Customer Reviews

Slik Professional Universal Deluxe Tripod with 3-Way Panhead and Panoramic Photo Guide

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love everything about my Slik tripod. If you've read any of my other reviews, I'm a stickler for quality materials and workmanship, especially with my gadgetry. Slik doesn't slack off in either department.

It has a very nice finish, smooth handling with the legs and vertical position crank. All locking mechanisms feel solid and haven't ever broken loose on me. I've loaded up my fairly heavy video camera, P&S digital, and my Canon EOS 20D and it handles it all with aplomb.

The feet have adjustable points for rough ground and hold their place well on dirt, rock, and man-made surfaces. The included head is of decent quality and though I use my Slik Pistol grip for the most part, it makes horizontal and vertical work simpler and has an easier mount.

This is a very solid and versatile tripod for the money. I used it for about 6 months and later sold it to buy heavier Bogen tripod. Ever since I am repenting on my dscision. This tripod is lightweisght (compared to Bogen) yet stable enough agains high wind and a 70-300 zoom lens with a medium size SLR body. The detachable pan/til head can be used for low angle macro shots and the legs can be set at any preferred angle. Only gripe is the quick release system, it can be better, but for 95 bucks I can not expect any more than the bundle.

This tripod works well, and I've had good success with it. The thing is sturdy enough to hold my Canon 40D and 70-200 lens, and I really have no issues with overall performance.

That said, I do have a problem with the quick-release feature. It works great and all...but the little mounting nub that screws into the threaded part of the camera (or lens mount) tends to come loose rather easily. Just be aware of the thing, and that it can fall off at any time. When it does fall off, the tripod will be useless. So my advice is to buy a couple of extra nubs SLIK 618-752 Replacement Quick Shoe for Tripod U-212DX to have on hand for when (not if!) you lose one.

Well I had my issues with this tripod and finally had to upgrade to a bogan but I got my use out of it. It's a great tripod for what it is, read its specifications and realize you can't exceed them and you'll do fine. When I started with it I was using an elan iie and some cheap light tamron lenses and it was a beauty to work with. Lightweight and sturdy. After beating it up for two years, upgrading to a 20D and slapping on a big honken sigma 170-500 lense I finally began to push its limmits and the tripod became too shakey for my camera. But now things were weighing a good 5 pounds which is on the verge of a no no according to the specs.

That said it's a great tripod, sturdy within its specified wieght tolerance...spiked feet are nice, flip locks are easy to open and close compared to the bogen and it's pretty stable. Whats also nice is you CAN change the head on such a cheap tripod so you can go with a ball head or something else.

Well I guess that's about all I have to say. Enjoy!

I just finished using this tripod on a windy day, uneven ground, with a 200mm Canon L-series F/2.8 lens (somewhat heavy) using a standard camera mount (not mounted on the lens, which would have offered even more stability). The tripod worked beautifully. This is the kind of tripod you use around the house or throw in the car trunk, but not for long hikes. It lets you do anything you would want to do with a tripod except hike with it.

I've already used this at two weddings and other events. It is a very sturdy tripod, and allows great flexability when positioining the camera. The legs can be folded completely out to allow the tripod to get into some unusual positions. It also allows me to pan very smoothly.

Additionally it takes up very little space when you store it, it folds up very nicely.

This is a very big imrpovement over some of the mostly plastic tripods that cost less than half the price of this one.

I've had this tripod for quite a while and only have two complaints, otherwise it is an all-around good tripod. The quick-release is great but I wish the tripod came with a second quick-release posts to keep from having to buy another (and pay shipping, etc. for something half the height of a AA battery).

Complaint #1:
The mechanism for adjusting the angle of the legs is deficient for one reason. When the tripod is opened to the standard angle, there is insufficient friction to keep the legs fully-out. So when you pick up the tripod and move it, it's likely the legs can collapse some. If you need a tripod that can be set, used, picked up, set down, used, picked up, set down, etc. then you might want to consider a tripod with legs that lock out (not this one).

Complaint #2:
The center column is held in place by two compression fittings (one at the top and one at the bottom). The nut that applies the pressure can come loose (has on me only once). The tighter the nut, the harder it is to crank the column up and down but the less likely it will come loose; the looser the nut the more likely it will come loose and fall off (and hopefully you don't loose parts).


These two complaints are easy for me to live with, but may not be for you. It is still a great tripod and I'd recommend it for light usage: a bit heavy for hiking; complaint #1 isn't a problem for portraits; works good for night stills; etc. I can't give it 5 stars, but hopefully the next generation of this tripod will correct these minor complaints.

Need a tripod to throw in the car and head out for the day - the Slik U212 deluxe is great. Legs adjust independently, bubble level, quick release mount, 3 way pan head, calibrated panorama guide, retractable rubber spike feet, and an added mounting post on the leg. Overall this is an excellent tripod, great stability for small and medium SLR's. Great for landscaptes and close up shots.

Using a triopd is not something we want to do often. Different
condutions need advantages that only the U212 can offer. Independent leg adjustment, can put camera on leg as well as
on bottom of center post, removeable head, buble for leveling,
guid for shoting 360% if you want. A little heavy, you want no
movement on windy day. Have had one for over 20 years my son just borroed it a year ago, started looking for another brand to replace it came back to a U212 others didn't compare.

I am quite happy with the tripod. It is quite versatile in the different configurations, allowing for a number of shots. The build is very solid, so I feel quite comfortable using it (which in the past has been my biggest complaint with tripods).

The easy attach mechanism is a big improvement over must camera attachment features, but it still needs a little work. It takes a little playing around with to get it to stay. Even then, I am nervous that it could come loose, but that has not been a problem yet.

Generally, for the price, this is an excellent product.