Velbon Ultra Luxi F Tripod with 4-Way Pan Head and Case

by SUNPAK

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 16.8 x 6.5 x 5.3 inches ; 3.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00022UE8O
• Item model number: ULTRA-LUXIF
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 23, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

With a top leg diameter of 0.94 inches, the Ultra Luxi F is a compact, sturdy, lightweight tripod suitable for the modern digital SLR camera and most other camera systems. The four-way pan and tilt head--together with the three spirit levels and twin handles--give the tripod a degree of accuracy usually only seen in top-level professional tripods. The unit's "twist-lock" leg system, meanwhile, requires only a quick twist and pull to extend the legs to the proper height, and another twist to lock them in place. And thanks to the two-section center column and multi-angle legs, you can take the Ultra Luxi F all the way down to 7.4 inches for serious low-angle photography (the maximum height is 63.3 inches). Other details include a quick-release platform for easy camera changes and sturdy rubber feet that preserve the tripod's stability on slippery surfaces. The Ultra Luxi F, which measures 15.3 inches when folded and weighs 2.91 pounds, comes with its own carrying case.

Product Description

VELBON ULTRA LUXIF 63" 5-SECTION TRIPOD WITH PANHEAD

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful tripod!, February 13, 2005

By 

K. Jung (CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Velbon Ultra Luxi F Tripod with 4-Way Pan Head and Case (Electronics)

Love this tripod. It's quite versatile with the included pan head. Every adjustement is quick and easy. Its size is not too large for travel. Build quality is excellent and it includes a lot of little features like the level, bag, and quick release. Stable w/ 20D, 24-70, 580ex but have not tried with larger lenses. Amazing value from Amazon at under $120!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful design and execution, December 10, 2005

By 

Capt'n Bob "captn_bob" (Lincoln, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Velbon Ultra Luxi F Tripod with 4-Way Pan Head and Case (Electronics)

Even though I've gone over to the dark side and am now 100% digital, my tripod has been a holdover from the days of heavy SLR's and 2 1/4" format cameras. With the pan head on my current tripod getting sticky I decided it was time for a new unit.

To be honest, I just got lucky when I picked this Velbon tripod. The design is brilliant, and the execution is fantastic. This is one of those tools you get that just feels perfect in your hands, and has more features than (I) expected.

My favorites: buttery smooth pan head with levels and infinite adjustments; quick and simple leg adjustments; ability to get down within 8" of the ground for macro shots; very compact when folded up with carry bag.

This is an outstanding tripod for a digital camera, and if you are still using your heavy battleaxe tripod for a 'point-and-shoot' sized everyday digital, this is a perfect match. (If you are using a digital SLR with a variety of large lenses then you might consider one of Velbon's larger units.)

The only very minor irritant was that there is no real instruction manual, so it took me a few minutes to figure out a few of the features, but if you look at the pictures on the box they will become obvious.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Design Concepts, June 29, 2007

By 

Wilbur D. Wong "Wilbur Wong" (Richmond, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Velbon Ultra Luxi F Tripod with 4-Way Pan Head and Case (Electronics)

Exceptional weight to stability ratio. I own and use 6 and 10 pound wood and carbon fiber tripods for my larger (4 x 5 etc.) cameras. The Luxi F is intended for use with a Canon 5D walk around.

The leg locking mechanism is brilliant. It incorporates a continuous fool proof cam operation, maybe hard to describe quickly, but suffice it to say it doesn't rely on friction to catch (start) as in most other twist cam designs, the unique cross section of each tube IS the locking cam shape.

The included pan head offsets the tripod screw some 2 inches behind the center post!!! This makes this lightweight tripod very usable with longer length lenses. My 35 dslr with a 70 300 zoom (DO) is still weighted slightly behind the center post. Ball head versions of this tripod will place nearly all of the weight forward of the center post.

Note that the PH145Q pan tilt head used on this tripod tightens on both sides of the center post. This head handled a 3 pound 15 oz load very well and stiffly. (The head included with the Maxi F tightens only on one side.)

The legs may be slightly prone to vibrations, but they seem to dampen within 4 or 5 seconds when rapped. The Luxi F's top leg section is 24 mm in diameter, the second section at 21 mm is the size of the top tube of the other tripods in this Velbon series. I suspect another critical achilles heel of the others will be their having a bottom section of 9mm diameter as opposed to the 12mm used here. I think this is spindly enough, I'm glad I didn't follow temptation and buy the lesser tripod.

For a walk about outfit, the Ulta Luxi F leaves me few excuses not to have a tripod available any time I am carrying a camera. For a few ounces more and a few more dollars, this is the stiffess, strongess, lightess and shortest tripod I have found on the market. Better, stronger tripods are out there, some of them are more liable to stay in my closet or in my trunk when I am walking about.