dolica CF tripod @ costco

T2i4me wrote in post #13818621
Do you need to use the Dolica release plate or do other brands fit? Also is the ballhead removeable?

honestly.. i don't know. this is my first ever tripod, so to me, overall this looks good. i'm waiting to hear back from Dolica if the ball head can be changed and if so, compatible with which brands.

but bottomline, for $99, this thing is really solid on the connecting part of the legs. not plastic at all.. but metal. it's very solidly built IMHO.

EOS mE wrote in post #13818924
honestly.. i don't know. this is my first ever tripod, so to me, overall this looks good. i'm waiting to hear back from Dolica if the ball head can be changed and if so, compatible with which brands.

but bottomline, for $99, this thing is really solid on the connecting part of the legs. not plastic at all.. but metal. it's very solidly built IMHO.

just throwing this out there, it looks like a standard Arca Swiss style plate which is quite common. All of my stuff is AS. Unless there is something I can't see in the images, the ballhead should just unscrew from the center column. Try unscrewing it from the center column (check to make sure there aren't any locking screws holding it in place from the bottom of the center column plate first). If it unscrews and leaves a flat plate with a threaded stud then you should be able to install whatever head you'd like on there.
That said, if it is a standard Arca Swiss plate in that head, then that tells me the head and the base on the column are pretty small, which means that higher end ballheads would actually be bigger around than the mounting base on the tripod.

hi all.. just wanted to update you guys on this tripod. if disassembled, it won't fit into my carry-on luggage, even if i put it diagonally. however, if disassembled, which is very easy to do, just unscrew the hook on the bottom of the center column and out it come.

photo here

That's good to know. I am leaning towards ordering one.

EOS mE wrote in post #13822552
hi all.. just wanted to update you guys on this tripod. if disassembled, it won't fit into my carry-on luggage, even if i put it diagonally. however, if disassembled, which is very easy to do, just unscrew the hook on the bottom of the center column and out it come.

photo here

u should.. it's totally worth it.

Thanks for the pics, have you had a chance to mount your camera to it?

yes i did.. but didn't take photos of it though. living room is a mess.

let me know what you'd like to see and i'll try and snap some.

I'm wondering how well it holds in portrait orientation with a setup on the heavy side. I ordered one, but I'm just curious

^^ please check post #1 and the photo album will be there.

I'm thinking about getting this or the other one I mentioned in a earlier post. I want the tripod to go into my DIY camera bag, the Feisol is 16inch while the Dolica is a bit longer and heavy. Hm! I know I can get some good ones for a good price in HK but not sure where am I going to find a good decent retailer there. By the way, I'm trying to go into your album, it ask me to sign up/sign in and I input my email and gives me a This image has already been registered. !?!

Edit: Nevermind, the first link on your first post didn't work. Found the other link you posted. Question for you, is the head detachable? I bought a Manfrotto head from a member in POTN, didn't even have a correct tripod to test it out with. Thanks.

Thanks for the pics! I didn't know it came with a compass too How did it hold in portrait orientation? From your pictures it looked like it might not have been able to hold the heavy setup at a level setting and sagged down?

in the portrait orientation, with my 70-200 mounted, it sagged.
however, with my 24-70, it held on perfectly. in fact it's still holding there and the standard level still shows leveled.

so, all in all, for $99 on my setup which i used the 24-70 the most, will be good.

charles, try this.. maybe this will work for you: slideshow

EOS mE wrote in post #13827867
in the portrait orientation, with my 70-200 mounted, it sagged.
however, with my 24-70, it held on perfectly. in fact it's still holding there and the standard level still shows leveled.

so, all in all, for $99 on my setup which i used the 24-70 the most, will be good.

charles, try this.. maybe this will work for you: slideshow

Thanks! So is the head removable? Is Costco return policy for this item 90 days or whenever? Haha, I may just try this out and if I don't like it I can always return it after my trip.

there is 3 hex nut screws under the ball head. i didn't try to remove it, but my rule of thumb is, if they can install it that way, then it can also be uninstalled the same way.

as for return policy.. not sure. i thought it was only 30 days? anyway, this is good tripod for the price.. but wish it was around 16" folded. but can't have it both ways. comes with a carrying bag, so when i pack it up in my carry on luggage, i'd separate the center column from the legs.

Euro852 wrote in post #13827899
Thanks! So is the head removable? Is Costco return policy for this item 90 days or whenever? Haha, I may just try this out and if I don't like it I can always return it after my trip.

Its not electronic, so it should be covered under the general satisfaction warranty which doesn't have a time limit per se.