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- Review count3
- Helpfulness votes55
- First reviewAugust 8, 2016
- Last reviewFebruary 14, 2017
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
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Jefe's Reviews
Take shake-free videos and pictures with this Sunpak PlatinumPlus Ultra 7000 2-in-1 70" tripod and monopod, which features a 3-way, fluid-effect, quick-release pan head with a built-in bubble level to support and stabilize your camera or camcorder.
Customer Rating
4
Mid-level tripod, quality build.
on February 14, 2017
Posted by: Jefe
I use a tripod daily in my work, especially for shooting time-lapse video and this Sunpak model was an emergency buy when the wind knocked over my Bower tripod while capturing a sunset in the park. Miraculously, the camera survived without a scratch, but one of the legs broke clean off the Bower. Supposed to have a lifetime warranty, but who has time to ship off a tripod for repairs? So I managed to squeak into Best Buy on a Sunday evening and snag this Sunpak. BB evidently doesn't carry Bower tripods anymore.
The easy conversion for a monopod is the key selling point with the Sunpak. The center tube and mounting head pull straight out of the tripod assembly, then the center post telescopes and locks for a monopod. Too handy. The dual bubble-style levels (one is built into the mounting plate for the camera) are a useful feature. It sets up and collapses quickly.
A few things to be aware of:
For $50-$60 (depending on if you luck out with a sale), this is not a pro-grade tripod. For many shooters, it's sufficient for still photography and weekend video shoots. Don't expect the most fluid pan head.
Although I like the overall build quality (the tripod has some heft to it), I'm wary of the snap locks on the tripod legs. Betting these will be the first to break.
The BB online information for this product states that it comes with two quick-release mounting plates for cameras. Mine came with one.
Check the online sale price and compare to the store price (this applies to ANYTHING at Best Buy). Often you'll see the online price is lower and that's what you should pay in the store. They are supposed to honor that.
This tripod does not come with a carrying bag. I had an extra, so no biggie. The Sunpak does have a folding handle, but you'll want a carry bag with a strap to sling over your shoulder and keep your hands free. All tripods beyond tabletop models ought to come with a carry bag. Are you listening, manufacturers?
My Best Buy number: 8503635894
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+6points
6of 6voted this as helpful.
Altec Lansing Mini Life Jacket Portable Bluetooth Speaker: Pump up your next party with this speaker's powerful sound and long-lasting battery. The water-resistant design floats on water for worry-free fun in the pool or on the beach.
Posted by: Jefe
The Mini Life Jacket was my first decent Bluetooth speaker -- a dramatic step-up from a little iHome cube with a keychain fob. This Mini Life Jacket delivers good sound in a rugged package, though the price point merits some consideration. This product has a battery life in my experience of maybe 12 hours and retails for about $100. For $200 you can step up to the Boom Jacket II, which is the most recent Altec Lansing product. I actually caught a sale and picked up the Boom Jacket model for $130. For this I got 4x the battery life, twice the number of built-in speakers, deeper bass response and a USB charging port for a smartphone -- incredibly handy, because your phone battery will die from playing tunes long before the Altec Lansing coughs and quits. Also, the Boom Jacket is loud as lucifer, wonderfully so. It will really crank.
The other issue about the Mini Life Jacket is that, despite all the claims to being waterproof, sand and dust-proof, submersible, etc., it is not especially heat proof. Couple of times during the summer I left it in the car for maybe an hour and on my return the internal amplifier could barely coax a whisper through the speakers. Taking the Mini Life Jacket into an air conditioned area restored the volume output after about half an hour. So if you choose this model, be prepared to tote it around with you.
The Mini weighs half as much as the Boom Jacket II, mainly due to the much smaller rechargeable battery. Because it's lighter, the Mini might be preferable for clamping to a bike's handlebars or for backpacking. But if you plan on being out all day, especially at the beach or in an isolated area where juice is not readily available, the Boom Jacket II will rock and roll and seemingly never stop. So, with the Mini we're talking light weight and decent sound versus the Boom Jacket that weighs twice as much, but delivers four times the battery life and pumps out awesome sound. Plus you get a charging port for your phone or tablet.
My Best Buy number: 400464414
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Dance to the music with this Altec BoomJacket speaker. It has a lithium-ion battery that delivers up to 50 hours of music on a single charge, and its Bluetooth connectivity lets you connect to your tablet, iPod or Android phone from up to 50 feet away. Listen to music outdoors with this water-resistant, shock-proof and floatable Altec BoomJacket speaker.
Posted by: Jefe
This is my second Altec Lansing product, an upgrade from the Mini Life Jacket, which is great for its size. The 50-hour battery life sold me on the BoomJacket II. I have yet to run it down with daily use. Really sweet sound, with a noticeable improvement in bass response over the original BoomJacket released more than a year ago. And this model is powerful. I paired it with my phone, cued up some Zeppelin and goosed the volume higher and higher and higher until I was laughing in delight. No clipping, no distortion, just a fine, clean sound. This speaker can knock monkeys out of trees. Definitely going to the beach with me. I also like the rugged design. Unlike a lot of Bluetooth speakers, this one doesn't look or feel dainty. It also has a pairing feature that lets you connect two BoomJackets for those times when you really want to make a racket -- and why wouldn't you?
My Best Buy number: 4004644147
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+42points
49of 56voted this as helpful.
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