Sunway T3240CM tripod + XB 44 ball head + TA75 LBP leveling

[BFR]

Hello guys, I want to share with you my opinion about the Sunway T3240 tripod, which I have with the with the XB44 ball head and the super confortable TA75LBP leveling bowl. For me is the perfect set up. Here I share my review of it.

 

Introduction

Carbon tripods without a central column are a widely used option currently in photography. These are robust and stable tripods, but at the same time light. For this reason, and for the fact that they do not corrode, they are a good option for both landscape photography (including coastal photography) and wide-field astrophotography with a tracker.

In this post I am going to do a brief review of a tripod with these characteristics that I was recently sent to test: the Sunwayphoto T3240CM, which I have combined with the XB44 ball head, and the TA75 LBP leveling bowl.

 

Tripod T3240CM

The T3240 is a carbon tripod made up of 4 sections that, when extended, is 140 centimeters high. It does not have a central column, but it does have a system that allows one to be placed if desired. It has a very high load capacity (25kg) and, even so, has a similar weight to other tripods with similar characteristics, such as the popular Leofoto LS34C or the Benro Tortoise 34C. Actually, it weighs 1.55kg. Like its counterparts, it has a system of locking tabs that allow the tripod legs to be opened almost completely, allowing it to be placed practically fully on the ground. Apart from the very high quality of its materials and the premium design it presents, it has a series of characteristics that make it quite unique within its range:

• Hard, thick and watertight threads. The threads of the Sunway T3240 are of very good quality. I have already come across several tripods whose rubber bands are thinner and more flexible, and they have given me problems in humid conditions, since, when using them, they slide on their base and do not allow them to be screwed or unscrewed. This is not the case with the T3240CM, which, in addition to being very robust and functional, has a sealing system that prevents water or particles from entering through them, which makes this tripod a very good option for coastal photography.
• Air expulsion system when extending and retracting the legs. The tripod has an air inlet and expulsion system for the legs that makes its extension and retraction work like silk, preventing a vacuum from being created. In addition, it is enough to turn 1/4 of the threads to loosen them and make them slide smoothly.
• Internal anti-breakage stops. The design of the internal leg stops is very very good. This is a thread-locking design in which the stop piece not only hugs the leg (which is typical for most tripods), but also grips the top of each section. This means that, over time, this piece does not open and break, thus avoiding problems when extending and retracting the legs in the medium and long term.
• Upper part that allows different accessories to be incorporated. The top of the tripod has a platform system on which to mount the head. This part is removable and allows different accessories to be incorporated, such as leveling bases or central columns. In my case, I have mounted the TA75LBP7 leveling accessory, which I will talk about below.

XB44 ball head

As for the XB44, it is a very robust and resistant low-profile head. Like the rest of Sunwayphoto products, its construction is very good. All its threads (the clamp, the ball and the rotating base) work smoothly and tighten and release their sections progressively. In addition, the thread of the ball has an adjustment system that allows you to control the level of friction of said ball to taste. Also notable is the fact that it has two notches, which allow the camera to be tilted at two different points of rotation. without having to rotate its base or, if you want, go from horizontal to vertical orientation with ease.

TA75 LBP Leveling Bowl

As for the TA75 LBP bowl, it is an accessory that is placed on the top of the tripod and works as a leveling base on which to mount the head. It has a threaded handle that comes out from under the top of the tripod (between the legs). With said thread located on the handle, the base is loosened, and the accessory (and, consequently, the equipment) can be leveled following the bubble level it has. This, apart from being much more comfortable than the traditional leveling base system, is also safer, since it allows the equipment to be leveled in a more controlled way thanks to the fact that we have a very good grip. This accessory can be used on different Sunway tripods using its corresponding adapter, but also on tripods from other brands.

 

Conclusions

In short, the Sunway T3240CM is a very high-quality tripod that also has some very interesting specific features. I would highlight the design of the threads and stops on the legs, designed to avoid problems in demanding conditions such as coastal photography or in humid environments.

Regarding the XB-44 head, I would highlight its robustness and stability, which makes it a very good option for heavy equipment or, as in my case, for astrophotography with a tracker.

Finally, the TA75 LBP leveling bowl has been a real discovery. I found it to be a much more comfortable and functional leveling system than conventional leveling bases, which is why it has become essential in my equipment.

I bought it in the sunway official website:

Tripod + ball head:

https://sunwayfoto.com/products/sunwayfoto-t3240cm-fiber-tripod-for-video-camera-photography-weight-outdoor-tripod-waterproof-55-0lb-load?variant=41531642904734

Leveling bowl:

https://sunwayfoto.com/products/sunwayfoto-ta-75lbp-75mm-half-ball-bowl-adapter-convert-video-bowl-metal-with-bubble-level-tripod?_pos=2&_sid=845e67eab&_ss=r