Announcement of New Sunwayfoto Carbon Fiber Tripod Lines and Models

We can call this a major event for Sunwayfoto since after many delays and postponements, Sunwayfoto finally announced on April 15, the release of not one but seven (7) new tripod models in four (4) different series.

It has been 6 years since the release of their first two full sized carbon fiber models the T1C40T Carbon Fiber Traveller and the T2C40C Carbon Fiber Classic. 
In the meantime, about the end of 2019 there were a couple of attempts to introduce improved models like the T2C42C Carbon Fiber Classic, and a new series T2C40N Carbon Fiber without Column, but Covid restrictions had set back production and transports all over the world.

Sunwayfoto Introduces EPIC Series Extremely Lightweight Traveller Ball Heads

It has been a long time since the last major design upgrade of the Sunwayfoto FB Series Mk II Lightweight Ball Heads. If I remember well it was back in 2014 not counting the introduction of model FB-52 sometime in 2017.

Well, it took a long time but maybe this is what was needed to come with something EPIC according to the new series name, just announced by Sunwayfoto.

SUNWAYFOTO T1A20D Aluminum Tripod and XB-28 Low Profile ball head video

An artistic approach in the usually common presentations of camera gear surely makes a difference.
The Sunwayfoto T1A20D Aluminum tabletop tripod is shown in this video combined with the mighty little XB-28 Low Profile ball head.

Announcement of Sunwayfoto XB-28II Low Profile Double Panning Ball Head

About 18 months after the introduction of the smallest member in their XB series of low profile ball heads specifically the Sunwayfoto XB-28 Low Profile and Lightweight Ball Head  Sunwayfoto has just released its Mk II sibling.

The new Mk II version, as obvious from the illustration, is almost identical with its predecessor but for a small panning  base inserted below the quick release clamp. Which gives it the double panning attribute, making it ideal for leveled panoramic work.

Sunwayfoto XB-28 Low Profile and Lightweight Ball Head Preview

Almost four years after the release of their smallest Improved FB-28i Lightweight Ball Head  Sunwayfoto introduced a baby member to their XB series of low profile ball heads.
The new member in the Sunwayfoto XB Series is called XB-28 and as evident from the illustration it comes in a very small size, with a 28 mm ellipsoidal ball and the very smooth characteristics of its larger siblings.

Announcement of mid-sized Desmond DCF-428 Carbon Fiber Traveller Tripod Kit

Not long after the release of the robust "Series 3" Desmond DCF-432 last August, a second Carbon Fiber traveler tripod was released under the Desmond label.

This time the label says "Des DCF-428 Carbon Fibre" meaning that the new Desmond tripod falls into the more standard "Series 2" segment with a 28 mm top leg section diameter.

This the most competitive market segment with many contenders coming from top brands but from numerous not so known manufacturers.

What would make the difference in this hard to compete segment?

Sunwayfoto T2C40C Carbon Fiber Classic Tripod Preview

Further to the release of the Sunwayfoto T1C40T Carbon Fiber Traveller Tripod posted a few days ago, the second in line was the final T2C40C Carbon Fiber Classic Tripod presented here.
Various iterations of the T2C40C were been presented in China P&E Shows and Photokina last year.
However, a few final touches were made until the tripod was announced for release past August.

Sunwayfoto T1C40T Carbon Fiber Traveller Tripod Preview

Sunwayfoto® made its debut in the tripod market almost a year ago, in October 2014, by releasing a small Aluminium tabletop tripod the T1A10 as described in the relevant Article.

As I had mentioned therein, they had already declared their intentions with the announcement and exhibition of a range of Tripods consisting of tabletop, traveler and classic models, made of Aluminium and / or Carbon Fiber.

Desmond to Release own Brand Carbon Fiber Tripods Soon

Have you seen a dens tripod forest before?
Well here is a sneak peek on a factory production floor somewhere in the Far East showing hundredths of Carbon Fiber traveler tripods with a Desmond label.

The label says "Desmond DCF-432 Carbon Fibre" !
Meaning that the first Desmond tripod sports large diameter 32mm top leg section tubes.

Sunwayfoto FB-Series Mk II Lightweight Ball Heads Preview

Originally announced in the P&E Show, in Beijing last April but only recently released in the market, are the Mark II versions of the Sunwayfoto FB Series ball heads.
More specifically the Mark II label concerns only the two larger models of the FB Series at the time being, the FB-36 and FB-44 which were introduced and previewed (Sunwayfoto FB Series Lightweight Ball Heads) two years ago.

Nest Carbon Fiber Traveler Tripods Limited Time Promotion

Expired!

As I was informed by Desmond Photographic Dist. they have introduced a special promotion regarding the three Nest Carbon Fiber Tripods they carry in the US market.

Sunwayfoto FB-36DDH Lightweight Ball Head Review

Since the introduction of the Sunwayfoto FB Series Lightweight ball heads in July 2012, I have many times referred to their improved versions or the addition of newer models into the series.

However, the arrival of the Nest NT-6294C Carbon Fiber Traveler Tripod for evaluation and review, without the native Nest ball head, was a good opportunity to combine it with a ball head of matching characteristics. Specifically the Sunwayfoto FB-36DDH lightweight ball head which was equipped for the purpose with the DDH-02 panning QR clamp.

In this way I could both maintain a very transportable solution and also have the chance for a long term test and separate review of an FB series ball head.
My long term good experience with the Sunwayfoto DB-36TRLR Traveler Ball Head (reviewed in Mrach 2012), undoubtedly set a standard on what to expect from the performance of a traveller ball head. So let's see how the newer and lighter FB-36 copes.

New Nest NT-6324CT Carbon Fiber Traveler Tripod Released

A taller and sturdier version of the Nest NT-6294CT Carbon Fiber Traveler Tripod reviewed last month, has been released, in the beginning of this month, in the US market.


Under the NT-6324-CT model name, the new addition to the "Professional Line" of Nest tripods shares exactly the same design and features with its smaller sibling but sports larger diameter 32mm top leg section tubes.


This is quite interesting as I know of very few, maybe only a couple other tripod manufacturers, who offer reverse folding traveler tripods of such caliber.


The extra capacity and torsional stiffness of this model, offers a compact 180° folding traveler solution for even larger and heavier camera / lens combinations.

Nest NT-6294CT Carbon Fiber Traveler Tripod Review

I was first acquainted with Nest products about a year or maybe a little more ago, while searching for a good value Systematic type tripod .
I found then, a newly established company with very few products and a very simple name for the Chinese standards.

New Benro Aerometal Travel Angel II Series Tripods

In the process of preparing an upcoming traveler tripod review, my research for comparable models revealed the new Aerometal Travel Angel II series from Benro.
The quite marketing oriented "Aerometal" stands for Aerospace industry type metal denoting light weight and strength.

In this Aerometal series, Benro® has adopted the long used by Sirui® and Triopo® metal formation technique of forging in place of casting for their tripods' center leg hub (spider).

Sunwayfoto Released an Improved FB-28i Lightweight Ball Head

Almost a year after the release of the small FB-28 Lightweight Ball Head, Sunwayfoto announced an improved version.
The new FB-28i (i stands for improved), is the Sunwayfoto FB Series "entry level" ball head.
It retains the very small size, the 28 mm ellipsoidal ball and very smooth characteristics of its predecessor.

Latest Updates of Triopo GT-3228X8C Carbon Fiber Traveler Tripod

As I keep receiving e-mails from readers who are confused with the different Triopo GT-3228X8C Carbon Fiber Traveler Tripod versions available in the market, I thought it would be convenient to write a small article with the most recent Triopo tripod updates.

Starting about six months ago all Triopo GT series tripods have been upgraded at two points.

First a rubber ring around the neck of the removable (monopod) leg in order to give a better grip when screwing/unscrewing the leg.

New Sunwayfoto FB-28 Lightweight Ball Head Preview

Sunwayfoto line of ball heads was missing an "entry level" ball head up to now. Thus it has been recently enriched with a very small ball head which promises high quality and high locking ability for its tiny size.

FB-28 with a 28 mm diameter ellipsoidal ball, a locking ability of 12 kg and weighing only 200 gr was announced just a few days ago.

Triopo GT-3228X8C Carbon Fiber Traveler Tripod Update

The popularity of Triopo GT-3228X8C Carbon Fiber Traveler Tripod Review during the past months urged me to make a small research, about the improvements made (or not made) on the tripod, during this period.
Considering the inconsistencies met between different sites as well as on Triopo's own website plus the reluctance of some resellers to provide information, conducting a research was not the easiest thing to do, trust me.

New Sunwayfoto FB Series Lightweight Ball Heads

People at Sunwayfoto have been very productive lately, with the release of quite a few dedicated plates and brackets for Canon, Nikon and Sony cameras as well as two new lighter ball heads.

FB-36 and FB-36DDH with panoramic clamp were announced just a week ago, complementing the larger FB-44 and FB-44DDH, that were announced a little while back. Thus forming the Sunwayfoto FB series of ball heads.