Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony VCTD680RM Remote Control Tripod for Sony Cameras & Camcorders

I orderd this tripod instead of the taller ones as the 57" height has proven to cover most, if not all, of the situations I would need it for. This tripod covers two of the most important characteristics of a good support, as it is very stable and solidly built, and it is also lightweight and easy to carry. The included carrying case also has a shoulder strap to make it even easier to haul.
The big feature of the Sony tripods which separates it from the generics pieces, are the controls built into the handle of the head. They include play, stop, record, zoom-in, zoom-out, and take a still picture. Having the controls right at your fingertips on the handle makes it infinitely easier to control the camera and still keep a very stable shot with no jitter. I can rotate the camera, and zoom in and out, without any visible motion whatsoever. Sony's innovations and equipment integration is almost always worth the extra cost, and this tripod is no exception. I highly recommend this as the best tripod for any Sony prosumer video cameras.

Solidly built, this tripod balances well even when used with the heavier Sony Cybershots like the DSC-R1. The remote shuttle release button helps to further reduce camera shake, which is priceless when taking photos in conditions where camera shake is amplified (high optical zoom, supressed flash, etc).

What surprises me is the fact that the shuttle release button on the remote works exactly the same as any Sony Cybershot : press halfway to focus, and all the way down to capture the shot.

The zooming buttons do not work for the Sony DSC-R1 as the camera has a manual zooming ring, but they should work fine with any other Cybershot that comes with an electronic zoom and of course, an ACC terminal.

Highly recommended.

I purchased this tripod at Circuit City. When I got home, I decided to check the price here at Amazon.com and found it to be a total of 38.18 cheaper than Circuit City. I had already hooked up both my DSC-F828 still cam and my DCR-HC20 to it, and it worked like a charm. So I packed it back in the box and returned it... got home and ordered it from Amazon. I have yet to receive the product, but I already know I like it. Also love the shoulder strap and the fact that the tripod doesn't feel like it's going to fall over under the weight of my F828.

The tripod is well built. Each leg has 4 sections, not 3. This tends to help with strength and stability. The controls on the handle make capturing video very easy. It is not a professional tripod built for 40-pound cameras, but it will very easily handle any Sony consumer video camera. The only minor drawback is that the speed of the zoom through the handle can be a little tricky to manage. However, if your are tired of the cheesey cheap tripods that sell for $30-$40, spend the money on this one. It is well worth it.

I bought this tripod for video tapping an upcomming family wedding and have tried it a couple of times to get used to it. I like the the smooth operation of the controls on the handle. The panning operation is likewise acceptable. The telescopic locking legs work well, but are light weight and can rock a little during panning. The lightness is also a plus because it collapses into a small over the shoulder bag for easy toteing. One hand on the tripod for stabilization and one on the control handle during panning works well.