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Slik 700DX Tripod

by Cian Perez

The Slik 700DX is the second tripod I've owned and has been part of my stable since December '99. Prior, I had one of Ritz Camera's so-called "top-of-the-line" Quantaray tripods (which is essentially a rebranded Slik consumer tripod). I was forced to return the Quantaray shortly after a week - it could not hold steady my Elan IIe with booster and 28-70/2.8 upon its primarily nylon head.

The Slik 700DX is a different beast altogether. The 700DX is large, the 700DX is heavy, and, yes, the 700DX is rock solid. If you're looking for a light tripod for exntended hiking trips, look elsewere. If you're looking for a solid platform for your pro glass or longer teles, then that's where the "strength" of this tripod really shines. A comparable tripod that possesses the same capabilities and features from other makes would probably cost twice as much if not more. Within the same price bracket, I looked at the Bogen 3021 with appropriate quick-release pan-tilt-head and thought it was flimsy in comparison.

The 700DX has a professional finish with bare titanium alloy legs and black metal hardware. The legs are tubular with a slot on the underside to prevent twisting. The leg locks are flip-type, which won't snag on clothing or cables when in the locked position - unlike the butterfly twist levers found on other brands which I did not find as easy to operate. It has rather rubber end caps for feet. I would have liked to see retractable spiked feet, but throughout my many outtings across various terrains, I haven't at all missed the spikes. It has two built-in bubble levels (a nice touch) on the included quick release platform. I've found the head to be very stable if not overbuilt. You can actually buy this head separately, if you'd like, as the Slik Pro 800, and it includes one quick release foot. The quick release foot is essentially a 3/4" tall metal cylinder that's about 3 inches in diameter with a 3/8" screw - again, seemingly overbuilt. You can buy additional QR foots for about $20, but you may not choose to, because the QR plate can become unwieldly since it's large and a tad too heavy to carry mounted to your camera body or lenses at all times when not using the tripod. At one point, I thought of getting extra QR plates for multiple bodies and lenses, but I can't imagine carrying all that additional weight on hiking trips. Luckily, the QR plate's design and size is very easy to remove and install securely w/o any tools, so you can easily get by with just one.

I've taken short hikes with the tripod slung on my shoulder like a rifle (a heavy one at that), with the legs extended and I would just leave my Elan IIe with booster and 70-200/2.8 mounted on the head. On one trip, I remember walking along a lake with this assembly upon my shoulder and every 50' to 100' or so, I'd plop the setup down, spread the legs, take a few shots, then simply pick it up and hike some more. It's pretty convenient, but I can't blindly recommend this shooting method to anybody since it isn't really all that comfortable for elongated hikes - the tripod alone is roughly 7 pounds. Also, if you choose to walk around like this, you have to remember to tighten down the pan and tilt levers and ensure that the QR foot is well affixed to your lens or camera body.

Other notables - its horizontal and vertical panning capabilities are top shelf, so big glass nature or action shooters will find it a joy to use. I also think that medium format folks would heartily welcome its larger head and camera platform. Another nice feature is that the center column can be reversed, so your camera/lens combo can be suspended upside down and be as close to the ground as you'd like - a must for macro aficionados or copy work.

I only wished that Slik had included a shoulder strap and leg pads. These are the nice touches which add to the joy of tripod ownership, but this can be overcome with aftermarket accessories.

I honestly believe that there is no better value on the market! If you only got the titanium legs alone for the combo asking price, that itself would be worthwhile.

Consumer tip: I purchased the 700DX at a local Wolf Camera because it was actually being sold cheaper there than at any of discount mail-order houses in New York - a fact that is pretty stunning (even the Wolf sales guy was impressed). Apparently, Wolf Camera has a fairly decent distributor agreement with Slik, and if you wait for Wolf's once-a-year tripod sale, you can even get a bigger discount on the price.