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Tripod question
- To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
- Subject: Tripod question
- From: LenKopka@aol.com
- Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 19:16:25 EST
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
I'm currently in the market for a good tripod. So, last weekend at Atlantic
Beach I had the opportunity to take note on which tripods seem to be favored.
In the hotel lobby and on the field trips that I went on, it seemed that the
Bogen 3021 or 3221 were very prevalent.
As such, I called ABA Sales and Eagle Optics for current price quotes.
That's when I learned that Bogen (Manfrotto) has discontinued this model in
favor of a "new and improved" version which will be on store shelves within a
"couple of weeks".
Concerning the current 3221 model, ABA Sales has only 4 units remaining in
stock, and Eagle Optics is completely out of stock. Eagle claims that Bogen
has stopped shipping the existing model. They already have several backorders
for the "new" model, but the commercial launch of the new model is apparently
at least 2 weeks behind schedule (vs Bogen's original market launch date).
Eagle told me that the price of the new model will be the same as the old one.
According to a Bogen Tech. Rep, the replacement model for 3221 will be known
as 3021BN (the BN denotes "Black" and "New"). The Tech Rep told me that the
new model is basically the same as the old except that the legs will now have
a 4th click stop position (for a wider stance), and the leg lock mechanisms
are being re-designed. The four leg positions will be 26, 45, 75 and 90
degrees.
Here are my questions to those of you who have experience with good tripods:
1. Is the addition of the 90 degree leg angle worth waiting for ? This
option surely will result in greater stability and a lower height. But is it
really necessary ?
2. Are the leg locking mechanisms adequate on the current Bogen models, or
are they in need of a redesign as Bogen has apparently done ?
Is this a case where "it aint' broke, but they're gonna fix it anyway"
which may result in less desirable tripod ?
Thanks in advance for your comments.
Len Kopka
Simpsonville, SC