 Best of both worlds in a compact and robust design |
| Review Date: December 10, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Nature Photographer, Seattle, WA |
The TrekPod II offers the creativity and performance that no other product has ever come close; it is a world class monopod that can convert into a functional tripod in seconds.
I am a lot disappointed and a little tired of seeing these folks who blame their own faults onto the gear. You have to know your gear; its abilities and limitations. Every design on earth, including us humans, have its limitations. These don't make it good or bad, it just elevates the importance of knowing the operating principles of a design and figuring out how to utilize its strengths to your advantage.
I am a nature photographer with avid interest in wildlife and closeups. I sell my pics to help support this expensive hobby, therefore the quality and sharpness of the images is critical. I have owned and extensively used the TrekPod II and TrekPod for over two years. Never came close to dropping my camera. And I typically use my D80 with the bulky SB-800 on top and the boat anchor SB105 on the front to capture those macros that I love. Most shots I do with this setup are hands-off and are done with a timer or remote control.
There are a few things that one can do to minimize the possibility of a tip over:
1) Always point one leg of the TrekPod II along the axis of the lens. For example, for my D80 & 80-400VR shots, the balance becomes critically important and I always point the lens in the same direction as one of the three legs.
2) Always keep the MagMount and MagAdapter clean of dirt and debris. This is a magnetic material and the dirt that we hike on has a surprising amount of iron in it. So over time, some dirt sticks onto the surfaces. All you have to do is to wipe it clean with a piece of napkin or cloth.
3) Always use the security clip that is provided with your MagMount. This little clip will hold the MagMount and the MagAdapters together.
Bottomline is that the TrekPod series offers unsurpassed performance and robustness in an affordable package. It is up to the individual user to utilize all the provided features to his advantage. |
The right tool for my needs
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| Review Date: February 25, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Bruce Warner, Woodbridge, VA United States |
I have over 40 years experience in the photography industry, taking my first professional assignment in 1968. I've never been comfortable with a monopod, but have found tripods are often too awkward for mobile work and more often don't fit the needs of the location (I do some unique work).
Having recovered from a 7 year stay in a wheelchair, I'm happy to be back on my feet and refuse to use a walking sick, but find the handle otherwise useful. Running my camera strap trough the wrist loop really adds to the stability of the unit.
No, it's not a studio tripod. No, it's not a masterpiece of sophisticated stability for heavy weight equipment. Yes, it's an excellent, quick, easy to use stable support for a photographer that is constantly on the go. |
Love this thing
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| Review Date: May 27, 2009 |
| Reviewer: V. Sumner, Oregon |
| Great walking stick, light weight and a steady tri-pod! Straight up Saddle Mountain and back down. Kept me off my bottom more than once. |
Very happy with the TrekPod II Monopod
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| Review Date: April 3, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Linellen, |
| The TrekPod II Monopod/Tripod/Hiking Staff is well made and fits exactly what I needed it for . . . stabilizing my spotting scope and/or camera in the field. |
Great Product for nature and wildlife.
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| Review Date: July 14, 2008 |
| Reviewer: pcdebol, Tulsa, Ok USA |
Good Product, I would recommend going to a local shop that carries these pods with your camera and hooking it up to check the magnets holding strength. I have a Nikon D80 with a 250mm lens and can click the camera on the magnet and carry it upside down tilt it swivel it whatever and it doesn't come off as long as you are moving slow. If you hit jar or move it quickly it will break free thats why it comes with a safety latch.
Weighing less than 2 pounds it is very portable and easy to take with you and the mag mount makes for lightning quick set up when you get that shot you need a tripod for.
On the down side the legs are at the bottom which causes it to be a bit wobbly so you need a remote trigger and have to let it set a couple of seconds before taking a shot. I haven't had it out in high wind conditions yet but I would imagine you would be better off using it as a mono pod in high wind. It is not a substitute for a good tripod either as it has no level and only a small thumb screw and ball to set your cameras position. You will almost never get it on target with your first try.
In conclusion the Trek Tech tripod is very good at what it is designed for being a lightweight easy to transport quick setup tripod you can take with you. Is it scary having a couple of thousand dollars hanging off of a small rare earth magnet knowing if it falls its toast, yes it is, just remember to use that safety clip. |
Check it before you buy it.
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| Review Date: October 8, 2009 |
| Reviewer: B. Sandoval, 89005 |
I'm not a professional photographer. I just use this tripod for my mini-camcorder and my point and shoot camera. Personally, I enjoyed this item. I actually didn't know that there are other models for this but the thought has crossed my mind since there are a lot of people curious about using this on an SLR and camcorder.
I didn't have any problems on it's funtion and performance. Yes, it is a bit heavier and bulky than an actual hiking pole.
I do advise to anyone using any bigger type of cams to check their website and see their info and video so you know what to get. Gadgets like this requires further investigatiion on how well it will perform for your cheap to expensive item(s).
Lastly for people that gave a one star...maybe you should wait for a hiking pole/shovel/axe/tv antenna/dousing rod/tripod combo with a bubble level and hope that would satisfy your needs. |
Trek-Tech TrekPod II Review By Edigitalstore
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| Review Date: December 8, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Keith Chung, Venice Beach, CA USA |
I had to get a tripod for my Nikon D80 camera. I am learning about photography and I don't even rate a title of an amateur photographer because I haven't really taken a picture that I could say I took a decent picture. Gee, photography is not that easy. What makes a good photographer?
Is it an art?
Yes,
How do you become a photographer that could captivate an audience and they would think about the picture.
A technique. The part of this technique is proper equipment. Searched few days on internet about tripod, and found Versi podII. I checked a couple of local camera/electronics store, and no local authorized retailer. Trek-Pod campaigned their product as walking stick monopod/tripod. It is a strong tripod stand. I have much confidence that it will hold my Nikon D90 with Kenkor teleconventer and Nikor 70-300mm lens. The equipment will not fail. Their campaign of walking stick was very creative marketing campaign. This is not a walking stick tripod/monopod. I would never use this equipment as a walking stick. It is too long. It is too heavy. This item is not portable.
After a couple of weeks of purchase, I already know that I have to change to different monopod/tripod. I will most likely will not use this Trek-Tech TrekPod II walking stick. Disregard walking stick campaign and analyze other data. Please don't get me wrong, I still like it but I won't be proud as a photographer carrying this item. Not Cool.
Also, notice that Nikon D80 was changed to D90 as part of my upgrading my camera equipment..
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TrekPod... Good concept - bad design.
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| Review Date: September 30, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Joe West, Hawaii |
| I am a professional photographer... just returned from a trip to Zion National Park where I had hoped the TrekPod would be "just the thing" to help me photograph "The Narrows". The TrekPod turned out to be a great concept... with a terrible design. First of all, it is really too heavy to work very well as a hiking staff. I would just as soon have been carrying a light tripod instead (which would have been much more stable). The "fatal flaw" in the design, however, is the "magnetic connection" that attaches the camera to the TrekPod. It DOES NOT hold the camera securely. I found this out when trying to adjust my camera, while on the TrekPod, and had the magnetic mount let go... dumping my Panasonic Lumix into the river! Granted, there is a "safety strap" that attaches to the TrekPod... which I was not using... but it seems like it would have been much more simple, and practical, to just provide a standard "screw in" type mount... rather than try to attach a "safety strap" every time a camera is mounted on the TrekPod. If the TrekPod could be made out of lighter materials, and designed with a standard, screw-type, tripod mount... I think it could be quite useful. As it stands... it is practically useless in my view. |
Avoid this device
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| Review Date: June 14, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Doc Holliday, Lewis & Clark County, Montana, USA |
The Trek Pod is a good concept, that doesn't work out in real life. The two main problems I have with it are tripod shake and the magnetic mount.
The 'tripod' legs make up about the lower third of the device, (or less, depending on how much you extend it). That means you have a long straight and unsteady aluminum pole that shakes, badly. Forget even thinking about using it without a cable release or a timer. I have waited several minutes for the Trek Pod to stop shaking, then, a stiff breeze comes up and it starts shaking again. Even pushing the shutter release on my digital 'cable release' causes it to shake.
The magnetic camera mount is a joke. It won't hold my Canon 350D with a Sigma 17-55 lens verticle, forget even trying any longer lens. The camera goes lens down as soon as you attach it. The only reason I haven't lost a camera off this magnetic mount is that I don't trust it and constantly keep control of my camera, which only increases its shaking. The magnetic attachments are small and easy to lose.
It's too heavy to use as a walking stick. The cover on the magnetic mount comes off its tether nearly every time you use it - I've tried attaching it with 5lb. test line and it still breaks the tether - so you have to constantly keep track of it. The device that is supposed to prevent the head from coming unscrewed is, essentially, useless. It's too hard to deploy - takes about twice as long as my regular tripods - and after it is deployed, the wait until it stops shaking begins. The velcro that holds the 'tripod' legs together is difficult to remove to open the legs and it picks up every piece of plant life and dirt in its vicinity. It is heavy, [where I live there are a fair number of bears, so I call it my 'bear whacker'], much too heavy for frequent use.
I only gave it one star because I couldn't go lower and it makes a, more or less, serviceable monopod. |
You've got to be kidding...
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| Review Date: January 12, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Bogus Exception, Norwich, Connecticut United States |
I think the above 5-star reviewer works for the vendor. This is a very bad product, and is over-priced even at that.
I was actually looking for a Walking Stick monopod that could be used as a walking stick instead of strapping it to something. This thing may look like one, but it is unusable. The reason? They decided to put the 3 legs of the fold-out tripod as the actual feet that would be in continual contact with the ground. THese little things have a tiny piece of rubber at the end. One walk across a parking lot and the rubber is gone, and then you have a nice, 3-prohged spike to keep pulling out of the ground as you walk.
Repeat: This is not a walking stick, is not designed to be one, and will not function as one unless you never actually wlkk with it as such.
I give 1 star because it is a bad product (poorly designed and mis-represented).
Why the product angle as well? For starters, the thing is actually a shooting (as in gun) rest, and not for photography. It even has a picture of someone shooting a rifle with it, and not a camera. The camera part was an afterthough, as eveidenced in the magnetic mount, etc. (which I bought as well). Because the magnetic mount is so small (1/2"), it has no strength to hold up my 40D dSLR with a telephoto lens. It is made for a dainty purse camera with a 1/4" mount, perhaps.
On the plus side, I kept it solely for a secondary (slave) flash mount-nothing more. And even then, only in studio. This thing is too heavy to lug around, regardless of what kind of "shooting" you are doing.
So I guess it is a fine waling stick monopod as long as you use it for neither a monopod or walking stick.
Amazon: When will you give us a rating lower than 1? How about in the negative integers?
:) |
missing part
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| Review Date: August 12, 2007 |
| Reviewer: J. Poinski, |
| This item would have recieved a very high rating, if all the parts had been included with it as advertized. The LF Mag Adapter that is supposed to be included with the tripod was not in the box. The response from the retailer (Adorama) was basically that I should look harder (for the part in the box). Wow, that was really not helpful, rest assured that I have examined the boxes, and the part is not there. Is this what passes for customer sevice these days? |
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