Customer Reviews

Sunpak 620-060 Tripod

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I purchased this tripod because I needed a solid, general-use tripod, a friend suggested Sunpak and Slik tripods as good brands, and I'm on a student's budget.

I was wowed with this tripod from the moment I got it out of the box. It's attractive, it's much more solid than I expected from a couple pounds of aluminium and plastic, and it's a breeze to set up and play with. The various screws, cranks, and levers are easy to operate and it's simple to figure out which does what. I don't need the two quick-change plates, personally, but they're fun to play with and I'd imagine they'd be quite useful. Same goes for the retractable leg-spikes (I don't shoot outdoors much).

One caveat: it's not dead steady, just pretty darn steady. If you're going to be shooting a lot on uneven terrain, shakey ground, or high winds, well, what are you doing buying a cheap tripod? That camera's pricey! Alternatively, a bag of rocks hung from the base of the center pole can do wonders for stability.

All in all, an amazing tripod for such a low price.

This inexpensive tripod has all the features, and is reasonably stable. However it is not easy to make small adjustments when posititioning the camera. I bought this to use with a 12X zoom and trying to move the camera to a slightly right or left position or just a little up or down is not easy. If I loosen the swivel too much it isn't locked in place, if I don't loosen it enough it is really hard to move the camera in small increments. I'll try lubricating it with some silicon spray but a more expensive tri-pod may be the answer for me.

If your looking for an inexpensive tripod this is a good value. Sometimes value isn't enough though.

I was considering spending $95 for a sturdy tripod but felt it was too much of money to spend on a tripod so decided to check out this model.
Since this model was much cheaper than the one I had my eyes on, I was skeptical about its build quality. You shouldn't. This is a very well made and sturdy product. They even include extra quick release platform with bubble level (so you know if the camcorder is placed even). This is really handy if you have more than one camera or have both camera & camcorder. You can just quickly release camera without screwing/unscrewing from the tripod. I am sure you can find better built tripod but this unit does the job for a casual user like me. I highly recommend this unit and considering its price, it's a bargain!

I was amazed with the price tag and the features this tripod was offereing and immediately switched to this one when I read about it.
Its been one of my best choices in terms of quality, fetures and price. The extra quick release plate gives you a lot of flexibility if you have two photo devices. The high - tilt adjustment are superb.

Sunpack could have been more innovative with providing a handle to carry the tripod. Providing a carry bag would have been really great, particularly when others are offering the same. But thats too much to ask for this price.

Overall this is a must buy item.

While researching portable tripods, the emphasis was on how high they would extend. Well, I was interested in how low a tripod would function. My photographs are primarily of animals - usually short creatures, low to the ground. The description of the Sunpak 6601 UT Tripod was only one of two I found that gave the lowest functioning height. The other one received a less than glowing review, so I went with this one. Great move on my part!

Not only can I get my low shots, I have several options for getting higher shots. Each leg has two quick release leg locks at which it can be raised. Very simple and quick to use. So, I can go "half way" up or extend both sections of each leg and go the full height. Plus, the center column can be raised and lowered for additional height options. The center column can be raised by loosening the locking collar and pulling it up or down or with a hand crank.

My only "complaints" about this product are 1) the supplied instructions are not very clear. The pictures/diagrams supplied are not good. So, I had to spend a little bit of time figuring out what each knob and lever controlled. It took me a while to figure out how to flip the platform so I could get vertical shots.

And, 2)the level is not correct. It is a simple bubble level, but for whatever reason, to have the bubble between the two indicator lines, the platform is at an obvious tilt. Maybe it is just mine that is defective.

I was also impressed with the workmanship and quality of the tripod at the price I paid for it. No, this is not a heavy duty tripod meant for extensive outdoor use or in big crowds. But, for in home use, it is perfect!

I had a few reservations because it is so inexpensive, but have used it and am very happy with it. I use it with digital slr and telephoto lens, external flash. Very light, sturdy for my day to day amateur purposes. The levels are accurate and useful. The quick release mechanism works fine. Haven't needed leg stabilizers yet but are sturdy and good to know they are there if needed. No complaints about product or price.

For small, lightweight, pocket cameras, this is a decent tripod. And pretty handy for making panorama's.

I use it for that, as well as a make-shift light stand. Be aware that it WILL move around and/or vibrate in a strong wind.

Update September 2008...The price of this tripod has increased over time. I paid $20. My original review was based on that. If I was looking for one today, I would not consider this one due to the cost.
Original 2005 review:
I bought this tripod because the features sounded good, there were some good reviews, and the price was right. Even so, I expected a $20 tripod. No way. This is comparable to some $30 and $40 ones I checked out before buying this one. Make no mistakes...this is not professional grade. But if you use it like I do (every now and again with my digital camera), this is a great tripod for the money.

This is a great value for the price. If you're unsure whether you even need a tripod, or you can't justify buying a "good" one for your occasional use, this is the one to get. It's great for indoor use with any compact camera, and the quick release is terrific for switching between posed tripod shots and candids at an event. It's definitely usable for light outdoor use as well, but it's not very stable in even a light wind, and it can be a nuisance to adjust on unlevel surfaces.

If you know you're going to use a tripod a lot, you could buy this first to figure out what features are important to you before spending a lot of money, or you could go straight to the expensive ones. This has sold me on the usefulness of a tripod, and I'm shopping for a good one now ($500-800).

Overall quality is probably 3 stars.
Price for the product is 5 stars.
One thing that is nice about it is that it comes with 2 detachable plates so you can have it ready for your camcorder or camera, or just keep the extra one in the safe.

UPDATE..............
After having the tripod for a couple months now... I have realized it is alittle flimsy. For the basic need of family, or short shoots, it is good. However, if taking pictures in low light and want that long exposure, this tripod will be a hassel. I think eventually i will upgrade to a real tripod in the $200+ range. Until then, this will work.