Editor’s Choice! Tiffen Steadicam Air Monopod

The Air earns its moniker thanks to the gas lift spring used for height adjustments. Simply press down on the foot pedal and you can extend or collapse the monopod with ease. There are three sections with a single twist-lock leg that can be rotated 360 degrees. The Air itself is forged from carbon fiber, weighs in at 3.5 pounds and has a foam-padded grip. The removable aluminum top plate has a reversible screw head with ¼-20 and 3/8-16 threads. The monopod is available in two configurations: the Air-25, which is capable of holding 25 pounds, and the Air-15, which is rated for 15 pounds.

Price: $399 (air-15), $499 (air-25)
tiffen.com/steadicamair

Really Right Stuff TFC-14 Mark

Really Right Stuff’s new Mark II tripods feature integrated weight hooks for adding extra weight and several ¼-20 sockets on the outside of the tripod’s apex for attaching accessories. The legs have a new sealed twist-lock mechanism that keeps sand and grit from slipping between the legs and the lock. The TCV-14 can hold 25 pounds of gear with four leg sections that stretch to a maximum height of 47.6-inches or a minimum height of 2.8 inches.

Price: $835
reallyrightstuff.com

Vanguard Alta Pro 2+263CGHT

This kit features a new pistol grip ball head (the Alta GH-300T) that’s designed to let you lock, unlock or reposition your camera with one hand. It supports 360-degree pans with 72 click points and up to 90-degree tilts. The kit also includes a carbon-fiber-based tripod with three leg sections and a 15.4-pound carrying capacity. It has ¼-turn twisting leg locks and reaches a max height of 68.25 inches and minimum working height of 9 inches. It includes triggering cables for Nikon (TN1) and Canon (TC1) cameras so you can fire your camera using the pistol-shaped ball head.

Price: $500
vanguardworld.us

Manfrotto BeFree Advanced

The aluminum-based BeFree utilizes Manfrotto’s M-Lock twist-lock system for quickly extending or collapsing the legs. The leg angle selectors have been designed for use by either lefties or righties, and each leg can be positioned independently. The BeFree also features the company’s Easy Link attachment for adding accessories, plus a hook for hanging stabilizing weights. It can support payloads of 17.6 pounds with a maximum height of 59 inches. It folds down to 15.75 inches.

Price: $190
manfrotto.com

Sirui SR 3204

This new series of heavy-duty tripods feature a twist-lock leg system that extends with a half turn. The SR models can pull double duty as both a stills and video tripod thanks to the 75mm ball base hidden below the flat-top spider. The spider features a bubble level and a ¼-inch covered socket for adding accessories. The tripods are built from 10-layer carbon fiber or aluminum and are sold in three leg sections (carbon fiber only) or four leg sections (carbon fiber and aluminum). All versions are capable of holding up to 55 pounds of gear and extend to 59 inches. They ship with stainless-steel spiked feet.

Price: $1,014
sirui.com

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