Let’s get the important stuff in right at the start. Most people read gear reviews, wade through tons of facts and figures just to find the conclusion about the pros and cons.
This is the first gear from Sunwayfoto I have ever used and to say I was super impressed would be an understatement. To be honest, I’m not sure why I haven’t used any Sunwayfoto gear before. Their gear is top notch and, although not, cheap, is great value for money and their design and quality rivals bigger, more well known brands costing significantly more.
If you’re looking for a pro grade tripod set up then look no further.
It was a bit of a chance chat with fellow photographer, Mike Prince, which introduced me to the world of Sunwayfoto. He had just produced a review of one of Sunwayfoto’s geared heads and I was intrigued. For about the last five years I’ve used a geared head but being happy with what I had meant I had not kept abreast of other developments and didn’t even know Sunwayfoto made a range of several geared heads.
Anyhow, I contacted Sunwayfoto and asked about their geared heads and they very kindly offered to send me a head and tripod of my choice to review.
They were keen for me to review a forthcoming geared head but it might be six months in the future so they offered the choice of another head now or the new geared head in the future. Winter is my quiet time when I concentrate on photography rather than mountain guiding and I knew it was the best time for some long term product testing. Come the summer and I’d be rushed off my feet and testing would have to take a back seat.
Thus almost by accident I was the proud new owner of a ball head and one of Sunwayfoto’s top of the range tripods. On the principle of a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, I opted to have the XB52 ballhead, a head that Sunwayfoto were keen to promote. I have used ballheads previously but only smallish ones and never been too happy with them. My main head has been a geared head so it was great to try something new.
From the word go, I wanted to try one of Sunwayfoto’s “Master Series” tripods. These sit at the very top of their extensive array of tripods and the Master Series epitomises the heavy duty and professional range.
Communications with Sunwayfoto were amazing right from the start. Nothing was too much trouble and all my questions were speedily answered. They are very efficient and I like that a lot. The parcel of goodies arrived ahead of schedule and although it was late December, it felt like the best kind of Christmas present. Everything was packed with care and arrived in perfect condition. An example of the extra length Sunwayfoto go to was the attached sticker saying the parcel contained free samples for review. Only a small thing but I know other reviewers who have been stung for import duties and taxes.
Excited as a kid at Christmas, I tore open the cardboard box but not before setting up a camera to make a timelapse video of me unboxing the tripod and setting it up against a backdrop of the Cuillin mountains.
The T3640CM is a bit more heavy duty and a little heavier than my previous tripods but it is a testament to it’s design and quality that it has been my constant companion in the mountains this winter. Normally I am really fussy about weight but the new tripod and head combination saw daily use despite being a bit heavier than my existing kit.
What made me carry this extra weight? Where every gram counts, for me to carry a heavier tripod set up means it must be really good or offer something different.
1. Design
Most tripods have an adjustable centre column but the T3640CM fall into the professional, heavy duty category where this is missing in favour of a simple plate which links the legs. Any head of your choice can be screwed directly to the plate. It’s a simple design but one that just works and reduces one factor (the centre column) which can lead to the camera and tripod being less stable.
Everything is well thought out. Typical is the metal hook which can be screwed under the tripod head to hang a bag to add ballast in windy weather. It’s great piece of craftsmanship and a far cry from the bent wire hooks on many other brands, even mega expensive brands. The hook is the perfect design for the job and can easily be unscrewed should it not be needed. NB although I loved the design, the tripod is so stable that I never felt any need to use it.
2. Sturdiness and Stability
The T3640CM makes most other tripods look like toys. It is rated to carry 30kg of camera (or other) kit so massively over spec for most people. The tube diameters for the leg sections are 36/32/28/25mm so really beefy and this translates into a mega sturdy tripod. Sunwayfoto uses 8X (not the more usual 6X) highest quality Carbon Fibre leg tubes. I have no scientific knowledge but think this translates into a huge step up in quality and stability.
Check out Sunwayfoto's website for details but another determining factor for stability is the length and shape of the shims in the leg joints. The legs really are superbly sturdy and as good as you'll get on any tripod at any price point.
This is a really sturdy tripod set up and even when using long lenses I was confident there would be no loss of image quality. Before, I’ve often taken multiple shots of a scene when using longer focal lengths but with the Sunwayfoto, after some initial trials, I was certain that every shot would be sharp.
Another bonus of this stability is that I was happy to leave my camera on the tripod. Much of the winter I worked with other brands like Keela Outdoors and Built To Send and the tripod proved useful/essential for getting selfies of me using the other companies’ kit. Even in wind and snow I was happy my expensive camera/lens/filters would be safe.
3. Ease Of Use
It’s slick and easy to use otherwise it would stay at home rather than be carried up mountains. Quick action twist locks make for speedy set up as you open/close the legs. The ergonomics are faultless, the shape of the twist locks, especially the silicone covering, feels great on hands and fingers.
4. Versatility
This is a truly versatile tripod having a huge height range. With the legs angled right out it can go as low as 9cm. Yes, 9cm, you read that correctly. And max height is 150cm plus the height of your chosen head.
So, all bases are covered from the very high to the incredibly low.
5. Size
This is a big tripod and easily big enough for anything I want. It has a set up height of 150cm (not including the head). On the level ground this is probably a little too high for what I need. But in the mountains I’m often on steep terrain and will have two legs at full length, the third a bit reduced to counter the angle. Even on steeply shelving terrain, the tripod has plenty of leeway heightwise.
Packed size is really important to me and here the tripod does really well. Despite it’s tall size in use, it collapses to only 55cm which easily fits on the side of my pack or even inside.
6. Waterproofing
The legs are sealed and waterproof, the design ensuring no ingress not just of water but also sand, grit and dust. The twist locks on the legs are covered in soft silicone that not only feels very user friendly but serves to keep out the elements. A big bonus is that the silicone presents a really good grip even in the wet and cold and wearing big gloves. Internal rubber “O” rings in the locking rings add to the weatherproofing. Even the metal spikes and rubber feet have additional “O” rings.
Waterproofing may sound like a gimmick but it makes for a hugely practical tripod. I can put the legs deep into water knowing there will be no water ingress. This is brilliant since we have the sea on our doorstep, rivers nearby and a lot of lochs. With most tripods, after a thorough drenching. It’s necessary to take the legs apart, rinse things off and dry thoroughly. With this tripod, all that hassle and time wasting is a thing of the past.
But it’s practicality extends to any outdoor scenario. High in the mountains I’ve had rain and sleet soak other tripods, the water trickling into the leg joints then freezing solid making it impossible to open/close the tripod. With the T3640CM I’ve been out in horrendous weather and never had to worry about water ingress and subsequent freezing.
7. Feel Good Factor
This is something totally unmeasurable but something that is really important. From my first opening of the box and touching the tripod, I knew this was going to be a great product. The design and materials make for a very tactile experience and the T3640CM just oozes quality. It feels like a master craftsman’s tool and just begs to be used.
True, it’s only a tool but as with any high end tool, it makes you want to use it, to take it with you, to get the most out of it. Tripods are under rated in the hierarchy of photography gear yet the difference they make can be huge. Sharper photos, better composed photos and much more are brought to your photography with a tripod and head. But, many photographers spend a fortune on camera and lenses then scrimp on tripods. In my opinion, this is a false economy. Not only will your expensive camera gear be at risk but cheap kit is never a joy to use and you’ll likely ditch the el cheapo tripod and either hand hold or splash out for a better tripod. Buy cheap, buy twice, so the saying goes and is particularly applicable to tripods.
The XB52 DL Duo Lever Ball Head
It’s ironic that my initial communication with Sunwayfoto was about geared heads but now I’m fully converted back to ball heads. Things have gone full circle (pun intended) since before the geared head, I’d used a variety of ball heads but not really got on with them. They were either huge and clunky or small. The latter would droop and cause much frustration after a particular composition had been painstakingly set up then the ball shifted down by a degree or two.
The XB52 has certainly rekindled my once jaded love for ballheads. The XB52 is, like the tripod, a pure joy to use. It is solid and the action very smooth and precise. The low profile ball head has a very low centre of gravity and is capable of supporting a massive 60kg. The locking system is on the side rather than at the bottom of the ball head thus lowering the centre of gravity by 15%.
It has an elliptical ballhead which is a whopping 52mm in diameter. The elliptical nature means progressive resistance is offered; friction increases as the ball moves away from the vertical axis. The large diameter makes for very smooth rotation and greater holding power when locked. With the controls tightened, there is no slippage, no frustration, just solid holding power. The lower centre of gravity of the head means that all the weight is pivoting around a point as close to the apex of the tripod legs as possible which makes for a much more stable operation.
All the controls are ultra positive and easy to manipulate. I opted for the DL version with a Duo Lever. This involves a clamping lever rather than a knob to turn to secure/release the camera. I prefer this as it is a more binary system which either has my expensive camera gear safe and secure or doesn’t. With knobs, it’s possible to forget to tighten things and have a camera slip out with disastrous consequences.
The quick release clamp has three position; Fully Closed (camera securely locked in place), Half Open (camera can slide laterally) and Fully Open (lets you fit or remove camera). As an added layer of security, a safety switch is built into the lever. This requires you to use your thumb to slide the safety switch to release/lock the camera. This I really like.
The XB52 is a no frills, no bling, tool that lets me get on with my job. It’s an understated look, simple even, but who cares if it works. And, work it most certainly does. The head sort of combines low profile stability/compactness with a very smooth ball action as well as progressive friction. I really enjoyed it’s ease of use and the ability to speedily recompose photos as the light changed. The XB52 may be no frills but the inclusion of a patented highly sophisticated tightening mechanism that acts all around the perimeter below the ball, thus making it very strong and stable.
One thing that pleased me immensely was the inclusion of a small neoprene pouch to protect the head and keep it safe. A nice added touch that was much appreciated by me.
The tripod and head are a pure joy to use and once I began taking it out in the mountains, it was only too evident that it was going to be my constant companion. When I go into the mountains to take photographs, the opportunities are often unique, very fleeting glimpses of light perhaps never to be repeated. Thus, to stack the odds in my favour, simple equipment that’s easy to use and good at it’s job are prerequisites. I want to maximise my chances of returning with a good photo and the Sunwayfoto tripod and head is a big help on this front.
What about the bad points, I hear you ask?
Well, to be brutally honest, I was really scratching around for negatives. The biggest down side has to be cost. Having been sent the tripod for review, I’m not entirely certain of cost but believe it to be about six hundred dollars. Perhaps Sunwayfoto can confirm the price. In Europe the XB52 head seems to sell for circa £250.
This is not cheap but then you get a hell of a lot of tripod and head. Compared to Really Right Stuff and Gitzo, the price may seem cheap yet it is obvious that Sunwayfoto are producing top notch products. Their gear is a work of art and a sign that they are here to stay in the professional tripod market.
As with all tripod, they look smart to start with but soon the elegant stickers will get scratched and start to peel off. This is a complaint directed to all tripod manufacturers, not just Sunwayfoto. Tripods are for real world use and a more long lasting solution would be preferable.
You can see I’m really struggling to find fault when I have to focus on the included tripod bag. This is really well built and provides a nice protective case. However, it’s a struggle to get the tripod in if the longer spiked feet are used and there’s no room to include a tripod head, something that is always going to be used with the legs. This seems a bit illogical and hopefully something Sunwayfoto can improve on in the future.
The head and tripod have been used pretty much continuously for almost 4 months. They’ve been drenched in rain, covered in snow, hammered by hail and sleet. They’ve been dunked in rivers and lakes, used on sandy beaches and in the water margins of the sea. They have come through with flying colours and have become treasured tools rather than just mundane camera gear. They have performed faultlessly despite being subjected to a torture test of the elements and have survived perfectly. Not just that but they have brought a smile to my face. The enjoyment of using well designed and built kit is hard to measure but definitely helps me when I’m out in the hostile environment getting photos.
The tripod and head may seem a bit of overkill for my needs but do give me the best possible chance of returning with quality photos. Also, future plans (conditional on winning the lottery) may include a Fuji medium format system and this set up should be more than good enough to support it.
The tripod and head get a big thumbs up from me. I’ve included a bunch of photos I’ve taken whilst using this combination. Product photography’s not really my thing so apologies for the screenshots from Sunwayfoto’s website. Do some online research to find out all the statistics and info.
https://www.sunwayfoto.com/goodsDetail.aspx?gId=1550
https://www.sunwayfoto.com/e_goodsDetail.aspx?gId=1055
Many thanks to the team at Sunwayfoto for patiently answering all my questions and supplying some of the best camera equipment on the planet. And, a special big thanks to Sotiris in the Social Media team and Elaine in Sales for their help in making everything work out so smoothly.
