#CAMERA TRIPOD SLIK PRO#

The Slik tripod includes a pan head that will allow smooth panning up to 180 degrees, which is best suited for digital still photography as well as videography.

An aluminum pan head model, the Slik 35D tripod features a very lightweight of just 4 grams, making it easy to transport without fatigue.

In short, it's excellent value for money and I'd gladly recommend it. It's sturdy and portable, which are the key requirements of a good tripod, and at about half the price of a Manfrotto, it's definitely affordable too.

#CAMERA TRIPOD SLIK PRO#

Overall, I am pleased with my Slik Pro 400DX tripod. You can either purchase a water level that fits onto your camera's flash shoe separately or simply adjust the alignment of your photos in post-processing. Another thing missing is a water level but I don't think that this is a big deal. So, going for a Manfrotto wouldn't have helped in that regard. However, the Manfrotto 190XPROB (and I believe the Manfrotto 055XPROB as well) doesn't have spikes either. If I had one complaint about the Slik Pro 400DX, it'd be the fact that it doesn't have spikes - it only has rubber feet. I have never actually taken it hiking (I'm not much of a hiker) but I believe that it would be reasonable for that too. It is reasonable to take this tripod with you when traveling and I have done this several times. I'm pretty sure that I won't have any problem using this tripod with a 70-200 or 70-300 lens either. My Nikon D60 (mode replaced by Nikon D3000) fits very comfortably on it. This is definitely sufficient for my use. The Slik Pro 400DX is able to support a maximum load of 4.5 kg, which is quite a lot. The Slik Pro 400DX has a minimum height of 33 cm. There is a locking mechanism in place to ensure that the tripod holds steady when this is done. Its legs can be further spread apart to get it lower - this is shown in the photos above. As you can see from the photos above, its legs have three sections. Without extending its neck, it has a maximum height of 1.28 m. The Slik Pro 400DX has a maximum height of 1.55 m with its neck extended to the maximum. I felt that the difference would be better spent on some other camera gear such as lenses.Īnyway, here are some photos of and thoughts about my Slik Pro 400DX tripod. At that time, the Slik Pro 400DX was about half the price of the Manfrotto 190XPROB. I bought it through Amazon and as usual, it arrived within a couple of days. I googled for some reviews (which were actually quite scarce) and finally decided that the Slik Pro 400DX was the one for me. However, since I do much of my shopping on Amazon (and they do carry Slik products), it wasn't a problem for me at all. There aren't as many retailers carrying their products as compared to Manfrotto though. Slik is in fact a renowned brand for tripods. So, I decided to look into some lesser known, but reputable brands. In the case of Manfrotto, I expect that their cost of sales (advertising, branding, commissions, etc.) and margins are pretty high. However, having a background in Sales and Product Management made me wonder how much of the retail price actually goes to its production. I totally agree that a good tripod is a worthwhile, long-term investment. The only thing that held me back from investing in one was its price. I was seriously considering getting either the Manfrotto 190XPROB or Manfrotto 055XPROB.

Manfrotto does indeed make very good tripods that excel in both steadiness and portability. I have never owned one myself but have played around with a few before. Most people I know who invested in one have no regrets. When looking for a Tripod, Manfrotto is probably one of the first names to come to mind. So, steadiness and portability are the two main aspects that distinguish tripods. The key word this time is 'portable' - some tripods are lighter but just as steady as their heavier counterparts. It'd be spending more time at home than out on photo shoots. It doesn't make sense having a steady tripod that weighs a ton. The key word here is of course 'steady' - some tripods do a better job of holding a camera steady than others, especially under rugged outdoor conditions. After all, their function is to simply hold the camera steady.

I simply couldn't imagine that there would be much difference between these three-legged beasts. When I was just starting out, a colleague of mine told me that a good tripod is essential for serious photography.