Velbon Ultra Luxi F Tripod with 4-Way Pan Head and Case | 
| Brand: Velbon
List Price: $179.95
Buy New: $142.99
You Save: $36.96 (21%)
Rating:  5 reviews
Media: Electronics
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 16.8 x 6.5 x 5.3
MPN: ULTRA-LUXIF
Model: ULTRA-LUXIF
UPC: 017915911024
EAN: 0017915911024
ASIN: B00022UE8O
Release Date: April 23, 2004
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Pre-Order (0-0 Business Days)
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| Features:
| • | Compact, lightweight tripod suitable for modern digital SLR cameras and other systems | | • | 4-way pan and tilt head with 3 spirit levels and twin handles for easy maneuverability | | • | Twist-lock leg system requires simple twist and pull to adjust leg height | | • | 2-section center column and multi-angle legs for low-angle photography (7.4 inches) | | • | Includes carrying case; measures 15.3 inches when folded, weighs 2.91 pounds |
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Product Description
Whether you need a tripod for a digital, 35mm, medium or large format camera, video camera, binoculars or scopes, Velbon has a model with the quality, craftsmanship and exact features to meet your needs.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Wonderful tripod! February 13, 2005
K. Jung (CA, USA)
29 out of 30 found this review helpful
Love this tripod. It's quite versatile with the included pan head. Every adjustement is quick and easy. Its size is not too large for travel. Build quality is excellent and it includes a lot of little features like the level, bag, and quick release. Stable w/ 20D, 24-70, 580ex but have not tried with larger lenses. Amazing value from Amazon at under $120!
Beautiful design and execution December 10, 2005
Capt'n Bob (Lincoln, CA USA)
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
Even though I've gone over to the dark side and am now 100% digital, my tripod has been a holdover from the days of heavy SLR's and 2 1/4" format cameras. With the pan head on my current tripod getting sticky I decided it was time for a new unit.
To be honest, I just got lucky when I picked this Velbon tripod. The design is brilliant, and the execution is fantastic. This is one of those tools you get that just feels perfect in your hands, and has more features than (I) expected.
My favorites: buttery smooth pan head with levels and infinite adjustments; quick and simple leg adjustments; ability to get down within 8" of the ground for macro shots; very compact when folded up with carry bag.
This is an outstanding tripod for a digital camera, and if you are still using your heavy battleaxe tripod for a 'point-and-shoot' sized everyday digital, this is a perfect match. (If you are using a digital SLR with a variety of large lenses then you might consider one of Velbon's larger units.)
The only very minor irritant was that there is no real instruction manual, so it took me a few minutes to figure out a few of the features, but if you look at the pictures on the box they will become obvious.
Brilliant Design Concepts June 29, 2007
Wilbur D. Wong (Richmond, CA USA)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
Exceptional weight to stability ratio. I own and use 6 and 10 pound wood and carbon fiber tripods for my larger (4 x 5 etc.) cameras. The Luxi F is intended for use with a Canon 5D walk around.
The leg locking mechanism is brilliant. It incorporates a continuous fool proof cam operation, maybe hard to describe quickly, but suffice it to say it doesn't rely on friction to catch (start) as in most other twist cam designs, the unique cross section of each tube IS the locking cam shape.
The included pan head offsets the tripod screw some 2 inches behind the center post!!! This makes this lightweight tripod very usable with longer length lenses. My 35 dslr with a 70 300 zoom (DO) is still weighted slightly behind the center post. Ball head versions of this tripod will place nearly all of the weight forward of the center post.
Note that the PH145Q pan tilt head used on this tripod tightens on both sides of the center post. This head handled a 3 pound 15 oz load very well and stiffly. (The head included with the Maxi F tightens only on one side.)
The legs may be slightly prone to vibrations, but they seem to dampen within 4 or 5 seconds when rapped. The Luxi F's top leg section is 24 mm in diameter, the second section at 21 mm is the size of the top tube of the other tripods in this Velbon series. I suspect another critical achilles heel of the others will be their having a bottom section of 9mm diameter as opposed to the 12mm used here. I think this is spindly enough, I'm glad I didn't follow temptation and buy the lesser tripod.
For a walk about outfit, the Ulta Luxi F leaves me few excuses not to have a tripod available any time I am carrying a camera. For a few ounces more and a few more dollars, this is the stiffess, strongess, lightess and shortest tripod I have found on the market. Better, stronger tripods are out there, some of them are more liable to stay in my closet or in my trunk when I am walking about.
 Good, but made for light weight December 12, 2006
Allan Bach (Allentown, PA USA)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
I received this tripod and found it to be nice for lugging along, as it is light and small when folded. I'm not too keen on the legs with their quarter turn to expand or collapse. Maybe I need to get used to this, but I have a problem with extending the legs all the way. One of the sections seems to always stick. Also, it will not be sturdy enough for my Canon Xti with the battery grip and zoom lens. It will work if not extended more than one leg section. I do like the ability to get down close to the ground.
So, 3 stars for this tripod. Good, but not great.
Excellent height over folded length June 15, 2007
Ralph_S
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
The Ultra Luxi F has a collapsed length suitable for many knapsacks; enough height without center column extended to look over many fences; moderate cost; expected very good durability; and respectable rigidity. It has an excellent ratio of height to collapsed length. Most of the design and quality control are excellent. There are instructions for use of the legs, and limited instructions for other features; but the features are easy to figure out. I am very pleased with the tripod.
The legs work quickly, easily, and quietly. Leveling the tripod generally involves shortening the largest-diameter leg extension. Extending only the upper leg sections takes a few extra seconds per leg: loosen and extend all sections; lightly tighten the lowest section that is to remain extended; collapse the section(s) below; and tighten the foot. The diameter of the bottom leg extensions is fine, considering the collapsed length, and when compared with competitors; but if all of the leg sections were one size (~2.9 mm) larger in diameter, I would be even happier. Locking and unlocking the legs requires turning the tripod's feet. If you want to keep your hands off the bottoms of the feet, it is possible if you are careful. Spreading the legs out by hand increases rigidity, as with other tripods. Durability is enhanced because there are few plastic parts, and those undergo compression or little sustained tension. The upper fifth of the tripod has a gold tint; I would prefer a darker, dull finish.
The tripod spider holds the legs and center column firmly. The two sections of the center column are joined firmly by a well-machined inner sleeve. The column can be inverted when a plug at the bottom is unscrewed; I don't use the plug. The legs and spider without the center column are 13+1/2 inches (~34.3 cm) long. The center column and PH-237Q head are 13+1/8 inches (~33.2 cm) long. The legs and separate center column with PH-237Q head fit in the tripod bag, and can lie flat on the bottom of my large knapsack. With the center column in the spider, and the PH-237Q head attached, the tripod is 15+1/4 inches (~38.7 cm) long, and easily fits upright in the knapsack.
(Terminology: The pan axis allows turning the camera horizontally. The leveling axis allows the camera to lean to the side. The tilt axis allows looking above or below the horizon.)
In addition to the PH-145Q head included with the tripod, I have the smaller PH-237Q head. For both heads: Loosening the tilt knob also loosens the pan axis. I would prefer to adjust tilt separately, and to use the round center column for panning. When the tilt knob is tightened, the tilt axis tightens before the pan axis. The quick-release lever does not have a safety lock, but freeing the plate requires turning the lever 180 degrees, which is unlikely to happen suddenly and by accident. The heads feel solid.
PH-145Q: The quick-release plate comes with a built-in tightener for the camera screw. The leveling bubble is bigger than the tilt bubbles, so I wonder about quality control on the levels. About 17 full turns of the leveling handle are required to unscrew it when you collapse the tripod fully. The washer on the leveling handle could become unscrewed and lost. The option to position the leveling handle on the left or right could be handy if you have a long lens; I just rotate the quick release plate. The quick-release plate can be tightened in the head at 4 positions, 90 degrees apart.
PH-237Q: The quick-release plate does not have an attached tightener for the camera screw. A separate tightener is provided; a key or coin could be used instead. My tilt/pan handle arrived with a slightly sticky coating, which I removed with isopropanol. The rubber pad between the quick-release plate and camera should be wider than the current 1+1/4 inch by 7/8 inch (~3.1 cm x 2.2 cm). The quick-release plate can be tightened in the head at 2 positions, 180 degrees apart. Leveling a camera is easier with the PH-145Q, but the PH-237Q is quicker to set up and takes less space. I prefer the PH-237Q for my 1-pound (0.4-kg) camera.
The vinyl piping on the "case" is stiff, and might not be as durable as nylon. The piping makes the bag hold its shape, so it is easy to insert the tripod. Sometimes it is difficult to slide the zipper around the corner at the foot of the bag. The Velbon name on the bag is only about 5/16 inch (0.8 cm) high, and is not overly legible.
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