Just come across the Fotopro tripod, dun know how's the quality.



Link: http://www.leephoto.com.my/FOTOPROC5IORANGE.html

I am looking for a budget tripod too - budget RM400-RM700, total weight 1.6kg or less. Jusino A255C carbon fibre tripod is priced at RM789 with ballhead, quite tempted to get this too.

finally bought the Fotopro MGC-584N carbon fibre tripod. Initial impression - quite a solid built. Price slightly lower than Jusino AX-255 CF at Shashinki.com.





Chinese Link: http://www.fotopro.cn/products/professional-tripod/461.html

English Link: http://www.fotopro.net.cn/product/26853663...bon_Tripod.html

wow.. how light you want it to be? 1.48kg with ballhead is consider quite light already. It is just slightly heavier than a generic low end aluminium tripod with a 3-way fixed head (not ballhead) i borrow from my friend.

I bought it from Spore at $305 (roughly RM732) compared to Shashinki AX-255C CF about RM789. They are almost the same in terms of weight, design (both with monopod function) and prices but AX-255C is 5 sections though which make it slightly shorter in folded mode. The Fotopro also has a alum version just like the AX-255C has a alum version. Since the alum version just cheaper by about RM200, i just took the CF one which looks much nicer although just 200gram lighter than the alum version.

can you read chinese? here are 2 reviews: Fotopro C4i review Fotopro C5i review

C5i is the same model which i got (MGC-584N), only it is aluminium and anodized coloured.

I lazy to give review lah.. tonight if too free nothing to do I will give some comments.

EDIT: There is a youtube review too.....



This post has been edited by Cynox: Apr 29 2011, 09:42 AM

the youtube video demo quite extensively the features of the tripod - low angles, upside down shooting, etc. The build quality is good and the ball head is smooth. I never use a better tripod - my previous tripod is a cheapo 3 way pan head alum Slik tripod. This Fotopro has everything i need - low angle, ballhead, lightweight, small when folded, nice padded bag, height that suited me (without the need to extend center column) - all at a price i can afford.

where are you located actually? If in JB, I dun mind meeting you somewhere to let you have a feel of it.

I think it is not about beginner or full frame - it should be more relevant to the weight of the setup. Of course normally the full frame body is heavier. Thus, they will need a tripod that can handle the weight.

For me, the Fotopro (or the Jusino) is great as they are not so bulky and can mount my Canon 60D with 18-200mm lens comfortably since they are only 1.35kg. Fotopro claim the MGC-584N can hold up to 8kg, so i think mine should be quite safe. I am not a pro or even enthusiast/kaki. I just need a better camera (than P&S) to take photos whenever I go on a trip, so reasonable specs gadgets at affordable price is more important than the ultimate specs.

Just before I bought the Fotopro, I went to Melaka with my family, so I borrowed a tripod from my friend. He gave me 2 choices - a generic no-brand alum cheapo lightweight (about 1kg) 3-way pan tripod and a "gigantic" Manfrotto (i din check which model) which is HUGE (really) and HEAVY (3-4kg at least)!! As you can guess easily, I took the lightweight option. But I do take extra care when using the cheapo tripod as it seems will topple easily if not balance properly when my 60D mounted on it. I immediately go Spore to get the Fotopro after back from Melaka.

wow.. you are more "fortunate" than me. I can only rely on that youtube videos and the 2 review articles to make my decision - not possible to play with it before I go all the way to Spore to buy it. The Spore dealer demo it to me and folded both the CF and alum (C5i) to let me have a feel of the difference of weight. Although it is only 200 gram difference (the dealer said about weight of a can drink) but you can really feel it when holding them in both hands.

yes, i think more worth to get the CF version with just RM200 extra - the looks and feels of carbon fibre is just irresistible. RM750 is a great price consider I paid about RM732 and need to go all the way to Spore. I did check malaysia distro web site and find out that a well known JB camera shop is their dealer but when i call the JB camera shop, they said they are not selling it.

btw, i haven't got chance to use it on the field. Just play with it at home.

with RM750, can get a lightweight benro tripod at 1.5kg with ballhead? For ppl like us, mid end tripod is good enough - we just buy the best within our budget. There are more than thousand ringgit carbon fiber tripod out there but what's the point spending so much for 3 sticks of metal. and how you know the cheaper one is "simple weaving", hence lower quality? and why you buy the benro not gitzo which is much pricier (hence better?) ? dun forget benro is also make in china. So i dun see the cf tripod produced by benro is much difference with cf tripod produced by fotopro/jusino.

I take care of my gear carefully so for me few hundred ringgit tripod is as good as a thousand ringgit CF - as long as it can mount my camera safely and steadily. I believe the quality for mid range tripods are not that far away from top end tripods but the higher price tripods are definitely more durable. For casual user like us, the durability of our RM700+ tripod may be as durable as the thousand ringgit tripod used by professional as the frequency of our usage is lower.

So getting a suitable (price and features) tripod for us is more appropriate than getting a high end one.

exactly what my thoughts are....

for the fotopro M5mini - Spore is selling at S$98 (about RM240) at the shop i got my MGC-584N. I think Malaysia price should be slightly cheaper. I m also thinking to get one for travelling but the price is quite expensive.

I think main difference is C4i has no monopod function and it is lower in height.

Fotopro C5i 2 in 1 Color Tripod
Fotopro C5i Colorful 2 in 1 Travel Tripod(+Monopod)

• CNC machined and harden anodized finishing body.
• 2 in 1 design,One leg can be released and used as a Monopod.
• Folded size:43cm
• Min operating H.:11cm
• Max operating H.:157cm
• Net weight:1.17kgs
• Loading capability:8kgs
• Max Tube:25mm diameter
• 4-section

Specification about Fotopro 51G Panhead
• Camera mounting screw:U1/4.
• Tripod mounting screw:U3/8.
• 36mm diameter ball.
• Net weight:400grams.
• Max Loading Capacity:12kgs.

Fotopro C4i Tripod
Specification of Tripod Leg
• Extended Max Height: 1380mm
• Min Oprerating Height: 105mm
• Folded Length: 405mm
• Maximum load: 6kg
• Net Weight: 0.97kg
• Max Tube Diameter: 22mm
• 4-section

Quick release plate Pan Ball Head with spirit level.
• High:87CM.
• Weight:340g.
• Load capability:6kg.
• Ball size:30 diameter.
• Camera mounting screw:U1/4.
• Tripod mounting screw:U3/8.

@ieR, thanks for the shares of experience of using Benro and Manfrotto and compared them. I am more convinced now after you elaborated rather than just a 1-liner saying Benro is good. Will take a note of Benro if i want to get another tripod in the future, which I think not very possible in near future unless my fotopro met with accident (touch wood ).

to set the record straight - I did not claim fotopro is better than benro since i never use benro. I am just doubting the difference between them is that much.

btw, have you tried fotopro? If not, how you know it is not as good as benro. Just joking.....

This post has been edited by Cynox: May 3 2011, 05:36 PM

good buy... your tripod bag is the multi-purpose carrying bag/stone bag or the newer conventional tripod bag? The monopod holster is actually good for carrying the tripod (as tripod, not monopod) at your waist. But I dun know whether it is pratical to do so since the tripod may swing to and fro when we walk around.

the carbon fibre texture and colour looks really great. If you disconnect the lower part of centre column, you will how light it is. almost lighter than plastic.

This post has been edited by Cynox: May 3 2011, 08:06 PM

this is the first generation multi-purpose tripod "bag"



this is the second generation bag we got, which is way much better for protection. Too bad they leave out the first gen carrying bag, else even better with extra. Btw, the tripod bag is very good quality, i think worth at least RM50 by itself.



This post has been edited by Cynox: May 3 2011, 10:46 PM

ours also can do that actually, just rotate the hidden screw out from the centre column and screw on the hook provided and hook your camera bag on it to add the weight/stability of the tripod.

i posted the price at the first page i think. I bought at S$305 from Spore. A bit cheaper than what kakulukia paid but i need to go all the way to Spore. but of course very happy with my new toy, worth the trip.

easy... either the Jusino AX-253 - RM355 or the Jusino AX-254 - RM375.

I think the main difference is AX-253 has 3 sections while AX-254 has 4-section which make AX-254 shorter when fully folded for storage/transport. But more section will cause the last section of the leg to become very thin.

EDIT: You can also consider Fotopro aluminium series. Price wise quite near to Jusino but some says the built quality is slightly better and Fotopro has quite a few colors too.

This post has been edited by Cynox: May 20 2011, 01:42 PM

400 gram is a lot!! I paid extra RM200 to get my Fotopro CF compared to the same specs with Aluminium to save only 200gram. If you weight them together with both your hand, can feel the extra weight significantly.

Brought my fotopro out for a event shooting in a shopping mall, feel the arca swiss screw type quick release plate very troublesome. Still prefer those old-type QR, will get a Manfrotto RC2 or RC4 QR plates to replace it.

never subject my CF tripod to any knock, so not sure about this. But the user guide did mention to store the tripod in upright position (as opposed to horizontally) as it is more fragile to lateral impact. 2 of the 3 legs of Fotopro are largely wrapped with thick sponged hand grip, so the possibility of knocking it is minimized.

Maybe can gaffe tape it if you worry about chipping. But not so sure that CF is elastic. I think it will chip rather than dented like aluminium, so should not be elastic imho. This is what i read about super sports car with CF exterior like the Pagani Zonda, etc. Once it met an accident, not possible to knock knock like normal car coz it will break like plastic.

This post has been edited by Cynox: May 24 2011, 10:10 AM

you need to check the specs to see whether it can support your equipment weight. Best is to bring your setup to test it on the spot at the shop. But for RM170, i doubt it can be a good companion to your heavy d7000.

do give some feedback after you use it.