Customer Reviews

Velbon El Carmagne 640 Carbon Fiber Tripod with Pan Head and Case

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Quality product. Very light. Super strong - I have mounted my Nikon D200 with a Nikon 200-400M zoom (Nikon Zoom-Nikkor - Telephoto zoom lens - 200 mm - 400 mm - f/4.0 G ED-IF AF-S VR - Nikon F) lens on it and this tripod holds that combo just fine. Cheaper tripods won't handle the weight and the last thing you want is for the tripod to fail and many $$s of gear hits the ground.

Adjusting is easy and quick. Added bonus of measurement markings on each leg section which assists you in getting all 3 legs the same length. Easy to take it to a very low position as shown in the additional images.

The pan head works fine and is fairly smooth, but I am a ballhead person, so I replaced it with a Really Right Stuff ballhead.

One note, when you remove the pan head, which is not hard, depending on the head you are replacing the pan head with, you might have to "switch" the mounting screw. My replacement ballhead needed a 3/8 screw instead of the 1/4 inch screw, it took me a bit to figure it out, but all you need to do is "unscrew" the head mounting screw and flip it over and you have a 3/8 screw. Nice thinking by Velbon!

Comes with nice assortment of options - stone bag, case, etc.

This thing is so light! I actually brought it into a camera shop in Bend, Oregon where they hadn't seen one before. I was raving about it (had it in my hand) and they were looking totally smug and bored. I took the head off and handed it to them, and their eyes popped!...

Now the last thing is to get the weight of the head down. By itself it makes the unit incredibly top-heavy. Add a camera and you had better beware! They do provide a rock bag, but it's a joke. It almost tempted me to downgrade the review to a 4-star. But forget about that. It's the tripod you're purchasing. And it's a gem.

Excellent tripod. I was getting soft focus images with an inexpensive Promaster 6100 tripod with an Olympus E510 shooting the 70-300 mm zoom lens with a 2x converter. The focus was even soft with the 40-150 kit zoom lens. With this tripod and same camera set ups the focus is sharp. The tripod is easy to set up. I have used it in its lowest configuration for macro flower shots to its fully extended set up. I have not tried it fully extended (with the extension tube) with the 70-300 lens, but is works great with the 40-150 and 14-42 kit zoom lenses. With the 70-300 lens I keep the extension tube down.

I also purchased the Manfrotto 323 R62 Rapid Connect Adapter for use on this tripod. The quick release takes a little jiggling to get it to work smoothly on the tripod's head but that really isn't a problem for me. I may in the future get a ball head.

I used it with D300+MB-D10+24-70mm+SB-900. It is very stable and rigid structure.

It came with a case (look cheap, but small and ok), a magnesium pan head (PH-460B), and a sand bag, and a small hook.

I agreed with other reviews in this web or other webs.
This is a cheap carbon fiber tripod compared to GITZO and MANFORTTO, but have the excellent performance (some even better).

Cons,
No spike feet option....so sad
No quick release (PH-460B do not try to find this head from catalog, because they produce just for this kit)
The bag is too small to keep the pan head without detaching one grip out

Finally, I am going to change the pan head to a head ball instead (Manfrotto).
I just recommend to buy only tripod (no head).

I have this a few weeks and really enjoy it. It's quick to open and close, very sturdy. The weight is great, it's comfortable to go for a walk with the case slung over my shoulder. The case is good enough.

I am happy with the pan head, I might get a ball head later but it's good for now.

Buyers, especially beginners could consider the 540, it's a $100 cheaper. It's 10 cm shorter extended and the load limit is 9 lbs versus 13 lbs.

Anyway I highly recommend it.

I'm satisfied in every way! I had planned on buying a Gitzo until a friend recommended this one. Unless you need status, the Velbon 640 is half price, looks great, weighs very little and is solid as a rock with my Nikon D70. Just what I need for my excursions into the backcountry. Highly recommended.

I've had this tripod for about 3 years. It's been on lots of trips and hikes. It's well made, solid and relatively light for it's size and comes with a case. I hang my camera bag on the hook at the bottom of the center post. That way I get to rest my back while helping to stabilize the tripod. I bought a $2 hook from the hardware store, which is quite a bit larger, and attached it to the existing hook on the tripod. The tripod can be used almost on the ground .. which makes macro photography more fun. (This is my third Velbon tripod.) I use the Velbon PHD-61Q magnesium 3 way pan/tilt head which has great friction control for minor adjustments, plus it easily tilts vertical. The quick release plate makes it a pleasure to use. The panning and horizontal controls can be used either right or left handed. Your camera will not flop from vertical using this pan/tilt head. I just bought a Velbon quick release adapter that will enable me to use the Cotton Carrier system. That way I can remove my camera from the Cotton Carrier and quickly snap it onto the tripod head. In my opinion, I think Velbon has been under rated and the ball head idea is a bit over rated.

This tripod is solid and well-built. I am not entirely sure how the quick-release works and there aren't any directions to speak of, just a one page parts identification deal. I love how low it goes and having the numbers on the legs to quickly reference and level it. I replaced the pan head with a ball head, which makes it fit into the bag without the process of screwing the tilt handle into the other handle for storage. This tripod is replacing an old spotting scope tripod I had been making do with for my photography, and it had the old style braces on the legs and all that junk, so I knew I was long overdue for a new one and didn't want to settle. With this one, I know I haven't compromised quality, as everyone who has rated this said it compares to those almost twice its price. I haven't been around those enough to know, but this thing is solid and very user friendly. I don't recall if it says in the description, but the legs can be positioned at 3 angles, one at a steep angle for the most height, the angle allowing its minimum height, and one in between, allowing for you to lower it to some extent without the need for retracting the legs. I'm not sure if other tripods have this capability or not, but I sure like the option that this one does. I could not be happier with my purchase!

I've used aluminum tripods for 30 years and this was my first carbon fiber. I choose the Velbon, for price, a long list of nice features equal to some Bogen ones, and a case to boot. It seemed like a great deal opposed to Bogen. I must say this is one good looking tripod. Well made and light, weight wise. That is why I purchased a new tripod to begin with, and the 640 didn't disappoint. The head could be a little nicer, that's why I held back the 5th star. But the legs on this beauty are fantastic. At 3.5lbs, less than 4.5lbs with head, and it's short size when closed are nothing less than amazing. The numbering on the leg sections is nice. 4 sections are very nice, always had 3's. The leg angle thing seems the weakest part,and the only complaint I could come up with is that the case doesn't hold the tripod and zip up. You have to unscrew one of the head handles and screw it on the bottom of the other handle, the end is threaded just for this purpose. otherwise this is one fine tripod. At the price, I would buy another. Amazon, your the Best!

I purchased this tripod as a Christmas gift for my boyfriend. (Trying to be efficient with $$.) He went out and bought himself a carbon fiber tripod. The tripod came as a recommendation from a friend, so I am certain the product is acceptable. What is truly AWFUL is that the company will not allow the return of the item because it is out of their return period. However, they continue to sell the item. I could see a restocking fee or non-return if the item is no longer available, but it is still in stock and advertised. To top things off, the customer service people were extremely rude and made it sound like an effort to deal with my questions. They said they just talked to the manager and when I asked to speak to him, he was all of a sudden unavailable, so I left a message. I bet I never receive a return phone call.
Bottom line . . . make certain you check the return policy.
I would not recommend this company to anyone. Check elsewhere for the products.