ALZO Copy Stand for Macro Tabletop Studio and Overhead Product Photography
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I shoot with a Nikon D90 and a macro lens of 40mm. It has a high level of stability. I use it to make copies of my film strips so that I can edit them in Lightroom. If you use a cable release or a delayed shutter, it will help with sharpness.
Selected User Reviews For ALZO Copy Stand for Macro Tabletop Studio and Overhead Product Photography
The locking tripod plate is somewhere between an Arca Swiss and an RC2 plate, but it won't accept any of the plates I already have (it will lock an RC2, but with a lot of play/wiggle). It looks almost identical to a Manfrotto style head, but the plate is different. Very odd. The locking mechanism's tolerances appear suspect and, well, like a knock-off. would be taken off. I would not trust it in the field, but it is acceptable at home on my work desk. Particleboard/composite is used for the base, which appears to be fairly level. The main shaft appears to be aluminum, but the gearing and track are plastic, so BE CAREFUL if you're assisting it up or down because I'm sure it could easily be stripped. Mine has a "catch" about two-thirds of the way up, where the adjustment wheel simply stops and won't go any further (don't force it!). ) and will do so if you assist them by holding the camera with your other hand. And this was straight out of the box, which doesn't inspire confidence. Fortunately, that extra height will only be needed on rare occasions in my line of work. br>br>Overall, I was very disappointed for the price, but I'm going to keep it for the time being and see how I feel after using it for a while. At the end of the day, the MOST important aspect of it works reasonably well, and that is that it holds a mid-range price. sized/moderately heavy DSLR and 50mm Macro lens LEVEL, and it does so throughout its telescoping range (though only just level - look at the pictures - I'll have to shim it just a little bit, but it's consistent enough that I'll be done after one shimming). The final two copies are identical. That basic/essential function (keeping it level) was not managed by any of the Amazon stands I tried. Flex should not be an issue because the main shaft is made of aluminum. So. We'll have to wait and see how things turn out. br>br>At the end of the day, given the quality of the materials and overall construction of the unit, this is overpriced by at LEAST $50, if not more. But, since the next "quality level up" is another $100, I'm going to hold off on this one for the time being. It might work fine, but if you're doing a lot of copy work or camera scanning with a lot of varying size needs (requiring frequent height adjustments), I'd recommend upgrading to the next "true quality" tier of copy-making equipment. instead of standing.
I took a chance on this Alzo Copy stand because it looked sturdy and I didn't want to hang my Canon 80D with battery grip camera on something that would fall apart! It turned out to be perfect! It's simple to put together and operate. DURABLE is written all over the materials and construction. I'm in good spirits.
It's also very affordable. I decided this was the least expensive unit for the task because a few others at a lower price didn't get good reviews, and it's very stable for my needs. I do use a remote to fire the camera to allow everything to stabilize, and the results are razor sharp when shooting 35mm backlit slides and other copy work.
I found exactly what I was looking for. An aside: The instructions I received were missing the step about removing the set-up. Use the allen / hex wrench that comes with the kit to screw hidden inside the area where the "Thumb Screw Vertical Lock" screws into. This set- The screw is most likely there to keep the head in place while it is being shipped.
I used this copy stand to make copies of some negatives and photographs from my family. It was simple to put together and adjust, and I like how the slanted column helps to keep the image centered as you move up and down the page. Moving the camera up and down the column, as well as locking it in place, is a breeze. It was stable enough for my purposes when I mounted my Nikon D800 with a 100mm micro lens attached. This was the second copy stand I tried, and I used a remote to trigger the camera to help avoid camera shake, as well as a level to ensure the camera was in register with the print or negative. The Cosmo Mini 500 was returned because, despite being able to support the camera, the center column could not be tightened enough to make it completely stable. It simply wiggled all the time.
This appears to be a decent copy stand, and it appeared to be so even as I unpacked and assembled it, until I tried to move the head up and down the column. It refused to move. I tried everything I could think of to loosen things up, but it didn't work. It would not budge. The top and bottom trim pieces, as well as the inside of the head, were fused together. I finally got them out, but they're an important part of the support because they keep the head from moving around too much. To add a little friction, I used some electrical components. I would have sent it back if I hadn't already destroyed the packaging. Fortunately, I was able to tighten it up enough to accommodate my Fuji. As I stated in the title, I'm extremely disappointed, and I've purchased some shady merchandise in the past. Don't make the same mistakes I did and try to save money.
The column's angle appeals to me. The size is good, and the price is reasonable, but the quick release plate is difficult to tighten on my camera. It won't let me use one that I already have. As a result, my camera sags and is unable to maintain a level position. It makes a good base if you can get the screw tight enough.
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