Design & Operation

  1. Introduction & Specifications
  2. Design & Operation
  3. Test Results
  4. Head Choice
  5. Comparison & Conclusion

Design.

The overall design of the Centennial is that of a standard modern tripod with a built in center column.  The leg locks

Build Quality.

The build quality of the Centennial is exceptional.  All of the metal components are machined and not cast.  Machining is more precise than casting and results in a finer finish.

Center Column.

Leg Locks.  

The leg locks are of the twist style with a plastic compression ring

Feet.  

The feet consist of two parts.  A rubber ball screws onto a spike that is concealed beneath.  That spike can be unscrewed from the bottom leg section to reveal a standard 3/8″ thread to screw in the foot or spike of your choice.  I have mixed feelings on this design.  The upside is that you get all of the versatility that you want and that the included spikes are stored as part of the tripod, not bouncing around somewhere in your camera bag.  The downside is that the spikes are fairly small.  They are fine for use on dirt and grass, but the rubber feet do just fine on those surfaces as well.  On loose surfaces such as sand and snow, you really want full size 3″ spikes, and the included ones don’t do much.  I prefer to see a nice set of rubber feet included, which will work in 95% of shooting situations, and then a set of full size spikes available as an option.

Top Plate.  

Angle Selectors.  

Carbon Fiber Quality.