Product Description The 718B is a compact 4-section tripod with a short folded length that easily fits in most luggage. Quick flip leg locks for simple, fast setup Includes carrying bag with twin shoulder straps for backpack style carrying 65.5 inches maximum height Weighs 3.09 pounds Color - Black
Good enough for its intended useAugust 24, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
After using this tripod to hold up my dSLR camera (Olympus E-500) for almost two years, I am finally ready to relegate it to the use for which it was designed, holding up my point'n'shoot camera (Fujifilm E900). I knew when I made my selection that it was not enough tripod for my intended uses, but it was lightweight and it fit my budget, so I figured I could get along with it for a while. That while is over now, as I finally have another tripod for the dSLR camera. (The new tripod is another Manfrotto rig, a Bogen-Manfrotto 055MF3 3-Section MagFiber Tripod without Head paired with a Bogen-Manfrotto 488RC2 Midi Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System (3157N), coming in at almost 4x the price of the Digi tripod and almost twice its weight.)
The 718B tripod is a somewhat taller version of the Bogen-Manfrotto 728B Digi Compact Tripod with Integrated 3-Way Head and Carrying Bag (Black), with a slightly different head configuration and a different quick release plate. I appreciate the extra inches of tallth. While nicely constructed, this tripod is lightweight and will not take the same abuse as sturdier models. The enamel on the cast metal parts chips easily (should have been powder coated), and my unit was damaged by a drop of about a foot (while in its storage bag!).
The head is controlled by a single lever for both pan and tilt, with the pan loosening slightly before the tilt. The head motions are viscous damped to smooth out video pans. The center column and the legs are anodized aluminum, with triangular cross sections for added rigidity. The fourth sections of the legs look awfully skinny. I carry a hex key along to keep the leg pivots tight.
One of the things I used the tripod for was taking panorama sequences, to be stitched together in Photoshop. In order to stitch panoramic images easily, one of the requirements is that the camera remains level throughout the pan. After repeated attempts, I have concluded that this is largely impossible using this tripod.
In gusty conditions, this tripod shakes the camera like a leaf. An aspen leaf. There is no hook on the bottom of the column to add stabilizing weights, which would have helped.
For all of that, I am not ready to consign this tripod to Craigslist. I am sure it will be quite satisfactory holding up my digicam, or the odd camcorder for shooting the odd birthday, etc.
Great lightweight travel tripod that's sturdy enought to be usefulJuly 12, 2008 I have bought many tripods over the years with the goal of finding one that is small and light enough to travel with on vacations while still being sturdy and tall enought to be useful. I handhold most of my travel pictures but I like to carry a tripod so that I can be in some of the pictures. A tripod also make it possible to make longish exposures of night street scenes, giving rewarding shots that would be a unusable blurry mess handheld. The Bogen 718B ("B" stands for black, there is a silver version available) permits you to do this things while still being portable and carry-on friendly. Despite warnings to the contrary, I was able to take my 718B aboard a plane inside a 20" carry-on rollaboard.
I found the larger and stronger Bogen 728B Bogen-Manfrotto 728B Digi Compact Tripod with Integrated 3-Way Head and Carrying Bag (Black)to be to large to carry conveniently even though it is labeled as a compact tripod. The ball head version of these tripods the Bogen 725B Bogen-Manfrotto 725B Digi Tripod with Integrated Ball Head with Dove Tail Plate and Carrying Bag (Black) and the 715B Bogen-Manfrotto 715B Digi Tripod with Integrated Ball Head with Dove Tail Plate and Carrying Bag (Black) are, for me, impossible to use conveniently becaue of the flimsy ball head that will not stay in one place. Of course I have been using my digital SLR which is considerably larger than the 1/4 lb digicams for which these tripods are intended. The 718B has a nondetachable pan head with manfrotto dovetail quick release plate system. The mounting plate and the pan head are plastic. The pan head moves smoothly but it is necessary to tightly the lever with care to prevent unintended camera movement. There is no bubble level. The quick release system has no safety latch making me less than 100% confident in it. The 4 sections legs are box section aluminum with flip levers that allow the tripod to be opened quickly. The center column is the same box cross-section aluminum that is released with a convenient red plastic latch. Changing the height of the center column smoothly takes practice. The tripod comes with a good quality soft bag with shoulder strap.
In use, The tripod shakes a little when the legs are fully extended to its surprisingly tall 65' inch height. The height was enough for me at 6 feet tall to look through the viewfinder without stooping.
There are stronger and more versatile tripods but this model's main advantage is that it is small and light enough to fit inside a small carry-on suitcase or even inside a medium sized backpack while still being sturdy and tall enough to be useful. It will be with you in use when other larger tripods would be left at home or in the car.
Great smooth movementMay 17, 2008 This tripod is exactly what I needed! It works very well for both my SLR Nikon D40 and Optura 200 MC Video camera! The dove tail release allows me to continue video taping SMOOTHLY while I release the camera from the tripod to then walk with the camera or vice-versa. I am enjoying the fluid action while panning and it is sturdy built and easy to set up! I would definitely recommend this tripod!
Good tripod, not perfectMay 5, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a good product. It is quiet light, no trouble while carrying it around. That is well made, nothing to say. The three cons are: - the head cannot be separated to mount it on another mono or tripod - if you have a very heavy SLR camera (I have a D80 with a grip and a 70-300) you will need to be strong on the fixation, otherwise it will move. But then it is difficult to unlock it. - when you clic the shutter, be careful, cos you may make the tripod move just a bit but enough to have a blurry picture. I am going to take a remote control. So at the end I am quiet satisfied, but it is not perfect. But much better than the cheaper models which won't support my camera!
Ok but not greatApril 24, 2008 I've had the tripod for about 2 years. It is a good starter tripod, and has been durable. It does not support heavier equipment though and you'll have trouble keeping it steady with anything but smaller lens and DSLRs.
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