As a next commercial photographer, I attach great importance to a high quality product, but also to a reasonable price. When I thought about buying a tripod, here shifted, however, the preferences. In my professional work area I come in very rare situation where a tripod is required. But because industrial labor does not preclude the same hobby, I also take pictures in my spare time very happy. And just for the hobby now needed a tripod. Even if it is not used regularly, so it should still be strong and light and have a ball. In addition, it should of course have a favorable, reasonable price. After some searching I found one with the Mantona Scout here at Amazon. The tripod promised much for a price at which you can not really do much wrong. So I ordered the tripod and got it Amazon typically very fast and delivered perfectly packaged. After unpacking, I was aware of a fast. The reviewers here well be right ... the tripod stinks like crazy. Three days it had aired in the open air before you could safely set it up in a room, having to have no fear of the strong chemical smell. But now to the practical test. Given the low price and the high commitment on the part of the manufacturer, I was honestly surprised. In fact, the Mantona Scout fulfills all promises. It is very stable. My Dynax 7D with an attached handle, heavy telephoto lens and mounted flash (approx 2.5kg) held the tripod loose. I think there is still much room for improvement. The legs of the tripod can be easy to pull out and snap-lock holds the burden of loosely. In addition, the legs very well adjusted (length and inclination) and by means of two neoprene cases to the upper telescopic legs fingers from frostbite are protected in winter. In addition to the stability (in fact) light weight, of course, plays the adjustability and therefore the practicality of working with the tripod the biggest role. First, here falls the ball head with quick release plate significant. While screwing the plate to the camera body a little "simple" forms, almost the whole holds surprisingly well and without any problems. The mounting plate of the stand is carried out completely free of play and absolutely stable. An additional small lever verhinder accidental opening of the mechanism. The greased (be careful with clothing, etc.!) Ball head slides easily into the socket and can be summed up with open screw's play in the desired position. Two recesses also allow the inclination of the camera by 90 ° in order to take pictures as well as portrait photographs. With screw closed the ball head holds bombproof, so that you can work without shaking. In addition to the normal work with the camera is mounted, it is possible, the center column by 180 ° to twist downward. Thus, the camera can be used hanging upside down and there are working heights close to the ground possible (for many macros very interesting). Speaking of working height. With folded legs (so to speak tripod is then used as a "monopod") reach a maximum height of the work surface of just 150 cm. If you lift the legs on the standard width of, obtaining a usable height of 140 cm, but this is completely sufficient in most cases. With inverted center column only the camera itself limited the minimum height. In my case (Dynax 7D) I reached a minimum height of just 6 cm (from the floor to the lens axis). A nice Gimik, but unfortunately no longer represents the spirit level of the stand. Unfortunately, you can only align with it the state of the lens (which is super safe but without a spirit level). The attachment of a spirit level on the ball head and the quick-release plate would clearly made more sense, because then the camera could put into the water and not, as here, only the stand itself. Summary: + Reasonable price + High stability and load capacity + Quite lightweight + High variability (length / inclination of the legs, center column rotation, effective working heights from almost ground level to 150 cm) + Good workmanship + Simple but stable and smooth-running ball head + Stable Schnellwechselplatte + Easier, faster assembly
- Strong odor material (after extensive airing but tolerable) - Spirit level ineffective (because only for orientation and not stand for camera)
Despite the small defects from me it is an absolute buy recommendation "Both for beginner, intermediate, as well as professionals with suitable lower claims.
