New tripod company Gearing says that it has developed a modular design that offers a mix of outstanding materials, tremendous stability, and unprecedented modularity that, when combined, results in a device that “is the future of tripods.”
While all tripods can technically be taken apart, you probably wouldn’t unless you’re trying to repair it. Gearing specifically designed its tripods to break down for easy adjustments with swappable parts that work differently depending on what you want the tripod to do. The legs can be swapped out for smaller legs and the longer legs can double as hiking poles, the center section — or “heart” as Gearing calls it — is interchangeable, the center column is removable and can easily be inverted, and the ball head is a patented magnetic design.
Speaking of the ball head, Gearing advertises it as a stable and drift-free platform that, thanks to its magnetic design, allows for rapid and instantaneous attachment to your camera or lens via the adapter. It has a smooth pan tension know for horizontal adjustments and a ball tension knob for rigid lock-up and for dynamic angles along with easy transition between landscape and portrait orientation.
That aforementioned center column doubles as a 10-piece screwdriver kit and features a removable hook for hanging counterweights or your backpack to keep it out of the dirt. The included mini center column offers a minimum height of 20cm and a maximum height of 160cm and can be swapped out for a full-size version as well.
“The working height of the tripod can be easily and quickly adjusted by raising or lowering the center column,” Gearing explains. “Moreover, the center column can be used on its own for handheld mode. The standard 3/8-inch thread allows for direct attachment to the Gearing Pro Head or to your favorite third party head.”
The Gearing Tripod kit includes a set of short legs and long legs that can easily swap on and off the “heart” unit. The heart also has four pitch positions for different heights and levels of stability.
A majority of the tripod is made from carbon fiber with the exception of a few pieces where that wouldn’t make sense such as the heart, feet, and spikes.
Gearing seems to have gone full steam ahead with what other companies have only dabbled in. While removable legs that can work as separate tools isn’t a new concept, the idea of all three being swappable to a second set of included legs is unusual if not wholly unprecedented. The magnetic ball head system is also unique.
The Gearing tripod will be available in various configurations on Gearing’s website, with the kit currently available for £1,500 (~$2,095) and will also be available at some Leica stores. That asking price is at the upper echelon of what tripods can generally go for, but Gearing is leaning hard on its high-quality and modular build to warrant it.
(via Digital Camera World)