Tripods | Best Compact Tripods for Professionals | Rangefinder https://rangefinderonline.com/gear/tripods/ Wed, 22 Feb 2023 03:50:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 The Sony GP-VPT2BT Wireless Shooting Grip https://rangefinderonline.com/gear/video-filmmaking/the-sony-gp-vpt2bt-wireless-shooting-grip/ Tue, 14 Jan 2020 19:27:26 +0000 https://rangefinderonline.com/?p=71134

A new $140 Sony GP-VPT2BT Wireless Shooting Grip adds wireless Bluetooth remote controls for several of the latest Sony cameras.

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Designed as a grip for vloggers as well as a wireless triggering system for still photo and video operations, Sony’s GP-VPT2BT Shooting Grip with Wireless Remote Commander has Bluetooth access and a built-in tripod to give one-handed fingertip controls for photography and video.

It will be available at the end of January for $140.

A “flip” button for selfies plus buttons for most required single-hand handheld operations.

Aimed squarely at vloggers, it can switch from a normal shooting mode to a selfie-angle. It has an indicator light to let you know that video is being captured.

With tilt and vertical angle adjustments and locks, the cable-free GP-VPT2BT Shooting Grip attaches directly to the tripod mount.

Cable-less connection for camera remote controls through Bluetooth.

The C1 button can be programmed for favored settings. It’s also resistant to moisture and dust.

Communicating through Bluetooth, the GP-VPT2BT Shooting Grip is compatible with the Sony Alpha 9 II, Alpha 9, Alpha 7R IV, Alpha 7R III, Alpha 7 III, Alpha 6600, Alpha 6400, Alpha 6100, RX100 VII and RX0 II models.

One-handed controls including a selfie mode.

Sony sent us this regarding the required firmware: “ILCE-9 requires firmware v6.0; ILCE-7M3/ILCE-7RM3 require firmware v3.0 or newer; ILCE6400 requires firmware v2.0 or newer.  ILCE-9M2, ILCE-7RM4, ILCE-6600, ILCE-6100, RX100M7 require no update.”

Find Windows updates here and their firmwares for Macs here.

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5 Steady Tripods For Any Photo Occasion https://rangefinderonline.com/gear/tripods/5-steady-tripods-for-any-photo-occasion/ Wed, 30 Oct 2019 12:00:55 +0000 https://rangefinderonline.com/?p=69344

Goodbye, blur. These tripods are state-of-the-art and perfect for traveling.

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Editor’s Choice: Peak Design Travel Tripod   

Peak Design’s innovation is the near-complete elimination of dead space when the tripod is folded up. The Travel Tripod’s legs and center column nest together for a total diameter of just 2.5 inches, or about the circumference of a water bottle. It is quick to deploy, too, thanks to non-inverted legs that extend along an aligned system of locking cam levers. Rather than several knobs, the head has a single adjustment ring and a propriety quick-release plate that’s Arca swiss compatible. You can extend the tripod to 62.5 inches or down to a minimum working height of 5.25 inches.

Price: $350 (aluminum), $600 (carbon fiber)
peakdesign.com

[5 Great On-the-Road Camera Bags]

Slik AL-324BH4

The AL-324BH4 can keep 8.8 pounds of photo gear aloft at a maximum height of 55.7 inches or a minimum height of 9.8 inches. Collapsed, the tripod measures 20.3 inches. A Rapid Flip Mechanism allows you to quickly adjust the leg angles. The tripod’s collar has an accessory port that accepts 1/4-20 or 3/8-inch accessories. The tripod ships with a dual-action ball head with an Arca-compatible quick-release plate. The head has independent pan and release controls.

Price: $140
slikusa.com

[10 New Pieces of Gear for Filmmakers]

Vanguard Veo 2Go

This four-section, aluminum tripod includes an Arca-Swiss-compatible quick-release plate and a pair of spiked feet for working on rough terrain. There’s a retractable weight hook you can use to add stabilizing weights, and the tripod legs can be positioned at three independent angles. It extends to 51.2 inches and down to a minimum working height of 6.9 inches, and it can hold 6.6 pounds of camera gear. It packs down to 12.75 inches.

Price: $120
vanguardworld.com

[The Coolest Studio and On-Location Photo Accessories and Backdrops]

Joby 3K Pro

With the 3K Pro, Joby has designed a GorillaPod capable of supporting heavier cameras up to 6.6 pounds, making it a great fit for compact DLSR and mirrorless shooters who need to position their gear at unorthodox angles that traditional tripods can’t easily replicate. The 3K kit includes an Arca-Swiss-compatible ball head and a standard 1/4-20 tripod mount. Weighing a little over a pound, the 3K Pro’s ball head has a panning base with degree markings and a single
locking knob.

Price: $150
joby.com

[The Ultimate Guide to Mirrorless Cameras and Lenses]

Manfrotto BeFree GT XPRO

Optimized for capturing close-up details, the XPRO features a built-in 90-degree column in the top casting that, when deployed, lets your camera be positioned offset from the tripod’s legs. The tripod includes the 496 ball head, which can support up to 22 pounds of gear. The head has independent friction knobs and includes an Arca-compatible quick-release plate. The tripod body is forged from carbon fiber. The XPRO extends to 63.8 inches and has a minimum working height of 3.5 inches. Folded up, the tripod measures a compact 16.9 inches.

Price: $430
manfrotto.com/us-en/

[Using Bright Flash in Three Different Portrait Scenarios]

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14 Tripods, Gimbals and Stabilizers to Check Out https://rangefinderonline.com/gear/tripods/14-tripods-gimbals-and-stabilizers-for-wedding-photographers-and-filmmakers/ Fri, 21 Jun 2019 00:00:43 +0000 https://rangefinderonline.com/?p=66431

Velbon UTC-63 Carrying Capacity: 22 poundsExtended Height: 61 inchesMinimum Working Height: 13.4 inchesCollapsed Height: 14 inchesMaterial: Carbon fiberWeight: 3.3 pounds Features: The UTC-63 has five leg sections that are positionable in three different angles. There’s also a center column with two sections. Its ball head includes an Arca Swiss style quick-release plate and a bubble level. When it’s time to...

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Velbon UTC-63

Carrying Capacity: 22 pounds
Extended Height: 61 inches
Minimum Working Height: 13.4 inches
Collapsed Height: 14 inches
Material: Carbon fiber
Weight: 3.3 pounds

Features: The UTC-63 has five leg sections that are positionable in three different angles. There’s also a center column with two sections. Its ball head includes an Arca Swiss style quick-release plate and a bubble level. When it’s time to pack up, the legs fold back a full 180 degrees, allowing the tripod to become very compact. 

Price: $430
velbon.biz

Miller 75 Sprinter II

Carrying Capacity: 66 pounds
Extended Height: 60.4 inches
Minimum Working Height: 23.6 inches
Collapsed Height: 27.6 inches
Material: Carbon fiber
Weight: 7 pounds

Features: The Sprinter II is a two-stage tripod with a dual action leg lock system that lets you adjust both levers simultaneously. It includes a 75mm die-cast alloy bowl and an integrated carrying handle. The tripod feet feature stainless steel spikes that can be replaced with rubber feet.

Price: $1,595 (includes feet and spreader)
millertripods.com

ProMediaGear TR343 Pro-Stix 34 51-inch

Carrying Capacity: 60 pounds
Extended Height: 50.9 inches
Minimum Working Height: 3.8 inches
Collapsed Height: 22 inches
Material: Carbon fiber (legs), aluminum (apex)
Weight: 3.7 pounds

Features: With three leg sections lockable into three different angles, the TR343 can be adjusted to fit a variety of shooting needs. It includes three stainless steel spikes when you need to secure the tripod to rougher terrain. The legs are built with 10x carbon fiber woven into a cross pattern for durability and controlled by weather-sealed twist locks. The apex features a 3/8-16 mount, an integrated level and three 1/4-20 mounting points for adding accessories. The tripod also can accommodate an optional 75mm bowl. 

Price: $799  
promediagear.com

Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3

Carrying Capacity: 55 pounds
Extended Height: 58.5 inches
Minimum Working Height: 3.7 inches
Collapsed Height: 22.5 inches
Material: Carbon fiber
Weight: 5.2 pounds

Features: The Robus RC-5558 has four leg sections that can be arrayed in three different angles: 25, 55 and 85 degrees. The tripod’s central spider features a lock to loosen the yoke and a safety pull latch that releases the machined top plate. A 75mm video bowl is included and there’s an optional center column available that extends the RC-5558’s maximum height to 73.25 inches.

Price: $500 
robussupports.com

Vanguard Veo 2G0 204AB

Carrying Capacity: 6.6 pounds
Extended Height: 51.2 inches
Minimum Working Height: 6.9 inches
Collapsed Height: 12.75 inches
Material: Aluminum
Weight: 2 pounds

Features: This four-section tripod includes an Arca-Swiss compatible quick-release plate and a pair of spiked feet for working on rough terrain. There’s a retractable weight hook you can use to add stabilizing weights, and the tripod legs can be positioned at three independent angles. 

Price: $120
vanguardworld.com

iFootage Gazelle Uprise TA5

Carrying Capacity: 11 pounds
Extended Height: 64 inches
Minimum Working Height: 7.6 inches
Collapsed Height: 20.6 inches
Material: Aluminum
Weight: 4.2 pounds

Features: The Uprise sports three leg angles with independently lockable leg sections. You can invert your camera on the tripod’s center column for those low-to-the-ground shots. The rubberized feet have push-out spikes when you’re switching up terrains. There’s an accessory mount on the apex. The center column has a hook for hanging stabilizing weights. It has a 75mm bowl head.

Price: $219
ifootagegear.com

Manfrotto 500 Hybrid Video System

Carrying Capacity: 11 pounds
Extended Height: 67.13 inches
Minimum Working Height: 27.83 inches
Collapsed Height: 23 inches
Material: Aluminum
Weight: 6.4 pounds

Features: Manfrotto’s video-friendly pan-and-tilt tripod kit includes a fluid video head (the MVH500AH) and the 190x three-section tripod. It features a counterbalance when tilting and is compatible with Manfrotto’s Easy Link so you can add attachments to the tripod when needed. The three leg sections can be arranged in four different angles. The legs are secured using flip locks and the tripod has a bubble level. 

Price: $300
manfrotto.us 

Peak Design Travel Tripod

Carrying Capacity: TBD
Extended Height: 62.5 inches
Minimum Working Height: 5.2 inches
Collapsed Height: 15.5 inches
Material: Carbon fiber
Weight: 2.6 pounds

Features: This tripod can be packed down to the diameter of your average water bottle with a compact ball head that nests into the legs when not in use. It includes a built-in cell phone mount that stows in the center column. A 3.4-pound aluminum edition is also available. 

Price: $499
peakdesign.com

Smith-Victor CA180

Carrying Capacity: 33 pounds
Extended Height: 63.3 inches
Minimum Working Height: 1.8 inches
Collapsed Height: 21 inches
Material: Aluminum
Weight: 4.3 pounds

Features: The CA180’s center column can be set at any angle up to 180 degrees for shooting at untraditional angles. All the legs fold back to make the tripod more compact for travel. There are 1/4-20 female threads at the leg platform for adding accessories as well as a 1/4-20 post with both 1/4-20 and 3/8-16 female threads for column accessories. That column lets you mount microphones, lights or a second camera on the same tripod.

Price: $200
smithvictor.com

Sirui SH15

Carrying Capacity: 22 pounds
Extended Height: 61.6 inches
Minimum Working Height: 30.7 inches
Collapsed Height: 32.5 inches
Material: Aluminum
Weight: 7.9 pounds

Features: This video-friendly tripod ships with a 360-degree fluid head and features a center spreader for improved stability. The rubber feet have retractable metal spikes and the leg locks are oversized to make them easier to manipulate with gloved hands.

Price: $200
siruiusa.com 

3 Legged Thing: Patti

Carrying Capacity: 22 pounds
Extended Height: 64 inches
Minimum Working Height: 4.25 inches
Collapsed Height: 17.7 inches
Material: Magnesium alloy
Weight: 3.4 pounds

Features: Named after punk rocker Patti Smith, the Patti tripod is the company’s first with flip-lock legs. It has a reversible and removable center column and four leg sections that can be arranged in three different angles. You’ll have your choice of two color styles: grey with a blue AirHed tripod head and accents of copper or a matte black version with accents of British Racing Green. Patti ships with rubber Bootz, which are detachable and can be replaced with the optional Heelz, Stilettoz and Clawz foot accessories.

Price: $120
3leggedthing.com

Tiffen Steadimate-S

Carrying Capacity: 15 pounds
Battery Life: Gimbal dependent
Weight: 15 pounds

Features: With the Steadimate-S, you can pair the camera control of a motorized gimbal with the weight distribution benefits of a Steadicam vest. The Steadimate lets you swap one motorized gimbal handle for an adapter that anchors your gimbal of choice (currently the Ronin S or Zhiyun Crane 2) into the vest.

Price: starting at $295
tiffen.com

Gudsen Moza Air 2

Carrying Capacity: 9.2 pounds
Battery Life: 16 hours
Weight: 3.5 pounds

Features: The Air 2’s already impressive battery life can be prolonged by plugging a power pack into the gimbal’s USB-C port. You can also use the Air 2 to provide power out to an external monitor or lights. The Air 2 supports motion time-lapses, tracking and zoom time-lapses as well. An upgraded companion app delivers support for object tracking, panoramic shooting and more. The gimbal has hard controls for focus, zoom, playback, shutter, EV and white balance. You can customize the joystick, wheel and trigger as well. The Air 2 supports a variety of shooting modes and is capable of moving cameras around the pitch, roll and yaw axes in a variety of combinations. In Inception Mode, you can rotate your camera 360 degrees on the pan axis to create a spiraling zoom effect. In Sport Gear Mode, the camera pans quickly to create the sensation of whirling motion.

Price: $599
gudsen.com

DJI Ronin S

Carrying Capacity: 7.9 pounds
Battery Life: 12 hours
Weight: 4 pounds

Features: The Ronin-S is a three-axis gimbal with a Push mode to adjust the pan and tilt the axis by hand. There’s also a new Sport mode to help you track fast-moving subjects. If you need to choreograph more advanced camera moves, you can connect the Ronin-S to your mobile device and use the app to access modes like Panorama, Hyperlapse, Track and CamAnchor. The stabilizer’s battery can be hot-swapped during use and there are dedicated buttons for camera and gimbal control.

Price: $749
dji.com

Benro RedDog R1

Carrying Capacity: 2.9 pounds
Battery Life: 12 hours
Weight: 1.93 pounds (without battery)

Features: Benro’s RedDog R1 is a versatile three-axis gimbal that features a swiveling handle that can be positioned in an upright or carry mode, where the camera sits beneath the handle. When not in use, you can collapse the handle to make the RedDog easier to transport. There are three shooting modes. A Universal Follow Mode offers smooth movement in the direction the camera is pointing. A Locked-Down Mode keeps the camera locked on a given subject while the gimbal moves. Finally, a Horizontal Follow Mode keeps the camera still as you pan the camera horizontally. Extra movements can be achieved by using the gimbal’s built-in directional buttons. You can pair the RedDog with your smartphone via Bluetooth and use a free app to calibrate the gimbal and control it remotely.

Price: $399
 benrousa.com

Related: Peak Design is Making Tripods Now

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Peak Design Is Making Tripods Now https://rangefinderonline.com/gear/tripods/peak-design-travel-tripod/ Wed, 22 May 2019 15:39:31 +0000 https://rangefinderonline.com/?p=65945

Peak Design reimagines the tripod.

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Peak Design is well-known for its stylish camera bags, but the company is adding something new to the mix: a travel tripod.

Four years in the making, Peak Design’s Travel Tripod has a significant design innovation: the near complete elimination of dead space when the tripod is folded up.

The Travel Tripod’s legs and center column seamlessly nest together for a total diameter of just 2.5-inches, or about the circumference of a water bottle.

It is quick to deploy, too, thanks to non-inverted legs that extend along an aligned system of locking cam levers. When the tripod is collapsed, it’s easy to pop open the leg clamps to deploy them.

The ball head has been rethought as well. Rather than several knobs, the head has a single adjustment ring and a propriety quick-release plate that’s Arca Swiss compatible. It features a built-in phone mount, bubble level and a hook for hanging counterweights.

You can extend the tripod to 62.5 inches or down to a minimum working height of 5.25 inches. Use the included hex wrench and you can configure the tripod into “Low Mode” to get right up the ground–pretty convenient for macro work.

It collapses down to 15.5 inches and is sold in either aluminum and carbon fiber versions. It can hold 20 pounds of gear.

The carbon fiber version will retail for $600 while an aluminum version will set you back $350. The Travel Tripod is available for pre-order now and is expected to ship in December.

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Rock Steady: New Tripods and Monopods for Working Photographers https://rangefinderonline.com/gear/tripods/rock-steady-new-tripods-and-monopods-for-working-photographers/ Tue, 30 Oct 2018 12:00:55 +0000 https://rangefinderonline.com/?p=62730

Here's a look at some of the latest and greatest photographic tripods to hit the market recently.

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Editor’s Choice! Tiffen Steadicam Air Monopod

The Air earns its moniker thanks to the gas lift spring used for height adjustments. Simply press down on the foot pedal and you can extend or collapse the monopod with ease. There are three sections with a single twist-lock leg that can be rotated 360 degrees. The Air itself is forged from carbon fiber, weighs in at 3.5 pounds and has a foam-padded grip. The removable aluminum top plate has a reversible screw head with ¼-20 and 3/8-16 threads. The monopod is available in two configurations: the Air-25, which is capable of holding 25 pounds, and the Air-15, which is rated for 15 pounds.

Price: $399 (air-15), $499 (air-25)
tiffen.com/steadicamair

Really Right Stuff TFC-14 Mark

Really Right Stuff’s new Mark II tripods feature integrated weight hooks for adding extra weight and several ¼-20 sockets on the outside of the tripod’s apex for attaching accessories. The legs have a new sealed twist-lock mechanism that keeps sand and grit from slipping between the legs and the lock. The TCV-14 can hold 25 pounds of gear with four leg sections that stretch to a maximum height of 47.6-inches or a minimum height of 2.8 inches.

Price: $835
reallyrightstuff.com

Vanguard Alta Pro 2+263CGHT

This kit features a new pistol grip ball head (the Alta GH-300T) that’s designed to let you lock, unlock or reposition your camera with one hand. It supports 360-degree pans with 72 click points and up to 90-degree tilts. The kit also includes a carbon-fiber-based tripod with three leg sections and a 15.4-pound carrying capacity. It has ¼-turn twisting leg locks and reaches a max height of 68.25 inches and minimum working height of 9 inches. It includes triggering cables for Nikon (TN1) and Canon (TC1) cameras so you can fire your camera using the pistol-shaped ball head.

Price: $500
vanguardworld.us

Manfrotto BeFree Advanced

The aluminum-based BeFree utilizes Manfrotto’s M-Lock twist-lock system for quickly extending or collapsing the legs. The leg angle selectors have been designed for use by either lefties or righties, and each leg can be positioned independently. The BeFree also features the company’s Easy Link attachment for adding accessories, plus a hook for hanging stabilizing weights. It can support payloads of 17.6 pounds with a maximum height of 59 inches. It folds down to 15.75 inches.

Price: $190
manfrotto.com

Sirui SR 3204

This new series of heavy-duty tripods feature a twist-lock leg system that extends with a half turn. The SR models can pull double duty as both a stills and video tripod thanks to the 75mm ball base hidden below the flat-top spider. The spider features a bubble level and a ¼-inch covered socket for adding accessories. The tripods are built from 10-layer carbon fiber or aluminum and are sold in three leg sections (carbon fiber only) or four leg sections (carbon fiber and aluminum). All versions are capable of holding up to 55 pounds of gear and extend to 59 inches. They ship with stainless-steel spiked feet.

Price: $1,014
sirui.com

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3 Legged Thing’s New Patti Tripod Is First With Flip-Lock Legs https://rangefinderonline.com/gear/tripods/3-legged-things-new-patti-tripod-is-first-with-flip-lock-legs/ Tue, 14 Aug 2018 17:10:57 +0000 https://rangefinderonline.com/?p=60090 3 Legged Thing Patti Tripod

Named after rocker Patti Smith, the Patti is the company's first to offer a flip-lock mechanism on the legs.

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3 Legged Thing Patti Tripod

Tripod maker 3 Legged Thing is famous for its playfully inventive product names and its newest tripod is no exception. Named after rock legend Patti Smith, the Patti is the company’s first tripod to use a flip-lock mechanism instead of friction locks for its legs. (It’s also the brand’s first tripod named after a female rock star.)

Forged from aircraft-grade mangesium alloy, Patti can hold up to 22 pounds of gear aloft. It has four leg sections and three leg angles (23, 55 and 80 degrees). You can extend Patti to a maximum height of 64 inches or as low as 4.3 inches from the ground.

You’ll have your choice of two color styles: grey with a blue AirHed tripod head and accents of copper or matte black with accents of British Racing Green. Patti ships with rubber Bootz which are detachable and can be replaced with the optional Heelz, Stilettoz, and Clawz foot accessories.

Patti ships in September for $120. It is available for pre-order now.

 

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WPPI 2018: Savage Universal Unveils Mid-Size Seamless & Adjustable Drop Stand https://rangefinderonline.com/gear/accessories/wppi-2018-savage-universal-unveils-mid-size-seamless-paper-drop-stand/ Wed, 28 Feb 2018 17:27:37 +0000 https://rangefinderonl.wpengine.com/?p=54761

New seamless for portrait shooters.

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Savage Universal’s newest light stand, unveiled at WPPI 2018, is ideal for shooting in uneven terrain.

The Savage Pro Duty Drop Stand features an air cushioned sliding leg that can be extended out at a 90 degree angle from the stand to help users position it. It features three sections and a 3/8-inch stud adapter at the top. It will be sold in 7 or 10 foot sizes.

The 7-foot stand can keep 30 pounds of gear aloft. It has a minimum height of 38 inches.

The 10-foot stand can hold up to 15 pounds and has a minimum folded length of 49 inches. Pricing for either model wasn’t released.

Savage is also releasing a new 86-inch wide full color seamless paper. This mid-range size will be sold in all of the colors available in the full color seamless line (65 in all) and measures in at 12 yards in length. The new seamless size is ideal for photographers who need to cram a backdrop in their car or shoot full body portraits in tight spaces.

The 86-inch seamless is expected to ship in April. Pricing wasn’t announced.

Don’t Miss: 10 Clever Ideas for Shooting with Seamless Paper

Great New Backdrops and Props for Your Portrait Photography

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Going Steady: DJI Releases Pair of New Stabilizers https://rangefinderonline.com/gear/tripods/dji-ronin-s-osmo-mobile-2-2/ Sun, 07 Jan 2018 17:38:47 +0000 https://rangefinderonl.wpengine.com/?p=53330

DJI's newest stabilizers are aimed at DSLRs and mobile shooters.

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DJI hit CES with a pair of new stabilizers, one targeting smartphone users and the other for DSLR/mirrorless owners.

The Ronin-S is a three-axis gimbal and the company’s first single-handed stabilizer for interchangeable lens cameras. It will be sold in two frame sizes, depending on camera size.

The S features a Push mode to adjust the pan and tilt axis by hand. There’s also a new Sport mode to help you track fast-moving subjects. If you need to choreograph more advanced camera moves, you can connect the Ronin-S to your mobile device and use the app to access modes like Panorama, Hyperlapse, Track and CamAnchor. The stabilizer’s battery can be hot-swapped during use and there are buttons for camera and gimbal control.

The Ronin-2 is due in the second quarter of 2018. Pricing wasn’t announced.

OSMO MOBILE 2

DJI is also update its smartphone stabilizer. The Osmo Mobile 2 uses a three-axis gimbal to keep your mobile movies steady. The Mobile 2 can fold down when not in use and features a 1/4-20 mount and a two-way clamp with portrait and landscape orientations.

The updated stabilizer features a new zoom slider plus dedicated controls for ISO and exposure so you can control your phone via the gimbal. The built-in battery has been improved and is now good for up to 15 hours of use. When your phone is connected via USB it can draw a charge from the Osmo as well.

When using DJI’s Go app you can access features such as ActiveTrack to automatically follow of subjects in motion, Motion Timelapse with up to five different camera positions and Hyperlapse to create time-lapse videos with camera movements.

The Osmo Mobile 2 ships at the end of the month for $129.

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On the Move? The MeVIDEO Is a Travel-Friendly Video Tripod https://rangefinderonline.com/gear/tripods/mevideo-tripod/ Tue, 14 Nov 2017 14:47:48 +0000 https://rangefinderonl.wpengine.com/?p=51910

Looking to take your movie making on the road? Meet the MeVIDEO.

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There’s a new kid in tripod town and it’s brought to you by the same folks who launched the MeFOTO line of tripods. But unlike its still photo sibling, this is an all-new family of tripods designed especially for videographers.

MeVIDEO’s Globe Trotter tripod exceeded its funding goal on Kickstarter and is slated to ship in January 2018. The tripod looks very cool and is available in either aluminum of carbon fiber, in black or titanium.

Beyond slick looks, the Globe Trotter has reverse folding legs that, when folded up, measure 18-inches (with the head removed). The four-section legs use rubberized twist locks for quick and easy set up and break down. Each leg also has three individual locking positions so it can be placed on uneven surfaces. At the bottom of each leg, you’ll find integrated stainless steel spikes. When you don’t need the spikes, they retract into the rubber feet.

Need a monopod? No problem. Just unscrew the center column and attach it to the padded leg.

Image courtesy of MeVIDEO/Mac Group USA.

The tripod has an adjustable center column that splits for those how-low-can-you-go-shots (minimum height is 7.7 inches). With the column retracted, maximum height is 53-inches. Extend the column to reach 65.7 inches.

Image courtesy of MeVIDEO/Mac Group USA.

 

Equipped with a fluid head that uses a sliding video quick release plate with a registration pin and two rubber pads, leveling is quite simple. There are three steel, ratchet style adjustment knobs for leveling, as well as pan and tilt locks. The pan arm can be set up for right-handers or southpaws. For versatility, the head can be removed and mounted on compatible sliders, jibs and half ball adapters, among other accessories.

Image courtesy of MeVIDEO/Mac Group USA.

The Globe Trotter supports up to 8.8 pounds, comes with ¼”-20 and 3/8”-16 camera screws and a padded carrying case. A couple of different kits are available and are priced from $549. The tripod itself is estimated to retail for $499 (aluminum) and $699 for the carbon fiber model. By the time you read this, the Kickstarter is probably over but visit the fundraising page for some video demos and to see if you can still get the discounted price.

 

 

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New Tripods That Will Get On Your Level https://rangefinderonline.com/gear/tripods/new-tripods-will-get-level/ Thu, 09 Nov 2017 13:00:20 +0000 https://rangefinderonl.wpengine.com/?p=51686

Our picks of some of the best new tripods from 2017.

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MeFOTO Air
Editor’s Choice

The Air is forged from anodized aluminum and sold in seven colors (though fear not tripod traditionalists, it’s also sold in black). It features a new Hyperlock leg locking system. Rather than a locking mechanism for each leg section, HyperLock uses one locking mechanism per leg, so a single turn unlocks and extends the entire leg. It also allows you to freely adjust leg height by twisting the lock at any desired length. All the tripods in the series have a detachable, telescoping selfie stick and include a spring-loaded smartphone holder. They also include a rechargeable Bluetooth remote control so you can remotely trigger your mobile phone. The tripods include a ball head with an integrated bubble level.
Price: $59+
mefoto.com

ProMediaGear Pro-Stix 34 Series

These carbon-fiber tripods are available in heights ranging from 51 to 71 inches and are capable of keeping up to 60 pounds of gear aloft. The tripods feature an interchangeable flat-plate and bowl mount with multiple ¼-20 mounts and anti-rotation pin slots so you can easily attach accessories. The legs have three adjustable locking angle positions and the feet have stainless steel spikes for stability on rough terrain.
Price: $799+
promediagear.com

Benro ProAngel

This new family of compact aluminum travel tripods have reverse-folding legs so they’re easy to pack up and stuff into your gear bag of choice. All of the ProAngel tripods feature a single leg locking mechanism that opens all of the tripod’s leg sections with a single twist. Once you have the legs positioned in their desired height, you simply give the locking mechanism a half-turn and the legs are secured in place. The center column has two telescoping sections with a standard 3/8-16-inch thread so you can add a tripod head (some ProAngel kits will include Benro’s B1 ballhead). The ProAngel line is available in several series with heights ranging from 51.4 to 63 inches and max loads from 11 to 26.4 pounds.
Price: $99+
benrousa.com

Gitzo 100th Anniversary Travel Tripod

This special-edition tripod features new magnesium spider, Carbon eXact tubing and a 180-degree leg folding mechanism to help keep the tripod compact when folded. There’s also a new Center Ball Head for smooth and precise camera movements. The 100th Anniversary model features an ergonomic strap made of genuine Italian leather that’s fashioned to look like carbon fiber. Let’s hope we all look this good at 100.
Price: $1,500
gitzo.us

Sirui A-1005

This aluminum tripod kit reaches to 58.5 inches with the dual stage center column, or to 46.5 inches with the column retracted. If you need to get low, you can detach the center column entirely. You can also convert a tripod leg to a monopod. It has three leg angle positions and a carrying capacity of 22 pounds.
Price: $140
sirui.com

Joby GorillaPod 1K Kit

Joby’s refreshed lineup of flexible GorillaPod tripods includes the new 1K, which is strong enough to keep up to 2.2 pounds of gear aloft. It can be paired with the Ballhead 1K, which can pan 360 degrees and tilt 90 degrees. It has rubberized rings and foot grips to stabilize the tripod on uneven terrain.
Price: $20+
joby.com

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