Review 1 of 2
Model Reviewed:
G226 Reporter Compact Performance Summary: Great bang for the buck, especially for those shooters who cannot justify spending US$500+ on a carbon-fibre tripod. Topped with an Arca-Swiss B1 and carried with a good sling, it is a very reliable and handy tripod for general, non-demanding walk-abouts. This setup supports a heavy SLR with motors and a normal zoom very well when used with good tripod techniques. The Gitzo legs open out a little wider than those of the other brands, giving it a more stable geometry in windy situations, though at the expense of its maximum height. With all legs extended except the centre-column, the viewfinder would reach to about my chin, which is not bad for most situations. I prefer to collapse the smallest leg section when I am shooting with an 80-200 (without tripod collar) zoom. Top grade hardware making maintenance and cleaning a snap. The classic twisting leg-locks keep its profile clean and compact for easy packing. The key in using these twisting locks is not to “over-tighten.” Combined with sound techniques, this tripod can support more than it looks. Strengths: Great sturdy travellers tripod, small enough to fit in most carry-on bags even when fitted with a small ballhead. Supports a heavy camera with motordrive and normal zooms well. Tall enough for most users, well, for those under 6 feet. Very well-machined and delivers high utility per dollar. Weaknesses: Not as light nor portable as its carbon-fibre cousins. The leg-locks do not appeal to everybody. This tripod may not be able to anchor anything larger than an 80-200mm zoom, especially during non-ideal weathers and with the smallest sections extended. It will not go down below knee-level unless used with an optional short column. Extending the tiny telescoping centre-column is not recommended anyway. Similar Products Used: Similar sized Bogens and Slik legs Customer Service: Not used
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