anyone know anything about the AMVONA tripod?

[mantarays]

I am looking into the cheapest/best option for a tripod.
I need to support a B&J field camera and i found
a ebay store carrying a brand named AMVONA.
I was looking at the AMVONA PRO PHOTO CAMERA TRIPOD BASE LEGS AT-L100T
with the AMVONA PRO CAMERA TRIPOD ACTION BALL HEAD ATH-A01.

the links are http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tab%3DWatching
for the ball head
and
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tab%3DWatching
for legs.
(sorry for the links, i dont know how to post that)
just wondering if this is a legit tripod setup for $130.

Any other options for a descently light tripod at or under 130?

thanks
-conor-

[Michael Graves]

I am looking into the cheapest/best option for a tripod.
I need to support a B&J field camera and i found
a ebay store carrying a brand named AMVONA.
I was looking at the AMVONA PRO PHOTO CAMERA TRIPOD BASE LEGS AT-L100T
with the AMVONA PRO CAMERA TRIPOD ACTION BALL HEAD ATH-A01.

the links are http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tab%3DWatching
for the ball head
and
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tab%3DWatching
for legs.
(sorry for the links, i dont know how to post that)
just wondering if this is a legit tripod setup for $130.

Any other options for a descently light tripod at or under 130?

thanks
-conor-

I owned an Amvona head for a short while. It was crude and stiff. If it got even moderately cold, it would bind and King Kong couldn't twist the handles. I ended up giving it away for free just to get it out of my sight.

Now here come the posts praising their quality......

Shop around for a good used Gizto or Bogen. You can sometimes get them for a decent price. Another decent one is the Tiltall. Had one of those, too until my daughter stole, er that is, acquired it from me.

[ericantonio]

I owned an Amvona head for a short while. It was crude and stiff. If it got even moderately cold, it would bind and King Kong couldn't twist the handles. I ended up giving it away for free just to get it out of my sight.

I bought a ball head (medium'ish size) just to see what it was like.
I didn't give it away, I just threw it out.

Took me forever to get out their POS mailing list too. I think they add you in automatically once you buy one of their crappy stuff.

[Capocheny]

Have to agree with Michael and Eric... and their service is horrible!

Look on ebay... you shoud be able to buy a reasonably decent pod for $130.

Cheers

[David Rees]

Conor,

While I can't comment from experience of the tripod and head you are considering, I did note that the max height of the tripod (without head) is only 57" -- that's 4ft 9in. Even with a ball head on top, that might be a little on the low side. You may spend quite a bit of time bent over, with strain to your back the likely result. It gets even worse if you are placing the tripod on uneven ground.

I'd also be a little concerned about the overall mass of the tripod/head, if to be used outside in the wind. A 5x4 field camera can act like a sail, and unless the tripod is heavy and/or secured in some way, it can (and does!) blow over. I've had it happen twice -- no damage once; the camera became an insurance claim the 2nd time. Both times this happened with pretty heavy tripods, with additional weights suspended from the centre columns. Sudden gusts in both cases -- conditions didn't seem that bad!

It might pay to go along to a camera shop if you can, and experiment with your camera mounted on a 'pod or two, and see what you think. It's worth putting some effort into getting one which really suits you -- cameras can come and go, but tripods may well be with you for a lifetime. Also do some research to see what others use -- and what they learned on their path to their current kit.

[Michael Graves]

I bought a ball head (medium'ish size) just to see what it was like.
I didn't give it away, I just threw it out.

Took me forever to get out their POS mailing list too. I think they add you in automatically once you buy one of their crappy stuff.

You managed to get off? How much did you have to pay Luigi to break their legs?

[Jeffrey Sipress]

Cough up the extra few bucks and buy proven quality. You'll never regret it. You will also regret the fact that you had to go through the process twice, if you don't buy quality now.

[seawolf66]

AS far as I am concerned , I bought a amvona tripod and am very happy with it and No reason to call for support on it: I paid with shipping around 85.00 # at-858b-bl no head just tripod got a manfrotto ball head to start with then went to the Gitzo G1267M and have a good combo for me : You might also look at adorama new line of tripods
good luck: