JOILCAN 81” Tripod, Aluminum Camera Tripod for DSLR, Compact Tripod Monopod 360° Panorama Ball Head with 2 Quick Release Plates, 16.5” When Folded, 25 lbs Loads -Orange

I can see why people are attracted to this ad. For less than a hundred dollars, you can get an 81" carbon fiber tripod. Wow! Professional photographers, on the other hand, should stay away from using a tripod. br>br>According to many reviews, this tripod is excellent. In comparison to what, do you think you're doing great? To have a frame of reference, the positive reviewers for this tripod must not have ever owned a professional tripod. Having previously owned and/or used Gitzo, Manfrotto, Benro, and Sirui tripods, I can attest to the fact that this one is a poorly constructed piece of junk that will not stop wiggling even when weighted in a 2mp wind. If you look at the live view or your LCD with a long zoom lens on it, you can see this. The image is constantly jiggling. That means that unless you use extremely fast shutter speeds, you will not be able to capture sharp images. The longer you leave it, the worse it gets- It's a farce to be full height. The carbon fiber and fittings are simply too inexpensive, thin, and flimsy. br>br>In addition, the leg angle locks are so loose that when not locked and weight bearing, they rattle in place. Yes, there is a rattle. There should be no rattling on a tripod. EVER. I understand that getting a CF tripod for this price that extends to 81" seems like an incredible deal, but there's a reason for it. If you need to raise your camera higher, spend a little more and get a solid one with a column extender. Just my two cents' worth.

Delaney Curtis

| Feb 09, 2021

This will be returned to you. Although the materials and features are appealing, the tripod is not level. Even just looking at it made it obvious. I made the decision to remove the ball head and inspect the base. It's pretty bad, as you can see in the photo. You can level the ball head and fiddle with the legs until it's level, but I'd rather start with a level platform to begin with. I gave it another star because I see its potential and the ball head is nice; I'm not sure if I got one that slipped past QC or if most people don't notice such things.

Kyler Gillespie

| Dec 29, 2020

  I was excited to purchase this tripod because it is not only a reasonably priced carbon fiber tripod, but it also has a plethora of different setups for a variety of shooting scenarios—and I was not disappointed. The only minor issue I had was that when I first unboxed it, I was a little confused because the packaging stated that it was aluminum—but based on the sturdiness of it, I assumed I had the wrong box. I contacted the seller, and it turned out that they were delivered to the warehouse in the incorrect packaging, and they didn't have time to correct the problem; They stated that the packaging would be corrected in the future. The number of configurations that this tripod can be made into is one of its best features: br>br> tripod, monopod, inverted (center tube is inverted, and camera can be mounted on the tripod's underside for unexpected new perspectives! Furthermore, the height of this tripod can be easily adjusted thanks to the inclusion of a short center tube piece that can be added to the center piece to lengthen the tripod or removed entirely to lower the tripod. The fully extended tripod is taller than me even without the short center piece, so it will be ideal for taller users. br>br>The tripod head is interchangeable, but the original head is actually quite nice, allowing for smooth panorama panning with angle marks to keep track. It also comes with a leveling bubble to ensure that your camera is level. The knobs are the only potential issue, as they can become confused if you aren't paying attention. The mounting plate, on the other hand, has a catch to keep your camera from falling. br>br>When it comes to falling, this is probably one of the most sturdy tripods I've ever used: There are spikes in the feet to aid grip, and the tripod material itself feels solid. I stood up and gently shook the tripod to see if it would lean or topple, but it did not. The tripod's legs have a strong twist lock, so it didn't buckle even when some weight was applied to it. br>br>Overall, this is a fantastic tripod with excellent quality and versatility that should meet all of your photography needs.

Michaela TOMLINSON

| Oct 04, 2021

Overall, it's a fantastic deal for the money. It's small and light, making it ideal for attaching to a hiking backpack and taking into the woods. If you're only going around the block or less than 100 yards, the carrying bag is convenient. Because it's a single strap bag with limited adjustability, it either becomes too tight around the shoulder or bounces around loosely on the small of your back. It's best to keep the bag for storage purposes only. br>br>The tripod itself is simple to set up and adjust to your needs. Next to the quick release is a spirit level bubble. While the article mentions carbon fiber legs, they are of lower quality and feel dangerously flimsy. I haven't had any problems with the legs yet, but I expect to in the future, especially if I take it into the woods. Metal is used to make the ball head, and it appears to be of good quality. The ball head adjuster could have been a little smoother to allow for fine adjustments, but I didn't expect anything spectacular for the price. The plastic leg releases (the plastic twists that allow leg extensions and lock them in place) are the only drawbacks I can think of. They're flimsy and appear to be on the verge of snapping if you overtorque them just a little too much. This would have received a 5 star rating if they could have made them out of light aluminum rather than the low-grade plastic. br>br>Overall, don't expect a high-end tripod for the price, but do expect something better than the $20 Amazon branded tripods. It's lightweight and relatively stable, but the legs and plastic connectors appear to be flimsy, so use caution. These are my go-to items at the moment. It's a great hiking tripod because it folds up small enough to fit in my backpack, the legs stay locked in the closed position, and it sets up quickly (if not quietly, the leg position clasps tend to make a loud click when you put the legs down). If you're looking for a budget tripod that checks all the boxes for light, height, and macro, this is the tripod to get.

Noah Shields

| Jan 31, 2021