I had tried a few tripods before this one and either did not like the build quality, the weight, or the customer support. Thus far, none of those have been an issue with this tripod. I bought the 3-Legged Thing Winston tripod off Amazon back in late November of 2018 and have nothing bad to say about. Is there room for improvement, sure but for its price I think you are getting a great deal so here are the details.
Overview
Pros
- This is a fairly light carbon fiber tripod at 3.8lbs
- Without the head, it can extend to 73″ with the center column and 56.5″ without
- Comes with a very nice, multipurpose carry bag
- Has multiple options for feet including spikes and Clawz
- Customer service is great (in my experience)
- Comfortably holds my gimbal head with D750 and battery grip with 500mm prime
- Can be converted to a monopod
- Removable center column
Cons
- Is wobbly when fully extended, particularly with the center column raised
- Does not come with spike or clawz feet (purchased separately – worth it though)
- Tri-mount plate and screw design leave a bit to be desired
I bought this tripod with the ball head, the Airhed 360 and have added some leg wraps but most importantly, the Clawz. This tripod is usually fitted with with my gimbal head for use with my big lens for birds and wildlife and due to the many different terrains and material that I use my rig on I opted for the Clawz as opposed to the other spike options and I’m glad I did. These things have some bite. The cupped shape also allows for increased surface area on softer mediums such as sand, snow or even mud but they also work really well on rocks. They are probably the best option for any outdoor based photographers if you go with this tripod.
The leg wraps, by Lenscoat, are a nice addition as well. Though carbon fiber is still far more comfortable to hold in freezing temperatures, the addition of a few millimeters of neoprene makes that even better. It also makes me feel a bit more at ease when I leave it in my car outside of its case as they protect the carbon fiber from getting marred on dirt or anything else in there. Finally, they add that extra bit of grip when I’m using the monopod conversion which is always good when you can have lots of money in camera and lens up top.
I tend to run with the center column in on the windier days (which it has been much of the time lately) as it would allow me to attach a weight at the bottom to remove sway and vibration, but I have yet have to do that. However, as spring has arrived here, I’ve removed the center column as it makes it easier to carry and cuts some of the weight. This is actually a pretty easier procedure and only takes a few minutes and you don’t need any tools either. On a few occasions though, I have removed one of the legs and converted it into a monopod. This works exceptionally well if I’m going for a casual walk on a sunnyand just want to bring my camera along without the whole tripod and gimbal. In lieu of the gimbal though, I mount the ball head on and due to the panoramic clamp, I can easily lay the ball to the side in the notch and use it like a gimbal head. It’s a lot easier to carry and still provides that extra bit of support when needed.
Overall, this is a solid buy. It is by no means a Gitzo or RRS tripod, but unless you are shooting with an 800mm or are really tall, at almost half the price of those brands this will easily do the trick. It is worth noting though, when I bought this tripod, the tri-mount head had the threads marred, likely in the production process. When I noticed, I sent 3-Legged Thing and email with my product and serial number, the part that I had an issue with and my address of course, and they had the new piece to me in no time, at no cost. And being a person that has to deal with product and technical support from other companies for my day job, when it’s that easy to get a replacement piece, I’m a happy guy. So if you’re looking for a decently sturdy and well built carbon fiber tripod for a heavier camera setup, but don’t want to spend $1,000, I would strongly recommend this buy. Also, if you don’t yet have a ball head, get the kit. Once again, like the tripod itself, it’s no RRS ballhead, but it is well build and will hold my lens and camera firmly.