Fotomate V-Pod-S Table Top Tripod Review

If you are looking for a small lightweight tripod that you can always carry around in your bag, then the Fotomate V-Pod-S might be a nice solution.


The new Fotomate V-Pod-S table top follows the design principle of well known table top tripods as for example the discontinued Manfrotto 709B or it is maybe a little closer to Giottos U-Pod 305/405 idea, which has an extendable center column but it may not be considered a clone of either.

Fotomate LP-01 Geared Macro Rail Review

A little before getting into a completely Arca Swiss® compatible rail system I was experimenting with the use of Fotomate LP-01 Geared Macro Rails both as a macro rail and as a nodal slide.
However, I continue to see interest and questions about this rail in many fora discussions and, as I consider it a very economical solution for macro work with entry level DSLRs, I decided to write a more detailed review for reference.