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 enlarge | Brand: Opteka
Category: Photography
List Price: $69.95
Buy New: $29.95
You Save: $40.00 (57%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  104 reviews
Media: Electronics
Maximum Weight Recommendation (lbs): 35
Shipping Weight (lbs): 10
Dimensions (in): 4 x 4 x 25.5
MPN: OPT-7000
Model: OPT-7000
UPC: 039599070804
EAN: 0039599070804
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Sturdy tripod and the price is right. November 24, 2004
24 out of 30 found this review helpful
Although I have not used it yet, I am very pleased with this tripod. I am 6'2" and height is not a problem with this tripod. It appears sturdy and has the quick lock legs, bubble levels, quick release pad, it has a handle built onto the tripod and it comes with a case. It has everything I was looking for in a tripod.
 With ALL it's options, it's WAY More than worth the price!!! February 5, 2006
24 out of 25 found this review helpful
It's light, compact, and has it's own carrying case!! The one thing that makes this tripod more than worth the price is the DUAL LEVELS. One for the 3-way panhead and one for the quick-release channel lock legs.
It has a reinforced center brace with a carrying handle, along with a with a rotating locking feature, so if you're re-positioning a few feet away that the tripod won't collapse on itself. At the end of the center brace is an attached accessory hook, as well. The channel lock legs, you can adjust to any height in between while using the level. It has a quick release plate and you can take pictures at a 90 degree angle using the rotating platform. Since the level is on the platform, you know it's 90 degrees with the level. It has a gear operated center column, that also has a rotating locking feature. The panhead also has a rotating locking feature, too. The panhead slides easily when the locking feature is released. It has non slip rubber feet, that accept nearly any angle of terrain.
Finally, IT EXTENDS 70 inches in height!!! Me, being 5'2", I would never use that height unless I had a short ladder. LOL! My DH laughed when I showed him how high it will extend. I have a Casio EX-P505, which is small and light . . . I mean, it looks tiny sitting on the tripod. LOL! But I'm sure it could accomodate much heavier cameras, because titanium anodized finish.
Here are it's specs:
Maximum Extended Height: 70 inches (5.83 feet)
Minimum Operating Height: 25.5 inches (2.125 feet)
Folded Height: 26 inches (2.17 feet)
Maximum Tube Diameter: 1.13 inches
Net Weight: 61.4 oz (3.84 lbs.)
So, this product is worth way more than price, because I thought it was a good deal before I found out ALL of it's features. I'm so sold on this product that I just ordered opteka's 67 inch monopod, which is sold on Amazon.com from the same fast shipping company, "47th Street". We're overseas and received it in about a week. (I was impressed with their packaging and fast shipping.)
 Weak tripod June 2, 2007
24 out of 25 found this review helpful
At first, I was pretty excited about receiving this tripod. At first glance, it seems to be a great product for its price -- the legs seem sturdy, it's got a convenient accessory hook and a useful carrying handle, plus it came with its own carrying case and built-in bubble levels!
The problem with the tripod, I think, is that it's poorly constructed, or at least it's made out of cheap material. There are a lot of weak plastic parts that seem like they would break easily with moderate use. At first, I chose to ignore these flaws considering the low price (mostly, I was worried the frail snaps on the legs would break), but on my third photoshoot, the vertical adjustment knob died on me.
I was using a wireless remote shutter (which is to say that I wasn't even touching the tripod) and suddenly, my camera swung down and my zoom lens crashed back into the tripod. Luckily, nothing broke, but I was still pretty worried. After checking to make sure that it wasn't my fault (maybe I didn't tighten it properly?), I realized that the vertical adjustment knob was completely busted -- no matter how much I tried to tighten it, it stayed loose. I removed it completely and found broken bits of plastic threading, which could only mean that I'd have to get the tripod replaced -- it should have been made out of metal.
But even assuming that my particular tripod was defective to begin with, this is not a great tripod to purchase in general. The weak plastic parts are always a concern, even if the vertical knob doesn't break like mine did (besides the plastic snaps, the crank handle and accessory hook are also plastic).
In terms of convenience, although it's great to have a tripod tall enough (70" is GREAT if you're looking for a taller tripod), it's pretty inconveniently bulky when collapsed to its minimum length -- but I suppose that's a necessary compromise for having a taller tripod. The built in bubble levels are useful too, unless you're vertically orienting your camera -- then, there is no bubble level for that orientation, so it's hard to be sure your horizon is properly aligned (unless you have one of those fancy $70+ photography hotshoe bubble levels. Or unless you just never turn your camera and take pictures vertically on this tripod.).
There's also a detachable plate which makes switching from handheld shots to tripod shots really quick and easy (which I love). Technically speaking, I suppose that's just another movable part that may promote vibrations that keep your pictures from looking tack sharp, but for its convenience, it is more than forgivable.
Aesthetically speaking, the tripod is a bit disappointing. Those dull plastic parts look really tacky, although they make the tripod relatively lightweight.
Finally, the name "Professional" photo/video tripod is a misnomer. Although I am an amateur/enthusiast myself, I highly doubt any professional would use this tripod instead of a good ballhead tripod. In my opinion, (and in retrospect) the convenience of a ballhead tripod make even the most inexpensive ballhead tripod worth it (but be prepared to pay at least 4 times more for one than for a tripod like this one). Plus, with a ballhead tripod, you'll at least LOOK more like a professional photographer, even if you don't know what you're doing :)
Overall, I would not recommend buying this tripod. Instead, do yourself a favor -- buy a ballhead. I'd suggest anything by Bogen/Manfrotto for starters. Hope this helps!
Great Tripod for 20 bucks! May 2, 2005
20 out of 21 found this review helpful
This is an awesome tripod, I didn't think it'd be that great because I've seen high tech ones that were pretty expensive. But this one is really nice. 70" is more than enough height for me since I'm only 5'5" It's easy to use as well. I've never used a tripod before in my life and I easily got the hang of this.
Great tripod for many odd conditions August 12, 2006
17 out of 17 found this review helpful
I bought 2 of these to carry a camera support to be suspended over a treadmill for filming from above. I love the fact that they can extend to 70". They are very sturdy and with the hook on the central post I could hang a sandbag for additional support. Furthermore, the support beams from each leg to the central post are attached to a central ring that can tighten to change the size of the base of support as measured by the distance between legs of the tripod. This is extremely helpful when you have limited floor space and tight or cramped corners. With the addition of sandbags, this narrow base of support can still be quite stable. The additional bubble levels on the stand are enormously helpful on rough terrain. The locking mechanims on the legs are plastic, however and are thus not very good for outdoor, dusty conditions. They are very much like the Samsonite 3751 with the same camera release mechanism, locking legs, bubble levels, extendable center post, changeable size of base of support--the differences are: cheaper, greater extension, hook on center post, and carrying case.
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