Neotec Tripod

[KarinaB1970]

Anyone tried one of Bogen's Neotec tripods or monopods? Are they worth the extra $$$? Nothing worse than the "bite" of a tripod! OUCHIES!

[sGu]

Does your work require super fast assembling a tripod? If not, there isn't much difference between Neotec and other tripods apart from price tags.

I bought myself a Manfrotto Carbon Fibre 441 on special offer, couldn't be happier, it's sturdy, lightweight and very easy to carry.

[KarinaB1970]

No, nothing quick required. I have the 3221 and I just hate the levers....they bite hard if you are not careful!!

[CyberDyneSystems]

My fear of the Neotec is possible early failaure of the mechanism...

I know of at least one user who has the Mnafrotto Auto monopod where the extension part died very soon after purchase.. I have to assume the mechanism inside the legs of the neotec are similar to that in the monopod.

[mattchase]

I played with a Neotec the other day, and was very disappointed. The ease of pulling the legs out and push button to shorten them works well, but that is it's only good feature. It is a very lightweight tripod, it doesn't weigh much (which is a good thing), but also in the sense that it feels a bit flimsy. It isn't very tall, and the legs seemed too thin to really hold up in real world use (one good whack and they would probably dent). Yes, it could probably support the weight that Manfrotto claims, but I wouldn't trust it to be very stable. This tripod is not worth the high price tag, so unless you absolutely need the spiffy leg mechanism in a lightweight tripod, don't buy this one. If the price were around $200, then maybe I could recommend it. But even then, the 3021pro for $145 is at least the Neotec's equal, if not a better tripod.

If you still want a quick to setup tripod, the 3051 is the only other option. It actually costs less than the Neotec, but it is so much more stable and can take professional abuse. We have a number of them at my work, and they get used and abused every day, and keep on working. They go up to about 7' high, and will hold almost anything you want to put on it. It is built like a tank, and of course it weighs just about as much too! But if you want to have the pushbutton independent lever controls for the legs, then this is your only choice. It is what I am going to end up buying, since the Neotec doesn't cut it. And a 3021pro for when I go hiking.

[KarinaB1970]

Thanks for the feedback. Saved me some money....much appreciated. Just hate getting "bit" by the levers on my 3221 when Im not paying attention. :cry:

[CyberDyneSystems]

Karina.. if the levers continue to be a hassle that you'd be willling to spend money to alleviate.. most Gitzo tripods use a twist lock as opposed to "snappy" levers. You may want to take a look at those.

Actually.. I think the Giottos have twist lock as well....

[Anders Östberg]

I also played a bit with the tripod in a store and it was easy to use and reasonably light weight but it was not very stable. My old Manfrotto is much better. The Neotech legs have some flex in them that made the whole tripod twist if you have any kind of sideways force on the camera.

I did buy the Neotech monopod though, it makes more sense there to have quick setup and collapse as you run around between different shooting positions. The slight flexing isn't as big a problem here as most of the force goes straight down through the single leg and you wouldn't perhaps use it with quite as heavy and long lenses. I found two problems with the monopod though. The release button is designed like a big grip running the length of the handle. This makes it impossible to use the monopod as a walking stick, something I found I do when out in the wild. Secondly, the two lower leg sections rotate, so if you collapse the monopod and want to carry the lens on your shoulder you have no purchase on the leg to keep the lens pointing a certain direction.