FLM 3226902 – Tripod Portable, Grey and Black

Product Information

The Vanguard 3+ can bear loads of 15kgs and extends to 172.5cm. The tripod’s folded length is 76cm, which is long but is standard for full-size three-section tripods; the advantage here is that the legs are made of fewer sections, which ultimately improves stability because the lower sections don’t need to be so thin. The sister EX-EXPRO version has a heavier capacity of 44 lb and, if you like the modern looks of this EX-EXP, Explorer Photo & Video’s line features some great looking optional ball heads as well as the impressive Ascent Professional Carbon Fiber Tripod. Explorer Photo & Video EX-EXP Expedition Carbon Fiber Tripod with Monopod and BX-33 Ball Head 3 Legged Thing Leo 2.0 Carbon Fiber Tripod with AirHed Pro Lever Ball Head If both companies had been based entirely in the USA, RRS could have easily sued Leofoto out of existence, because their earliest product lineup was almost entirely comprised of virtually identical clone products. Literally, the only thing they changed was the name etched/printed on it, and the actual blueprint measurements by a millimeter here or there. I don't want to get negative about the leg angle being smaller than 25 degrees which you had measured, so let me say that I understand a) other design and setup factors also influence stability and damping characteristics, and b) in spite of the FLM's smaller leg angle I think at least in the case of stability requirements for my still photography, the new FLM is something like 15-20% more stable on the average than the RRS at both their 3-section and 4-section leg extensions, and might be very close to the Gitzo, which really only matters to me in the case of panning video with a fluid head (which I haven't had the time yet to directly test). So, in the worst case the FLM's 23 degree leg angle (instead of being 25 degrees) is perhaps a "missed opportunity", on the other hand with perhaps heavier setups the slightly higher tubing compression (more vertical legs) may provide slightly better damping and resistance to overall vibration. I can tell from just tapping on the legs and placing some downward pressure on the apex with my hand that the FLM's resonant (natural) frequency is a bit higher than either the RRS or Gitzo, and that the amplitude of the vibration at the apex seems at least a bit smaller and better-damped with the FLM.

Three-sectioned legs are generally more stable and safer than four or five-sectioned-legged tripods. A sturdy landscape tripod also needs a strong head. I prefer a fluid lever head for shooting fine landscape photography because it helps me to compose scenes easily. Ball heads are just as great, but they’re not practical for all weather conditions. I didn’t need it to be super lightweight but I wanted something you could carry around all day without much hassle. At a certain price point, you’ll get carbon fibre legs and this goes a long way in reducing the overall weight whilst keeping the tripod strong. Many professional sports photographers use tripods (three legs) instead of monopods (one leg).Most tripods will offer better stability and are great for capturing the scene. However, as mentioned, it’s best to consult with who owns the land you’re shooting on first because some stadiums ban tripods. In which case, you’re left with the not-so-reliable monopod or shooting handheld. Note that this graph is relative only to this class of tripods. The weight and test equipment was adjusted to provide a conclusive result for this size of tripod. Tripods are essential for landscape, panorama, product, tech, still life, macro, Astro, flora, storm, architecture, food and drink, special effects, and some styles of portraiture photography. In addition to this, tripods are required for videography, editorial and photojournalism work. Tripods are necessary for time-lapse and self-portrait photography too.After testing FLM ballheads, I must say that I am now a big fan! These ballheads exceeded my expectations in every way and when compared to my Really Right Stuff ballheads that I have been using for so many years, they certainly outperform them, often by a big margin. They are built extremely well, handle more load than you will ever need and have features that most other ballheads on the market do not. My favorite feature is the ability to switch from smooth panning to geared panning – something I found to be incredibly useful when shooting panoramas (I wish every tripod had this capability). I would certainly not hesitate to recommend FLM to our readers. Where to Buy Tripods help to slow us down too (which is a good thing) because most of us often rush our work. Setting up a tripod gives us more time to think, analyse and study what we’re looking at. When working at low elevations with a tripod. The tripod helps reduce trampling and damaging protected flora and small fauna underneath us. And, because thread sizes are standard, you can use pretty much any photo ball head on any set of legs.) Another wish would be for FLM to etch or paint the second leg segment (the first to slide out) with markers, e.g., 2” apart, so it makes it much easier to adjust the legs to the same height on flat ground. I was able to draw my own markers with a Sharpie, but it would be nice if the tripod came with these.

Availability of extra shims is unpredictable in different regions, and no mention of spare parts was found anywhere from Leofoto, Laitu, or their distributors. Here are the specifications. All data presented here with the exception of the weight rating is measured, not provided by the manufacturer. Name I go mountaineering a lot so I need something stable and not too heavy. I cant decide weather the Gitzo series 2 traveler or the Mountaineer, as I do many long exposure shots in the sea I just don´t know if they will be stable enough as they are very light.Or if I shouldn´t spend so much money and go for another brand. When it comes to build quality, as I have already pointed out above, the FLM ballheads are made incredibly well, definitely built to last for many years to come. FLM manufactures each ballhead in Germany and aside from a few screws that they buy from other suppliers, everything else is CNC machined, then hand-polished and assembled by the company employees. This high quality is clearly visible when handling the products – every little part looks precise and nicely finished, something I cannot say about many other ballheads I have used in the past. Although I have only used these FLM ballheads for about two months, I have certainly abused them quite a bit in the field and they performed very well. StabilityThe Vanguard VEO 3+ 263CB carbon fibre tripod and the Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 100 aluminium tripod are incredibly stable for macro and product photography in and outside the studio. A ‘systematic’ tripod has a large, open apex with a removable top plate, where different accessory items (video bowl, leveling base, center column, etc.) can be inserted to change the function of the tripod itself, without needing another set of legs. The manufacture is nothing short of superb, and the tripod reeks of quality and excellence in every little detail. Every operation is crisp and smooth. The design is elegant and aesthetically pleasing. There is a Zen aspect to the design that has everything you need and nothing more or nothing less. I think FLM has established a new Platinum standard by which other tripods will have to be judged.

I wanted a fairly tall tripod purely to keep my options open when I’m on location. This also comes in handy for woodland photography as it allows you to reach a height to reduce the amount of sky in your frame. I’m just under 6 foot so something comfortable at eye level is also important. A four-section alternative to this kit would be the Oben AC-1451 legs and the BA-113 ball head. Oben AC-1351 3-Section Aluminum Tripod with BA-113 Ball Head Slik Pro 700 DX AMT Tripod with 3-Way Pan-and-Tilt Head I also wanted a tripod that I could use with a good quality head. Generally, the higher quality tripod heads have a wider base diameter for more stability so I wanted to ensure the tripod didn’t limit my options in choosing a tripod head. Hope you can help me.My camera is the d700 and the heaviest lenses I have is the 70-200 2.8, I have also a 150-500 f.5 but i hardly use it. I would say FLM are competing against some of the ‘premium’ tripod brands such as Really Right Stuff, Gitzo and possibly some of the ‘less premium’ brands such as Manfrotto, Three Legged Thing, Induro etc.With tripod and ball head manufacturing now properly focused, our overall production quality is better and more consistent than ever, enabling us to keep prices affordable. Design and implementation will take place faster than before, and there are already several bold, new tripod and ball head models in development and/or production. Quality control has never been better. Tariffs into North America will remain unaffected, further helping to keep prices stable.