******
- Verified Buyer
I am a budget-conscious educated consumer who has spent far too many hours researching a quality tripod for a quality Nikon mirrorless camera I bought to revive my interest in photography. The purchase was triggered by discovering the tripod that was in the back of my closet for the past 30 years and which I packed for a recent trip to Sicily was so bad it prevented my taking the pictures I wanted to.I came up with a list of the features I wanted- tall enough to mount the camera at eye level- very solid feel and quality appearance- leg diameter on the higher side for stability- carbon fiber for its strength and quiet deployment- metal parts for their durability- high load weight in excess of my actual requirement to ensure no droop- a larger, low profile ball head to ensure no droop- twist leg locks for their quiet operation and smooth profile (less likely to catch on things and break)- integrated center post (as opposed to an external bolt/screw on post- industry standard quick-release plate with slide option to center camera weight- extra quick-release plate with safety locks to prevent camera sliding off- removable ball head with standard screw to add a fluid pan tilt head- reversible center post for low-level macro photography- threaded holes for mounting accessories (external flash, remote control, smartphone w/app, etc.)- (less important to me) monopod extraction- (less important to me) add-on arm and smartphone/flash holderand features I know do not support the above- light weight- short collapsed heightAfter many days of reading reviews and trying to get as many of my wanted features at the lowest possible price, I discovered I had narrowed my choices to only a very few manufacturers with similar offerings. The manufacturers I was leaning towards did not include Artcise at first but every time I restarted my search trying to catalog the features of each model, Artcise consistently had more of the features I wanted. But they were priced a bit higher than the very modest budget ($150) I had set for myself. But not finding what I wanted, each time I restarted my search, I found myself raising my limit.At some point I realized that Artcise was where I was going to find my ideal tripod and focused on the subtle difference between the models and finally on an impulse and possibly from frustration with the time I was spending, I pulled the trigger on this one: Model AS75C - even though it was more than I originally wanted to spend.I am very glad I did. This tripod may be overkill for my current needs but that is what I was looking for - a tripod where I would not have to worry that I might overstress now or in the future. Delivery was fast, the quality is excellent, the carry bag is very high quality, and the tripod itself fulfills every feature on my list.No, it doesn't weigh 2 lb, nor collapse down to 12", but in every other way I am delighted. It is very, very stiff and sturdy, easy to set up, and stays wherever I put it with no sag or slippage with only light to moderate turning the knobs and locks. I have no doubt it could easily handle a rig many times heavier than mine (it is rated for 20 kg or 42 lb). The stiffness of the legs provide an added benefit; I can very quickly and safely set up a close-to-the ground, camera hanging from the center-post, macro shot without having to reverse the center post.When I bought this, I was fairly sure that for some shots I would want a fluid pan head and I shopped these quite thoroughly as well and finally decided on the one by Artcise also. It is a quality head, mates well and easily with this Artcise tri-pod, and I am happy with the purchase. But it is heavy and what I have found is the high quality of the hollow 44mm ball-head that comes with the tripod makes it unlikely I will need or use the fluid pan head very often. The ball head is solid and can pan very smoothly. Hint: The tripod comes with two camera mounting plates. I leave one on the camera and purchased an inexpensive 4-bubble, 3-axis level which I mounted on the second plate. I put this on the ball-head, precisely level it, then take it off and mount the camera for perfect horizontal pans.I am certain I will use this tri-pod a lot and, rather than being an impediment, it will be an asset that encourages me to pursue a mastery of photography. Modern cameras can be quite complicated but can capture amazing high-quality images when supported by a quality tripod. I strongly recommend this Artcise tripod to anyone who even thinks they may have the photo bug. This is a high-quality tripod at a bargain price - my favorite kind of purchase - and I strongly recommend it.
