Another detail for this product is the compacted they became and long extension to work more close to the interview person.

Could be better

Pole itself is typical Carbon Fiber. Nice to handle and is a fine size to keep in the trunk just in case. The segment locks are really a case of trying to be way to clever. They only sort of work and do not really LOCK. The ancient, plain twist locks, should never have been abandoned. It is near impossible to get a secure lock out of these. I notice that I am not the only one who has commented on this.

Do not recommend

This is one of those products that has to call itself pro because it's trying to be something it's not. The locks are just awful. I don't get a reaffirming click, instead I have to engage the lock then grip it HARD and twist with force to make it lock firmly. The standard screw type locks on other booms are fine, Rode should go back to those. There is also an unacceptable amount of handling noise, I think it's the fibre creaking inside the locks, and when a tube is not fully extended you can hear the interior portion of the tube making contact with its parent tube. The ends should have a rubber bumper or something to reduce or eliminate this noise. Lastly, I wiped the pole with a damp cloth to clear some dust after a quick walk around outside and discovered that ... MoreThis is one of those products that has to call itself pro because it's trying to be something it's not. The locks are just awful. I don't get a reaffirming click, instead I have to engage the lock then grip it HARD and twist with force to make it lock firmly. The standard screw type locks on other booms are fine, Rode should go back to those. There is also an unacceptable amount of handling noise, I think it's the fibre creaking inside the locks, and when a tube is not fully extended you can hear the interior portion of the tube making contact with its parent tube. The ends should have a rubber bumper or something to reduce or eliminate this noise. Lastly, I wiped the pole with a damp cloth to clear some dust after a quick walk around outside and discovered that when wet, it is much harder to collapse the pole as water will create increased friction in the locks. I had to put the base on the ground and lean my bodyweight into it in order to collapse the pole. Getting a spot of rain while filming is not uncommon and this rules it out of using for paid work. On the plus side it is very light and it's nice to get a case (a basic hard-ish case).

Excellent boompole

I'm very satisfied with this boompole. Here you get a lot of value for the money. Good quality for the price and where it light

Frustrating for real use

I love carbon fiber, the weight is great, but I find the twist locks terrible to use, especially when moving quickly. They spin around when 'locked' and not easy to quickly feel confident that your pole won't slide. The design feels poor to me. I also find the top mounting screw easily gets loose and requires an alarm wrench and a screw driver to make sure your blimp isn't shaking around 10' Up in the air. Using this on a feature I've found it to be a real hassle at times. That said it's useable, and the price for what you get maybe is about right, just be aware if you need a reliable tool.

Lightweight but stiff sections

I’ve used this boom for 3 years now on various crews. Most of the time I love it. It is lightweight. That’s the reason I purchased one for myself. The carbon fiber is a game changer when you’re carrying this around a shoot all day. It comes with a carrying case which is a nice extra.Biggest downsides to this pole are the locking mechanisms and how well the sections slide in and out. The locks just aren’t satisfying. They don’t actually lock into place, it’s just a tightening like most other poles. I often forget which direction to turn them and end up loosening them. The sections over time become sticky or rough or something, and won’t slide well. Sometimes you can’t get the section to move at all without some serious intentionality.All said the lightweight ... MoreI’ve used this boom for 3 years now on various crews. Most of the time I love it. It is lightweight. That’s the reason I purchased one for myself. The carbon fiber is a game changer when you’re carrying this around a shoot all day. It comes with a carrying case which is a nice extra.Biggest downsides to this pole are the locking mechanisms and how well the sections slide in and out. The locks just aren’t satisfying. They don’t actually lock into place, it’s just a tightening like most other poles. I often forget which direction to turn them and end up loosening them. The sections over time become sticky or rough or something, and won’t slide well. Sometimes you can’t get the section to move at all without some serious intentionality.All said the lightweight nature of this pole makes it my go-to out on a shoot, despite its downsides.

Nice but not perfect

The locking system can be a little annoying at times when extending or shortening the boom pole. Wish you could run a cable through it.Other than that, nice boom pole. Light weight is a plus.

Nice for the price point.

First of all I love dealing with the folks at pictureline.The Boompole is light and easy to handle. The twist locks are a bit different in they don't rotate beyond maybe an inch. It takes a few times using them to get used to them. I have a RODE NTG2 mounted on it with external XLR cable and when fully extended it has the slightest bend. The weight and rigidity make it easy to handle in the field. The sound man will be happy. This version is an older model and has no foam on the handle but it's still comfortable enough to use all day. If 10 feet is long enough for your use then I think you'll be happy this Boompole. I ordered this online and shipped to CT. Thanks again pictureline for the great service.

Really - a great boom pole!

Quality!!!!! - light - so easy to use for doing long shoots. I have one set up in the studio on a C-stand with a boom mic for extra audio capture. So well balanced and strong. Buy the Rode bag to protect it.

Rigid and light

Great entry level boom. It's all you need (unless your DP is into super wide shots, and you need more than 10 feet!)