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05/29/2005 08:21:33 AM · #1 |
I'm thinking of buying a Silk Tripod at around $100 plus. The salesman said it was the best value for around that price range.
There were two choices. One with a ball head and the other was "pan and tilt" but had legs that could adjust to very low angle with a removeable center column.
Both seemd strong and steady but I'm leaning towards the low angle option.
Anybody own a Silk? Good...Bad? Flimsy?
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05/29/2005 08:24:19 AM · #2 |
I have a slik mini and I couldn't be happier with it. It has been sturdy and durable, plus it is light weight. Mine is just the right size to throw in a day pack for hiking or walking around some city somewhere, but expands up to rougly 4 feet.
Basically, I've had no complaints.
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05/29/2005 08:37:34 AM · #3 |
i dont know of any tripods made out of silk, but i know some called sliks. ^_^ actually i have a small cheapo one made by them and it works quite well for the price i paid.
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05/29/2005 08:38:32 AM · #4 |
I agree that Slik tripods are in general the best value on the market right now. If you're concerned about it being flimsy, bring your heaviest setup that you would mount on it and try it out in the store before buying.
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05/29/2005 08:50:04 AM · #5 |
I have a lower priced model of theirs - forget which - and have no complaints.
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05/29/2005 10:00:41 AM · #6 |
| I have a Silky smooth Slik monopod and a nice and sturdy Slik tripod. Love them both. |
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05/29/2005 10:17:45 AM · #7 |
I don't like them at all. I've owned 2 in years past and I find that you can't get the head tight enough when shooting vertical, especially when using an SLR. Never mind trying to put a heavier lens on it. I would suggest paying an extra $50-$100 and getting a Bogen/Manfrotto
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05/29/2005 10:53:51 AM · #8 |
| I own the Slik 300DX, which sounds like the one you're thinking of. I like it and do think it's pretty stable, but I have not tried mounting a DSLR. Its legs do the low angles and the center post is removeable and can be inverted so that you can mount camera between the legs and straight down. Mostly, I like it because it's light enough to carry with me (I do not own a car) and heavy enough for some stability. |
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05/29/2005 11:53:32 AM · #9 |
The one I got is OK, but it's a sort of hybrid intended for use with both still and video camera, and my smaller Olympus camera just doesn't mount very securely; it's expecially difficult in the vertical orientation.
Mine has a pan head and bubble-level, but the axis of rotation is not under the film plane, so it's not quite the best for panoramas, although it's very easy to use.
If you lose the little quick-release post which mounts the camera to the tripod, it's pretty expensive to replace ... : ( |
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05/29/2005 12:33:47 PM · #10 |
Every now and again I get hit with a bout of dyslexia...usually when I'm tired but anyhow...
I got a silky Slik Pro 400DX. Feels like a rock and weighs like one too, but not bad to carry around, I hope...well, I'll find that one out in a few minutes.
My Velbon blew chunks...hated it! It couldn't hold up to my 70-300mm where you'd need it most especially at long range.
I'll post some pix in a while.
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05/29/2005 12:45:01 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by pawdrix:
Every now and again I get hit with a bout of dyslexia...usually when I'm tired but anyhow... |
I'm finding as I get older I'm transposing letters more frequently as I type : )
I'll fix your title. |
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05/31/2005 04:12:11 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by pawdrix:
Every now and again I get hit with a bout of dyslexia...usually when I'm tired but anyhow...
I got a silky Slik Pro 400DX. Feels like a rock and weighs like one too, but not bad to carry around, I hope...well, I'll find that one out in a few minutes.
My Velbon blew chunks...hated it! It couldn't hold up to my 70-300mm where you'd need it most especially at long range.
I'll post some pix in a while. |
I also have the Slik Pro 400DX and it is one rock steady tripod. I have used it with the 300D+Sigma 135-400 APO lens and there is no movement whatsoever. My one and only complaint with this tripod is when you have the big Sigma on the quick release head and a battery grip on the 300D, you can't use the quick release!!
When I used film SLR, I had the Slik 88 Black Diamond...possibly the best tripod Slik ever made.
Steve |
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05/31/2005 04:33:21 PM · #13 |
| I have had a Slik Tripod for about 12 years now, but I paid $350 for it. It is a very heavy duty model and I love it. No camera vibration. For my money, I would get a real sturdy one. |
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05/31/2005 04:35:22 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by pawdrix:
Every now and again I get hit with a bout of dyslexia...usually when I'm tired but anyhow... |
I'm finding as I get older I'm transposing letters more frequently as I type : )
I'll fix your title. |
And I thought it was just me! My fingers have gotten very dyslexic in recent years and seems to keep getting worse. Could it be that my hands are now faster than my mind?
Now back to the thread ........
edit: ok, I also have spelling issues
Message edited by author 2005-05-31 16:45:05.
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05/31/2005 04:35:22 PM · #15 |
I have the Slik U9000 - okay tripod, but I'll be looking into Bogen/Manfrotto when I get the cash... the head often times isn't sturdy enough, and I would like a ball-head feature on a tripod that can also reverse for macro shots.. maybe Slik has some better stuff? I dunno - not dissapointed for what I paid, but it's certainly not going to be my next purchase either.
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05/31/2005 04:46:52 PM · #16 |
I have a Slik tripod - not sure of the model, but I found all the sliders wear very quickly. Now all the legs just fall around when I carry it. Once its up and set then its reasonably stable.
The other thing I found is that the head tends to become loose on the extension arm real easy. I guess its time I threw it away and bought a new one.
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05/31/2005 09:59:42 PM · #17 |
Speaking of typing -- I find that I've been putting in double letters where there shouldn't be. I was blaming a new keyboard, but have discovered I do it almost as much on the old one.
I'm not a Slik user, but perhaps they offer legs alone? Then you can add the ball head of your choice.
A co-worker who is also a photo-dork (hehe, yes, that's me) showed me his Tiltall tripod -- very '50s functional, terribly un-chic, but hella sturdy, and quite reasonably priced. I'm not sure that it's possible to equip with a ball-head, and it's DEFINITELY not a backpacking unit...
//www.adorama.com/TPTL.html?searchinfo=tilt%20tripod&item_no=36
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05/31/2005 10:08:52 PM · #18 |
I had one, found it to be marginally adequate for a PnS. It was aggravating to use and flimsy, but not so much that it inspired me to get rid of it.
For a DSLR, it was hardly up to the task and I gave it to someone who had just bought a new PnS. They seemed happy to have it.
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06/18/2005 09:48:17 PM · #19 |
OK, I actually shot with that tripod on Friday - and I hate it. Too darn many knobs, and I have marginal patience with the twist-lock legs, but the absence of a spreader to keep the legs locked in the open position is a major drag when you have to move the tripod more than a couple of times. And, it doesn't have a removable head for a ball-head.
I was definitely overwhelmed with the Vintage Old School cool, and definitely underwhelmed with the function.
All things said, I *might* buy one at a yard sale for cheap, but I wouldn't buy it full-retail.
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