Opteka 70" Full Size Professional Photo / Video Tripod Reviews

• Got a winner here

  
  By A349JI2UDHNV2L on 2004-12-09
  Honestly, I really did not have high expectations when I bought this tripod. I needed something for my camping / hiking trip and I didn't want to beat up my $200 Slik. Anyway, I was very surprised when I received this tripod. It is very sturdy and composed really well. It survived my trip with flying colors and I got great shots. Good price + good product = I'm happy =].
  
  

• Not Bad ... for the money

  
  By AS3U8GUU15D9Z on 2006-01-17
  This is the seond tripod I've purchased in the last 12 months, the other being a Bogen Manfrotto 728B (cost over $110). The Bogen is very nice because it is truly sturdy and well built (rated to hold several pounds while most tripods are not), and works very smoothly, but it lacks a gear crank on the main tube, does not have the weight hook at the bottom of the central tube and did not come with any bubble levels. My wife and I are both amatuer photographers, and my camera weighs over a pound. Having used both tripods, I still prefer my first one. The Opteka is made of much cheaper materials (obviously), and came out of the box looking used. It had scratches on the legs, the pan head is poorly made of cheap plastic, the central tube had been dented right at the bottom end, and I thought it was missing the weight hook. I found the weight hook in the included carrying bag, and I bent the tube back into a roundish shape so I could shove the weight hook into place. Mind you, the weight hook is plastic, and it's not threaded into the tube (it's ribbed), so it's not going to hold more than a few pounds without getting yanked out. I attached the mounting plate to my camera, and tried out the tripod. The motion (on all parts) is not terribly smooth. The legs do not glide nicely as you extend them, the controls on the pan head are not smooth and gentle, and the crank to raise the tube is not terribly smooth either. They all function just fine, but if you're looking for something that feels substantial and works smoothly, this isn't it. PROS: It's cheap, fairly light, and has a lot of features for a tripod under $40. CONS: The materials are very cheap, and the parts don't always work smoothly together. Overall, it is a great option if you don't want to risk losing or damaging a more expensive tripod, but go to a camera store and try some tripods out to see what really matters to you. Another thing I like about the Manfrotto, the legs are in four sections (the Opteka is just 3 with longer legs, too), so it collapses down to a smaller size. ON 47TH STREET: WHen I initially thought I had been denied the weight hook, I sent an e-mail to two different e-mail addresses I found for them. It took them a week to respond, and the repsonse was "call us". I found that very disappointing.
  
  

• First Tripod

  
  By A1Z6IGDY3HPXQ8 on 2005-04-12
  This is my first tripod. I have been asking my friends about buying tripods and I came across this tripod. For $20, a 70" tripod and all the other features along with it. It is definitely a great buy. It is more that what I was looking for within my budget.
  
  

• Bought this 8-06 ... (with revise)

  
  By A1GXRURN79E1CC on 2006-08-11
  I am 6ft tall and this is such a perfect tripod for someone who is a beginning/novice photographer for occasional to moderate use (would be my guess). My forté is post-production, as I am a graphic designer and needed something to use with my new dig camera. I did a lot of research for tripods and this seemed to have what I needed for my usage. The plastic clips concern me somewhat with durability for the long haul, but I would love to be surprised and that is just my nerves and luck talking. How can you beat the price regardless?
  
  I am so happy with this tripod so far. I love how tall it is for me particularly and how easy it is to use. I did so much research online and found this 70" one and said "screw it" I am tired of looking and bought it. I knew I needed something that accomodated for my height and there isn't a whole lot out there for us tall folks that have decent ratings and is in the hundred and below dept. I didn't have the pesos to make another "hundred+" purchase and took a risk here when I rated the cost versus quality (in my head). I feel as though I have won this battle for now.
  
  I like the two "levels" (that i have noticed) to make sure I am squared up on this piece of equipment. Equipment has a smooth pan and I will be using it for my own photo work, video tours for my husband's realtor work and recreation/family photos. I am excited to use this more with my dig Rebel. Legs extend easily. Metal (light weight) body with plastic clips and pieces. Comes with a black bag to hold your tripod also. Easy snap-off piece to remove your digital camera and to attach. In fact I just leave it always on my camera as it expedites the process when I am in a hurry.
  
  Tripod feels quite sturdy with my Rebel attached. I think this is a really good-looking tripod. It is so SO light weight and portable. I love that it is NOT clunky and loud to assemble when pulling it straight out of the trunk/car for quickly assembly.
  
  I would've liked to seen a manual for recommended usage and ways of maximizing longevity of the product, but I am over it and the product is great so far.
  
  (revise 10-09-06) Still LOVE LOVE this tripod. I use it ALL the time. So easy to use and it is SO lightweight and I can just toss it in the trunk. So quick to set up too. Love it ... it ROCKS (from a tall gal).
  : )
  
  October 2008: I did lose one of the footings, but found it and snapped back on. Still works fine and I am pretty rough with my tripod. No other parts broken yet. For the price, I am still so glad I have this tripod. The panning is "so-so" for those doing virtual tours now at this point in it's tripod life. Still I make it work. I am not a professional in the sense of photography, but for what I use it for (home photos, virtual tours) it still works and does the job pretty darn well. I don't have experience with other tripods. This is my first one and the only I have had thus far. It doesn't work as well for a panning camcorder and/or flip video. Just too jerky with the plastic pieces and 360 rotation. This tripod lives in my car so I have always ready to go. I am sure to a degree I am lucky I haven't bashed it with kid toys and/or grocery bags, but you get what you pay for, and I have definitely seen my money out of this piece of equipment and then some. Maybe I have gotten lucky, and if so I am glad.
  
  

• For still pictures ONLY!!!

  
  By ANW12C5D4FHLU on 2006-10-06
  I do video work and was attracted to the sale price and extra height of this particular tripod. Come to find out, this model does not have a fluid head, meaning, if you do any panning with a camcorder, it won't be as smooth as you'd probably like it to be. Also, at the end of a pan the head tends to "unwind," causing your panned image to back up a little ways. Thus, I think it's rather misleading to label this as a "Photo / Video" tripod.
  
  Additionally, I don't really care for the cheap feel of some of the plastic knobs and adjusters. Finally, mine came with a few, very minor cosmetic blemishes, almost as if it were used.
  
  Instead of video, I'll be utilizing this one as a microphone mount.
  
  If you want to do video, please buy a tripod with a fluid head. You'll love it, I guarantee that.
  
  That's why I give this one 2 stars.
  
  
• Sturdy tripod and the price is right.
  By A2WZCFQ5PREG64 on 2004-11-24
  Although I have not used it yet, I am very pleased with this tripod. I am 6'2" and height is not a problem with this tripod. It appears sturdy and has the quick lock legs, bubble levels, quick release pad, it has a handle built onto the tripod and it comes with a case. It has everything I was looking for in a tripod.
  
  
• With ALL it's options, it's WAY More than worth the price!!!
  By A1WMQHNOOSZCJB on 2006-02-05
  It's light, compact, and has it's own carrying case!! The one thing that makes this tripod more than worth the price is the DUAL LEVELS. One for the 3-way panhead and one for the quick-release channel lock legs.
  
  It has a reinforced center brace with a carrying handle, along with a with a rotating locking feature, so if you're re-positioning a few feet away that the tripod won't collapse on itself. At the end of the center brace is an attached accessory hook, as well. The channel lock legs, you can adjust to any height in between while using the level. It has a quick release plate and you can take pictures at a 90 degree angle using the rotating platform. Since the level is on the platform, you know it's 90 degrees with the level. It has a gear operated center column, that also has a rotating locking feature. The panhead also has a rotating locking feature, too. The panhead slides easily when the locking feature is released. It has non slip rubber feet, that accept nearly any angle of terrain.
  
  Finally, IT EXTENDS 70 inches in height!!! Me, being 5'2", I would never use that height unless I had a short ladder. LOL! My DH laughed when I showed him how high it will extend. I have a Casio EX-P505, which is small and light . . . I mean, it looks tiny sitting on the tripod. LOL! But I'm sure it could accomodate much heavier cameras, because titanium anodized finish.
  
  Here are it's specs:
  Maximum Extended Height: 70 inches (5.83 feet)
  Minimum Operating Height: 25.5 inches (2.125 feet)
  Folded Height: 26 inches (2.17 feet)
  Maximum Tube Diameter: 1.13 inches
  Net Weight: 61.4 oz (3.84 lbs.)
  
  So, this product is worth way more than price, because I thought it was a good deal before I found out ALL of it's features. I'm so sold on this product that I just ordered opteka's 67 inch monopod, which is sold on Amazon.com from the same fast shipping company, "47th Street". We're overseas and received it in about a week. (I was impressed with their packaging and fast shipping.)
  
  
• Weak tripod
  By A3QKMC6D9IY6Y4 on 2007-06-02
  At first, I was pretty excited about receiving this tripod. At first glance, it seems to be a great product for its price -- the legs seem sturdy, it's got a convenient accessory hook and a useful carrying handle, plus it came with its own carrying case and built-in bubble levels!
  The problem with the tripod, I think, is that it's poorly constructed, or at least it's made out of cheap material. There are a lot of weak plastic parts that seem like they would break easily with moderate use. At first, I chose to ignore these flaws considering the low price (mostly, I was worried the frail snaps on the legs would break), but on my third photoshoot, the vertical adjustment knob died on me.
  I was using a wireless remote shutter (which is to say that I wasn't even touching the tripod) and suddenly, my camera swung down and my zoom lens crashed back into the tripod. Luckily, nothing broke, but I was still pretty worried. After checking to make sure that it wasn't my fault (maybe I didn't tighten it properly?), I realized that the vertical adjustment knob was completely busted -- no matter how much I tried to tighten it, it stayed loose. I removed it completely and found broken bits of plastic threading, which could only mean that I'd have to get the tripod replaced -- it should have been made out of metal.
  But even assuming that my particular tripod was defective to begin with, this is not a great tripod to purchase in general. The weak plastic parts are always a concern, even if the vertical knob doesn't break like mine did (besides the plastic snaps, the crank handle and accessory hook are also plastic).
  In terms of convenience, although it's great to have a tripod tall enough (70" is GREAT if you're looking for a taller tripod), it's pretty inconveniently bulky when collapsed to its minimum length -- but I suppose that's a necessary compromise for having a taller tripod. The built in bubble levels are useful too, unless you're vertically orienting your camera -- then, there is no bubble level for that orientation, so it's hard to be sure your horizon is properly aligned (unless you have one of those fancy $70+ photography hotshoe bubble levels. Or unless you just never turn your camera and take pictures vertically on this tripod.).
  There's also a detachable plate which makes switching from handheld shots to tripod shots really quick and easy (which I love). Technically speaking, I suppose that's just another movable part that may promote vibrations that keep your pictures from looking tack sharp, but for its convenience, it is more than forgivable.
  Aesthetically speaking, the tripod is a bit disappointing. Those dull plastic parts look really tacky, although they make the tripod relatively lightweight.
  Finally, the name "Professional" photo/video tripod is a misnomer. Although I am an amateur/enthusiast myself, I highly doubt any professional would use this tripod instead of a good ballhead tripod. In my opinion, (and in retrospect) the convenience of a ballhead tripod make even the most inexpensive ballhead tripod worth it (but be prepared to pay at least 4 times more for one than for a tripod like this one). Plus, with a ballhead tripod, you'll at least LOOK more like a professional photographer, even if you don't know what you're doing :)
  Overall, I would not recommend buying this tripod. Instead, do yourself a favor -- buy a ballhead. I'd suggest anything by Bogen/Manfrotto for starters. Hope this helps!
  
  
• Great Tripod for 20 bucks!
  By A30B0E3CN1U825 on 2005-05-02
  This is an awesome tripod, I didn't think it'd be that great because I've seen high tech ones that were pretty expensive. But this one is really nice. 70" is more than enough height for me since I'm only 5'5" It's easy to use as well. I've never used a tripod before in my life and I easily got the hang of this.
  
  
• Great tripod for many odd conditions
  By A3KIP9MC041DGZ on 2006-08-12
  I bought 2 of these to carry a camera support to be suspended over a treadmill for filming from above. I love the fact that they can extend to 70". They are very sturdy and with the hook on the central post I could hang a sandbag for additional support. Furthermore, the support beams from each leg to the central post are attached to a central ring that can tighten to change the size of the base of support as measured by the distance between legs of the tripod. This is extremely helpful when you have limited floor space and tight or cramped corners. With the addition of sandbags, this narrow base of support can still be quite stable. The additional bubble levels on the stand are enormously helpful on rough terrain. The locking mechanims on the legs are plastic, however and are thus not very good for outdoor, dusty conditions. They are very much like the Samsonite 3751 with the same camera release mechanism, locking legs, bubble levels, extendable center post, changeable size of base of support--the differences are: cheaper, greater extension, hook on center post, and carrying case.
  
  
• look elsewhere
  By A108833298365 on 2006-05-27
  This product is an example of false advertisement. I have purchased it based on their "professional" description, plus the illusion that it is a $69 tripod. First, after I got it, it is cheap plastic, not even worth $29 + $9 for shipping. It is definitely poorly made, and all its components seems to want to break when you just touch it. I have seen the same tripod exaclty, in circuit city under a different name for $29, with no need to pay for shipping. This is by far the worst product I have ever purchased, and they are falsly claiming to have sold this flimsy thing for $69, which is impossible. The only way they can sell it, is online, when people have not seen it. I would not have touched it, had I seen it. I got fooled by the "professional" and the false $69 original price claimed. Avoid this like the plage.
  
  
• Opteka 70" Full Size Professional Photo / Video Tripod
  By A3PFMOTIGZN4VF on 2006-08-30
  I purchased this tripod from 47th Street Photo through Amazon.com. The tripod appeared to arrive in good shape, except that the operating instructions were not included. I immediately emailed 47th Stree Photo at the customer service address printed on the flyer they included with my shipment. I asked them if they would be able to send me a copy of the operating instructions. They did not respond to my email, so a few days later I emailed them again. Once again, no response. I then emailed Amazon.com, and informed them of the missing instructions and the non-responses from 47th Street Photo. No response from Amazon either! As far as the tripod goes, it appears to be a very good value for the money. I gave it 4 rather than 5 stars because, due to the missing operating instructions, I cannot be certain I have properly checked out all of its features. However, I am certain that both 47th Street Photo and Amazon.com rate zero stars for customer service. I will use neither one again.
  
  
• sturdy enough for the professional photographer
  By A14OEDUOLXJXAD on 2005-11-23
  This is a great tripod at an excellent price. There are so many great features here. My favorite is the quick release mounting plate. Other great features include the 70" extension which makes it is quite versatile and there are two levelers as well. Another great thing is that it comes with a free carrying case which I didn't realize until after receiving it. The merchant 47th Street Photo is great to deal with also. Buy this product...you won't regret it.
  
  
• Sturdy tripod that will last
  By A32FSLIIHTKWON on 2007-01-09
  There were a number of tripods that I looked at prior to getting this one. What sold me on it was how durable it looked. Upon arrival, I was glad to say that the pictures of the product held true. The tripod is sturdy and can be adjusted in a number of ways to alter the height and angles. The way the legs lock makes it easy to set the tripod up on uneven ground. This is a big plus, as I was not interested in just using the tripod inside.
  
  It might be a bit on the heave side for some, but it comes with a nice bag, and has a handle that can be used to carry it when the tripod is folded up.
  
  Adjusting the tilt and angle is very simple, and once it is tightened I have not had any issues with it slipping.
  
  Overall this is a great product that I would recommend to anyone.
  
  
• Good general use tripod is value priced
  By A2SE6MRPPYTR9Y on 2007-01-23
  This is a good value tripod that has many nice features on it and the price is very good. Although there is a lot of plastic on it, this does serve to reduce weight and requires some common sense in handling. It is not something you want your children to play with or climb on. Overall the fit and finish are good, and I like the ease of changing to a vertical format. The camera is easy to disconnect from the tripod and so one can screw the camera onto it while the bracket is off, and one can see what they are doing. The legs work well and the feet are stable, and there is a built in spirit level which is handy. The crank is a bit stiff when new but all the locks work well and do the job. I would recommend this tripod to people who do still photography. I might have some reservations about the smoothness of the pan and tilt for use with video applications. The 70" max height is a very good feature.
  
  
• Good tripod for the price!
  By A30ZA2CM8YL91X on 2007-02-15
  This tripod is stable and tall. It is a good tripod for not allot of money. the head is decent, with minor free play once locked down. It does not compare to high end tripods however...where the head alone can cost $80.00 so understand that you get what you are paying for. the legs are sturdy, and has a center hook for attaching a weight to make it even more stable, or as a convenient place to hang your camera bag, effectively providing the same effect.
  
  This is one of the best $25-$30 tripods, but if minor post lock down free play is a problem for you, spend the $100+ for a pro tripod.
  
  
• Not an expert, but appears to be a good value
  By A25BZJU0ZAASK4 on 2006-01-08
  This tripod shipped very fast and was double boxed. For the money it is an excellent value, it is lightweight easy to travel with and includes carrying case with shoulder strap. The parts are pretty much plastic and lightweight aluminum, I wouldn't "man-handle" them. The quick release feature for your camera is handy. Even a very picky teenage amateur photographer who lives in my home had 'zero' complaints. If it broke, I would not hesitate to buy this again.
  
  
• Impressive Tripod
  By A30B23I7TTUIS7 on 2005-12-11
  Just received my tripod, and the first thing I did was to let other family members know of it's quality and incredible value. I can't wait to use this tripod, I am already impressed with how smooth it sets up, and how effortlessly the panhead swivels. The quick release plate removes easily as well. Very pleased also with the prompt shipping of 47th Street Photo. I would recommend this Camera Tripod to anyone.
  
  
• Good value
  By A1DX3XL3MP6FLC on 2006-03-24
  You can't buy a better tripod for the money.
  
  My first tripod and I didn't want to spend a ton. I wanted to keep it under $100. I looked locally and there wasn't much to choose from so I settled on this Opteka.
  
  It isn't the sturdiest thing I've seen, but it works well with my Panasonic in terms of stability for the camera's heft.
  
  My only complaint is that it doesn't come with more than one shoe.
  
  
• A great tripod for a great price!
  By A2EJS4V12SYTOS on 2007-02-14
  This tripod may not be enough for the serious photographer with a super-heavy rig, but I use a Digital Rebel with a 75-300 lens and it can clearly handle a lot more than that! It's easy to use, lightweight, very sturdy and easily folds down into a nice case. Highly recommended!
  
  
• Tripod
  By A1UWIGWY58HDIR on 2006-02-23
  This is the first tripod I've ever really "owned" but I have used others before. This one is pretty sturdy and lightweight (easy to carry around) compared to others I have used. The only thing that I have found is that fine tuning the head position takes a little getting used to, it tends to stick when making small adjustements and suddenly gives really fast causing it to over correct. That is the only real gripe I have with it so far though. You can't beat the price though and it does what tripods do I suppose, well at least it holds the camera steadier than I can. Shipping and everything was excellent and on time, I guess I might be too easily impressed... who knows.
  
  
• Awesome!
  By A2P8IS6UCKUQYL on 2006-01-12
  This is the coolest tripod! The features on it are outstanding! Well worth the $30, I highly recommend it. I am new to photography and I love it. I've also let my friend use it who has been a photographer for many years and even he was impressed with it's overall design & features. Great for beginners and experts alike!
  
  
• Better than I expected
  By AMDBW1NOR5ZP7 on 2006-06-07
  I received the tripod ahead of the expected schedule. I've been looking at tripods in stores in and around the greater Boston area.
  
  You can't get a better tripod for the money. In fact, you can't get anything "decent" for under $40-50 and even then I'm not sure you will get something this good.
  
  I had it shipped to my job and a few guys in the office (which I didn't know) had purchased a tripod in the past and where really impressed when I told them I only paid $25 for it.
  
  Conclusion: is the tripod perfect, NO. The head looks and feels like plastic. But it has nice rubber feet and rubber grip in addition to everything listed on Amazons website. This tripod is perfect for the beginner to enthusiast photographer.
  
  
• large tripod
  By A27NR0KWFRTJO6 on 2006-08-06
  I bought this tripod with the camera bag as a duo deal....When they say Professional, they mean professional. It's a large tripod, easy to telescope out and back again, but heavier and longer, and thicker than other tripods I've used. It does appear to be well made and very sturdy.
  
  
• Excellent for ANYONE who enjoys taking pictures!
  By A78YLGYIAT5NG on 2006-12-23
  I purchased 2 of them, one for myself and one for my cousin, as a gift. I consider myself an amateur w/ some photography experience. As I first examined the product, it wasn't long before I figured out how to use mostly all of its features without needing the manual. I wanted it for my 'little' Canon SD300 and had SO MUCH FUN taking all kinds of pictures from up high, from below, w/ flash, w/o flash, etc, etc. My cousin, on the other hand, is more of the photographer, takes classes and even has one of those 'heavy-duty' professional digital cameras. I gave it to her on a day I knew she would be taking tons of pictures. Because it has a handle to hold on to and even comes with a carrying case, it's easy to tag along anywhere. She spent the entire day taking pictures with it and absolutely loved it! The quality of the tripod and all its features for the price is a steal! I just can't stop raving about it!
  
  
• Tripod Ease
  By A172G4VXYU2Y4E on 2007-01-18
  The height that this unit accomplishes is great for the tall as well as the short photographer. It seems to be built to last and is quite durable. It holds it's adjustments well even if kicked slightly.
  Over all it is a great item and highly reccomend this unit for all around photography. It's light weight make sfor eays transport as well.
  Art Marsden
  
  
• Excellent Considering the Price
  By A2SKEQT0WTB954 on 2007-05-06
  Of course, this tripod cannot compare to a Bogen or Manfroto, but it is fantastic for the price with lots of settings and adjustments. It is light and comes with a carry case... a great deal.
  
  
• good one
  By A3PFTRI8KS8B3Y on 2006-01-03
  it was awesome for the price. the material made up this tripod is simply no great, but it was VERY light-weight and could support heavy gears.
  it did not "feel" like a professional tripod, but well enough for a serious amatuer with an F5 and 400mm AFS I believe
  I bring it with me every time now.
  
  PS: this is the only thing from Opteka that I recommend, my Opteka filters ruined my picture badly by scratching it
  
  
• Love It
  By A1BNSJPWXPQXGB on 2006-11-07
  Got it two days ago, and can't say how much I love it. My camera fits perfectly, and I even put my video camera on. Although it doesn't have wheels, I can move the head around in any direction and make it stiff easily. I love the double extensions in the legs and then the neck extensions for the minor adjustments.
  
  
• An Excellent Tripod For Your Money...
  By A3U1GOK1GRR752 on 2007-01-06
  ...and I guess that is about the best thing you can say about a seller's item. It has been steady and true, ease of use is great, and I've been more than happy with its performance. It isn't an expensive tripod, but for myself, a budding amateur photographer, it has been a great help.
  
  The levels are easy to use, it is easy to set up and light weight to carry. I love nature photography and sometimes when photographing animals ease and quickness of the setup is critical to getting that great shot. This tripod does that. Another reviewer described it as being heavy, and for the life of me I can't figure out why. The whole thing weighs only a few pounds, yet is very sturdy, and that was a deciding factor for me in buying it.
  
  Also, the height of it suited me well. I am fairly tall, 6'1", and this tripod was easy for me to use without having to bend over. The quick release is fantastically useful for when I want to switch between my spotting scope and my camera.
  
  Overall, I will say that this is actually one heck of a deal for an inexpensive tripod, and I recommend it.
  
  

• Opteka MP100 67" Pro Photo / Video Monopod
• Canon Wireless Remote Control RC1 for Digital Rebel
• Canon Deluxe Photo Backpack 200EG for Canon EOS SLR Cameras (Black with Green Accent)
• Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control for Nikon D40, D40x, D60 & D80 Digital SLR Cameras
• Nikon 7072 Lens Pen Cleaning System