Not quite what I expected, but not a complete loss
Written: Feb 22 '08
Product Rating:
Pros: Great ergonomics, and ease of use. Two piece center column is great.
Cons: Breakage caused by cheap plastic bushings, making the tripod best used as a walking stick.
The Bottom Line: I wish I could join the bandwagon and recommend this tripod, but I just can't do it. The possibility of failure at any time is a deal breaker.
ncphototrekker's Full Review: SLIK PRO 780 DX Tripod Legs with SH-807E Heavy Dut...
Alright...I have fallen into the common pitfall of tripods. I tried to save money, thinking that a tripod was a tripod. As a hobbyist photographer I started out with a Wal-Mart special because it was cheap and happened to be right there on the shelf. It was not too long after that I realized that the little MX1000 just wasn't going to cut the mustard. I upgraded to another easy to find tripod, the Sunpak Pro7500. This actually served me for over a year with no issues, but the head was cumbersome to use and being a landscape photographer I needed more flexibility with the legs.
I did lots of research, and after looking at many different reviews, I thought I had a winner with the Slik Pro 780DX. It was advertised as a light and strong tripod capable of supporting lots of weight. At the time I was shooting with a Sony DSC F828 digital, but intended on upgrading to a mid sized DSLR in the near future. In addition to these qualities, the tripod came with a 3-way pan/tilt head...a great bonus for me. Having gotten used to the Sunpak, I liked the idea of having individual control over each movement of the head. All of this for a very reasonable $177.00.
The tripod arrived just a few days after ordering it from B&H Photo Video. It was very stout feeling, and all of the controls and levers on it felt solid. It stood taller than me, at over six feet. This was perfect, and the leg cushions were the icing on the cake. For those photographers that like to leave their cameras attached to the tripod and carry it over your shoulder...that is a wonderful perk. I was very happy with my purchase.
In the Field...
OK, I couldn't wait to get this tripod into action. My first outing with it went very smooth. Everything worked as planned. The legs were able to be adjusted individually allowing me to position on some very steep terrain. This thing was rock solid...I doubt if a California earthquake could move this rig. The pan/tilt head worked flawlessly. The center column on this model is actually a two piece unit. I had removed the lower half of the center column to make a short column, which allowed me to drop the camera down to less than 2 feet above ground level with no hassle short of spreading the legs...this was great!
I carried this tripod on another assignment where I completed a photo essay near a waterfall. Again everything went great. The extra height that I mentioned before (with the long center column in tact) came in just perfect while standing in the water. I was actually high and dry on a rock, but the tripod was set up in the water about a foot below my feet. With everything extended the camera came right to my eyes...perfect!
The next outing was a camping trip where I was looking forward to some more great photo opportunities. Early on my first morning, I struck out to a small creek nearby and set up on the shore. I took several pictures of some small cascades and headed by to the camp site to prepare for a longer hike with even better subjects. When I returned to camp, maybe a hundred yards or so, I decided to break down my rig and pack everything up for the hike I would be embarking on shortly.
As I collapsed the tripod, I released one of the flip lock levers that clamped the legs in place. I pushed the leg up to collapse it, and noticed a strange noise. Surely a pebble hadn't gone up into the leg...I couldn't imagine how...everything is very well sealed on this unit. I removed the rubber stopper foot at the end of the leg and shook, fully expecting a rock to come out. It wasn't a rock...and it was nothing that appears in nature.
The shock, and disappointment...
What I found coming out of the leg was a piece of thin white plastic curved very similar to the leg itself. I was worried, figuring that this was something that had broken inside. I released the leg lock again and extended the leg to check for proper operation. The leg no longer felt smooth and sturdy. There was a noticeable catch to it. I tried to lock the leg, but it didn't fully engage. With very little trouble, I was able to remove the leg section from the top of the tripod. when the leg came out, so did about a dozen plastic pieces. I wasn't sure what exactly the purpose of this piece was, but it was now completely out.
I reassembled the leg, to find that the flip lock no longer worked to secure the leg. The tripod was now useless...all because of a little plastic part that appeared to be quite thin, and easily (apparently) broken. The rest of the camping trip I had to resort to hand held photographs which is not something that I enjoy doing.
The options....
After getting home, I pulled out the paperwork for the warranty on the Slik. It was easy to find, I had not had time to file it away, the tripod was less than three weeks old. Slik stands behind their product with a pretty good warranty, but there were some caveats. First, I would have to send the tripod back to them at my expense. Second, they would not honor the warranty if the product had been misused. I'm old enough, and have dealt with enough companies to know that the "misuse" clause will likely be used to explain away my damage. Of course, I had been quite gentle with this tripod using it exactly how it was intended to be used....even according to Slik. However, I knew that I would end up being out the shipping money to get it back to Slik and that I would more than likely have to pay to get it fixed.
All of that aside, I started to think about it from another angle. The piece that broke appeared to be a part that would be prone to breakage...there were five more of those parts on this tripod...six in all. If any one of them failed, I would be without a tripod, no way around it. One had already failed, with just a few uses under its belt. My confidence was shaken in this product, shaken very badly.
I began to research other tripods to replace my brand new Slik. I finally decided on the Manfrotto 055MF3 legs as a replacement. The head that had come with the Slik, a SH-807E was compatible, and I had become quite impressed with its abilities. I decided to chalk my Slik purchase price up to just paying for a head that I really liked. Now, with the Manfrotto legs, I feel that I have a very good combination that has now served me well for several months.
Closing thoughts....
I really wanted to like the Slik Pro 780DX. All the specs on this product are great, and it has had wonderful reviews. For the price, I don't think you can find a better tripod...at least in function. It is the build quality that I have a huge problem with. While I have not heard of any others having this problem, the tripod was a new upgrade to the 580DX in 2007. Having held the pieces of the leg bushing in my hand, and knowing how the tripod was treated in the short time it was in service, I can only imagine that these failures are a pretty high possibility.
It all comes down to this...for me, a landscape photographer, the tripod is essential equipment, and is of a size that I can't carry a spare on hikes. I need to have the utmost confidence in this item because if it breaks, I'm done for the day...simple as that.
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