Dolica CX620B104 61-Inch Proline Carbon Fiber Tripod with Ball Head: Customer Reviews & Product Details

Bang for the buck great way to get into a carbon fiber tripod. I was initially loving the head for its simplicity but quickly realized the head (not the sticks) had some issues. The first is the bubble and compass- useless. Second unlike more expensive ball heads when you lock down the head the position of the camera DOES move. Highly annoying and almost impossible to anticipate because it depends on hard you tighten the controls. With that said I don't feel like I made a bad a decision. I could have paid another $60 for comparable Manfroto sticks only. These sticks are great and I've actually taken the head and moved it to my monopod. I've replaced the head with a Manfrotto joystick head and I'm very happy with the combo. Overall I'm giving this a 4 because I wish the head is not so great but the sticks are wonderful. If they sold the sticks only for $100-$115 I'd buy this again and again.

If you seriously use reviews to make product purchase decisions (like I do), you have to learn to see things for what they are. This Dolica Carbon Fiber Tripod is a great example. If you put this up next to a Gitzo Mountaineer that lists for $700+ then this Dolica deserves 1 star. But that would be a ridiculous comparison. Nevertheless it seems that often people that review products do just that...compare products to other products that are frankly, incomparable.

This Dolica rocks for its price range...I challenge anyone out there to find a CF tripod with ball head for $130 (current Amazon price) that outdoes this one. Holds my Nikon D90 with battery grip and kit lens just fine, and has already given me some great photos! Any amateur hobbyist (like myself) will be very happy with this Dolica...and so will your wallet.

If I was a pro...I'd own a Gitzo. But then again, I'd also own a D3X, a AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR, work for NatGeo, and drive a Aston Martin...

As it is...I drive a Subaru and own this Dolica tripod.

There is plenty to like about this tripod. It is very lightweight, and comes with a very nice bag with an extra plate and hardware for making adjustments. The legs extend and retract effortlessly and it is very solid and steady even with my camera and 70-300mm lens. There is a hook for hanging a sandbag when necessary, and there is a nice foam grip. The downside is the head itself. While it has a ball head which, to me, is preferable to the older-model pan heads; you have to tighten an untighten knobs to lock or release the ball head. I found that when I would get my shot positioned just perfectly, the tightening of the knobs on the head would cause a small but noticeable shift in the picture alignment which was frustrating.

I was on a trip recently with my sister who had a Manfrotto tripod with the 322RC2 head; which has a nice pistol-grip style adjustment to the ball head which is so effortless compared to the head that came with this tripod. I ended up using her Manfrotto ballhead on my tripod and the difference in ease of use was amazing. By the way, I was able to use her ballhead because her tripod was so heavy, she didn't want to carry it with her -- which makes this lightweight carbon fiber tripod especially appealing. The best tripod in the world won't do you any good sitting in your closet or trunk.) I will give this head a few more trials, but suspect I will soon be replacing the head with the Manfrotto 322RC2.

I am very impressed with the Dolica CX620B104 Carbon fiber tripod. Build quality is fantastic. Minimal use of plastics and heavy use of aluminum gets high marks from this reviewer.Ball head is solid metal as are the QR plates. operation of the ball head is smooth and supple ,locking hold downs are solid metal with heavy deep threads, they also have thick rubber traction strips bound to them...All legs moved like they were dipped in butter. Leg Locks were made of plastic , but the locks did feel and look like good quality manufacturing thermo plastic, it was not cheap soft Toy plastic.The unit also comes with a well put together padded case with a zippered compartment inside that contains a extra QR plate and two small chromed wrenches.Beware of some of the reviews that try to inform you that the ball head is of poor quality and that it does not hold adjustment. The ball head comes from the factory loose and need to be only tightened. To do this lock down the center post and then spin then ball head until it is snug.It holds perfect adjustment. Check the leg locks also for any loose screws . if your tripods legs seem a little hard to extend, simply loosen the leg locks hex head fastener by a 1/2 turn.These type of adjustments are common to all quality tripods .I am puzzled by some of the other reviewers comments about the price of this unit as far as being a good tripod for the price ? what exactly do they mean ? 150 dollars for a Tripod of this size is not exactly inexpensive.If anything this unit it at the upper end of the price scale.A simple search on Amazon will conform this The CX620B104 was designed as a platform for still photography and there fore any references to panning ability or lack of it by some reviewers just do not apply to this unit.In my own personal opinion, I believe you are looking at one of the best Tripods deals out there right now. This is a quality product, that is both engineered and manufactured very well.

Priced dropped...ARGHHH!!!

Im using my gripped canon with 100-400 L IS lens...no issues.

Great value...got even better with a price drop.

Best priced CF tripod on the market. Don't miss out...order now.