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Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head
Combined with the FM18 Fluid Video Head, the Davis & Sanford ProVista 7518 Tripod provides rigid support for those who need strength more than versatility in height options. It assembles to its working height very quickly thanks to a 75mm claw ball and self-aligning quick-flip leg locks.
- Double strut top leg sections enhance stability
- Pivoting rubber feet
- Perfect studio tripod for applications of up to 18 lbs
- Bubble level
- Dual adjustable pan handles for greater control
| Maximum Height | 64" (163cm) |
| Maximum Height w/o Column Extended | 57" (145cm) |
| Minimum Height | 28" (71cm) |
| Folded Length | 35" (89cm) |
| Load Capacity | 18 lbs (8.2kg) |
| Leg Sections | 3 |
| Leg Lock Type | Self-aligning Quick Flip |
| Independent Leg Spread | No |
| Center Column Sections | 1 |
| Center Column Type | Rapid |
| Center Brace | Yes |
| Spiked Feet | No |
| Head Type | Two-way fluid head with quick release |
| Head Mount Thread Size | 75mm Claw Ball |
| Weight | 10.2 lbs (4.63kg) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 241 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
93%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Stable (151)
- Unfolds quickly (87)
- Lightweight (56)
- Folds away (40)
- Smooth movement (36)
Cons
- Heavy (62)
- Cumbersome (16)
- Poor quality (14)
- Difficult to adjust (11)
- Unstable (5)
Best Uses
- Video (97)
- Home (60)
- Weddings (57)
- Landscape/scenery (43)
- Portraits (37)
- How long have you owned it:
A month or less
One-to-three months
Three-to-six months
57%
(4 reviews)
More than six months
- Reviewer Profile:
- Semi-pro photographer (71), Pro photographer (48), Photo enthusiast (20), Semi-professional (18), Professional (17)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (86)
Most Liked Positive Review
Excellent Choice for Canon XL-2
I use this tripod with my Canon XL-2 filming wedding videos, short films etc. The tripod gives tight, smooth pans and tilts and is very stable. The XL-2 is front heavy ...Read complete review
I use this tripod with my Canon XL-2 filming wedding videos, short films etc. The tripod gives tight, smooth pans and tilts and is very stable. The XL-2 is front heavy because the image stabilization is in the lens, which requires a strong tripod to not have jitter when panning/tilting. This is definately the tripod to use. Once you set the adjustments you can move them completely out of the way. It's not that heavy, if you carry groceries from your car, you can carry this with the neat bag it comes with. If you are in pro-video, this tripod is well worth the money.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
You get what you pay for...
I'm using this tripod with a small Canon Vixia camcorder with a Bracket One, wireless mic receiver, wide-angle lens and large battery. If it was just the camcorder, it would look too small ...Read complete review
I'm using this tripod with a small Canon Vixia camcorder with a Bracket One, wireless mic receiver, wide-angle lens and large battery. If it was just the camcorder, it would look too small for this tripod, but with all the other accessories, it's about the right size and could easily hold a much larger camera.I bought the Pro Vista Tripod & FM18 head to replace a Manfrotto head with Gitzo legs. Mostly it was just to get leveling and replace the head since I couldn't get smooth pans. I looked at lots of different tripods and decided on the Davis & Sanford because of all the good ratings, but really didn't have high expectations. While there were some nice surprises, some things only confirm that "you get what you pay for."The GoodPanning movements are not bad. They're not great but they are better than the Manfrotto head I had. It's hard to get smooth movements for anything but wide shots. The tilt movements are a little better but only after you completely loosen the lock. Adjustments are about non-existent. Either it's too tight to move smoothly or too loose to control anything. No in-between. At least when you lock down the movements, it doesn't move.I don't understand the statement from another reviewer saying the tripod is too stiff. I'm not sure if they're referring to the movements or the legs. I certainly don't want my tripod legs springy or spongy and I don't think the movements are stiff. The legs are stiff but somewhat prone to vibration under certain conditions. (windy, bouncy floors, etc.) I like the height of the tripod when fully extended. It brings the camera at about nose height for me and I'm about 5'10". The mid-spreaders make it easy to open all the legs at once and provides some added support. I only wish the joints didn't look so flimsy.Leveling is a breeze. Just loosen the large handled grip under the head and center the bullseye level. Tighten and you're done...at least in theory. There are some issues, (mentioned below) but it does adjust fairly easily.It's nice that there's an extra QR plate and that it accepts both 1/4" & 3/8" threads. I like the secondary release that prevent the plate (and camera) from sliding right off the platform when I loosen the lock. It comes with two pan arms. I'm not sure why I would need to have both pan arms on the head at once, but you can if you want it. The BadFit and finish are a good indicator of quality for me. I own a few Gitzo tripods and I'm used to the quality build on their products. Judging by the construction and finish, the Pro Vista is obviously [*] In fairness, my other tripod legs cost more than this entire tripod with head. The painted finish had runs and was glossy in areas that were otherwise matte finished. Some parts feel a little cheap and flimsy. Paint around the bowl was chipping off the moment I loosened and repositioned the head. And why was the surface of the head that moves inside the bowl painted? It made it hard to accurately level the head. I would tighten the bowl and it would shift from indentations in the painted surface.Leg locks are hard to adjust. When they're easy enough to clamp shut, the legs don't hold under weight. To clamp tight, they need to be so tight that I could barely flip the lock closed. That makes it tough to setup quickly, but I'd rather have them too tight than too loose I suppose.The tilt lock is too large and will hit the pan arm if you have one mounted on the same side. To completely tighten the lock, you need to lift and reposition it. Solution: remove that pan arm.The weight of this tripod becomes an issue if you carry it much. At about 10 lb. it's nearly twice the weight of any of my other pods. Padding the legs would be difficult, but with camera and gear mounted, it gets heavy and just begs for some cushioning.It comes with a bag, but I'm not sure if the bag was originally made for this tripod since the wrap that pads the head doesn't quite fasten.Overall, it's a decent tripod for the money and if you're on a budget, it will do the job without too much investment. No idea about durability and longevity.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 241 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Good Stability
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Stabilization
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
So I really do like this tripod. If you want steady footage with smooth panning, all built in a sturdy apparatus, this is a great value. Personally, I love it and also found another use for it and that is a rig. The head actually screws off, and the handle can be screwed back onto it once it's off for good control. Now I can be mobile as well with a decent amount of steadiness, but the head is still kind of heavy. But I still think that's great.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Very strong
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
I'm giving this 5 stars based on the 'bang for buck'. It's an incredibly strong tripod (By far the strongest I've found under $500), and works perfectly fine. There are lighter tripods to be found with better better pan/tilt control, but you'll easily double the price for those options.
I was looking for a simple tripod that would work with an 8' jib that I purchased and this one is perfect.
Very happy with the purchase.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Good Stability
Cons
Best Uses
- Movies
- Stabilization
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
Great weight for video use. the only con is that there is no adjustable drag on the tilt. You CANNOT beat this tripod for under $200. Even just to have as a back up tripod or one to complete a rail system. It also supports 18lbs for jib use. Again for [$] you hit a jackpot.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Folds Small
- Good Stability
- Lightweight
- Unfolds Quickly
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
After using an off-brand pro video tripod, I decided to spend a little more money on an actual tripod so I went with this one.
I was certainly impressed. Very durable design. The fluid heads are incredible. Even though my off-brand one had a decent fluid head, this Davis & Sanford head blew it out of the water. Even at full zoom on my camera am I able to make smooth pans.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Folds Small
- Good Stability
- Lightweight
- Unfolds Quickly
Cons
Best Uses
- Movies
- Stabilization
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
For the price it is a steal and it does the job with flying colors. I love this thing. My pans and tilts have been so much more fluid and crisp compared to my last fluid head, which is a weifeng. The free dolly was a plus.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Folds Small
- Good Stability
- Unfolds Quickly
Cons
- Cumbersome
- Unstable
Best Uses
- Documentary
- Interviews
- Movies
- Sliders
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
This tripod is a great value for the money. It's sturdy, smooth panning, and it's hard to find a good ball head in this price range.
That said, it will never be confused with a $600+ tripod. There's only one friction setting, which is pretty stiff. Some of the construction is plastic-y, like the leg locks, and the lock handle for the ball head, and the feet really aren't very grippy.
The leg locks are also pretty stiff, and are very uncomfortable to fiddle with compared to other tripods I've used.
The mid-level spreader is nice, but doesn't appear to detach, so keep that in mind.
Also, I'm using a DSLR for video, and when set up "properly" the lever for securing the camera plate hits the camera, and has to be fiddled with, to get it tight. What I did was switch my handle around, and turn the tripod head backwards, and now the lever misses the camera, and it's very easy to take the camera on and off. The only problem is now the bubble is in the front instead of the back.
I love the fact that it comes with an extra camera plate. And the bag feels rugged enough. It's got an outside and an inside pocket. Now, I have no idea why they didn't make either of the pockets large enough to hold a tripod handle. I thought this is what tripod bag pockets were for?? The padding around the tripod head is a nice touch, although I see that fabric potentially ripping fairly easily.
Anyway. For under $200, it's pretty darn good. When I upgrade my gear in the future, I foresee using this as a backup tripod for a camera slider or something since it can support up to 18lbs, which can be a very expensive feature on higher end tripods.
Also, I don't know if I'll ever use the wheels, but hey, I got 'em.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Good Stability
- Lightweight
- Smooth Pans
- Unfolds Quickly
Cons
- Mounting Plate
Best Uses
- Movies
- Stabilization
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
I am a pro videographer for a local production company. I use a expensive satchler tripod that is great. But when I needed to get a tripod for home to do video with the canon T3i I didn't want to spend a lot of my own money for it. I did the research and found this Davis and Sandford and was not disappointed. The head is very smooth and the legs are sturdy. My only issue is when locking the plate onto the head with the camera attached it is a little annoying, I would love some sort of quick release.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Good Stability
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Movies
- Stabilization
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
Worth every penny. A solid professional tripod that works every time.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Good Stability
- Smooth pan and tilt
Cons
- Base plate screw
Best Uses
- Long lens
- Time Lapse
- Video
- Wildlife
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
This tripod is sturdy and doesn't shake at all, and the fluid head is perfectly smooth. It does everything I wanted it to. The only design flaw is that the screw to tighten the base plate would be better off on the opposite side, because where it is it can interfere with the bottom of a DSLR, but it's not prohibitive.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Price
- Smooth
- Sturdy
Cons
- None for the price
Best Uses
- Low budget projects
- Video
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
I was very surprised at the quality of this head and the tripod for the price that is was. Of course it doesn't have some of the pro features like drag control or automatic leveling, but at 1/10 of the price of some of the higher end heads, it is an outstanding buy. If you are on a tight budget, you can't beat it.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy to use
- Smooth
- Sturdy
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Video
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
Have had this for about a week now.
I am an avid, learning cinematographer with one feature-length film under my belt and various other video projects under the bridge. EXTREMELY smooth pans, better, I'd say than the Manfrotto heads I have or have had access to....
The legs are sturdy, yet the clips are made of a plastic that may not last as long as some other brands...
For the price, this is an excellent buy. I shoot DSLR HD video with 200mm lens on this with no problems.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy to pan
- Good Stability
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Sports/Action
- Video
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
extremely heavy. other than that, this tripod is solid built !!! fluid head is really fluid ! easy panning with it
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Folds Small
- Good Stability
- Smooth head
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Video
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
Bought this tripod to match with my Canon 60D for video. The tripod is very high quality. Nothing about it feels cheep. It comes very nicely packaged inside of a rugged back with lots of pockets. Instructions probably are not the best for beginners but others who are familiar with tripods will have no problem.
The tripod x and y panning movements are pretty smooth. It requires the operator to have some more skill than more expensive tripods, but you can achieve a very professional look with this. It is very adjustable and stays put when you want it to. If you are looking to do some DSLR video, I highly recommend this tripod. Loss of one star for not being the best tripod I have used. This is the best tripod I have used in this price range for video though.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Fluid motion head
- Good Stability
Cons
- Bad design
Best Uses
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
Before I purchased this tripod, I seem to remember reading something about mounting the quick release plate for the tripod. Somehow, I fail to understand what were they talking about. Now, I do - A very bad design for mounting the quick release plate.
Here is the problem, and I hope I can make it clearer for others:
When you try to mount the quick release plate with the camera attached (T2i in my case) to the tripod, there is a handle (nut) on the tripod that need to rotate(spin) in vertical instead of horizontal to tighten (secure) the plate. The problem is you can't spin or rotate the handle because the bottom of the camera is right on top (in the way) of the handle. I don't know how the designer could miss this problem and how do they expect people to tight the quick release plate, unless it is used for the very thin vertical mounted camera instead of horizontal DSLR body. Some people have mentioned to use the DSLR rig, like baseplate to raise it up. I guess that will work as long as the mounting baseplate is not wider than tripod plate.
Other than that, this tripod does have a very smooth fluid motion head for this price range.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Good Stability
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Portraits
- Video
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
I'm a TV prod. Student so I have used a few professional tripods. I bought this for personal use to film my own projects. It works great, it is smooth, expands to a tall size and folds up to a relatively small size and has a nice bag that comes with it. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it doesn't have drag control. It would be nice but it would be more expensive. So for the price you can't go wrong with the tripod.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Good Stability
Cons
Best Uses
- Video
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
Stiff head, so don't use with a handy cam. You need more weight. It is durable and steady. The clips for the leg extensions are a little flimsy feeling but no problems yet.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
I use this tripod with my CanonT3i for Indie filmaking & its an awesome product. Smooth pan and very strong build.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Free carrying case
- Good Stability
- Levels easily
- Solid
Cons
- Baseplate difficult
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Video
- Weddings/Events
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
I bought this tripod to have on hand when I shoot wedding videos. It's a good solid tripod and was easy to setup. Within 10 minutes of opening the box I had my camera on it. The swivel/ball head is great and makes leveling a breeze. The head works pretty well for the price. One down side is the screw that tightens the baseplate is too close to the top of the tripod head. So when my camera was on the plate and in the head, I couldn't tighten the nut. I had to take the camera off, move it forward on the plate, then put it back on. Overall I think this is a good tripod for someone that is just starting out. Plus it comes with a free carrying case!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Good Stability
- Lightweight
- Unfolds Quickly
Cons
Best Uses
- Video
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
Googling for a suitable tripod for shooting video with a DSLR camera I came upon recommendations for this product. Having found nothing comparable in this price range in Sweden I purchased it over the internet. Most tripods here are too flimsy or crazy expensive.This tripod is sturdy enough for shooting video on a DSLR, but still light enough to carry. The head is a joy to work with. All-in-all a great buy for a filmmaker on a small budget. [...]
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy to Use and Adjust
- Folds Small
- Good Stability
- Lightweight
- Unfolds Quickly
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Davis & Sanford Provista 7518 Tripod w/FM18 Head:
Sweet little, lightweight gear supporting location events and broadcast. Easy to set up, very quick to adjust and level, and high mobility are major value points all for a low price. Operaterd easily by kyds with no training or experience, "Show & go"
- Was this a gift?:
- No
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- Original: $41.95
- Save: $4.19
- Price: $37.76
Bags & Cases
- Price: $6.79
What's in the Box
- Padded Case
- Quick Release Plate
- 10-Year Warranty
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