The ONLY relative negative to this tripod is that it's rather expensive for a tiny tripod. Roughly double to triple the trivial price tripods in the tiny genre demand. This, however, isn't much of a concern if you're more than just a casual hobbyist. In all honesty, I use this tripod more than I do my other tripods, and that includes my $500 carbon Manfrotto. It is easily my least expensive tripod and I use it the most by far.
This, in my opinion, is a professional's secret weapon for backpacking/camping/travel/difficult-to-get-to locations without a crew. If you must pack light, really light, this tripod is a lifesaver for light to medium-weight gear as you otherwise wouldn't be packing ANY tripod.
My main initial concern with this pod was how well the tiny ballhead would do with a medium SLR on it. Um, REALLY WELL, that's how! :O I even put my D700 with 28-300 on it and it holds like a champ at all angles and is SMOOTH. Now, this has got to clearly be right at the limit of what this little pod is rated or limited at, but who is really going to load such a tiny pod up with such heavy gear? My D7000 with 18-200 (yes, different rig from D700 with 28-300 but still of heft) is held just fine on it. When using full-size SLRs though, a more stable tripod would be preferred. For point and shoots, this head is way overkill.
The leg quick-release levers are strong and smooth and work great. All other controls hold very well though the neck's screw never really seems tight and this could lead to overtightening. Moderate screw tightness combined with the neck's barrel tightener provide solid neck locking.
You have to understand that such a light tripod will by physical nature not be real steady and fall victim to breezes. This will be true of every tiny/lightweight tripod, not just this one. If you're shooting with the legs extended, you will want to use your self-timer so that you don't cause vibration by pressing the shutter button with your finger. If your camera can take a cable release or has a remote control release, USE IT. Hanging a little weight on the tripod (camera and hanging weight combined should TOTAL about 5 pounds) or gently pressing down on the base would help also.
Now, it does not get very tall. I assume you know this since you're looking at tiny tripods and that this is okay with you. You'll be shooting from around waist-level without extension or chest level with full extension. As long as this does not limit you, you'll love this tripod. If you need a full-height tripod, none of this tripod's virtues will matter.
My criteria for this (my casual hiking/travel) tripod was that with head it be under 2 pounds and not more than 18 inches when compacted. This tripod met that criteria coming in 1/4 pound lighter and 4 full inches more compact than my very exclusive criteria. It is the ONLY tripod of any quality to meet that criteria and though I was ready make a lot of sacrifices to meet such stringent criteria, I really got GREAT quality and respectable stability! This tiny ballhead holds tilt positions stronger than my $150 Manfrotto 327RC2 grip head. I'm not exaggerating at all. The 327RC2, relying on spring pressure to grip the ball, actually will slip with heavier gear that the Slik Mini II clamp ballhead will hold. My D700 with 28-300 is the perfect example. That rig is really too much for the 327RC2 at tilt angles but this little clamp ballhead will hold the position.
I permanently leave mine in my light hiking/travel backpack with my waterproof point and shoot (Lumix TS2)... because you never know when that once-in-a-lifetime rainbow or flower shot or great background for a self-portrait will present itself. 80 bucks for lots of photos you otherwise wouldn't get. Money well-spent. :)
Seriously, if you need a tiny tripod, you're not going to do better than this one. You're not. I truly have to repeat this: you will NOT find a better tiny tripod than this one. Period. Even if you spend more. More expensive alternatives come in bigger and heavier. This is the tiniest and lightest with such impressive capabilities. It is an ideal travel tripod that you can actually take around with you because of its size and weight. Anything bigger/heavier becomes burdensome. Anything smaller is a TOTAL joke and doesn't even do a good job holding tiny point and shoots and keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't break after first use. Even other tripods around this size are total garbage that don't function well and break in no time. This is a SMART, very well-designed purposeful tripod designed to be used and used and used by photographers! Its tiny size, its greatest attribute, means that you actually WILL be packing a tripod when you otherwise wouldn't be. Like I said, mine's in my backpack taking up next to no space and I don't even know it's there... until I need it. ;)
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From the manufacturer
Since 1948
SLIK has been quietly designing and manufacturing high-quality tripods for more than 50 years.
The Original Travel Tripod
Do you need a simple to use travel tripod that is built tough and ready to travel? Then the Sprint Series is perfect for you. Made of aircraft aluminum, Sprint tripods are the perfect companion for today's mirrorless cameras and lightweight DSLR systems. The legs can be set independently at three different angles for stability on uneven terrain. The built-in short column allows you to work just 6.4 inches off the ground which is perfect for those creative low angles and macro shots.
- Full sized tripod with up to 64.4-inch maximum height
- Maximum capacity of up to 4.5 lbs
- Flip-locks for fast and easy set-up
- Tripod weight just 2.1 lbs depending on model
Multi-Angle Leg Positions
The 3-position adjustable angle leg locks can lock each leg independently at 15, 40 or 70-degree angles to make it easy to set up on uneven ground or steps. It also makes it easy for the tripod to be lowered to as little as 6.7 inches off the ground for very low angle photography.
Get Dow Low
Using the multi-angle leg locks and the built-in short center column all Slik SPRINT tripods can get down very low to the ground for interesting and more dramatic camera angles.
Maximum Height
The SPRINT series gets the camera to eye level. With the center column raised the tripod reaches up to 64.4 inches.
Flip Locks
The SLIK SPRINT series makes setting up easy with secure yet fast speed release flip leg locks that do not snap back at you when locking. One finger operation is all that is required to open or close each leg lock.
SPRINT PRO II
The SPRINT PRO II is an update of the original SPRINT featuring a color-matched SBH-100 Ball Head. This compact ball head features a single lever operation for easy movements of the camera.
SPRINT PRO II 3-WAY
The SPRINT PRO 3-WAY has an all-metal 3-way pan head with control arms and quick release plate for easy mounting of the dismounting of the camera. The SPRINT PRO 3-Way is available in Black or Gun Metal Gray.
SPRINT 150
The SPRINT 150 has a SBH-150 larger ball head with quick release plate and duel bubble levels for quick and easy leveling of the camera. The ball head also head features a single lever operation for easy movements of the camera.
SPRINT EZ
The SPRINT EZ has the SH-707E 2-way pan head with single pan handle operation. The quick release plate, duel bubble levels make mounting and leveling the camera a breeze while the single pan handle operation allow for easy adjustment of the camera.
SPRINT PRO II
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SPRINT 150
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SPRINT PRO II 3-Way
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SPRINT PRO EZ
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SPRINT MINI II
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| Included Head | SBH-100 Ball head | SBH-150 Ball Head | SH-704E 3-Way head | SH-=707E 2-Way Head | SBH-100 Ball Head | SPRINT VIDEO Head |
| Max. Height | 63.6 in | 64.3 in | 63.9 in | 64.4 in | 43.3 in | 63.8 in |
| Max. Load | 4.5 lbs | 4.5 lbs | 4.5 lbs | 4.5 lbs | 4.5 lbs | 4.5 lbs |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs | 2.3 lbs | 2.4 lbs | 2.8 lbs | 1.7 lbs | 2.3 lbs |
| Min. Height | 6.7 in | 7.4 in | 7.0 in | 7.3 in | 6.4 in | 6.6 in |
| Folded Length | 18.5 in | 19.9 in | 18.5 in | 19.1 in | 13.8 in | 18.9 in |
| Color | Gun Metal Gray | Gun Metal Gray | Black/Gun Metal Gray | Black | Gun Metal Gray | Black |
| Leg Lock Type | Flip Lever | Flip Lever | Flip Lever | Flip Lever | Flip Lever | Flip lever |
| Leg Sections | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Compare with similar items
This Item  SLIK Sprint Pro II 4-Section Tripod with 3-Way Panhead, for Mirrorless/DSLR Sony Nikon Canon Fuji Cameras and More - Black (611-863) | Recommendations  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | Currently unavailable. | $213.99 | $174.05 | $131.10 | $189.33 | $189.95 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 15 | — | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 15 | — | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 15 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sold By | — | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| compatible devices | Camera | Camera | Camera | Tablet, Camera | Camera | Camera |
| tripod head type | Pan Heads | Pan Heads | Ball Heads | Pan Heads | Fluid Heads, Video Heads | Pan Heads |
| material | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| minimum height | 47 centimeters | 24.8 inches | 60.5 centimeters | 10.2 inches | 4 inches | 16.1 inches |
| maximum height | 64 inches | 59 inches | 182 centimeters | 56.1 inches | 63.4 inches | 75 inches |
| folded size | — | 25.6 inches (l) | 23.8 inches (60.5 cm) | 19.5 inches | — | — |
| weight | 2.4 pounds | 5.6 pounds | 2.3 pounds | 2 kilograms | 4.8 pounds | 7.1 pounds |
| leg sections | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | — | — |
Product information
| Product Dimensions | 18.5 x 3.6 x 7 inches |
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| Item Weight | 2.4 pounds |
| ASIN | B002ATBEX6 |
| Item model number | 611-863 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.2 out of 5 stars |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | May 22, 2009 |
| Manufacturer | SLIK |
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Nice tripod for Canon T2i
This is actually the first tripod I own, except an old chucky antique in the garage. I was looking for a light weight and durable tripod under $100 for my Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens, and after reading several reviews and internet searching, I finally chose this one. It works great for portraits and even occational tele-shot. It has solid construction and is very easy to release and fold. I think it is ideal for traveling with its size and weight. The only concern I have is the ball head, which is cheap. When I am using the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras, there is alway some tiny shift after I screw the ball head tight, which annoyed me several times when focusing. Also you can't span with the ball head tight. Although I don't use level much, it's still a pity that the tripod does not have it, considering even some cheaper ones have.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2011Color: GunmetalStyle: Sprint Mini IIVerified Purchase
- Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2010Color: GunmetalStyle: Sprint Mini IIVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
- KyleReviewed in Canada on September 17, 2017
Great little tripod
Color: GunmetalStyle: Sprint Mini IIVerified Purchase - Mirko FalchiReviewed in Canada on May 3, 2013
Very good product!
Color: GunmetalStyle: Sprint Pro IIVerified Purchase - robsterwReviewed in Canada on October 31, 2015
I'm ready for my tripod close-up Mr. Slik.
Color: BlackStyle: Sprint Pro II w/ 3-way BHVerified Purchase - Brent SullivanReviewed in Canada on February 2, 2013
Review
Color: BlackStyle: Sprint Pro II w/ 3-way BHVerified Purchase - Dan G.Reviewed in Canada on February 17, 2020
LIGHTWEIGHT AND SMALL
Color: GunmetalStyle: Sprint Mini IIVerified Purchase
