XEyedBear
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 12
- Name
- Tony
- Edit My Images
- Yes
I've watched with interest the comments in this forum on the RedSnapper products and the service offered by the UK agency. After weighing up the pros and cons of this I have decided to post now with a more realistic and hopefully objective and helpful assessment; here it is: WOW!
If I limit myself to just 2 words, my report would be 'totally delighted'.
Here's the longer version:
1. Service:
I ordered a tripod and 3 way head at about 3:45 pm yesterday, 17th December. They were delivered today, 18th; the 3 head at about 10 am and the tripod at about 8 pm. You just can't expect better service than that, at this time of year, can you?
2. Product Design
For about 1 year I had been looking at the established manufacturers like Manfrotto, Giottos, Gitzo, Velbon, Slick. When I factored in the functions I wanted - especially the ability to get very low for macro photography, along with good stability - then each of these manufacturers had products which were good to excellent. I would be delighted to own any of them, but my bank manager would be less than amused. I found it difficult to justify the cost - generally in the range of £100 to £250, even after discount and without a head.
I have paid about £63 for this tripod AND the three way head, excluding P&P. It is extremely good value for money.
The RedSnappper tripod offers all the features that I need with easily adjustable but solid settings for leg angle and leg length. The tripod will also go as tall as, if not taller, than most of the competition. With the short tube in place, the fitting screw, to which a camera is attached, will go as low as about 5 cms from the ground - too low in fact to accommodate my camera! I probably should have bought the Ball Head instead, but I'll try to save up for that now.
The leg locking mechanism is really robust as well as having a nice feel.
The tripod is certainly stable, given the larger diameter of the leg tubes.
The option of being able to stand on either rubber feet or steel spikes is attractive and quick to exploit.
Overall, the design of the tripod is robust and gives the impression of being long lasting. It appears that the design reflects much influence by engineers who are tripod users than by marketeers who are lurkers and posers. It reminds me of the W.124 E-class Mercedes Benz in this regard (aside from the price)
3. Effect on the customer
Perhaps if I tell you that my evening meal is still sitting half eaten and cold in the dining room because I was getting so much pleasure from exploring the capabilities of this tripod and then writing this post will give you some idea.
The bottom line is that there is little point of doing product comparisons among the Brand name market leaders, even though their products are excellent. Just go and buy the Red Snapper tripod; save yourself a lot of time and money.
If I limit myself to just 2 words, my report would be 'totally delighted'.
Here's the longer version:
1. Service:
I ordered a tripod and 3 way head at about 3:45 pm yesterday, 17th December. They were delivered today, 18th; the 3 head at about 10 am and the tripod at about 8 pm. You just can't expect better service than that, at this time of year, can you?
2. Product Design
For about 1 year I had been looking at the established manufacturers like Manfrotto, Giottos, Gitzo, Velbon, Slick. When I factored in the functions I wanted - especially the ability to get very low for macro photography, along with good stability - then each of these manufacturers had products which were good to excellent. I would be delighted to own any of them, but my bank manager would be less than amused. I found it difficult to justify the cost - generally in the range of £100 to £250, even after discount and without a head.
I have paid about £63 for this tripod AND the three way head, excluding P&P. It is extremely good value for money.
The RedSnappper tripod offers all the features that I need with easily adjustable but solid settings for leg angle and leg length. The tripod will also go as tall as, if not taller, than most of the competition. With the short tube in place, the fitting screw, to which a camera is attached, will go as low as about 5 cms from the ground - too low in fact to accommodate my camera! I probably should have bought the Ball Head instead, but I'll try to save up for that now.
The leg locking mechanism is really robust as well as having a nice feel.
The tripod is certainly stable, given the larger diameter of the leg tubes.
The option of being able to stand on either rubber feet or steel spikes is attractive and quick to exploit.
Overall, the design of the tripod is robust and gives the impression of being long lasting. It appears that the design reflects much influence by engineers who are tripod users than by marketeers who are lurkers and posers. It reminds me of the W.124 E-class Mercedes Benz in this regard (aside from the price)
3. Effect on the customer
Perhaps if I tell you that my evening meal is still sitting half eaten and cold in the dining room because I was getting so much pleasure from exploring the capabilities of this tripod and then writing this post will give you some idea.
The bottom line is that there is little point of doing product comparisons among the Brand name market leaders, even though their products are excellent. Just go and buy the Red Snapper tripod; save yourself a lot of time and money.
