Hello everyone!
I'm always finding myself in situations where I need to take photos. Whether it's content for my blog, photos for reviews here on my iPhone, or just memories, I've got a tripod that's saved the day more times than I can count.
I've got three tripods in my collection: a short one that I use as a makeshift selfie stick, a bulky one that I only take to the park in my neighborhood (it's great quality, but I regret buying it), and this tripod, which is the subject of my review. I also have a separate tripod for product photography, but I don't use it for self-portraits.
I ordered this one on a marketplace before my trip. I thought to myself, 'I don't want to carry a selfie stick, and it's awkward to ask people to take photos of me.' It was reasonably priced – around 600 rubles. When choosing, I focused on the length – I wanted it to be tall enough for me.
The tripod arrived in a cardboard box, which got a bit damaged during delivery. I don't throw away the box, so I store the tripod in it. On the front of the box is an image of the product, and on the back are the model name and technical specifications.
From the sides, you can see its features. Inside the box, the tripod was neatly packed in a pouch. There were no instructions or additional information.
The tripod is black, made of plastic. The coating is standard and doesn't slip much in my hand, but it's not rubberized either. There are no wrist grips, which I noticed when I took it out, but I'm not counting that as a con.
One thing I love about this product is the way the small clip fits into the body, so it doesn't get lost.
When folded up, it's a pretty compact 29 cm. I was able to fit it into my backpack without any issues.
The adjustable tilt of the tripod head is a game-changer. I can set it up in a dedicated photo zone, tilt it, and shoot hands-free vids or product unboxings.
It's also super easy to switch between horizontal and vertical shots.
The phone width range is listed as 58-92 mm. My phone slides in easily, but I had to remove my bulky case with a ring holder and camera protector. With a standard silicone case, I think it would fit fine. But I'm happy with the ring holder's convenience, so I'm not planning to change it.
I dropped the tripod once, and one of the phone holders snapped off. I've been trying to glue it back on, but I'm not having much luck. Luckily, the tripod still works fine with the broken piece.
The tripod is 170 cm tall, which is perfect for taking photos of people of average height. Photos taken from lower angles, like with a 70 cm tripod, often look awkward. I prefer to take photos from around chest height.
The minimum height for shooting is around 40 cm, which is great for 'talking head' style videos. My tip for product review videos is to set up the tripod on a windowsill, face the light, and start recording.
The tripod comes with a small LED light that's easy to remove. I didn't bring it on my last trip, and I don't really use it at home either. The light is pretty weak, and it wouldn't replace a ring light for beauty shots or low-light photography. Maybe it would be helpful for shots taken in the twilight hours, though.
The LED light charges via USB, but it didn't come with a cable. I'm using an old phone charger instead. I bought a long USB cable a few years ago, and it's been a lifesaver for charging all sorts of small devices, including this light.
I was impressed with how easily the remote connected to my phone via Bluetooth – it found and paired automatically. The remote itself has just one button. To turn it on or off, you need to press and hold the button for a bit. To snap a photo, just tap the button.
The remote claims to have a 10-meter range, but I didn't test it exactly that far. However, I can confirm it works reliably within a 5- to 6-meter radius without any issues.
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The remote runs on a battery, and I had a bit of a scare one day when it suddenly stopped working. The battery had died, and the remote wouldn't turn on or connect to my phone – it just kept shutting off after taking one photo, over and over. Luckily, I had headphones on standby, so I could use them to set up the shot. I had to replace the battery that night. It's worth noting that I've had another remote with a bulkier tripod for over a year now, and I've never had to replace its battery.
The tripod has three sturdy legs that can be folded up with a slight click. I just need to press the metal part of the tripod, and the legs will spring open. I can adjust how far apart they are, and in calm conditions, I can even leave them closed.
I've been using this tripod to take photos in various conditions, and it's done a great job of keeping my phone steady. Of course, it's not indestructible - I did have it fall once in a strong gust of wind in the mountains, but that was more down to the slippery surface of the ice than the tripod itself. I've also used it as a selfie stick in wet conditions, and it's been a lifesaver.
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On the other hand, I've found it easy to use even in more challenging environments like forests. I just look for a nice, flat surface and I'm good to go.
In fact, I was able to get some great shots in the woods without any issues.
Even on uneven terrain, it's stayed upright and taken some great photos.
The best part is that all the parts of the tripod fold up and down smoothly without any jamming or creaking. The metal bits are nice and sturdy too.
All in all, I'm really happy with my purchase. If it weren't for the remote shutter release not working at the worst possible moment (and I'm still not sure how I'd keep track of the battery life on a trip, so I'd probably have to bring a spare), I'd give it a full 5 stars. For the price, it's definitely worth it.