3 Legged Thing Equinox Albert at a glance:
- Maximum height 179m
- Minimum Height 13cm
- Twist Leg locks
- Price: £329
- Website: www.3leggedthing.com
If you haven’t come across 3 Legged Thing before, it’s a UK company that’s attempting to add some character to the world of tripods. One of its latest supports is from the Equinox range, and like all 3 Legged Thing tripods, it has a human name. So, say hello to Albert.
For many, Albert may be the perfect tripod. It folds down to just 41cm, which makes it great for travelling, but extends to a huge 179cm. It’s quite heavy at 1.85kg, but its carbon-fibre legs feel strong and sturdy.
With such a height range, you might expect Albert to be a little wobbly on its feet, but the five-leg sections have minimal flex, and much of the extra height comes from the centre column, which itself has three sections. The huge twist leg-locks operate with a half twist, and two or even three can be unlocked at a time, making the tripod quick to set up.
The specs claim that with the legs at their widest 80° angle, it can support a weight of 10kg. We didn’t have a camera-lens combination that was anywhere near this heavy, but it can easily cope with a pro DSLR and a 70-200mm lens. To minimise any flex it’s best to keep the centre column down, but that extra height can still certainly be useful.
3 Legged Thing Equinox Albert – key features
Monopod Leg
One of the legs can be unscrewed and a tripod head attached so it can be used as a monopod.
Head clamp
The clamp from the AirHed 360 head can be unscrewed and attached directly to the tripod, in place of the centre column.
D-ring
On the base of the centre column is a ring to attach extra ballast or a strap.
3 Legged Thing Equinox Albert – our verdict
Sturdy but compact, with a huge maximum height, the 3 Legged Thing Equinox Albert is a versatile tripod that is at home in the studio as it is out in the landscape. It may not be the lightest to travel with, but as an all-round solution it’s a great choice.
SCORE: 5 out of 5
Also available: Airhed 360 kit
Airhed 360 head
- Price: £149
- Website: www.3leggedthing.com
The Equinox Albert tripod is also available in a kit with the AirHed 360 ball head for £399. This is made from aircraft-grade metal alloy and comes with a detachable pano-clamp. This clamp can rotate through 360°, with markers on the side showing the rotation. A bubble level is included on the clamp, meaning you can always get level shots, and the clamp is compatible with Peak Design and Arca Swiss plates. It is a solid, well-made head. All that’s missing is friction control.
