Opteka TS-1 TacShot Pistol Grip Tripod/Monopod Ball Head for Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I was very pleased with this item. It is very well built and it doesn't feel cheap at all. It has a really nice finish on it and all the mechanisms are made out of metal making it feel very sturdy. The quick release plate is locked securely and firmly onto the head. It has a release lever to allow the camera to pan without having to hold the trigger. The slot position is adjustable so you can have the camera flip vertical to your right or left for portrait shots. The level is a nice thing to have as well. I tried this on my tripod as well as my monopod and I absolutely love it. It saves so much time by not having to twist and turn all these levers to get it to portrait position, all it takes is one squeeze of the trigger and you can adjust it to any position you want. It makes life a whole lot easier when using this on a monopod, it is quick and easy to adjust so you spend more time shooting and less time fiddling with the knobs and levers of a normal ordinary tripod head.

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The Opteka TacShot is a compact and convenient trigger-style tactical ballhead, designed for lightweight video or still photography. The very act of taking your hand away from the grip locks the head into position, which eliminates the extra step of having to tighten a knob or lever before being ready to shoot. You have immediate access to half of a sphere in which to position your camera. The TacShot's body is crafted from high impact polycarbonate with the ball head and internal assemblies made from high quality aluminum. A bull's eye style single bubble level helps quickly achieve a perfectly level shot with just a glance at your hand. The included quick release plates allow you to remove your camera at a moment's notice.The Opteka TacShot can be used with all makes and models of tripods that have either a 1/4"-20 or a 3/8"-16 threaded center column post.The Opteka TacShot can support up to 6.6 lbs. For example, that means 35mm up to an 80-200mm f/2.8 lens. This head is ideal for both tripods and monopods.

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Ravelli APGL4 New Professional Tripod with Adjustable Pistol Grip Head and Heavy Duty Carry Bag Review

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(More customer reviews)First I ordered this tripod on Amazon.com and it arrived right on time. It qualified for free shipping which was great, the box weighed 20 lbs.
I felt like I was taking a bit of a gamble when I ordered this tripod. There is not much info out there on Ravelli and the APGL4 tripod is a new product. I am really happy with what I recieved. There is no plastic on this thing anywhere. The pistol grip head alone would usually cost more than this whole setup. It comes with two plates which is nice and has all of the features you would expect in a tripod costing much more. The center colum is reversable, spikes on the feet, two levels on the tripod and one on the head. I am using it with a good sized spotting scope which weighs about 7 lbs and it is rock solid. Not much to complain about, the movement on the head could be a little smoother. Also the bag that came with the tripod is about 1/2 inch to short to zip with the head on the tripod.
Bottom line for me is this tripod is a freakishly good value. Its heavy duty and has all the features. Not the nicest I've seen but I have seen and owned tripods costing 2-3 times as much that were not nearly as nice as this one.


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The Ravelli APGL4 is a Professional Quality Tripod providing a solid base for high-end photographic equipment. This model is all pressure treated aluminum alloy construction and is unrivalled in stability. The pistol grip adjustable head provides smooth fluid adjustment to any angle. The center elevator is gearless, non-rollback and can be inverted for low angle shots. Dual foam grips, quick release leg locks, a quick release camera plate and rubber feet/metal spikes complete a very nice tripod.

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Vanguard GH-100 Pistol Grip Ball Head Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm thoroughly impressed with the Vanguard Pistol Grip Ball Head! I decided to take a chance with an unfamiliar brand and am so happy I did. I inherited a Manfrotto tripod from my father and was looking to update the mount with something a little more versatile than the basic quick release.
I've been wanting a ball head for quite some time, but hated the idea of spending $200+ for the Really Right Stuff brand that Scott Kelby recommends. So I started looking at the Manfrotto Joystick that Sandy Puc swears by and realized it had a limited range of motion when using heavier equipment and larger lenses (like my Nikon D700 with 70-200mm lens)! Thank goodness I picked up a copy of Popular Photography Magazine...I noticed they had announced their POP Awards and that the Vanguard GH-100 had won one of the coveted spots on their list of top products for 2010! After reading their endorsement I decided to take chance and judge the product for myself.
For less than $100 I have a professional grade ball head with bonus trigger grip. I love how adjustable it is and I feel confident my equipment is safe and won't sag under the weight of my camera/lens or tip the tripod over. I highly recommend you give a try and see for yourself how versatile and durable it is.

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Fusing the smooth precision of a ball head with impressive ergonomic control, GH-100 enables you to position your camera or spotting scope quickly with unmatched versatility. This well-engineered ball head has the Grip Position Release System with an industry-leading pistol grip-style handle, which rotates 360 degrees and enables you to unlock, reposition and lock gear into place with ease. Its one-handed, maximum comfort and convenient operation frees your other hand to make lens zoom adjustments. Depression of the handle allows 360-degrees of panning movement and -32 to +90-degrees of side-to-side tilt and -8 to +90-degree back to front tilt movement all round. It instantly locks into place with simple release of the handle. Other impressive features include its Friction Control System which allows you to modify the level of friction on the ball to accommodate changing equipment weight such as switching to heavier lenses.The anodized center ball allows for extremely fluid movement without sacrificing precise control. GH-100 ensures the safety of your expensive equipment with a dual-locking quick shoe mechanism that prevents accidental release. It lets you attach and detach your gear quickly and efficiently. Other notable features include its 72-click point panorama, offering 72-point rotation with click-into-place positioning that moves the camera 5 degrees per click and prevents jumps in shots to ensure a perfect 360-degree panorama.GH-100 provides impressive versatility in positioning with 360-degree horizontal movement and 90-angle tilt.

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Opteka CFT80 65" 8x Carbon Fiber Tripod with TH60 Quick Release Ball Head (18.75" folded) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a steal for the money. I used this tripod as a tripod and though it was pretty good, then I needed a boom in a studio shoot to hold a Canon 7D/batterypack/77mm lens at full extension. Amazingly this tripod held the camera steady while being held by the leg ends horizontally. It did bend a bit (as carbon fiber should) but never broke, craked, or made any noise. This was a real stress test since it was used in an unintended manner with a 5+lb weight on the ball socket and it worked very well. If you have a Manfrotto/Bogen - get this one for a spare!

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The Opteka CFT80 tripod is a versatile 8x carbon fiber that uniquely folds to a ultra compact size. This is the perfect traveling companion for your DSLR or point and shoot camera. 5 section legs with seize-proof rubberized twist leg locks make set up quick and easy. The leg also features 2 position, 23mm independent leg adjustment and rubber feet. Able to collapse pivot 180 degrees, allowing tripod legs fold up for a very compact size while protecting the tripod head. The easy glide center post allows for quick adjustments and the bottom center post hook gives the ability to hold equipment or add weight for extra stability. The TR60 magnesium alloy ball head has a single knob control with quick release and is easily adjusted. Technical Specifications: Maximum Height: 65", Minimum Height: 18", Folded: 18.75" ,Center post Dia. & Height: 21mm; 12" Leg Dia. & Sections: 23mm-5 sections, Quick Release, Leg Lock Type: Twist action lock knob, Capacity: 17lb Total, 53 oz (Tripod 42.6 oz, Head 10.4 oz)

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Opteka SW-1 Sidewinder Joystick Pistol Grip Ball Head with Quick Release Plate for Tripods & Monopods Review

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(More customer reviews)The Opteka SW-1 seems very well built, it is all metal and features a nice quick release plate. The relase plate can be attached to either the end oposite the ball or the end with the trigger. It is attached using an allen screw so it isn't the kind of thing you will be moving between mounting positions frequently. An allen wrench is included. The SW-1 also has a tension adjustment that helps hold the head in place when you have a heavy load on it. It also comes with a tripod/monopod screw insert so you can use the ball head on either a tripod or monopod. The ball itself is pretty large, I'm guessing around 1.25"
When the head is locked into place, surpisingly, it is very stable. It easily holds my Canon 7D with battery grip and 300mm f4 lens. The spring loaded trigger works smoothly, but you can tell there is a strong spring in the head. This may cause problems if you have arthritis in your hands or have very weak fingers, but most people should be able to easily operate it.
Now here is why this isn't a 5 Star Review: When I first used this ball head it was VERY sticky when you tried to release and move it to a new position. It was usable, but it wouldn't move smoothly and it felt like you were using a very cheap ball head. It seemed like it needed some lubrication but I was thinking that grease wouldn't be a good thing to use for the long run. I wound up moving the ball head to the 90 degree position so most of the ball was exposed and then took a #2 pencil and "colored in" the exposed area of the ball. Then I exposed a different area and repeated the "coloring in" process. Guess what? Sticky problem solved! The head moves VERY smoothly and is a pleasure to use! No 5 stars because I'm not sure how long this fix will last.
Given the low price, this ball head is an excellent value if you are looking for a pistol grip type ball head.


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The Opteka Sidewinder is a fast to set up and an easy to use tripod / monopod head, designed for lightweight video or still photography. The very act of taking your hand away from the grip locks the head into position, which eliminates the extra step of having to tighten a knob or lever before being ready to shoot. You have immediate access to half of a sphere in which to position your camera. The tension of the ball can be adjusted to accommodate the load weight. The included quick release plate allows you to remove your camera at a moment's notice.The Opteka Sidewinder can support up to 6.6 lbs. For example, that means 35mm up to an 80-200mm f/2.8 lens. This head is ideal for both tripods and monopods.

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Opteka CFM300 68" 5 Section 8x Carbon Fiber Monopod (Heavy Duty) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been searching for a monopod for the past year and finally found one that I intend to keep. I tried out a Manfrotto 680B and it was too heavy. Then a few Gitzo pods, but I always felt they were just too expensive for what it was - which is odd because I own and love my Gitzo tripod. I guess I just feel that a monopod should be no frills/gimmicks and simple enough that it shouldn't cost too much. When researching on Amazon, I was really worried because this carbon pod was less than most aluminum pods, but decided it was inexpensive enough that it was worth the risk. I'm glad I decided to try it out.
The criteria for a monopod was simple - high quality at a low price. My initial impression (after using it for a few days) is that it really hit the mark.
Pros:
-lightweight
-carbon legs are constructed well
-solid twist locks that keep the sections in place
-handles vibration fairly well
-foam handle feels nice
-comes with a cloth zip up case
Cons:
-buckle on strap seems questionable
While I'm sure there are many monopods that are of greater build quality than the CFM300, they also cost 10 times more. I haven't had enough time shooting with this pod, but based on what I've experienced so far, I feel it'll last for as long as I need it to. I will be updating this review as I continue to use this item.
Get one, you won't be disappointed.

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Opteka carbon fiber monopods are significantly lighter than standard aluminum models without compromising performance. Its 8x technology features eight layers of carbondesigned to provide maximum strength and stability while keeping the monopod's weight to a minimum. These are the perfect camera support for hiking and travel.The CFM300 features both a 1/4" and 3/8" threaded mount to accommodate any camera or head.

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