OK, since most of us are not mechanical engineers, how do you know your tripod is really holding up?
I wonder what is the standard of the manufactures when it comes to load capacity of their tripods.
Say, I came across this Velbon Tripods:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation
Velbon EL Carmagne 530A Carbon Fiber Tripod
Maximum Height 60.8" (154.4 cm)
Maximum Height w/o Column Extended 46.9" (119.1 cm)
Minimum Height 6.3" (16 cm)
Folded Length 20.9" (53 cm)
Load Capacity 25 lb (11.3 kg)
Leg Sections 3
Leg Lock Type Flip lock
Independent Leg Spread Yes
Center Column Sections 2
Weight 2.8 lb (1.3 kg)
OK, 2.8lb supporting 25lb????? Hello???
The light tripod I have now is the Slik 614 CF:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search
Slik Pro 614 CF Carbon Fiber Tripod
Maximum Height 61.2" (155.5 cm)
Maximum Height w/o Column Extended 49.4" (125.5 cm)
Minimum Height 4.3" (11.0 cm)
Folded Length 17.9" (45.5 cm)
Load Capacity 6.6 lb (3 kg)
Leg Sections 4
Leg Lock Type Twist lock
Independent Leg Spread Yes
Center Column Sections 2
Center Column Type Sliding
Weight 1.9 lb (860 g)
So yea, my tripod can only support 6.6lb. I load up my 4x5 with a ballhead-10lb 15.6oz, my Slik haven't snapped, but I can see the slight bent from the sections when the tripod is fully extended, although this setup is still operable.
The question is, do they determine the max capacity at the point right before the tripod snapped like a squished spider?! How true is the spec of the Velbon I wonder, or is it B&H once again doing their infamous job-inaccurate products description??
From the Velbon page: http://www.velbon-tripod.com/specifications.htm
The Sherpa Pro CF-530 weight 2.99lb and the suggested load is 11.0lb and the max is 44lb<-WTF?! Now don't ask me if the CF-530 from the Velbon page is same as the B&H's El Carmagne 530A...I just don't know.
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