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Jessops Major Carbon Fibre tripod

Jessops Major Carbon Fibre tripod

£129.00

Photo answers rating rating is 3
Owners' rating rating is 4
Jessops Major Carbon Fibre tripod is a carbon fibre tripod that weighs just 1741g, and is both well-built and solid.

Photo answers review

Photo answers rating rating is 3

The Jessops Major Carbon Fibre tripod is a tidy unit that comes with its own carry bag with a comfortable strap. However, a big issue with the bag is that one of the adjustment grips needs to be detached every time the tripod is placed inside it. The tripod is well built and solid, and the two adjustment grips are large and comfortable in the hand, with one inserting into the other for a longer video-pan style grip. The head is fixed, so can’t be replaced, but does operate smoothly and held a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens solidly enough. The quick-release plate isn’t quite up to scratch for bigger lenses such as a 300mm f/2.8. When carrying the tripod over the shoulder, the lens rotates on the flimsy screw, which is a bit of a pain to tighten and unscrew.
www.jessops.com

Users' Overall Rating rating is 4(1 review)

  • Great Value, but could be better

    Guanajuato

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    User's Overall Rating rating is 4

    Show Details

    Performancerating is 4
    Value for moneyrating is 5
    Build qualityrating is 4
    Featuresrating is 3

    I received one of these as a birthday present to replace an ancient cheap & nasty tripod. The tripod base is good and solid, although being carbon fibre, there's a bit of flexing if you spread the legs right out. The leg clamps have a really good positive feel. The central column can be reversed for very low shooting. Its supplied with a shorter central column. The head thread is reversible and both columns have different attachment threads at each end, so either of the two standards of tripod head can be accommodated. The weak point is the head. Whilst its solid and smooth there are a few usage issues. Firstly, one of the handles needs removing every time you want to put the tripod in the supplied (good quality and comfortable) bag. Secondly, the QR plate is enormous (Its as wide as my camera), whilst the thread tightening ring is tiny. It's really fiddly to attach to the camera. Secondly, there are QR catches on the head: One to tighten/loosen the clamp and one to release a safety catch. With a camera fitted, these are very tricky to grip, particularly the smaller safety catch. As mentioned in the review, the spirit level on the head is useless as it doesn't actually tell you the camera is level - the one on the legs is enough to tell you the tripod is level. I've bought a separate QR ball head with levels to replace the supplied head, and will get a fairly decent weight saving too (~300g compared with ~500g). All in, at the price of a heavier Aluminium tripod from name manufacturers, this is good value. Its as solid and appears just as well made as a friend's tripod costing twice as much. Comparing with expensive makes in the local camera shop, I can't see much difference, other than the badge. A bit like the buying a Skoda Fabia rather than an Audi A3 - same car, just different badges and a whopping price difference. Not one for the badge snobs, but an excellent value tripod.

    (Written by: Guanajuato)

    09 September 2011 09:46

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