2026-05-02 Generic Tripod Compared to Velbon Auto-Pod

I have had the Velbon Auto-Pod (the tripod on the right with the red band) for many, many years. I came across the generic tripod for $1 and decided it was worth at least that, despite my disloyalty to an old stand-by.
Why you ask?

It has to do with the new tripod’s weight. The Velbon weighs 325 g while the new tripod is 180 g. That is quite a difference when you are packing a tripod along “just in case”. And despite their almost identical dimensions, they are different.

The Velbon has a release lever that springs the legs out of the body of the upright. The spring action leaves the legs simply dangling. You have to invert the tripod to have the legs fall out at almost right angles to the handle. You then rotate the knurled satin-finish ring tight against the base to lock the legs in place. When you collapse the tripod you have to back off the locking ring and push the legs in until the release lever clicks—locking the legs in.
The “new” tripod opens like a illegal pocket knife. Flick the handle down and the legs snap out and semi-lock in position. To collapse the tripod you have to push the legs back into the handle. The legs don’t lock in but friction will keep them reasonably in place until you “flick” them out again.

In a close look at the ball heads there are obvious finish differences. Plastic is used in place of finished metal. Single fittings in place of multiple piece construction of parts as simple as the tightening knobs. Textured plastic finish as opposed to painted metal tube. It is obvious even if both tripods would do the job, one tripod would cost more and look better for its lifetime.

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