Rollei C6i Carbon Tripod – Arca Swiss compatible – Convertible to Monopod – incl. panorama ball head and redating central column for macro photography – Black

I’m a student studying high school at Duluth and currently doing videos and photographing for the boy’s hockey team as well as the robotics team. I had been really annoyed with a cheap tripod with the pan head that could not hold its legs down to stabilize my shot, increase the weight with my camera bag but it didn’t work so I look for a better one.

Before I bought this tripod, the journey was tough because of selecting the right tripod, brands, reviews… It took me pretty much around a month until I found out this German brand Rollei, which is a know film camera brand in the past. For me, I don’t know much about tripods market and popular brands but it comes to what I need when I look at the specs, their websites, features, …

By the time I bought this tripod which was only $136 and it will be probably the best I can buy from another popular brand like Zomei, Bonfoto, Surui, Ranger, … And there were lots of reviews on those aside from the Rollei but I only look at 1 or 2 to determine if its good or not. When I received the package, it was cleaned, fresh, and absolutely no damage. Especially the tripod itself is amazing with some extras handy part to come with it so here are the features and pictures to prove that why is it great [From head to feet]:
+ The tripod comes with its own bag and it feels nicely done, there is also a quick release plate made from metal, a tiny bag of extras components like the hex tool, extra feet (round), female hex tool, a metal hook for hanging stuff, and a belt bag for portability with small carabiner.
+ The tripod itself is made out of 8 layers of carbon fiber, aluminum metal, rubber.
+ The ball head is metal with 2 balance meter fluid, and putting quick release plate in is solid and no loose or shake.
+ The center column can be loose and tight by spinning the rubber ring.
+ Between the ball head is a 2 head ¼ and 3/8 screw.
+ One amazing feature for this center column is the hook part which you will spin the small ring at the end of the column to show off the screw for the hook.
+ Around the shoulder is a hanging clamp for the small bag.
+ Legs built great and solid, it releases with a button click style to change the angle. Spread 3x time.
+ One leg can be used as a monopod.
+ 2 all-weather pads on legs.
+ Inside the rubber feet is metal spike feet (it is pretty hard to take off) for outdoor shooting.

I’ll be testing out more to give any other information or concern further. Thanks for reading.

Very good tripod, I’m glad that I chose it

Really nice tripod, really light and very convenient to use ! the monopod option is great, even if the procedure to disconnect it from the whole tripod is a little tricky….

It sets up quite easily and quickly, and with the legs fully extended and the center column down it reaches a height that is appropriate for someone just shy of 6 ft tall. It looks rather spindly, but it is stronger than it looks. What amazed me right off the bat is how light it is: less than four pounds with the ball head. I mounted my Nikon D810 with a Tamron 150-600mm and hung a camera bag from the center column and it is amazingly stable. In most circumstances on firm, level ground and without gusty wind I am positive this tripod is going to work well enough for my purposes, mainly landscapes and seascapes and wildlife. It’s as easy to take down as it is to set up if you don’t bother folding it up all the way to fit in the supplied carry bag. If you wish to keep it in the bag then you will have to remove the center hook and fold the legs 180° (upside down). The ball head appears to be of good build with smooth and fluid movements, not too easy with just enough drag to offer proper control. I’ll update this review over time after I’ve had a chance to use it in the field a bit. I doubt that I will bother to convert it to a monopod but it’s nice to have that option. It’s not listed as a travel tripod, I’m sure there are smaller and lighter versions, but this is small enough and light enough for travel.

Also, I wound up replacing the ball head with an Arca-Swiss p0 Monoball (one that costs a lot more than the tripod itself) and it makes it a really deluxe tripod,

Please note that the bad reviews, less than 5-stars, are all for the aluminum version.

Lots of convoluted, needless features plus screw-in leg fastening instead of proper snap-in locking.