Pantan S5C Carbon Fiber Professional Tripod & Monopod for DSLR Camera Portable Traveling Tripod, Item Weight 3 Lbs Max Load 22 Lbs,360°Swivel Fluid Ball Head Max Height 62 Inches, with Carrying Bag

I got this tripod to replace an old pan and tilt tripod I've had for a number of years and am very pleased with my choice. I really wanted a ball head and the quality of this setup is pretty nice. The other two things I needed were lightweight (I travel a lot) and compact (same reason). The S5C fits all of these requirements. I especially like the ability to convert it to a monopod with out any tools.I've tested it with an iPhone tripod mount I recently purchased and was able to do some low light shots and keep it in focus. I've also mounted my DSLR with my 270mm lens. It wiggled just a little bit, but would be just fine if I added some weight to the hook on the bottom of the extension pole. I do wish there was a shoulder strap you could use when the tripod is out of it's case so you don't have to completely fold it up if you plan on using it, walking around, and using it again.Overall, this is a great value and I would buy it again in without thinking about it.

The media could not be loaded. The S5C is s very good tripod and probably just a fraction of being a five star product. The one issue I have with it is that the ball head fluid resistance is to light and I’d like it to be a bit firmer. It makes pan shots a bit tougher since it will pan too fast and you have to control the amount of force you use to ensure that doesn’t take. It may be a personal preference but it is something that immediately caught my attention on the unit. It was a little jumpy and it could have been the unit I received but it just wasn’t fluid enough to get a 100% ‘lock' pan shot which was disappointing.However, the rest of it is top notch and for photographic work only there is a lot to like here (and as a base for video it can be worked with). The carbon fibre makes it extremely light over an aluminium alternative. Locking hardware is good and has some catch tabs although only a couple of notches to play with. Bubble levels are standard, though I never really use them and generally go by the indication on my camera for the most part.It is rather sturdy also. You will see in the video I put my rig on top of it and it handled it with ease including keeping a confident centre of balance. I pushed it a bit further off camera and mounted my 5.7ft Jib and the same rig - on the ball head - and the two ball head locks held tight (don’t do this FWIW you will ruin the ball head). I mounted it directly to the base plate and that will be its new job as it held very firm, very little wobble with the jib even when not balanced correctly. The one concern is the head screw on the tripod is very short - I could not mount it through the pat to secure so I will have to find a workaround for that. There was a bit of flex in the legs / unit overall carrying the slightly heavier weight but they payoff being a travel payload of reduced weight it was more than acceptable.The locking mechanisms were very solid and a nice change of the previous tripod I was using which used a similar notch system but relied on forced direction to keep them in place. . There was no movement or flex when the shutter was clicked (I usually have a delay set anyway) but despite its lightness with a heavy load in tow I though it performed pretty well. As mentioned it does have a dual ball head lock but these appear to just be for redundancy rather than having the ability to tilt lock.Decent hardware and performance is great for photography, and it can for a platform for decent video which is the use I will be putting it too.Product provided for review - its just my opinion.

The functionality of this tripod is outstanding...in the short time I've used it I've really put it through some tough outdoor usage and it has been very reliable, and definitely more durable than I expected considering the price point. My only concern is its weight as it relates to usage in windy environments, but that's to be expected with carbon fiber. To which, I highly recommend using the provided hook to hang weight for stabilization if it's windy outside. Just carry a small sack with handles of some kind, fill it with rocks or sand when needed, and hang in on the hooks - makes a huge difference in stability and confidence. Would definitely recommend this tripod to others for extended outdoor treks where weight will be an issue...and, of course, for any indoor usage.

When I first took this out of the box I was really impressed by how light this is. It doesn't feel cheap or light weight but lighter than I expected from a full size tripod.Pros:Solid feelSimple durable leg locksCarbon fiberFlexible (one leg easily unscrews to give you a monopole)Legs easily deploy (I found you can loosen all three screws at once deploy each section then tighten, at first I was loosening each individually.)Smooth panningHook to hang bag or something under tripodCutout allows the head to be rotated sideways (with leveling bubble)Cons:The legs are a bit wobbly if you apply lateral circular force (e.g. Shake back and forth) it's solid when applying force straight down.To fit in the canvas carry case you flip the legs up (saving 3-4" of length). It seems like it would be more convenient to just collapse the legs press the legs against the body and put in the bag (this would require a slightly longer bag).Note: I recieved a discount on the purchase of this item on the condition that I would review it.

It's great light weight and easy to use

I have now used this tripod a few times and it is quickly becoming a favorite. I am a outdoor natural light portrait photographer and an avid hiker who loves to take scenery pics up in the mountains. This tripod is light weight and versatile. Plus bonus it looks aesthetically pleasing. It is fast to extend the legs and I like that it has the option for mono pod. I haven't had a problem with the ball head being tight enough I used both of my dlsr's on it, and some of my heaviest lenses and it hasn't moved. For the price this is a decent and sturdy tripod.I received this free in exchange for an honest review. I give my honest opinion and update if there are in changes that come up with use. So far I have not found any cons with this product and I have been using it for the last 7 days. If you have any questions let me know.This is a Heather Stanhouse review.