Sunwayfoto T2C42C Carbon Fiber Classic Tripod Review

First hands on review of the upcoming Sunwayfoto T2C42C Carbon Fiber Classic tripod with low profile apex and center column.

by Ruben Silva Ortiz

This review is also available in Spanish: Sunwayfoto T2C42C Tripode de Fibra de Carbono Clásico Review

Introduction

Starting I want to mention that Sunwayfoto has sent me a sample of their brand new tripod, model T2C42C Classic carbon fiber, which replaces Sunwayfoto T2C40C Carbon Fiber Classic.
To get an idea of what improvements the new model has, although I did not have the previous one for testing,  is from what I can see from Sunwayfoto’s website and internal information;

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?

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.

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.

Benro Updated Combination Series Carbon Fiber Tripods

An updated version of Benro's top series of Combination Tripods has reached some on-line stores after their announcement and display at the recent China P&E Show in Beijing (April 25-28, 2014).

The updated version seems very influenced by the latest Gitzo® Systematic Series from which it has "borrowed" many characteristics both optically and functionally especially on the top platform and leg spider design.

Triopo GL-70 Carbon Fiber Twist Lock Monopod Review

As an old saying goes: "Eating opens your appetite". Well that started happening to me after I realized that I've been leaving behind my heavier Aluminium Benro A-298 EX (A2980F) Versatile Transformer Tripod (Review) in favor of the lighter and sturdier Carbon Fiber ones.
So, although I've been very satisfied with my Benro MA-96 EX Fliplock Aluminiuim Monopod (Review) in all respects of rigidity and stability and although it is still quite lightweight for its caliber, my appetite opened for a lighter and more compactly folding monopod, into the Carbon Fiber world.

Gitzo Introduced the New Mountaineer Tripod Range

Gitzo launched the new Mountaineer Tripod range on February 12th 2014, where according to their announcement their Mountaineer Range was completely redesigned:

"We are proud to inform you about the official launch of our new Mountaineer tripods – Gitzo’s most popular, ‘all-purpose’ carbon tripod family.
Mountaineer tripods have been developed further to incorporate the latest Gitzo technology which increases rigidity, improves performance and ease of use for professional photographers.

Stiffer legs and structure
More than ever, our priority is to ensure that Gitzo tripods allow photographers to get sharper images no matter what weight of equipment, length of lens or duration of exposure is being used: that means making them as rigid as possible.

Two New Carbon Fiber Monopods NT-226C and NT-232C Released by Nest

Together with the announcement of the release of the Nest NT-6324CT Carbon Fiber Traveler Tripod posted last night, came the announcement of the release of two new Nest monopods in the US market.


The new NT-226C and NT-232C Carbon Fiber monopods share all the design and quality characteristics of the Nest "Professional Line" of tripods, offering a versatile, compact and lightweight, yet sturdy solution for tight spaces.


Although the words "Carbon Fiber" ring bells of high prices, Nest Carbon Fiber tripods and monopods won't set you back on your budget as they are priced similar to quality Aluminium alloy equivalents.


Since, these monopods are not listed in the Nest website yet, I assume that Desmond Photogrpahic Distibutors who carry the Nest line in the US, are the first to market them internationally.

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).

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.

Triopo GX-1328 Carbon Fiber Classic Tripod Review

For the past six months, I have been engaged in the process of preparing and testing the structure of a new Heavy Duty Panorama Head.
Among other findings, I reached the conclusion that the tripod used as a support up to now would not be capable of holding the excess offset load. The bending in the center column hub, under full load, indicated that it had reached its limits.
Off we go again for the quest of a new tripod.

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.

Benro C3770T Combination Carbon Fiber Tripod Review

by Jan Kyster

My story...
A little over a year ago I came across a Nikon D70s with the 18-70mm kit lens. Less than $300 for a mint camera with 2000 shots in the bag... couldn’t resist and thought it would be a great training kit before buying my "dream" camera. After all I hadn't touched photography since around 1978...
For night photography I needed a tripod and got a Vanguard Alta+ 263 with a PH-32 pan head. Fine kit for the D70s.
In February this year I was finally able to purchase both the Nikon D300s and the carefully selected Nikkor 16-85mm lens.
Also found a Manfrotto ball head - again for practice - before handing out the $500 I (back then!) thought one would have to pay for a quality ball head.
I then learned you will need a nodal kit for making "perfect" panoramas and besides that, I also found the Vanguard tripod was a bit too small for the new camera.
So I found a Gitzo tripod and a Markins ball head with a RRS pano-kit...at $1900... I was in shock!

Triopo GT-3228X8C Carbon Fiber Traveler Tripod Review

When products like Triopo 3228X8C Carbon Fiber Traveler tripod come in the scene, advertised to have exceptional features against a low cost of 165 EU shipped, while other manufacturers charge twice or three times as much for similar products, then the same old question arises. Is this a real bargain or ...?

New! 2nd Generation Benro Carbon Flat Traveler Tripods

A completely redesigned series of Flat folding tripods has been introduced by Benro.
The new series discriminates from the old one by a 2 at the end of the code name e.g. C2182T instead of C2180T. But this is a minor detail to the whole lot of changes.

Weifeng WF-595T Alu-Mg Traveller Tripod with WF-595H Ball Head Review

This review of the Weifeng WF-595T tripod kit is a tribute to my first traveller tripod following the reverse leg folding concept in a very economical price.
After a long time with quite heavy Manfrotto  tripods, I was tempted to give a chance to a product from a manufacturer coming from China.