We have been running a small series on tripods. So far we have covered three German tripods and one Japanese tripod. Now we have an American tripod—a Davidson Optronics Star-D—to compare to the others.
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We will compare the Star-D to the Japanese tripod. Just comparing the weight the Japanese was 1757 g, the German Cullman was 1981 g and the American Star-D comes in as lightest at 1591 g.
In a height comparison here the Japanese tripod is standing next to the Star-D.
The differences in the two tripods include—
the Japanese tripod has a flopping head for vertical shots (the Star-D lacks this)
the Japanese tripod has channel legs and round leg locks
the Star-D has tubular leg sections with twist leg locks
the Japanese tripod column has a rubber ring that stops it from coming right out (to be reversed)
the Star-D column can be wound right up-and-out (and reinserted upside-down for low-level shots)
the top of the Japanese tripods legs are held in place by a screw-through joint while the Star-D has legs held by T-top machined castings held by clamps into the cast spider
Both tripods have separate styles of every control adjustment so you are unlikely to mix them up. The really class feature of the Star-D is all the adjustments are short and positive—the control backs off and tightens in a short partial revolution (and cannot be lost, because the control is fastened into the tripod)—while the Japanese controls can be loosened off many turns (to the point the knob comes right out).
The Japanese height adjustment crank folds-in for storage, while the Star-D’s crank does not collapse. The Star-D’s long tilt handle can be adjusted to store right next to the legs spider casting and its handle is a solid metal casting. The Japanese tripod handle will also store next to the leg spider, but there is much more room and the handle is a plastic casting.
Note all the places the Star-D has had small design touches—
the rings cast into the leg spider
the rings in the milled leg locks and their chamfered edges
the small channels under the head
Notice the complicated locking handle on the Star-D'S tripod screw?
...and the use of a small block of plastic to lock the column in place
The tips of the legs don’t project wider than the leg diameter
The column of the Japanese tripod (right) fits into plastic at the leg spider
The Star-D column fits directly into the leg spider (metal to metal).
Since writing this piece I have spent a day going through thrift stores with my brother from Montreal. I asked him to tell me, "You don't need ANY more tripods!" when I found another treasure of a tripod. He did tell me exactly that and I left the tripod behind. (Notice I don't even remember what it was, three days later.) One store later I found yet another tripod so good I just gave up and bought it (it was a Slik Pro for <$20).
Later the same day at our monthly meeting I was given THREE tripods by Brian, who had noticed I seemed to be on a theme blog-wise.
I was really impressed with—
A Lindhof three-section tripod with ball head, centre tilting column (rarely seen feature these days) and a tartan carry case with leather strap
A Davidson Manufacturing metal three-section tripod with pan/tilt head (no column)
A Davidson Industries 2-section WOOD tripod with pan/tilt head (no column)
Don't worry, I won't be featuring more and more tripods.
I think I have made my point that you don't have to collect just cameras!
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