean, on the California coast).
I also carry a Gitzo GM2561T Carbon monopod for landscape and general pictures.
I am using a Panasonic Lumix GH-1 and I tried the Novoflex Microstativ with the Lumix 14-140mm zoom, the Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm and the bigger (although quite small as compared to other lens makers)Lumix 100-300mm zoom.
The Novoflex tripod holds everything in a very solid and secured way. Nothing moves. I've added a Kirk quick-released to the Mini Ball Head and even with this, it is still very light to carry around.
I really appreciate the great design of Novoflex products. They are well made products that have been thought about "out of the box" before being developed.

Comments about Novoflex Microstativ Tabletop Tripod with BALL 19 Mini Ball Head:

I tried a number of small tripods to keep every day in my briefcase, mostly with disappointing results. The Ultrapod is too flimsy, the Manfrotto tabletop mni tripod too bulky and cumbersome to use, and small tripods from the likes of Hakuba are completely useless at holding a camera stable.

This Novoflex is the one I settled on. The legs fit like dowels into holes in the base, in two positions, open and closed. This is much faster to set up than fiddly folding or rotating legs. You cannot adjust the angle, but this arrangement is very compact in the closed position and surprisingly stable. I have no problems holding a Nikon D3 with a 50mm lens on. I also have never experienced any problems losing the legs (not sure if they are magnetically held in place or just by friction).

The ballhead is decent enough, the knob controls both the ball head and the horizontal panning. Unfortunately that means you cannot pan horizontally for panoramas. The plastic platform cracked and fell away on mine. It is more ornamental than anything else, the metal screw widens into a base that will still support the camera (but might possibly put more strain if you have a plastic tripod socket rather than metal). When I mount the tripod on a camera, I just lock the ballhead in the vertical position and screw it into the socket using the legs as a screwdriver handle. You can actually buy the legs separately from the ball and use another manufacturer's micro ball head if you wish, e.g. a Leica or Giotto.

The build quality is excellent, apart from the plastic platform.

The only real competition in my book is the Manfrotto Modopocket for compact cameras. The Modo will not work fir a SLR or Leica M, however.

Comments about Novoflex Microstativ Tabletop Tripod with BALL 19 Mini Ball Head:

I purchased this Mini Pod to mount a contour HD 1080 video camera. The overall appearance and quality seem to be there, but I think there are better choices. I mistakenly assumed the legs were folding when I made the purchase, but they're not. The legs are separate from the base and ball head, and they have to be individually removed from the base and installed in the angled holes to form the tripod. It's fine for still photography where you can count on your subject to remain still, but for situations that are fluid and you need to set-up and shoot quickly, it's a poor choice. Additionally, the separate legs can easily be lost, rendering it useless until you can purchase an expensive replacement. The thumbwheel base is also separate and free-floating from the ball head, so it's of no use to attach or remove the tripod. For the money, I think there are better choices such as those from Manfrotto, that have folding/attached legs that can't be lost, and a more robust ball head.

Comments about Novoflex Microstativ Tabletop Tripod with BALL 19 Mini Ball Head:

Super table tripod. Very small and incredibly sturdy. Holds a lot more weight than you'll think. Recommended.

Comments about Novoflex Microstativ Tabletop Tripod with BALL 19 Mini Ball Head:

Canon 40D + 28-300MM "L" Lens + Battery Grip + 2 batteries = something that feels like 30 pounds but this handy little tripod holds it all at a 45 degree angle just fine. (You do have to make sure you get one of the legs under the center of gravity but it holds it just fine!)

I Love it!!!

Comments about Novoflex Microstativ Tabletop Tripod with BALL 19 Mini Ball Head:

If you want to get your camera right down close to theground for sweeping perspective shots with an ultra-widelens, this Novoflex Micropod works really well. I'm usingit with a Hoodman right angle finder, as it's so low youcan't get your eye to the camera easily without an accessoryfinder. It's sturdy enough to hold a Hasselblad, but notanything heavier. With a digital SLR, like my Nikon D70s,it will work for horizontals, but isn't quite tall enough totilt the camera to vertical. The smaller, pocket-sized digicameras should be okay for verticals. When I first got it,the legs were jammed very tightly into the storage slots,and had to be loosened with pliers. After that, the legswere okay.

Items I Recommend: finder for SLRs Hoodman right angle

Comments about Novoflex Microstativ Tabletop Tripod with BALL 19 Mini Ball Head:

I wanted a mini tripod to bring along with me when traveling, specifically for macro shots on ground level (to take pictures and video of plants and animals in the intertidal zone of the Pacific ocean, on the California coast).
I also carry a Gitzo GM2561T Carbon monopod for landscape and general pictures.
I am using a Panasonic Lumix GH-1 and I tried the Novoflex Microstativ with the Lumix 14-140mm zoom, the Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm and the bigger (although quite small as compared to other lens makers)Lumix 100-300mm zoom.
The Novoflex tripod holds everything in a very solid and secured way. Nothing moves. I've added a Kirk quick-released to the Mini Ball Head and even with this, it is still very light to carry around.
I really appreciate the great design of Novoflex products. They are well made products that have been thought about "out of the box" before being developed.

Comments about Novoflex Microstativ Tabletop Tripod with BALL 19 Mini Ball Head:

I tried a number of small tripods to keep every day in my briefcase, mostly with disappointing results. The Ultrapod is too flimsy, the Manfrotto tabletop mni tripod too bulky and cumbersome to use, and small tripods from the likes of Hakuba are completely useless at holding a camera stable.

This Novoflex is the one I settled on. The legs fit like dowels into holes in the base, in two positions, open and closed. This is much faster to set up than fiddly folding or rotating legs. You cannot adjust the angle, but this arrangement is very compact in the closed position and surprisingly stable. I have no problems holding a Nikon D3 with a 50mm lens on. I also have never experienced any problems losing the legs (not sure if they are magnetically held in place or just by friction).

The ballhead is decent enough, the knob controls both the ball head and the horizontal panning. Unfortunately that means you cannot pan horizontally for panoramas. The plastic platform cracked and fell away on mine. It is more ornamental than anything else, the metal screw widens into a base that will still support the camera (but might possibly put more strain if you have a plastic tripod socket rather than metal). When I mount the tripod on a camera, I just lock the ballhead in the vertical position and screw it into the socket using the legs as a screwdriver handle. You can actually buy the legs separately from the ball and use another manufacturer's micro ball head if you wish, e.g. a Leica or Giotto.

The build quality is excellent, apart from the plastic platform.

The only real competition in my book is the Manfrotto Modopocket for compact cameras. The Modo will not work fir a SLR or Leica M, however.

Comments about Novoflex Microstativ Tabletop Tripod with BALL 19 Mini Ball Head:

I purchased this Mini Pod to mount a contour HD 1080 video camera. The overall appearance and quality seem to be there, but I think there are better choices. I mistakenly assumed the legs were folding when I made the purchase, but they're not. The legs are separate from the base and ball head, and they have to be individually removed from the base and installed in the angled holes to form the tripod. It's fine for still photography where you can count on your subject to remain still, but for situations that are fluid and you need to set-up and shoot quickly, it's a poor choice. Additionally, the separate legs can easily be lost, rendering it useless until you can purchase an expensive replacement. The thumbwheel base is also separate and free-floating from the ball head, so it's of no use to attach or remove the tripod. For the money, I think there are better choices such as those from Manfrotto, that have folding/attached legs that can't be lost, and a more robust ball head.

Comments about Novoflex Microstativ Tabletop Tripod with BALL 19 Mini Ball Head:

Super table tripod. Very small and incredibly sturdy. Holds a lot more weight than you'll think. Recommended.

Comments about Novoflex Microstativ Tabletop Tripod with BALL 19 Mini Ball Head:

Canon 40D + 28-300MM "L" Lens + Battery Grip + 2 batteries = something that feels like 30 pounds but this handy little tripod holds it all at a 45 degree angle just fine. (You do have to make sure you get one of the legs under the center of gravity but it holds it just fine!)

I Love it!!!

Comments about Novoflex Microstativ Tabletop Tripod with BALL 19 Mini Ball Head:

If you want to get your camera right down close to theground for sweeping perspective shots with an ultra-widelens, this Novoflex Micropod works really well. I'm usingit with a Hoodman right angle finder, as it's so low youcan't get your eye to the camera easily without an accessoryfinder. It's sturdy enough to hold a Hasselblad, but notanything heavier. With a digital SLR, like my Nikon D70s,it will work for horizontals, but isn't quite tall enough totilt the camera to vertical. The smaller, pocket-sized digicameras should be okay for verticals. When I first got it,the legs were jammed very tightly into the storage slots,and had to be loosened with pliers. After that, the legswere okay.

Items I Recommend: finder for SLRs Hoodman right angle