Hama 4154 Quick Release Plate Tripods Star 61/62/63 With Videopin, Black

As a newbie to photography I wanted a cheaper tripod for my camera before I started forking out more money than needed at the moment, especially considering I just bought a fairly expensive camera already!I wasn't expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised at this product. I ordered it a couple of months ago but I like to wait a while before leaving reviews so I can test the product out properly.The tripod comes with a handy travel case which has a shoulder strap and the product itself is very light so I had no issues at all carrying it around. In fact, it feels the same weight as my camera!When folded and packed in case, it comes to around knee cap height. Once extended fully it goes to an average weist height which for portait photographs may not be ideal but I found it fine for landscape photography etc and the one time I did want a portrait photo of my family I just placed it on my coffee table which made it the ideal height.The Tripod is extremely easy to use, and has a bubble gauge to ensure you have your camera level when setting it up. It also comes with a little handle which not only makes it easy to adjust the postition, but I found it easy to use it to pick the camera up with it when recording videos without having to detach it from the tripod. As said before, the combined wait of the camera and tripod are really light so it's really easy to manoeuvre.To attach the camera with the tripod, there is a little plate that screws into the bottom of the camera which then clips on to the tripod which has an easy quick release clip to take it off again. Fortunatley, the plate which attaches to the bottom of the camera is so small I never need to take it off as it doesn't hinder the ability to hand hold it and it is also small enough for the camera to fit into it's case just as easy when it's not attached.Overall, this is a great product and for the price you cannot complain! Onviously, there are bettee tripods out there, but if like me you're new to photography or you just want to pick one up for a cheap price then this is definatley a good product!

I've been using this tripod with a digital camera for a few days inside and out the house.It is very light to carry and the very useful carrying case has an adjustable strap and the zip is really smooth and easy to open and close - that might sound funny but some covers for things have "crappy" zips that get stuck or snap off if you're in a hurry. The zip is also good for those with large fumbly fingers like mine! The case is of good quality and has a "rough" matt black textured surface that does not feel - or look - like plastic. Looks and feels professional.The tripod itself is easy to setup, and although mine came without instructions you just have to try the knobs and things to see what they do. I can fix a computer hardware/software easily but this took me ages to suss!! But that's me and my fingers...The top of the tripod has a quick-release camera mount base -again it took me ages to work out that to mount the camera, I have to release the catch and LIFT the small base off and THEN keyscrew that (keyscrew hidden under base)to the camera and THEN re-sit the quick-release base. After 3 practices it takes 3-4 seconds to use. Great idea!This quick release is a BLESSING because it saves you having to screw/unscrew the camera everytime you want to use it without the tripod. The base is also small enough to leave on the camera as I slip the camera into my pocket.A very stable (I suppose everything on three legs is) and solid tripod with a great quick-release and secure mounting gizmo.I recommend this tripod AND the case without hesitation or reservation.

For the price this product is probably unbeatable on quality.I use it with my Canon SX50 HS as a quick and cheap tripod.It can go very tall and very short and seems quite strong for its light weight body.If you use it correctly and tighten all the bits up; it's quite steady also. Not as steady as a £100 tripod; but steady enough for some good shots.I've used this product to take a 15 sec exposure picture of night sky @ ISO 80 and have acceptable results if I use a 2 second self timer to make sure body is steady.Quick release base! on a tripod this cheap and steady; I love this base!Negative point: the spirit level's are utter pants. Don't rely on them. The 360 degree one is just not at all working on mine and the horizontal one seems to be a bit off. My Canon SX50 has built in on screen level so doesn't bother me that much but has lost a star because its such a cheap thing to get wrong. It has 2 levels and both on mine are off or not working.1 star for strength, 1 star for steadiness, 1 star for price, 1 star for weight, 1 star for overall satisfaction, -1 star for slight defects.