Davis & Sanford ProVista Tripod with F12 Head

by Tiffen

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 31 inches ; 9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 10 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000F4VL9K
• Item model number: PROVISTA12
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #29 in Electronics > Camera & Photo > Tripods & Monopods > Tripod Legs
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 21, 2006

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

The Davis & Sanford ProVista tripod with F12 head is perfect for field, studio, educational or industrial applications. It handles MiniDVs and all video cameras weighing up to 11 pounds. The 3-section tripod features non-glare black anodized aluminum, double-strut top leg section for extra stability, self-locking gear mechanism provides precise, silky smooth, "No-Drift" elevation adjustment. The center brace with lock adds more stability, while the self-aligning metal quick-flip leg locks offer fast set up. Non-skid rubber feet grab any surface.

Tripod features:

• Maximum height: 78 inches
• Minimum height: 31 inches
• Folded length: 34 inches
• Maximum Tripod Load: 25 pounds
• Center post adjustment: 22 inches

F12 panhead features

• Two-way fluid panhead with ultra smooth movement
• Separate calibrations/locks for pan and tilt
• Separate tension controls
• 3/8-inch 16-head adapter
• Quick release plate with video pin
• Adjustable handle
• Maximum load: 11 pounds
• Tilt adjustment: 90 degrees up, 90 degrees down
• Pan rotation: 360 degrees

Over the past 75 years, Davis & Sanford has built up a diverse line of well-engineered, sturdy tripods from low-priced, high value tripods for the weekend image taker to versatile, rugged tripods for around-the-clock professionals, and everything in between. Plus, Davis & Sanford provides a variety of platforms, tripod heads. All Davis & Sanford tripods share some important features:

• Strong, yet lightweight materials such as aircraft-quality aluminum and high-tech synthetics provide excellent durability and functionality
• Powder-coated or anodized protective finishes resist abrasion under the heaviest use
• Ten-year warranty on all tripods gives you complete confidence in your purchase

What's in the box:
Tripod, F12 head, high-quality, padded carrying bag.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real Deal for the Price, March 14, 2008

By 

megapix (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Davis & Sanford ProVista Tripod with F12 Head (Electronics)

You should buy a good tripod besides a good camera, and this one is great. It looks feels like a pro tripod, but is also not a $2000 one.
Heavy enough to make you comfortable your camera will be safe, but is also not extremely heavy so you can't carry it out.
The manual adjustments make it work right. But you will see the huge difference between this tripod and those very cheap ones.
And the carrying case is great. This tripod is likely the absolute most inexpensive tripod you can buy that is a real fluid head tripod. This is big, it's not light, it works well for video, it is well made and has a quick disconnect plate.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How to fix sticky pan head!!!, March 2, 2010

By 

J. Le - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Davis & Sanford ProVista Tripod with F12 Head (Electronics)

I have the ProVista tripod with V12 head. The V12 head also tends to stick like others had reported on the F12 head. There are several ways to fix this "stickiness".

On the front of the V12 head there's a self-stick V12 label (probably the same for the F12 head). Remove this label and you'll find an adjustable tension screw (big slotted white nylon screw) for the horizontal pan. You can try to dial the tension counter-clockwise to reduce the drag to see if the head now pans smoothly.

If that doesn't work (head still tends to stick) then:

- unscrew the tension screw, take it out of the hole. The tension screw attaches to an internal locking part to hold the head on the tripod.
- Take both the tension screw and the locking part out.
- Now you can lift the head off the tripod, clean all the lube/grease off the lower disc (the base that is still mounted to the tripod)
- Then use minimum 200-grid sandpaper and smooth the surface of the disc.
- Do the same for the mating surface of the head.
- Re-coat the sanded surfaces with silicon/lithium grease or your favorite grease.
- Re-assemble the head & attach the tension screw with its locking part
- Do panning test and clean off any leaking grease
- Enjoy your smooth fluid head

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Hmmmmm...., February 13, 2008

By 

sleep no more (Royal Oak, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Davis & Sanford ProVista Tripod with F12 Head (Electronics)

The ProVista is a very sturdy tripod that is fantastic for taking still photos, or for static video capture... (great price as well) Where the ProVista fails...and it fails in a very, VERY big way is real-time panning. Jerky....ugly....messy.... if you plan on doing any 'live' video work, avoid this tripod at all costs.