Home > Consumer Reviews > Sunpak 620-020 2001UT Travel Tripod with Extra Quick-Release Mounting Plate

The Sunpak 2001UT tripod is a good basic tripod, esp. for digital cameras. The reason for my saying this is that this is a light-weight tripod, and its maximum load is about 4.2 pounds. This is sufficient for digital cameras that do not use interchangeable lenses, and also for SLRs or digital SLRs that use a lightweight lens. So, if you have a 300mm telephoto or zoom lens on your SLR you MUST get something heavier and sturdier. For others whose camera (plus lens) is less than 4 pounds, this lightweight tripod is perfect. It's pretty good quality, easy to use, has a quick-release camera plate (so you can take the plate with the camera for that quick handheld shot), and is light enough to carry with you anywhere you go.

First it looks professional. Locks on the legs are "quick", you can release and adjust the legs very fast. One problem is that if you don't want to strecth the legs full way, then you have to use your imagination to make it stand level. It is much lighter than it looks. The legs and structure is made of thin and hollow pieces to reduce weight, still it is sturdy and holds the camera firm. The quick release pan head is also a nice feature that helps you to fix and release your camera without unscrewing the pan. An extra pan also comes with it that helps you to use two cameras alternatively without bother. The pan can be adjusted in three coordinates. A small complaint is that, there is no indicator with which to check if the pan surface is horizontal, so again one needs to guess.

The tripod has also a center pole that extends to about 1 foot and helps adjust the camera height without need to adjust legs. When legs are closed it is reasonably small.

I would say this is a great tripod for home and vacation use and for the price you pay, you get a worthy service.

After I lost my previous tripod, I bought this one on amazon. I really like this tripod

These are some of the cool features I like in this tripod.
1. I can adjust it to any height using center pole.
2. Using quick release pan head, it is easy to switch between camera and camcorder.
3. Adjustments are smooth, at the same time, we can stop the horozontal/vertical movement by tightening corresponding screw.
4. I can take vertical (portrait) pictures also. I was not able to do that with my previous tripod.
5. It is sturdy and holds camera tight.

The only thing I find it missing is, bubble indicator.

I was completely prepared to give this tripod a five-star review. It's lightweight but sturdy, easy to assemble and disassemble, and very adjustable. I used it to tape a church service and sat it next to me in the pew with its legs retracted, like a short tripod, and it was wonderful. It's also nicely finished, and when you collapse the tripod and tighten its knobs, it stays together and doesn't flop around while you're toting it.

Unfortunately, that evening I had trouble docking our new Sony camcorder, and when I looked at the bottom of the camcorder, I saw that the stabilizing pin from the tripod quick release had broken off in the camera! To my great relief, I was able to pull out the pin with no trouble, but the angst factor was pretty high there for a couple of minutes. I was very careful attaching and removing the camera from the tripod, so this is not "consumer error." (I can't keep the quick-release plate permanently attached because then I can't dock the camcorder... bad on Sony there...but still.)

Your mileage may vary, but this tripod is going back to Amazon, and I'll be shopping for another brand.

This is the second product I've purchased from Sunpak - I also own one of their monopods. I've been very impressed with the quality of these inexpensive items. The tripod is light, easy to operate, and should be sufficient for the everyday photographer. As mentioned in another review, there is no bubble level. Luckily, my Sunpak monopod bases have a level and they are interchangeable with the tripod's!