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<summary>Question: How is the 3318 different from Zero F38 (3131)?</summary>
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Answer: 3131 is the photo-first travel tripod with a standard F38 ball head (3-5kg load, 1.1kg). The 3318 is the VIDEO version: it adds a fluid-damped pan/tilt head with -55° to 90° tilt range, an integrated leveling bowl for fast camera leveling on uneven terrain, eccentric tube leg locks, and a taller 156cm max height — at 1.08kg, similar weight but built around video work. Pick 3131 for stills travel; pick 3318 if you shoot video and need fluid pans.
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<summary>Question: How does the fluid head and leveling bowl work?</summary>
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Answer: The built-in F38 video head has fixed damping (single tension setting, not multi-stage like Manfrotto 504X) for smooth pan and tilt motion — sufficient for interview, b-roll, and slow reveal shots. The integrated leveling bowl is a hemisphere joint between the head and legs: loosen the knob, tilt the head to level, tighten — no need to re-adjust individual leg lengths on uneven ground.
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<summary>Question: What's the actual load capacity?</summary>
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Answer: Tripod static load 10kg; ball head working payload 3kg (with 1.5kg dynamic rebound for video panning motion). Sony a7 IV + 24-70 GM (~1.5kg) and a1 + 70-200 (~2.2kg) are well within range. Heavy cinema rigs above 3kg static or 1.5kg in motion will exceed the head's smooth range — step up to a Sachtler-class fluid head for heavier video work.
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<summary>Question: How tall and how compact?</summary>
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Answer: Max height 156cm (61"), min 44cm (17"), folded 46cm (18"). 5-section legs at 25mm diameter. Net weight 1.08kg (2.38 lbs) — lighter than its 10kg load capacity would suggest, thanks to carbon fiber construction.
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<summary>Question: What's the "eccentric tube locking" upgrade?</summary>
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Answer: The leg-section locking mechanism uses an eccentric (off-center) cam instead of a traditional twist or flip lock. One twist locks or releases the section securely. Reviewers note this is faster than twist-locks AND less prone to leg-section slip than budget flip locks. The new design is a notable improvement over earlier F38 tripod models.
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<summary>Question: Is the F38 plate Arca-Swiss compatible?</summary>
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Answer: The F38 quick-release clamp accepts native F38 plates AND standard Arca-Swiss plates (~90% compatibility). You can use an RRS / Kirk L-bracket directly without buying a Falcam plate. The bundle option "Tripod + F38 & PD Plate 2465" adds a Peak Design Capture Clip-compatible plate at 50% off for users in both ecosystems.
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<summary>Question: Which kit should I buy?</summary>
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Answer: 4 options. (1) Tripod only ($219.95) — base setup. (2) +R002 Magic Arm Monitor Adapter (Kit 1) — for adding a monitor or accessory at 50% off the arm. (3) +F38 & PD Compatible Plate ($234.90, save $8) — if you want F38 + Peak Design plate compatibility. (4) +F38 Backpack Clip ($265.90, save $14) — for hands-free hiking carry. Most video shooters pick option 2 or 4 depending on whether you hike with the rig.
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