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It's been a while since I got worked up over something as mundane as a tripod, but they have come a long way over the years. I recently tested a Bogen Manfrotto 542ART Road Runner video tripod with a Manfrotto 505 fluid head, and it really opened my eyes to the advancements in camera support. Plus, I got my hands on a Manfrotto 522 Lane remote control to see if I could emulate studio camera controls in the field.
542ART Road Runner Video Tripod with Manfrotto 505 Fluid Head
The fluid head tripod I currently use for my small, 3-CCD camcorders lives in a small box and takes only a few moments to set up. To use, each leg clamp is unscrewed slightly and the section is lowered and tightened home. The 542ART tripod unit's legs arrive in one box and the head in another. Assembly is quick; simply attach an N adapter with three Alien screws for the 75mm ball head.
What amazed me most about the 542ART was the tripod's raising procedure. Grab the handle on the side and pull upward while holding the leg sections down, thus raising the unit to its first section height. Release the gray button at the bottom of each leg and the tripod is level. The attached spreader may be extended at each leg....