z7 with the Fotopro EGL-65 - Review
Jun 6, 2019
3
The Fotopro Eagle EGL-65 tripod / gimbal-head / leveling-base combination is lightweight and yet very sturdy. It is also beautifully designed and machined. It comes with many innovations:
- The gimbal head swings up or down in 45⁰ increments with click-stops. This is a first-ever for gimbal heads.
- This swing enables shooting straight up or down.
- It also reduces the overall “folded” length to under 20”, for compact storage and carry of the gimbal mounted on tripod and leveling base.
- Safety buttons on the quick release knobs offer a second level of secure camera-hold, kinda’ like an Arca Swiss Fliplock, but different and somewhat easier.
- Horizontal rotation click points every 15⁰ can be enabled by turning a small knob on the gimbal. This will be quite helpful when doing panoramas.
- The tripod is superbly crafted also, with much less “negative space” when folded then my other tripods (Sirui and 3 Legged Things), giving it a smaller folded diameter for compact carry and storage. It is quickly becoming my favorite tripod!
- The tripod legs operate nicely, with firmly felt, large tightening rings that are easy to work.
- The included leveling base built into the tripod is excellent, and compact.
- The fitted case is wonderful, and a sorely needed first-ever for tripod / gimbal-head / leveling-base fully-assembled carry.
This EGL-65 package gets high marks for extreme ease of setup and carry, making it a pleasure to use.
My current gear includes:
- RRS PG01 fluid head + RRS leveling base + Sirui 4 section, carbon fiber tripod. I will be selling this setup now.
- Kirk Gimbal and car-window mount carried in a huge camera bag. I will be selling the Kirk Gimbal also, and buying a second EGL-65.
- 3 Legged Thing Winston (4-section) and Leo (5 section) tripods and Alan carbon fiber monopod. Also selling this now.
- Kakaphoto (really!) geared head. (I’ve used and loved the Arca Swiss Cube and dm4 in the past, and really liked them as well.)
I dislike disassembling a gimbal head from tripod, especially if I’ve locked it down with 3 underside Allen screws. To avoid this, I’ve been carrying my fully assembled gimbal in a flimsy, oversized light-stand bag, the only camera gear bag I could find to fit it all, assembled. I do keep the gimbal covered with a LensCoat gimbal cover. (Tennis racket bags can also be used, but I’m not fond of them either for this.)
I’ve used the EGL-65 with my Nikon z7 and Nikkor 600mmF4E as well as Sigma 60-600mm Sport lens. Works ok with these, offering smooth horizontal panning.
The major negative so far is that vertical panning is quite choppy, but only when the L-bracket arable is used, and a minor negative is that horizontal panning could be a little smoother. When my lenses are mounted without the EGL-65 L-bracket (cradle), vertical panning is much smoother and quite usable.
On the other hand, I have no reservations about the tripod (with builtin leveling base), which is fast becoming my favorite.
Thus the 4 star rating instead of 5 for now, as smooth panning is a central function of gimbal heads. Michael Greene, the USA distributor, sent me a second gimbal to test, which was only slightly smoother in panning.
Camera gear selections always involve tradeoffs. I gladly accept the slightly less smooth panning for the much more compact and lighter carry.
I paid retail for my Photopro and get nothing for this review. I just love the EGL-65 and think it's the perfect companion of compact mirrorless cameras like the z7. You can google "Photopro EGL-65" to find out more, and buying options.
-- hide signature --
Paul Richman
Pixels By Paul
http://PixelsByPaul.COM
"There's a good picture nearby. Find it. Take it. Share it."