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You can't say that about many products today.You can get to a few inches of the ground with it for macro or low angle shots. I haven't found any situation where I couldn't get it braced securely to get my shot. I bought this tripod about a year after it hit the camera stores. Since the legs adjust independently, it's great on uneven ground or for bracing on rock walls, etc. It's still going strong for me. I have owned a couple of tripods but this is the only one I've kept. It still works as good today as it did over 30 years ago.
adjustable in just about every conceivable way. despite those few missing features, it's a classic design that any camera nut should be proud to own, and enjoy using. But while hardly junk, the Vanguard just feels cheaper to me, although it looks as though its designers studied the Slik U-212. very thoughtful features like the parking hole for an extra camera mounting post. huge, fast-action ball-bearing level window instead of a tiny water bubble.
it was like seeing an old pal that I'd been without for many years. since my friend hadn't used it for years, and had stored it all in his closet. I'll just hit that pad's underside with a hot glue gun and that should take care of that. now I'm using it again with digital cameras. or have some other bag that'll hold it, this is problematic.
it doesn't. the oldest tripod around will never be obsolete, as long as cameras have those universal threaded mounting holes on their bottoms. and learned a few things about how to make a tripod. unless you buy the optional bag. The Slik was still in its original box. where, exactly does it want to be held so you don't mash your fingers. While a 30 year old turntable can't play CDs.
the unique "no twist" leg design, big, easy-to-use controls and knobs - you could adjust anything on it while wearing gloves without a problem. you really had to LEARN a lot because you'd never know how your shots came out until you got your prints or slides back. If I had to give up one of these two tripods, the Vanguard would go, and I'd keep my circa 1980 Slik U-212. For some, this may be a minus, for others, maybe not, but it'd be nice to have a gadget bag hook somewhere on the Slik. I spent roughly $1500.00 on that whole system, buying more stuff when I could afford it.
no complaints about the way it operates, its range of, number of, and design of its knobs and levers all makes sense to me. it was a radically new design back then, and a classic one now. Like I said, no product is perfect, so I'll give it four stars simply for the lack of a bag hook, a carrying handle, and no tote bag in the box. Slik's quick release leg extension levers. I'm glad to have mine back again. Back in 1978 I bought a Minolta XG9 SLR, lenses, a ton of accessories, a Cokin Filter system, and a couple years later, the original Slik U-212, the one with the green dial on side, not the later one with the red dial.
After spending many years in its box in a closet, the adhesive holding the rubber pad to the panhead / camera platform gave out and fell off. if there was no demand, they'd sell used for peanuts. shooting on film was an entirely different experience. Plusses - The U212 is a classic design, around since the late 70s or early 80s. The Slik was $80.00 brand new at a local camera store. it doesn't, so after you crank and fold it back down, it can be a somewhat clumsy to carry.
a 30 year old tripod works fine with a modern digital camera. In the early 1990s, when hard-up for cash, in a fit of madness, but out of necessity, I sold my entire 35mm system, including the Slik to a friend. The fact that even the first circa 1980 Slik U-212s sell on a certain, well-known auction site for almost the same price as a brand new one, and the fact that Slik is still around making and selling them, and that the latest incarnation has barely changed from its 1980 ancestor, attests to the demand for them. at this price point, it should come with the carrying bag in the box. it's way too easy to get addicted to buying photography equipment, and the kiddies who carry around a cheapie digital camera don't know what they missed.
but they don't. it should also have a carrying handle on one of the legs somewhere. that I wish I could "graft" onto the Slik U-212. it has some thoughtul features (gadget bag hook, beefy, well-centered carrying handle, heavy-duty bag in the box, ability to remove the whole panhead and mount it to a car window). or Slik would've discontinued it. A few minuses - mostly metal, at six pounds, it's a tad on the heavy side. there's more hassle involved, more equipment needed. rare back then, common nowadays.
and they didn't. So in my mind, there's just something about shooting on film like there is with vinyl LPs versus CDs or digital music files. No product is perfect, and the much cheaper Chinese Vanguard AK2OS I was given as a gift a year or two ago, is far from junk. lots more I could say about it, but the build quality is top notch, the materials are excellent, and I just love the thing and can't see why I'd ever have to buy any other brand or model of tripod. well I just got it all back last week, for free. independent legs that aren't linked to the center elevator post means they have an almost infinite range of positions.
I highly recommend this tripod. She has said nothing but good things about this tripod. I bought the Silk Professional Universal Deluxe Tripod for my girlfriend a few weeks ago. She owns a Nikon D60.
Currently looking around to supplement the U212 with a ball head by Bogen Monfrotto and a binocular adaptor. The Slick Universal U212 really is universal.The U212 is not the lightest, strongest, or flexible (head swapping) unit available. I've had my Slick U212 since about 1988, my first and only tripod. Lots of searching and thinking with adaptors and bushings because Monfrotto is threaded for 3/8" while the U212 is 1/4".All this tinkering just to find all that is really needed is the binocular adaptor and perhaps some spare quick shoes for the U212. If your needs for a tripod are general and non specific the U212 has proven over the years to be exceptional. Bought it used from a amateur photo shoot buddy. His thing was the Leica R4, If I remember correctly, while mine was the Olympus OM4 SLR.Haven't used my U212 much since the days of photo shoots.
The combination is great.Really, the quick release head his Slick tripod is terrible. I replaced it with one from another manufacturer. Wonderful tripod, but the quick release head on it really sucks. Big time.
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