TrioBalance Q 6/8 tripod head with detent pan-head

Nice and Smooth

( 5 / 5 )

This is very nicely made. Nice finish, everything is smooth, and fits together well. Seems small, with a lot going on in a small space. Sunwayfoto clamps are the best I have used so far, and no complaints with them, but this is nice. Was a little surprised to find some type of grease on the clamp jaw and leg joints. I will watch this to make sure it doesn't collect dirt.

It can be difficult to feel the detents on my Sunwayfoto indexing rotator, but that is not a problem on this one. They are well defined and the feel is not adjustable. I feel I could move the tripod when using the index function, but it hasn't actually been a problem. Nice being able to adjust the interval by just moving the lever, which also feels stiff. May get easier with use but better than not knowing it moved. Moving the indexing lever to 0 and it turns free.

There are three adjustment controls on the head, the clamp knob, panning lock knob, and the leveling base locking lever. Again, a lot going on in a small space. It will get better with use, but I do have to look and make sure I grab the correct knob and not hit the leveling base lock in the process. The panning lock knob is a little smaller than the clamp knob, just have to get familiar with them. The panning lock knob loses all resistance if you back it out to far, which lets you know you have backed it out to far. That is at about 1/2 turn back from fully locked. The panning base turns freely at about 1/8 of a full turn back from fully locked.

Hard to find much information on this. I did find where the weight limit is 10kg. My copy has not been tested anywhere close to that. The only thing I can see that would limit the weight to anything less than the Triopod, which is 55kg I think, is the rotator lock and leveling base lock. As long as everything is stacked vertically I don't believe there would be a problem with weight. If you start loading it off center, such as a nodal rail, it could be difficult to tighten the adjustment knobs enough to hold. Using a D7000 mounted 11 inches horizontally from the center of the head with the 18-105mm lens pointed vertically, the leveling base did try to creep a little.

Can't tell from the photos, and I didn't find it mentioned anywhere, but there is a 1/4"x20 hole in the side of the triobalance base, just like on the triopod. Looks like a threaded stainless steel insert has been mounted in the aluminum, with a flat spot milled on the surface to help with mounting.

From the base, where the legs attach, to the top of the panhead is 95mm. 60mm diameter not counting knobs. I have various makes of arca swiss plates, RRS, Sunwayfoto, etc. and they all work fine. Novoflex does say that their plates are machined for a better fit and stronger hold. Probably true, but I don't see mine falling out anytime soon.