Velbon: Pole Pod EX monopod / tripod
Using a gun camera body, I can get away without using a tripod 90% of the time. But, for that remaining 10% of the time, for things like macro photography and slow shutter speed work at night, a tripod is a must.
I wanted something that was cheap, had a small form factor, was lightweight and could be used as a monopod and a tripod. Thankfully a Japanese company called Velbon had just the thing available called the Pole Pod EX. I bought this 6 months ago, and the thing has really impressed me. It pretty much ticked all the boxes for me as a biker, that needed something without bulk and was not heavy. FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS: • F4-section monopod stands alone on the 2-section mini tripod. • 3-Way Head with a Quick Release Plate (QB-32) is used for the monopod as well as table-top tripod. • Great tool for narrow places and crowded areas where tripod is prohibited. • 187cm height to shoot from a distance
• Max loading weight: 1500g
• Product weight: 800g • Cheap but robust build quality: RM250 (USD60)
Velbon is not new to the tripod manufacturing game,introducing the Mountain Chaser in 1995, the Carmagne 640 and QRA-635 in 1996, panheads made of magnesium alloy in 1997, the MAXi 343E in 2001, the ULTRA MAXi in 2002, and the El Carmagne tripod series in 2003.
Velbon has a 2017 carbon fibre model called the UTC-63, but, what makes Velbon cool is that you can upgrade your setup and customise it to your liking by combining their more expensive parts like a better pan head than what they give you on the EX which does its job but is super basic without a lot of pro features. Velbon seem to have a tripod, monopod or both for just about everyone.
Website: http://www.velbon.in/product/pole_pod_ex.html Business website: http://www.velbon.biz/
