Tabletop tripods
Nov 13, 2020 18:49:56 GMT
on Nov 13, 2020 18:49:56 GMT
Posted: Nov 13, 2020 18:49:56 GMT
Discovery comes with change, and while continuing to peck away at an updated tabletop setup, it occured to me that the one constant for me is the lowly tabletop tripod. I suppose we've taken them for granted as a useful tool, but rarely consider how they evolve. Since I've not been a fan of the flexible 'string of balls' types, or the bendy-wire legs that can't seem to support more than a flash trigger without tipping over, I've stuck with the hideaway leg types that can do double duty as flash or camera grips.
There are more than a half dozen of these that I'll pull out when needed, and I think most of us are familiar with at least one brand of them - the Yashica ST-7 - but the first of the group for me was a 50's-60's Bilora Stabilet. From the design similarity, it seems obvious (to me, anyway) that Yashica wanted a clone for themselves, and if you see them side by side from a distance, they look identical. I don't know if Yashica sourced their version from Bilora, but it wouldn't surprise me.
There's one more look-alike I've come to prefer, and in this case it's slightly larger with beefier materials, and will handle heavier loads. The 'Auto-Pod', is sold under the Sunset or Velbon brand names. They're distinctly different with their spring loaded legs that self-deploy with a flick of a locking button on the base. One quick upward push of the gathered legs sends them back into the body for storage. After a few too many Bilora or Yashica or the generic cloned models that show up with cracked or outright broken leg screw-in pieces, I've sought out the Auto-Pod models since they're almost bulletproof. If you use tabletop 'pods, they're worth a look.
There are more than a half dozen of these that I'll pull out when needed, and I think most of us are familiar with at least one brand of them - the Yashica ST-7 - but the first of the group for me was a 50's-60's Bilora Stabilet. From the design similarity, it seems obvious (to me, anyway) that Yashica wanted a clone for themselves, and if you see them side by side from a distance, they look identical. I don't know if Yashica sourced their version from Bilora, but it wouldn't surprise me.
There's one more look-alike I've come to prefer, and in this case it's slightly larger with beefier materials, and will handle heavier loads. The 'Auto-Pod', is sold under the Sunset or Velbon brand names. They're distinctly different with their spring loaded legs that self-deploy with a flick of a locking button on the base. One quick upward push of the gathered legs sends them back into the body for storage. After a few too many Bilora or Yashica or the generic cloned models that show up with cracked or outright broken leg screw-in pieces, I've sought out the Auto-Pod models since they're almost bulletproof. If you use tabletop 'pods, they're worth a look.