Posted by Jeremy T. Hanke on Mar 13, 2015 | 1 comment

Equipment Review
V2AH Video Tripod (with Fluid Head)Manufacturer: 3Pod
Website: Adorama.com
Description: Aluminum 3 Section Tripod with Fluid Head
Min/Max Height: 34”/77”
Max Weight: 14 Lb.
Purchase/Rent: Purchase or Lease.
Pricing: MSRP $299.99. ($8 per week to lease.)
Discount: Click Here
Expected Release: Available Now
Review Issue: #108 (03/15)
Reviewed By: Jeremy T. Hanke
Final Score: 9.0 (out of 10)

When 3Pod tripods first showed up a couple years ago, it was as a division of Flashpoint, the photography/videography accessory company whose equipment is distributed exclusively by Adorama. Recently, however, 3Pod has split of into its own separate company (although it’s still distributed by Adorama), so that they can focus marketing specifically on the tripods they’re making.

It’s clear that one of 3Pod’s missions is to make a sturdy, yet economical tripod that offers stiff competition to heavyweights like Bogen and Manfrotto and, from what I’ve seen testing out the V2AH, they’ve done a pretty good job with this mission.

With that said, let’s break down the individual components of this tripod system.

Ease of Use

If you’ve ever used any sort of video tripod, then using the V2AH will take you very little time to figure out. Once I noticed that there was a loop-catch at the bottom to release the legs, I was up and running in no time.

To extend and lock the tripod legs, triangular knobs are used, which are pretty easy to grasp, unscrew, and screw back in. The safety release plate for the camera takes a minute to figure out, due to the front push button release (as opposed to a side one), but it’s pretty understandable after you play with it.

The heavy duty padded carrying case is also pretty easy to get into and out of, but it was kind of a pain to actually use. This is because the shoulder strap goes from the front of the tripod case to the center (rather than the back) of the case, causing it to swing into a semi-vertical direction under my armpit more often than not. When you’re loaded up with cameras and lighting gear, the last thing you want is your tripod swinging under foot, so hopefully that can be improved in the future.

Beyond that enhancement, there are two other areas I’d love to see 3Pod tackle in a future version of the V2AH:

1. Provide a D-Ring Screw for the Tripod plate – Currently, there’s a broad head screw that’s not a thumb screw and has no way for you to fully tighten it with your hand, so you have to use a quarter or screwdriver to properly tighten the tripod plate to the camera. Not the end of the world, but, in general, if you need another “tool” to affix your camera to your tripod plate, it will end up being a problem eventually.
2. “Gravity Release” Levers for tripod legs – The triangular knobs, while easy to grab on to, added additional time and effort to precisely control, especially in uneven terrain. I’d love to see the gravity-based lever or switch systems that are used by some other manufacturers included in a future version of this tripod.
   Depth of Options

While you can’t turn this tripod into an upside down rig, make it go super low, or do some of the crazy things you can with more expensive tripods, there’s actually a surprising number of options that come with the V2AH.

It sports a dual-rosette design, which allows you to switch handle sides for left- and right-handed users. It extends from a minimum height of 34” to an impressive maximum of 77” and it can handle loads of up to 13 pounds. (And if you’re using super-light cameras, like the GoPro, it still does a nice job.)

Besides the safety-catch equipped aluminum quick-release mount (that I mentioned in the Ease of Use area, it also features:

• 2 Built-in Bubble Levels (on panhead and tripod body)
• Non slip rubber covered feet

Performance

The key elements for performance with this type of tripod, in general, are:

• How stable is it (at all heights and angles)?
• How sturdy is the construction?
• How securely is the camera held by the mounting plate?
• How smooth is the head movement when you pan and tilt?

In all four areas, I found the V2AH to be very solid. It was stable at a variety of different heights, it felt sturdy and reliable, it held the cameras I tested securely, and the head movement was smooth and consistent.

Value

When we’re looking at value, we’re looking at how valuable it is for us to use as filmmakers. And, in a world where competition breeds innovation and improvement on an almost daily timetable, it’s equally important to know how something stacks up against TODAY’s competition.

The V2AH is probably most similar to the Manfrotto MVK500AM. While the V2AH doesn’t feature the easier-to-use gravity-release legs of the MVK500AM, in almost all other ways, the V2AH wins hands down. It adds 16” of max height (77” for 3Pod vs. 60.63” for Manfrotto), 2 pounds of max weight (13 pounds for 3Pod vs. 11.02 pounds for Manfrotto), and an MSRP $100 cheaper ($299 for 3Pod vs. $399 for Manfrotto). So not only is the V2AH a solid tripod, it’s a very solid value in today’s market!

Final Comments

While I would’ve loved to have seen a few little touches improved—like the addition of a D-Ring screw for the tripod plate and some sort of gravity release lever for the legs—the 3Pod V2AH Video Tripod with Fluid Head is a really solid value. I would highly encourage anyone who’s in the market to check it out and see if it doesn’t fit the bill.

If you do end up getting this tripod, leave your comments below with your thoughts on how it worked out for you!

Breakdown
Ease of Use	7.0
Depth of Options	10.0
Performance	9.5
Value vs. Cost	9.5
Overall Score	9.0