Velbon Ultra VOXi L Aluminum Tripod

Comments about Velbon Ultra VOXi L Aluminum Tripod:

This is a clever, versatile, convenient, light weight, compact companion. I ordered it to pair up with my new Olympus E-PL2 camera. I wanted something small, light, sturdy and reliable and that's exactly what Velbon delivered here with the Ultra Voxi.It's hard to fault this little tripod, but there are a few minor dislikes. First, the legs have a tendency to get hung up. Well, it's less that they actually get stuck and more that there is sometimes a failure on the users part to get the fifth section out. I was sort of disappointed when I first opened it because it seemed low for the rated 60.6 inch height - which in and of itself is impressive in such a small package, more on that in a minute - then I realized that I had only opened 4 of the leg sections. It's best to unscrew the top lock and extend the first, thickest section. Then twist the lower lock till you get three little 'bumps' or 'clicks' and pull out the remainder of the extensions. You can grab the foot (the bottom section lock) and rotated it four 'clicks' to unlock all of the sections - including the top - and slide it all back in and then twist both locks together to secure it.I actually got a blister trying to make it harder than it is. Doing it as described above makes it a cinch. I list it as a negative because it takes a bit of getting used to.Another potential negative is that at [$] (current B&H list) there is no head included. Not a big deal and does not hurt the pod at all, but a financial decision to consider.Finally, price. Some compact tripods can be found for less money, but from my experience, the bang-for-buck meter is through the roof on the Velbon. I considered several other models that you can find here on B&H. These include, but are not limited to, the Manfrotto 190 and YB, Gitzo Traveler, Benro Travel Angel and even the Tamrac Zipshot. But specs for the money kept coming back to the Velbon. I had a chance to look at the YB locally and it's good, but sort of flimsy compared to the others. The Gizo priced itself right out of the competition and the Zipshot is VERY flimsy, only has one height - and it's short, and it's load capacity is lacking.Other cool features are a locking center column that looks similar to a truck flip lock. In the photo of the item on the site, it's the little lever looking thing hanging down on the BACK side of the unit. You pull down on a little slider and flip the latch up to free the column. Flipping it back down locks it securely.All of these, and several other models, are worth a look, but the Velbon is actually an incredible value overall. Consider the following:It weights about 2.5 pounds, closes down to just a tick over 14", extends to 60", easily holds up to a DSLR with tele lens (depending on head), and has a variety of leg settings and an invertible column for extremely low angle shooting. It's very stable, clean and extremely well-made.At the end of the day, for under $250 I'm not convinced there is a BETTER tripod. With a compact, micro 4/3, 4/3 or smaller DSLR this is the perfect companion. As I mentioned, I'm using this for group and low light shooting with my E-PL2 - especially for travel. If you plan on doing a lot of video with manual focusing, consider a sturdy head. The 41Q I got is great for the purposes I have mentioned, but in manually focusing, the head gives just enough to be noticeable, but again, this really isn't a fault with the legs.At the end of the day, it's an exceptional tripod. I secured by D700, with vertical gip and 70-200 2.8 lens with no concerns - although a slightly heavier duty head might have made me more comfortable for a LOT of use, that's again the head and NOT the lets.It's not going to blow over in the wind, it's a normal human's height (who want's a compact tripod if the max height is like 42 inches?), it's compact when closed, supports an admirable load, is fun and versatile and has almost every feature you'd likely be looking for in a travel/convenience tripod.If you're looking for a tripod that meets these specs, look no further than the Velbon Ultra Voxi L. And with B&H, you know you're getting an excellent price [...].This is my second Velbon and though not as well known as Gitzo or Manfrotto I wouldn't trade them for anything.Be safe and happy shooting!- R