With the introduction of their four new Pro-Series Tripod Kits, ZEISS has corrected everything you never liked about a tripod.
Created from the ground up, ZEISS Pro-Series Tripod Kits have addressed all the drawbacks inherent to existing tripods, achieving new levels of ruggedness, stability, rapid setup and user friendliness. For example, ZEISS’ single-point leg adjustment, found on the MAX-DUTY models, fully extends—or collapses—each leg with a quarter turn of an oversized, easy-to-grip twist lock. No more fumbling with multiple adjustments on each leg, which consumes time and makes simple leveling difficult.
Strength and reliability begin with those legs, built with ten layers of rigid carbon fiber connected to an aluminum framework. All Pro-Series Tripod Kits include Arca-Swiss mounting systems, the most widely accepted, most secure such system in the world. This allows rapid, reliable and easily interchangeable mounting of a myriad of devices, including the ZEISS tripod accessories.
Unusual in the industry is that ZEISS is marketing the Pro-Series as fully complete kits. “Most premium tripods are sold bare bones,” according to Kyle Brown, ZEISS director of marketing/product. “You pay a premium price, but then still must spend hundreds more on a ballhead and other components just for basic operation. We believe that when you purchase a top-tier tripod, your investment should deliver everything you need to get started as a complete package. That is why all Pro-Series tripods come as full kits.”
One of the biggest complaints leveled against ordinary tripods is their difficulty to adjust, and the time required to make adjustments. This is exacerbated should you have cold, wet, gloved, large or weak hands. Every locking lever, button, twist lock and adjustment knob on a Pro-Series kit is longer or larger than normal. This provides an easier, less frustrating, far more user-friendly experience in the field—along with faster, smoother operation.
The click stops on each leg are easily operated with one finger via a large thumb lever and allow for a choice of multiple leg angle settings at 24, 55 and 85 degrees. At full width, all three legs are almost flat on the ground, allowing the user to lie prone while using whatever device is mounted. Conversely, maximum height for these kits with center column extended and head attached—ranging between 69.3 and 82.7 inches—provides comfortable viewing even for those well over six feet tall. All Pro-Series Tripod Kits feature extendable and removable center columns.
Mounting a heavy and/or expensive optic or other device atop a poorly built tripod is a recipe for disaster. Each ZEISS tripod accepts a load that would crush lesser support systems; from 88 to a whopping 154 pounds, depending upon the model.
Removable rubber feet are standard on all models and can be replaced with spikes (included in the kits) for use in icy or unstable terrain. All center columns include an extended bottom hook, on which additional weight can be added for even more stability in windy conditions.
Four different ZEISS Pro-Series Tripod Kits are available: UNIVERSAL, LIGHTWEIGHT, and two variations of MAX-DUTY.
The Pro-Series UNIVERSAL model, as the name implies, offers the most complete package for a multitude of applications, with special emphasis on rock-solid stability. It comes standard with the silky-smooth ZEISS Fluid Head, perfectly balanced and with a telescopic handle that can be installed for left- or right-handed use. The head includes an Arca-Swiss top mounting system as well as an extended 1/4-20 adapter plate with rubberized anti-slip strips and safety pin for secure, solid mounting of non-Arca-Swiss compatible optics or devices.
All Pro-Series heads allow for panning as well as tilting—panning is usually a feature typically found on tripods made for video applications. The ZEISS Fluid Head, as found on the UNIVERSAL and LIGHTWEIGHT kits, has a working load of 11 pounds, while the L-55 and V-60 ball heads of the MAX-DUTY Kits allow for a working load of 66 pounds.
The UNIVERSAL kit, with center column and head attached, extends to 73 inches and collapses to a mere 30.5 inches. The tripod will handle up to 132.2 pounds of weight. The tripod, with head, weighs 6.17 pounds. Retail price is $699.99.
The Pro-Series LIGHTWEIGHT tripod kit is ideal for applications requiring frequent relocation and adjustments during observation sessions – such as birding. Its center column is longer than that on the UNIVERSAL, which makes frequent, small height adjustments quicker. Its carbon fiber legs are slightly smaller in diameter than the UNIVERSAL, contributing to its mere 4.6 pounds in overall weight. Even so, the LIGHTWEIGHT tripod supports up to 88 pounds, and extends to 69.3 inches with the center column and head attached. It also comes standard with the ZEISS Fluid Head. Retail price is $799.99.
Both UNIVERSAL and LIGHTWEIGHT kits include the tripod, fluid head, removable center column, flat plate adapter with 3/8-inch stud,1/4-20 extended adapter plate, spiked feet, leg wraps, tripod kit bag, tool kit and manual.
The ZEISS Pro-Series MAX-DUTY tripod kits are a slightly different breed, designed specifically for professional competitors in the shooting sports. They include all the same ergonomic and solid build benefits of the UNIVERSAL and LIGHTWEIGHT models, but with a few highly distinctive differences—the result of months of research and input from winning professional shooters.
One major difference is that MAX-DUTY kits include as standard our Ballhead V-60 (MAX-DUTY V kit) or Ballhead L-55 (MAX-DUTY L kit). Ballhead V-60 offers an extreme adjustment range up to 115 degrees; providing maximum versatility in tilt angles over multiple compound directions. Ballhead L-55 has a lower profile, making for a lower center of gravity, while adjusting up to 90 degrees. Another head, Ballhead Q-75, is available as an accessory option. It is designed for quick access and simplicity of use, having a single-handle adjustment with extended hook to add additional weight if desired.
In most professional shooting competitions, time is of the essence, contributing either positively or negatively to the shooter’s score. Accordingly, every element and adjustment found on a MAX-DUTY tripod kit is designed for speed. In fact, professional shooters report that the MAX-DUTY saves them between seven and fifteen seconds of setup time—often the difference between winning and losing that stage, or sometimes the match.
Large, robust carbon fiber legs (36/40/44 mm) make for an absolute steady rest in virtually any environment. The MAX-DUTY V tripod extends to 71.5 inches (82.7 inches with the center column extended and head attached), collapses to 39.8 inches, and weighs 12.1 pounds with head and center column attached. Retail price is $1,399.99.
The MAX-DUTY L tripod extends to 69.7 inches (81.5 inches with the center column extended and head attached), and collapses to 36.6 inches. It is priced at $1,299.99. Both MAX-DUTY models, with heads attached, will handle up to 66 pounds of workload.
ZEISS Pro-Series MAX-DUTY Kits include the tripod, V-60 or L-55 ballhead, removable center column, flat plate adapter with 3/8″ stud, 1/4-20 extended adapter plate, tripod bag with shoulder strap, tool kit, spiked feet and manual.
While each ZEISS Pro-Series Tripod Kit includes all necessary components, a few specialized ZEISS accessories are offered. For UNIVERSAL and LIGHTWEIGHT models, Ballhead V-60 and Ballhead L-55 are also offered as accessory options. For all models, a tripod-to-binocular adapter, Arca-Swiss and 1/4-20 compatible, is available. A universal Arca-Swiss binocular clamp is offered to hold various sizes and brands of binoculars.
Shooters will enjoy the padded, Arca-Swiss compatible Rifle Saddle Clamp, adjustable from 1.1 to 3.1 inches. Really handy is our Multi-Device Rail, also Arca-Swiss compatible, which allows multiple devices to be mounted atop a single tripod. For example, combine a phone with binoculars, a video camera alongside a spotting scope, etc. For exceptionally windy or unstable environments, our Accessory Rock Bag allows you to easily add weight to the center column, providing more downward pull and stability.
So confident are we of the quality and durability of ZEISS Pro-Series Tripod Kits, once your tripod is registered it is backed with a full 10-year warranty. Not that it should be necessary, as we’ve built the Pro-Series to serve you for a lifetime.
