14/03/09

I was after a small tripod for wildlife photography to use in hides and cars. After reading a review by Andy Rouse I decided on the Ergorest.

It is very well engineered from polyurethane coated steel. It isn't particularly light, weighing in at 750g (about 2lb) and takes up a fair bit of space for a 'mini' tripod. No tripod head is supplied but the fastening screw takes both 1/4" and 3/8" threads.

When used as a car mount a groove on one leg slots onto the upper edge of the lowered car window. The other two legs brace against the inside of the door. With the correct choice of head it can handle substantial lenses. As a small tripod it has a fair amount of height adjustment and is very stable. It can also be used as a chest brace.

For hide and car work it has proved solid and reliable.

Overall Rating: 3/5
Ease of use: 3/5
Value for money: 3/5
Build quality: 4/5


Pros: solid construction, adaptability
Cons: weight, size