Kit Reviews, Articles and Projects
Miller Compass 25 Sprinter carbon fibre review
After trying the Miller Compass 20 solo tripod, I had found something I felt I wanted to buy into. The package of a good tripod and rep gave almost all I wanted but I felt I needed a bit extra.
I chatted to the rep who helpfully popped in to H Prestons in Malvern specially for me and gave a demonstration of the range of tripods Miller produce. My niggles with the C20 Solo were that the legs and head were a touch less stable than I desired for longer lens work and had less than ideal space to grow into with larger camera combinations. This was not surprising as each tripod has its designed applications and roles. I desired something lighter, tougher, sturdier and with space for growing.
On going through the range they all seemed well made, sturdy and practical but for my purposes one particularly stood out.
The Compass 25 with sprinter carbon fibre legs is a marvel of engineering. I found it so good, I ordered one on the spot. A big dissappointment came instantly! the rep only had demo models with him so I had to wait 3 days for my new tripod. A pain when you have the patience of lad in a sweet shop and want to go play!
Probably the best Tripod I have bought and used in a long time!
For those with a slightly more heavy duty, commercial requirement the Compass 25 has looks very similar to the compass 20. The head looks identical to the C20 in most respects but looks are where the commonalities end. The distinct difference for the Compass 25 is that it is a 100mm bowl not 75mm. This means a wider head and broader footprint. Increased and wider support for the mass of the camera rig is important for a more stable base. Supporting large cameras and plates with a high centre of gravity on a smaller collumn is always going to be detrimental to stability. The bowl offers more controlable adjustment and levelling and the central collumn is stronger indeed.
As with the Compass 20 it is well made and coated in a tough black powder coat finish while anodized in places( Anodizing is an electroplated finish which passivates the alluminium to prevent corrosion and deposits a hard coating which becomes parts of the alluminiums surface). Its mixture of carbon fibre, GRP plastic and magnesium/alluminium alloy are strong too. The finish is tidy and the only marks on it, a few tooling dust marks which wiped off easily.
Leg work
The legs are solid and robust with a rigid feel to them and no play at all in most of the joints. The carbon fibre tubes used to make the legs reduce its weight by 0.6kg and add strength in the process for the attributes which carbon fibre is known for. The upper sections are connected to a lightweight aluminium/magnesium alloy 100mm skeletal bowl and each leg connects to this by a traditional bracket and bolt.
Feet of Technology
Feet on this beauty come in several flavours but flat pad feet on ball joints provide the primary feet. these attach by rubber banjos's and self level to any surface. If you need something with a bit of grip and less play these can be removed and two spikes on each foot provide less surface area but more grip. The feet do well on carpet and hard mud but I wonder what would happen on soft mud, snow or sand. They are traditional options for most tripods though and do very well. A spreader is provided which makes the frame somewhat more sturdy.
This connects using quick release buttons to each leg and has a further quick release lever to extend each arm. A joy to use and remove as needed and unlike many quick release systems these actually lock tight and are not easy to knock loose. The central spider of the arms has an upward facing rotating knob which allows control, one click at a time, to pull the legs in or spread them out also preventing them from spreading out and in effect locking them off. It is positive, easy tol hold, clicks nicely and clearly labelled.
Head
The compass 25 head is a relatively new release by Miller after a 2 year gap developing its existing technology. Four levels of counterbalance provide most operators with all that is needed to balance EX3 loaded with a few things through to PMW350 and above. The balance is in stages but works a treat when combined with the larger sliding tray. This effectively and solidly, retains the camera wherever you leave it. Also are 5 stages of fluid drag selected by a clearly labelled rotating disc which, for each axis engages the gearing system which works flawlessly. Silky, smooth and fluid describe the pans I got with this which while keeping my hand on the pan handle allowed reaching a smooth stop exactly where left, feathering at the start and end. There was no backlash in the joint at all (described as the free play before hitting resistance when reversing direction). The head has two disc brakes which clamp the head firmly for those lock off shots and the result is good but for long lens work there is a springy action in the head which in windy conditions is not 100% to my liking although with larger cameras I would usually use a much bigger heavier tripod for long lens work in rough weather. Finally a rubberised push button, as with other Compass products, illuminates a small bubble level clearly in white which makes levelling easy. I would prefer this to be red or green to preserve my night vision when filming at dusk, or later, but it is more than adequate for its purpose. All parts of the Tripod were defettled and had no sharp edges. Nothing required adjusting and all worked as it should. The camera mount is a euro type quick release plate which works well and unlike a few mainstream tripod manufacturers extends forward and back a good few inches providing a stable, solid mount. Its larger than the compass 20 plate and has a variety of up to 4 screws and pins to fix your camera or plate firmly.
A nice keyring tool was included to do up the screws along wiht a hex key for adjustment. Screws are large or small and again a rubber pad improves friction. The drag adjustment is still a dissapointment needing care to ensure the selected number is exactly on the mark. It needs this to help it engage the setting and a small positive detente ball or spring lever and notched rack gear would have fixed this nicely.
Carriage included
Finally the bag provided was very well made, easy to wear on my shoulders or in my hand, nicely balanced and with a variety of pockets to store everything I needed from camera v lock plates to other bits. Lightweight and well padded its cordura and thick foam protected the tripod well. Two inner pockets one solid and one mesh are good for further padding or more bits.
Lights, Camera, Action!
Testing has so far been limited to the slopes and hills of Malvern and my back garden, with a short walk around Eastnor park looking for deer. I have also only had this for a few days so will update if I have any issues. It feels good though and a solid contender for other major names. Walking with it does seem easier than thought but after an hour or two you do notice the weight. removing its bag decreases the weight substantially so maybe a clip on shoulder strap or lighter bag is an option. Panning is a dream. Easy, fluid and I expect no more or less for the money. The drag and counter balance controlls are irritating at the most. Since i do not use them constantly, in the dark or with multiple cameras at once I am not worried but it does need to be sorted. Deploying the tripod is very easy and I have no quibles here, the new handles allow deploying any stage without crawling on the floor. A big bonus and working as stated. I do not like the pan handle extension, it needs a nylon or PTFE sleeve as even undoing the lock completely sliding seems a bit graunchy and scratches the pan handle bar. Not a problem at all but if a tripod manufacterer had nothign at all to improve they would sell no new tripods and be lacking in inovation. All in all Im impressed and will update as its used.
Conclusion
A very well engineered, stable, smooth and useable tripod which easily meets the ENG category its aimed at. It does everything I want of it and more and is one of those products I was pleased to spend the money on and enjoyed playing when I got it back. Something I knew felt right in the shop. Its only vices the pan bar is a bit graunchy to extend and the Head drag and counter balance controls are still not positive to locate on each settting which I hope Miller will look into to improve an already stunning product. The does what it says on the tin tripod which is probably my favourite tripod of them all so far with the only downside which may never change being price. Its expensive, but I thought well worth paying.
Weight 4.5
Build quality 5
Head movement 5
Locked off stability 4.5
Price 4
Company approachability 5
