Induro Blog

Wow, this week has a theme- great Induro reviews by real folks. Eric Brown of Photography Minute wrote to say he’s pleased with his new CT314, and thought I’d share a bit of his review. Complete with pictures! Take it away, Eric:

I’ve been looking for a good carbon fiber tripod. What I found was the Induro CT314 Carbon Fiber 8X Tripod….and I’m glad I found it.

Initial Thoughts on The Induro CT 314:

This tripod is solid! The legs are solid. The leg locks are solid. The center column lock is solid. Everything is solid on this tripod. The tripod is rated to hold 39.6 lbs, which should be enough to hold any tripod head + camera / lens combo. I found no slipping or wavering on this tripod like I had on my previous tripod. The leg locks are solid and, while not the same design as some other well regarded leg locks, they feel just as solid.

Height

The tripod will get tall (for you tall folks) and will get low for those of you who are into macro and/or if you are looking to change the perspective of your photographs.

I took a few minutes to run the tripod through all of its configurations so you can see how low and high it can go..take a look at the photographs below:

Induro CT314 8X Tripod at its lowest point

Induro CT314 8X Tripod after unfolding

Induro CT314 Tripod with all legs extended

Induro CT314 Tripod all legs and center column extended

Changing Leg Angles

One of the interesting features of this tripod is the locking mechanism for changing the angle of the legs. The locking mechanism is easy to use and provides great support.  Below is a photo of the locking mechanism pulled out in preparation for changing the angle of the leg.  To change the angle of the leg, you pull the leg in a bit and then pull the leg angle lock out and place the leg at the predetermined angle (24 degrees, 55 degrees and 80 degrees) and then push the leg angle lock back into place. This approach seems much more stable (and easier to use) then the one on my old tripod.

Induro CT314 Tripod leg angle lock

Column Locking Mechanism

While I’ve never been a huge fan of columns on tripods (I’ve always thought they took away from the stability), the column on the CT 314 is solid and the column lock is as solid and easy to untighten/tighten as I’ve seen (a photo is below). The center column is grooved, which keeps it from turning while using the tripod.

Induro CT 314 Center Column Lock

I’m told that there is a short column for use with this tripod but I’m pretty happy with this one so far.

Features

• Wide Stance Cross-braced Magnesium Alloy Spider provides ultimate core system stability

• Extra Long Grooved Center Column extended camera positioning without unwanted column rotation

• Full Width Leg Locks maximum support at any angle

• Dust and Moisture Resistant Ergonomic Rubber Grip Leg Locks ensure an easy positive 1/2 turn all-weather lock

• Interchangeable Rubber Feet and Stainless Steel Spikes in Carbon Fiber mount provide the right contact on any surface or terrain

• Slip Resistant Top Plate with Reversible Tripod Head Mounting Screw assures compatibility with virtually any tripod head

• Spring Loaded Weight Hook allows additional weight mounting stability during windy conditions

• Oversized Center Column Lock adds vibration reducing structural support

• Non-Rotating Carbon Fiber Leg Sections offer quick and easy setup

• Reversible Locking Center Column allows low angle shooting (optional ballhead not included)

• Adjustable Leg Angles with Lock accommodates uneven surfaces and awkward shooting situations

• Integral Bubble Level allows adjustment to prevent uneven pans and tripod head movements

• Triple Closed Cell Comfort Grip provides comfortable handling during cold or hot outdoor conditions

• Double Threaded Accessory Mount fits wide range of accessories (optional PocketWizard and bracket not included)

Weight     5 lbs (2.3 kg)
Includes     Deluxe carry case, strap, toolkit
Warranty     2 years (+3 Online = 5 total)

Conclusion

This is a great tripod for anyone looking for a sturdy professional level carbon fiber tripod.  I would easily recommend this tripod (or any other Induro tripod) to any photographer out there…great tripods and great prices.

Thank you so much for this thorough review, Eric! Let’s check out some of your bird pictures, they’re fab (I especially love this cardinal.)

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