The Falcam TreeRoot Quick Lock Pro: Because Your Camera’s Worth It

There are dozens of tripods in the marketplace, and each and every has its benefits and drawbacks. None are appropriate for each circumstance. The new fashion from Falcam TreeRoot, the Quick Lock Pro R240T, has an excessively explicit use, and I put it thru its paces to determine whether or not I would like one.

This is most likely the sturdiest tripod I’ve used, however with its stress, there’s a payoff. Despite its carbon fiber building, that is no light-weight. Also, it prices greater than many in the marketplace.

A Description of the Falcam TreeRoot Quick Lock Pro

The new Falcam TreeRoot Quick Lock Pro is an excessively other beast from their shuttle tripod. This is some distance heavier and extra strong and is obviously made with larger digicam methods in thoughts. That however, even supposing I take advantage of Micro Four Thirds apparatus, its 50 kg loading capability accommodated my OM-1 rather thankfully, and but it didn’t look like overkill. Sometimes I would like that additional steadiness when taking pictures in stormy stipulations, and it’s in particular helpful when mounting my giant telephoto lens. But if you happen to use a gargantuan DSLR, medium, or massive layout digicam, this tripod is designed with you in thoughts.

There is not any middle column, which happy me. I invariably take away that anyway on tripods, as I really like so that you can shoot low to the bottom. Moreover, middle columns compromise steadiness. Yet, in spite of that, it’s tall. Standing 1.53 meters excessive with out probably the most two matched ball heads connected, it’s tall sufficient for me to make use of it with my digicam at eye point. When paired with the Marsace x Falcam F38 XB-2R or XB-3R ball heads, it reaches 1.7 m, or even upper with a digicam fastened. More about the ones heads in a while, however that additional to be had peak is excellent for taking pictures with a telephoto lens when status.

The tripod’s steadiness effects from the B40 high-modulus, 4-section carbon fiber legs. The biggest uppermost tube has a large Reuleaux triangle part. A Reuleaux triangle is a curved triangle with consistent width. It is the most simple and most powerful curve instead of a circle. That design permits the tripod to fold away to a smaller profile than a spherical profile would. Being the biggest tube, it’s nonetheless very powerful. Meanwhile, the smaller, decrease legs are rounded, which maintains their power.

The launch mechanism for extending the legs is well-designed. It takes only a 3rd of a flip to free up them, making the legs quicker to deploy than cam lever locks; I will be able to free up all 3 without delay. The knurled rubber grip of the discharge mechanism is huge and simple to make use of too. Even when dressed in gloves and mittens in combination, as I do once I discuss with far-northern nations, I will be able to simply launch and lock them.

The legs pivot to a few open positions, permitting one to beef up steadiness by way of widening the footprint. It additionally permits taking pictures very on the subject of the bottom, which is very important for me.

The rubber toes aren’t rounded like maximum however multi-faceted, thus permitting higher grip on asymmetric flooring like a rocky coastline. The toes are compatible tightly and pull off to expose spikes. The middle spikes are detachable as nicely, and that permits the three-pronged spikes on both sides of them to grip ice. Various different foot choices are to be had, together with some that beef up traction on clean flooring.

The tripod additionally has two ¼” ARRI enlargement threads and a hollow for attaching a strap.

Below the top is a hook for postponing your digicam bag, and on height is a 3/8-16 UNC screw thread for attaching the top.

The uncovered spaces of all of the tripod are black and an excessively darkish color of grey, apart from the steel leg launch buttons and hinges, which can be a lighter zinc colour.

One helpful characteristic of this tripod is the inclusion of a Falcam F22 quick-release mount. If you haven’t come throughout this ahead of, it permits the short and protected attachment of equipment like a video microphone or mild, or a secondary smaller digicam by means of an extension arm.

Adding the Falcam Magic Arm

It can be remiss of me to jot down this evaluation with out bringing up the choice of together with this non-compulsory characteristic, because it takes the tripod to a complete new point of versatility.

The Falcam Magic Arm is an articulated extension with two ball joints—one at both finish—plus an elbow within the center. The unmarried wingnut loosens the arm and lets you place it alternatively you prefer.

There are similar F22 mounts at each and every finish that seem like miniature variations of Arca-Swiss mounts. One finish attaches to the tripod and the opposite to whichever accent you’re the use of. You can upload nearly anything else with a ¼” threaded socket. This may well be a video mild, flash, microphone, and even any other digicam. It’s robust sufficient to take my OM-1 Mark II with the 40-150mm f/4 Pro lens connected.

Because of the ball joint at each and every finish and the elbow within the center, it is vitally versatile. However, as soon as the middle nut is tightened, the instrument is admittedly protected.

The Ball Heads

Because the highest of the tripod has the virtually common 3/8-16 UNC screw mount, you’ll fit maximum heads to it.

Falcam, in collaboration with Marsace, has produced two ball heads which might be designed particularly to paintings with the TreeRoot Quick Lock Pro: the Falcam x Marsace F38 Pro Quick Release Low Gravity Dual Panorama Ball Heads—the XB-2R and the bigger however identical XB-3R.

Marsace and Falcam aren’t the similar corporate, however they have got established a strategic partnership. Marsace, based in 2013, specializes in high-end pictures apparatus like tripods and ball heads. Meanwhile, Falcam focuses on top of the range, leading edge quick-release methods and remaining yr offered two tripods: the TreeRoot Quick Lock Travel and the TreeRoot Quick Open Desktop Tripod.

Starting from the highest, those Arca-Swiss mounts are launched by way of a strongly sprung lever. Inserting the plate ends up in the lever routinely returning to its locked place. There is not any secondary lock to behave as a failsafe. However, the spring is powerful, so unintended launch is extremely not going. Furthermore, even if the lever is pulled to the discharge place, the digicam gained’t slide off the mount as a result of two restrict prevent pins that let the plate to slip only a small quantity. To take away the digicam, it must be tilted quite and lifted upwards.

Also above the ball is a spirit point and the higher panning mechanism. This permits the highest plate to rotate above the ball. If the tripod isn’t completely point, rotating the decrease panning mechanism positioned under the ball will outcome within the digicam changing into tilted because it turns. However, that isn’t the case if one makes use of the higher one, because the digicam doesn’t essentially keep point.

The ball head launch knob is big with two protrusions. Consequently, they may be able to be used with thick gloves. The two smaller levered panning launch screws are simply operated too.

The ball heads have two slots for extra simply enabling turning the digicam to a portrait orientation.

As one would be expecting, the ball joints run easily and lock firmly.

In Use

I really like just right engineering, and this tripod is phenomenally nicely designed and constructed. I discovered it simple to regulate and use. In power 5 winds, I had no qualms about it staying upright.

Deployment used to be brief with the 3rd of a flip of the leg locks, and the legs ran easily.

Some of that steadiness is because of its weight. Despite its carbon fiber building, that is no light-weight tripod. It weighs in at 3 lb 13.7 oz. (1,759 g) with out the ball head connected. The better XB-3R head weighs an extra 1 lb 5.9 oz. (642 g), and the smaller XB-2R 1 lb 0.1 oz. (454 g).

So, this isn’t a tripod I’d wish to backpack with. I’d even be doubtful about sporting it with me on a flight as a result of I’d most likely wish to depart one thing in the back of in its stead. However, for eventualities the place I don’t wish to stroll very some distance—which is standard for me, as I’ve such a lot to {photograph} on my doorstep—that is best. It’s robust, strong, and simple to deploy.

Although designed for far heavier cameras than mine, it labored nicely with my OM-1 Mark II, particularly when the use of it with a large telephoto lens. It used to be helpful having two cameras fastened at the similar tripod so I may {photograph} birds and shoot video from the similar place.

The Price is Right, Maybe

Some time in the past, a reader complained that we shouldn’t be reviewing platinum-coated tripods. I will be able to perceive the sentiment as a result of this shall be out of succeed in for plenty of photographers’ wallet. However, there are folks ready to shop for top-class equipment.

Everything in regards to the tripod oozes high quality, and so it must at this worth level. Although many photographers will cringe at how a lot it prices, if you’re taking pictures with, say, a Hasselblad medium layout digicam, then including the additional price of a just right high quality tripod like this to reinforce your funding is most likely value excited about. Similarly, it’s possible you’ll nicely believe it if you’re the use of a large, heavy digicam when a light-weight tripod isn’t excessive to your listing of necessities. Or, if like me, you’re frequently taking pictures in stormy stipulations and wish to make your equipment as strong as conceivable, then it’s a just right funding too.

The flexibility presented by way of the F22 quick-release mount may also be a big attention for the ones in need of to mount an adjunct arm to their tripod. I will be able to see it being very helpful for videographers the use of a gentle or those that wish to synchronize their telephoto photographs with video.

What I Liked and What Should Be Considered

What I Liked

• Superb design.

• Great high quality building.

• Easy to deploy.

• Very strong, giving nice safety to the digicam.

• Exceptionally low-level taking pictures is conceivable.

• Eye-level taking pictures may be conceivable with out the usage of a middle column.

• Able to take a big 50 kg payload.

• The F22 mount is a boon.

• The Magic Arm opens up a raft of additional choices.

However, Take the Following into Consideration

• It’s one of the vital pricey tripods of its sort available in the market.

• Its steadiness comes at a compromise of weight.

• Although the lever to launch the quick-release plate may be very tricky to launch by chance, a failsafe to fasten it close can be a great addition.