willy6419

Anyone experienced with either the FotoPro X Go-Max W FPH 62Q ball head and their Gimbal, or the eagle 6 or 6L with Gimbal. Seems interesting concept.

How reliable is shuttermuse, or is that a potential review posted by FotoPro?

I ran back to the car in a thunderstorm, kept the camera gear fine, but left my tripod. Mid morning next day, returned and it was 'gone', so in the market.

https://shuttermuse.com/fotopro-eagle-tripod-and-gimbal-review/

Thanks,

Bill

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Sad someone had to steal it.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I have not used any Fotopro gear and doubt many people have. It's relatively new in the U.S. market.

The Eagle-series tripod at that link comes with a gimbal head and a leveling platform. At $1099 it's a pretty good value... or at least a competitive price vs other premium brands where you need to buy those things separately.

HOWEVER are you aware that, as it stands, that tripod shown at Shuttermuse will be "very large telephoto lens ONLY"? It's a specialized rig designed to work with 300mm f/2.8, 400mm f/2.8, 500mm f4, 600mm f/4 and bigger, as well as similar size zooms that are all fitted with a tripod collar.

With a "full size gimbal" like on that tripod there's no practical way to directly mount a camera (I think either Wimberley or Kirk Photo makes an adapter, but you also need an L-bracket on the camera unless you plan to shoot everything in landscape orientation). You essentially need to buy a second head of some sort... a ballhead or pan/tilt or whatever, for more general purpose tripod use... and be prepared to swap the heads out in the field when you want to use the tripod for something besides gimbal work with really big lenses. The smallest lens I regularly use on my gimbal head tripods is a 100-400mm that weighs about 4 lb. with a camera weighing about 2 lb. With smaller lenses, even with collars, (such as 70-200mm f/2.8 and 300mm f/4) the gimbal is unbalanced, seems uncomfortable to me and not particularly helpful.

I'm also not a fan of tripods with 5-section legs, like that one. Yes, they fold up more compact. But the bottom two sections end up very small diameter to fit inside the sections above, plus there are added joints that will slow down setup and offer a potential point of weakness or flex. With big lenses and heavier cameras, I try to work with 3-secton legs. I do have one tripod with 4-section, but it's an extra tall tripod, so I rarely have to extend the bottom section.

That tripod at the Shuttemuse link also doesn't have a center column (can be a good thing, see below).

Instead it has a leveling platform under the gimbal head. That's useful. I have levelers on both the tripods I use with gimbals (onea full size gimbal, the other a gimbal adapter & ballhead, for easier "general use"). The leveler speeds up set up a lot. With gimbals it's often desirable for the rig to be level.... without a leveling platform it can take some "fiddling" with leg lengths to set up level, every time you move the tripod. With the levelers I use, one quick twist of the handle to loosen it, center the bubble level, then re-tighten the handle. It takes about 3 seconds to do.

FotoPro are made in China, which by itself isn't a bad thing. I guess they are expanding into the U.S. They DO make tripods with fewer leg sections. And they DO offer high spec tripods without heads.

B&H Photo is starting to stock them, though a lot of the line are "special order". They currently list four of the Eagle series.... Two of the E6, an E7 and an E9. The E9 is quite a beast at upwards of 10 lb. The E6 at the Shuttermuse link appears to be what they call a "travel tripod" (hence the 5-section legs and more compact size when collapsed). Here are the FotoPro with gimbal heads that B&H is offering: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/compare/Fotopro_E9_Eagle_Series_Tripod_Kit_vs_Fotopro_E7_Carbon_Fiber_Tripod_with_Gimbal_Head_vs_Fotopro_E6_Eagle_Series_Tripod_Kit_vs_Fotopro_E6L_Eagle_Series_Carbon_Fiber_Travel_Tripod_with_Gimbal_Head/BHitems/1473302-REG_1599546-REG_1473301-REG_1509127-REG

Some (all?) the above appear to now be stocked.

There are also FotoPro leg sets (no head or leveler) available if you wanted to set up a more general use tripod. B&H lists seven models, but they appear to all be "special order". Some have a center column, some don't. (Note: Center columns can allow a tripod to collapse smaller, but tend to make the rig less stable. The less you can use a center column, the better. Ideal for a stable rig is no center column at all, but that's not always an option. If buying a tripod with a column, I recommend trying to find one that is very close to comfortable working height without raising it, so the center column is only needed in unusual situations.)

Those FotoPro leg sets do appear to be good values. They seem to be two to three hundred $ less than similar spec tripods from premium brands like Gitzo, RRS, ProMedia and a few others.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?q=fotopro%20tripod&filters=fct_category%3Atripod_legs_2636

I did notice the specs say those FotoPro leg sets use a standard 3/8"x16 tpi head mounting bolt, so you would have a wide choice of heads to add to one... or even a leveler in between the head and tripod if you wish.

There are also a number of other FotoPro tripods in less premium series, at much lower prices. They appear to offer monopods, tripod heads and various accessories, too.

Yeah, sorry your tripod wasn't where you left it. Have you checked Craiglist, local message boards and any local stores lost and found, etc.? Maybe someone took it home for safe keeping and is trying to find the owner to "do the right thing". Of course, this is just wishful thinking... but it does happen. A friend of mine recently got his phone back after accidentally leaving it outside a store. Someone turned it in, though they could have instead sold it on Craigslist, I'm sure. (This is an argument for somehow putting your name and phone number and/or email address on your major pieces of gear... though not the engraving method used to ruin so many cameras in the past. I have name/ph/email on all my memory cards, for example.)

willy6419

Thanks for a lot of good information. There are videos of the camera mounted vertical and horizontal (bracket supposedly included). Yes, new entrant to U.S.

I thought they looked pretty good on video and the price was attractive.

I thought the gimbal had a lot of unique features, if they don't create wear or operating problems. Sometimes the more flexible, the more things there are to wear and loosen.

I did have my name on the tripod. Did contact the police and a local National Park office. No joy. Stuff happens. Rather the tripod than a D850 and lens!

Thanks,

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I could only find one review from a actual user.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1509127-REG/fotopro_e6l_carbon_fiber_tripod.html/reviews?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=Cj0KCQjw38-DBhDpARIsADJ3kjnGoSZhL-jJ9QUql7cTH-dY8JeIpVdbgkCn9HfOaDQTQPlt9zs6JhcaAnofEALw_wcB

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

Still don't like twist lock legs.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

No direct experience, but My $.02 ... Very impressed with the features/value of E-6H Gimbal ! - tho it is at the very top end price I would consider.....

The tripod I am not so impressed with. Several are now including an intregal leveling base now - and a leveling base is imperative with ANY head - but there are many recent options.

Thanks for the good link !
.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

I’m also looking and the Eagle 6L is on my radar. Everything I’ve seen is positive. I have a FotoPro monopod I like. I also have one of their cheaper ball heads I was using on a platypod this weekend that worked well.
That platypod is something I’ve really come to appreciate. I was hiking several miles along a trail with several waterfalls. I saw a bunch of people hiking with tripods. The first tine setup took a few minutes but after that I just grabbed the platypod with ball head and legs attached out of my pack, attach the L-bracket, decide what ND filter I needed, set it in the rocks below the fall and I was shooting.

Paul J. Svetlik Loc: Colorado

I have several objections to this product, if you are interested:

1.The twist locks - too slow and difficult to turn in winter when ice could build up. Flip locks are more convenient and secure.
2. Legg ends do not allow to use of snow baskets.
3. I am not sure if the legs could be turned 180 degrees in order to allow to reverse the whole tripod for quick close-to-the-ground flower shots without removing the center column.
4. The head which looks like a secure design is also slow in operation. A larger but simple ball head is more convenient - even for heavy lenses.
5. The leveling base looks good.

willy6419

thanks,

had not thought of the snow baskets, or ice

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

I’m not sure what you’re getting at with #4. It’s a gimbal head. A ball head might be simpler and more convenient for some uses, but be completely useless if you need a gimbal.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Not familiar with that model but I can give a Shout Out for FotoPro... On recommendation of Dr. Nikon I purchased a TS-83C with 3 legs, no centerpost, and 37mm CF top legs.... I could not be happier and it is a lifetime investment. If this is typical of the Quality of FotoPro products it gets a thumbs up from me.

willy6419

Thanks

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

3 legs is generally the most important feature when buying a tripod. 😜🤪

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Yeah, I guess you got to be explicit on here.... How bout 3 sections per leg. Anyhow, the FotoPro is one heck of a tripod !