Carbon fiber tripods

[frametology]

hello!

how brittle or strong are carbon fiber tripods?

i just got myself a benro M027 (for $120, by the way, is it cheap?) and was told not to drop it or it might crack and break.

how true is this?

and are gitzo carbon fiber tripods brittle too?

thanks!

[whatcamerashouldibuy]

They obviosuly aren't. shaky at times, but aren't brittle like benro- drop on floor, say bye bye.

[Kit]

Carbon fibre is a very hardy material but unlike metal, they do break up upon heavy impact.

[crazysurfer]

Originally Posted by Kit Carbon fibre is a very hardy material but unlike metal, they do break up upon heavy impact.

Characteristics of Carbon Fiber are light-weight, hard but brittle so that is why it will break on impact, just like glass.

Do consider carefully if you want to buy a Carbon Fibre tripod, it may be lighter but is it worth the price you're paying & the risk you'll be taking if one day it just gives way and breaks right in front of you with all your expensive equipment mounted on it?

[hairyharry]

Originally Posted by crazysurfer Characteristics of Carbon Fiber are light-weight, hard but brittle so that is why it will break on impact, just like glass. Do consider carefully if you want to buy a Carbon Fibre tripod, it may be lighter but is it worth the price you're paying & the risk you'll be taking if one day it just gives way and breaks right in front of you with all your expensive equipment mounted on it?

bro relax, now i'm starting to get worried. Haha.

[Kit]

Originally Posted by crazysurfer Characteristics of Carbon Fiber are light-weight, hard but brittle so that is why it will break on impact, just like glass. Do consider carefully if you want to buy a Carbon Fibre tripod, it may be lighter but is it worth the price you're paying & the risk you'll be taking if one day it just gives way and breaks right in front of you with all your expensive equipment mounted on it?

Geez, Hamilton should know about disintegrating suspension arms the next time he climbs into a McLaren.....

[alternatve]

I believe you might be making a mountain out of a molehill. Carbon fiber, while being brittle, is certainly not as weak as to shatter while your equipment is on it, barring acts of God and freak accidents of course. I am a user of Benro as well and by taking precautions by staying well within the weight specifications of my legs and head, I have found it to be a pleasure to use.

Samuel Koh.

Originally Posted by crazysurfer Characteristics of Carbon Fiber are light-weight, hard but brittle so that is why it will break on impact, just like glass. Do consider carefully if you want to buy a Carbon Fibre tripod, it may be lighter but is it worth the price you're paying & the risk you'll be taking if one day it just gives way and breaks right in front of you with all your expensive equipment mounted on it?

[denniskee]

Originally Posted by crazysurfer Characteristics of Carbon Fiber are light-weight, hard but brittle so that is why it will break on impact, just like glass. Do consider carefully if you want to buy a Carbon Fibre tripod, it may be lighter but is it worth the price you're paying & the risk you'll be taking if one day it just gives way and breaks right in front of you with all your expensive equipment mounted on it?

er... may i know what u stated is from ur own personal experience or hear say or u r a mech / mat'l engineering trained professional? pls dont go round giving inaccurate info that may confuse others.

atleast to me, it seems like u r saying cf is exactly same brittleness as glass.

[eosandy]

Yup, Carbon fibre is brittle compared to steel/aluminium... but... unless you are real clumsy and knock it around a LOT, failure of a carbon fiber component would be rare.

Sounds like a challenge for mythbusters.

[frametology]

Originally Posted by crazysurfer Characteristics of Carbon Fiber are light-weight, hard but brittle so that is why it will break on impact, just like glass. Do consider carefully if you want to buy a Carbon Fibre tripod, it may be lighter but is it worth the price you're paying & the risk you'll be taking if one day it just gives way and breaks right in front of you with all your expensive equipment mounted on it?

kind of late, i got mine already. ha. thanks for the info, but yah, i agree with the others, i don't think it'll break with your equipment mounted (so long as it's within the weight specifications)

Originally Posted by Kit Geez, Hamilton should know about disintegrating suspension arms the next time he climbs into a McLaren.....

HAHA. you better write to him PERSONALLY to warn him of the dangers he'll face in races to come.

Originally Posted by denniskee er... may i know what u stated is from ur own personal experience or hear say or u r a mech / mat'l engineering trained professional? pls dont go round giving inaccurate info that may confuse others. atleast to me, it seems like u r saying cf is exactly same brittleness as glass.

i concur.

Originally Posted by eosandy Yup, Carbon fibre is brittle compared to steel/aluminium... but... unless you are real clumsy and knock it around a LOT, failure of a carbon fiber component would be rare. Sounds like a challenge for mythbusters.

anyone here wants to be a mythbuster for us????

anyway, i'm going backpacking to cambodia. i'll be careful with it, but, will break a not ah? i'm kind of worried now leh.

BY THE WAY, IS 120 FOR THE M027 cheap??? AND THANKS FOR ALL THE REPLIES.

[tanjonhan]

oh please...they dun shatter into pieces .....thats crap....the only instance i heard is when maybe too heavy a weight was applied directly on the legs...ie. like maybe the tripod was put lying down....and then someone or something pressed onto the legs....then yes that could break....e usual dings and dangs is fine...extending, retracting, moving the tripod around...if it shatters..............ya rite...

as for the 120 u paid....die liao super over-priced...and then wad are u going to do about it!?!?? buy alr just use it.....u paid alr u cant get the cash back anyway..

[chiangkxv]

Oh my... Carbon fiber is not as brittle as described... if we can have car hood, bicycle frame made of carbon fiber, how brittle can it get???

[Ben Loke]

Originally Posted by chiangkxv Oh my... Carbon fiber is not as brittle as described... if we can have car hood, bicycle frame made of carbon fiber, how brittle can it get???

Ya, even some Mountain Bike frames are made of carbon, besides the handle bar, seat post etc.

My work involve in the destructive material testing machine, carbon are hard but brittle , however, they will not crack or break easily unless those made by non-compliance manufacturers who do not submit their products for tests.

On my 2 cents worth, carbon tripod will not crack easily if drop by accident unless one has the intention to destroy it by slamming it against the wall.

If anyone have an old carbon (crack) tripod, I can conduct a bending test on it to determine the strength & displacement before fracture to put us at ease.

[chiangkxv]

and BTW, the carbon fiber use to make tripods are those reinforced type. hence enhancing its strength.. nothing to worry about.

So go enjoy ur tripods... hahahaa.. oh how to enjoy?? lol

[Ben Loke]

Originally Posted by chiangkxv So go enjoy ur tripods... hahahaa.. oh how to enjoy?? lol

....enjoy carrying it lah!!

[hairyharry]

Originally Posted by frametology anyone here wants to be a mythbuster for us???? anyway, i'm going backpacking to cambodia. i'll be careful with it, but, will break a not ah? i'm kind of worried now leh. BY THE WAY, IS 120 FOR THE M027 cheap??? AND THANKS FOR ALL THE REPLIES.

oh sometime its really a chore to carry a tripod(to me). but for the sake of good
photos just carry it along. and the one thing is, don't forget to leave it behind.

[giantcanopy]

Whenever i make a shot with a tripod all my lamenting goes away for the day.

[frametology]

Originally Posted by tanjonhan as for the 120 u paid....die liao super over-priced...and then wad are u going to do about it!?!?? buy alr just use it.....u paid alr u cant get the cash back anyway..

i think i got it cheap, so i just want to feel song by someone telling that it's a deal to die for. HAHAHAHA and yes, i'll be enjoying it in cambodia! a good walking stick for hiking through the dusty dirt roads.

Originally Posted by Ben Loke Ya, even some Mountain Bike frames are made of carbon, besides the handle bar, seat post etc. If anyone have an old carbon (crack) tripod, I can conduct a bending test on it to determine the strength & displacement before fracture to put us at ease.

my best friend who cycles says that bike frames made of carbon fiber are very strong but brittle. strong meaning it can take great loads like a 90kg man. brittle meaning it'll break or crack when the cyclist buangs his bike. hais, carbon fiber is a really weird compound. ha.

and yes, we appeal to donors who have shattered tripods to test!

[tantravis]

Originally Posted by frametology hello! how brittle or strong are carbon fiber tripods? i just got myself a benro M027 (for $120, by the way, is it cheap?) and was told not to drop it or it might crack and break. how true is this? and are gitzo carbon fiber tripods brittle too? thanks!

Hi there,

what do you think of your tripod? Is it stable with its legs fully extended? I'm currently looking for a suitable tripod for travel at about 200 range including ball head. Carbon fibre is lighter that aluminium ones from benro right? Is ur M027 similar to those A-series ones? Or lighter?

[VR Man]

A carbon fiber pipe will have a higher chance of shattering if the force hitting it is perpendicular to its length.

Proof: My sailor friend has seen a Laser sailor REPEATEDLY slam his carbon fiber tiller on the fiberglass deck of his Laser sail boat until it splintered into bits and shredded his life vest. So Yes, I can shatter.

Conclusion: So some of us are right that it will shatter if you drop it REALLY HARD enough at the CORRECT angle.

How many of you have seen the video of Team New Zealand's yacht's carbon fiber mast snap into 2 like chopsticks? When it snaps, it is that brittle, no warning.

If $ is not an issue, I swear by Gitzo carbon fiber tripods, the built quality and QC is top notch.

For best value for $, IMHO are the first generation of Velbon carbon fiber tripods, the central column locking mechanism is way better than the current generation.

Next would be Manfrotto and the rest...

You get what you pay for. Buy it cheap, buy it twice.