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Review on πŸ“· K&F Concept 72 Inch Camera Tripod with 360 Degree Ball Head - Professional DSLR Tripod for Travel and Work by Robert Espinoza

Revainrating 4 out of 5

It's a solid tripod

I chose the K&F model as I thought it might be poorly made. But it has a lot to like. (I gave it four stars instead of five because I wasn't sure how well some clamps would hold up. More on that below.) >> Legs Right out of the box they were very stiff. If anything, they're too rigid, making unfolding a little tedious. But they loosen up over time, and it's far better if they're too stiff to begin with than too loose. Once in place, the tripod feels pretty solid. One benefit of rigidity: when the tripod is fully collapsed. "Cross" style, you can take a leg, and the leg does not start to open immediately. So no need to pick it up with two legs (or tie your legs together with a strap).>> Ball head Surprisingly good. It seems a little better made than the ball head that came with my other tripod (of a better brand). The ball head controls feel well made and the knobs are large enough to rotate comfortably. I would have preferred them gummed, but you can't have everything. >> Arca-Swiss compatible clip, no problem. The included camera plate has a reasonable mounting screw design, so you'll be out of luck if you need to attach it but don't have a flathead screwdriver or a coin. The clip is perfect for my camera's Arca-Swiss base plate. >> Release levers to change the angle of the legs I've seen comments on these tripods that the release levers are a bit flimsy and can break. It's possible, but I'm wondering if the problem is that people put too much strain on their legs when trying to change the angle. Instead, push your legs in slightly before you pull the levers. >> Cross-bar B-pillar design This works very well. This is the easiest way I've ever used: Push the inside of the center column to the max. height and then rotates easily to a horizontal position with a ball mechanism. The inner pillar has a groove along its length that fits the key in its body. Therefore it does not rotate inside the case. This might make sliding the speaker back and forth a little more difficult than usual, but it feels nice and solid. >> Lockable Levers to Extend Legs They don't feel as solid as the rest of the hardware. I will not open or close them too quickly or too hard. It's hard to say how long they'll last. >> Carrying case Is ok. Including two zippers, carrying handle and shoulder strap. Not ThinkTank quality, but will do. (I wouldn't mind if they added a small zip pocket. Hardly a deal breaker.) >> Documentation Absolutely awful and unintentionally funny. But you probably won't need it. Leave it in your bag and forget about it.>> Not thrilled with <<Inner center column doesn't have a spring-loaded weight hook at the end. The entire structure can become unbalanced and fall if the arm is stretched too far horizontally and there is no tripod leg directly underneath. I need to come up with a workaround. At some point I need a counterweight on the back of my hand. Not critical. >> REALLY not keen on << Most of the outside of the B-pillar has a weight hook. In order to place the entire B-pillar in the inverted position, as shown in one of the product images on this page, you will need to remove the lifting hook. It's not as easy as it should be. The part you unscrew is a thin plastic disc that is difficult to grab. It should be wider. It might be a good idea to keep a short strip of Dycem in your tote bag to give the thing a spin. Annoying, but not disturbing.>> Overall impression <<This is a well-made tripod and a good price. Be careful with these leg extension clips. And try not to laugh too much at the documentary. I'm sure they meant well. :)

Pros
  • 360Β° pan and ball head
Cons
  • New Competitors