Need some help with selecting a tripod. The tripod is obviously lightweight and portable, but that would be useless if it had issues supporting a camera. Every time I write about or even mention the word tripod in conversation to someone, the same question always follows: How does it compare to the Peak Design Travel Tripod?. Review: Peak Design Spike Feet For Tripod - Do They Cut It? Its one of the best travel tripods ever. I have some of their stuff and theres lots of other products of theirs I would want to buy if I had the money, but this tripod has never been one of them and I dont understand everyone wetting their pants over it. I'm surprised I don't see more people talk about it, or maybe there's something about the company I don't know. $12million in Kickstarter funds is an insane amount of money for anything to earn, let alone a relatively high-end product from a (sadly) declining photography market. I have used the tripod until recently with my trusty gimbal head, as you can see below. If not mistaken, I paid just over $200 for the tripod and "Demon" ball head, including an excellent case. But how does the tripod perform in the field? Again, there is no magic here. I got the carbon fiber version of that on sale last year and have no complaints at all. This type of reverse ballhead is gaining traction not just from Peak Design, and while it is a fast and light solution, it does have some downsides. His passion is birds. To determine your tripod's compatibility, read on: 1. On top of the head is a bubble level to help you get a nice level horizon. Period. I dont expect anyone to be feeling buyers remorse with these tripods, and I do expect Peak Design to make some fans of their products for life. Peak Design Travel Tripod Orders You can place an order on the Peak Design website. Having said that, the PD is nowhere near as stable as my Gitzo, but that is to be expected for a travel tripod compared to a full tripod setup. How does the Peak Design Travel Tripod perform in this regard? The problem is that most gimbal heads are quite tall and heavy. The latching mechanism for the quick release is fine. I wouldnt go for a tripod thats much lighter than this one from Peak Design, at the given height. The height with the conversion kit is as follows: Removal of the main leg sections results in a dramatic weight loss for the tripod. Owners of the carbon version can rest safe in the knowledge that they bought the best of the best (at least from Peak Design), whereas aluminum owners can sleep safely knowing they probably got the better deal and spent their money very wisely. It's a lot of money. It's $600. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1432473-REG/leofoto_ls_284c_lh_30_kit_ls_284c_lh_30_ranger_series_tripod.html/?msclkid=f27cc65bc86f1bf374eea6c95293abd7, https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1432474-REG/leofoto_ls_324c_lh_40_kit_ls_324c_ranger_series_tripod.html, Leofoto Portage Kit LS-324C+LH-40+32LS Tripod Carbon Fiber CF 4 Section & 40mm Low Profile Ball Head & Modular Strap, https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/848826-REG/FEISOL_CT_3441T_RAPID_CARBON_TRIPOD_TRAVEL_4_SECTION_TALL.html, https://thecentercolumn.com/rankings/systematic-tripod-rankings/, https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1328229-REG/gitzo_gk2545t_82qdus_traveler_tripod_kit_gt2545t.html. Several reviewers agree with you that it is a much better value and is more stable. Peak Design Travel Tripod (Carbon Fiber) Check Price 9 Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 263CB 100 Check Price 10 Gitzo GT5563GS Check Price (Image credit: Luk Vatko on Unsplash) The best carbon fiber tripods are some of the best tripods that photographers can buy. If you go for the carbon version, youll spend extra money, but do you get any extra performance? I feel, it goes above and beyond Peak Design and is almost half price. Starting from a clean sheet of paper instead of being influenced by iterated designs from a current product lineup has catapulted Peak Design into the upper echelons of the tripod market. Im sure its a good marketing strategy and works well to drive sales but Im inclined to agree. As you can see above, the tripod legs are made up of five sections that are tightened using four quick-release levers. Duffel Bags Shop All. Additionally the ball head on either the LS-284C (LH-30) or LS-324C (LH-40), are far more versatile than the one on the Peak Design. The whole tripod will then weigh just 0.774 kg (1.7 lbs), although the maximum height is now just 36 cm (14 inches), or 58 cm (23 inches) with the center column up. All other specifications are the same. Due to this media attention, more photographers than ever are aware of this tripod and I have received vastly more questions about it than any other tripod or piece of support equipment. A great waterproof tripod: Sirui W-1004K10 Tripod . Once you decide to purchase the Travel Tripod, the inevitable next question is carbon or aluminum?. Several times I've noticed my camera (a Fuji XT-2 with the 18-55 lens) slowly slipping down. I doubt that many people will buy this tripod for the sole purpose of using it with a phone, but Youtube creators will likely find it handy for behind-the-scenes shots, b-roll and time-lapses. Thanks for adding your comments, Tim. Regular readers of this site will have heard me talk about the tripod before. There are two tripods in the Peak Design portfolio, the only difference being the materials used. Much better and stable than expected, its only significant downside being that it does not go very high. In the future, you can always look to add the flat base and a 3rd party ball head when it makes financial sense. If your budget can stretch to it, I think the carbon version is worth the extra money for the weight savings. Have read some reviews that are very positive and have one on order. It would be a mistake for most people to downsize from a larger 2-series or 3-series tripod to this one because you will find that it is less stable. But before we dive into some initial impressions, here's the nitty gritty: the tripod will be available in aluminum for $350 and carbon fiber for $600 - both prices include a ball head - however you can score the tripod for much less by backing it on Kickstarter now. Add at least two items to compare. Panoramic photographers will appreciate the unique click stops that can be engaged on the panning base to allow for easily repeatable panning positions, and filmmakers will appreciate the included panning arm that lets you create silky smooth pan and tilt movements that are far cleaner than you get with low-end video fluid heads. Its a heck of a jump from $350 to $600, for a tripod that performs the same and looks almost identical to boot. And while it lacks some features, it still extends to become almost as tall as the Peak Design tripod and, with that optional short column add-on, retracts to be almost as short as well. 10: The PD is one of the stiffest tripods for its size. If not, let me know! So without further ado, let's give . He reached a total of 5,258 backers who put in $364,698. Print Email. Im much happier with this setup than I was when using the included ball head. TBF I watch mostly landscape photography youtubers, and I haven't seen a single one even try the PD tripod, even for travel purposes. Love the multi-tool if only all manufacturers would use the same size we could all carry just one, or maybe two hex keys and this is the way to do it. As a companion to a good general purpose or systematic tripod, the peak design tripod is a great addition for when size matters but not a good choice as a sole . Putting a heavy head on a compact ultralight travel tripod would typically result in a setup that is far too top-heavy and unstable. The spike feet are lighter than the rubber bushes by a few grams, but are incredibly tough and bite without slippage into ice and on rock: the points are quite clever, exposed when the legs are extended at an angle but not so sharp as to snag on fabric. The downside to the low-profile head design is that it doesnt have an independent panning base. Very happy with it after owning it for several months now. Even some typos are fine for me. Ive found the PD head better than suggested in the article: it holds my Nikon D850 with a battery pack and a long lens perfectly firmly and, slightly loosened, works reasonably well to pan. If I know I will be shooting mainly with a telephoto lens, I replace it with my original gimbal head. I totally get why they have gone with this design. A universal adapter is provided for this purpose. Caveat: I mostly use it for landscape, nightscapes and cityscapes with relatively light mirrorless cameras and bodies. This is a great tripod, but I really want to make sure that people buy the right tripod for their needs! Another reason to just use the included head is the cost of entry for the system. Both the case for the Travel Tripod and the tripod itself has connection points for the Peak Design Anchor System. I honestly like it better than the way I had to mount my camera before (ie: sliding the quick release into the head and tightening down on a lever.). Theyre fine, I guess, but I wish they were sharper. November 3 rd, 2022 59. chevron_rightshow all Lab Tests. Sort: Clear All. However, a standard ball head will give you the benefits of a proper 90-degree drop notch for portrait shooting, as well as a panning base foe panoramic photography. To me the big fail of the PD tripod is the non standard clamp. The Travel Tripod includes a phone adapter that can be used on the ball head to hold your phone. At $449 its not a cheap piece of equipment, but it is easily one of the best tripod heads of any kind that I have ever tested for this site. Get answers to your questions in our photography forums. Gitzo's Traveler series has even smaller models, the lightest of which has a weight of just 0.9kg, including the head. Cover this product: 3-Year Protection $65.99 Learn more However, one needs to be very careful in protecting the tripod head from sand and other fine particles. For $200 you get a tripod that folds shorter and is lighter. In that sense, I think it does surprisingly well even with decidedly-not-travel setups like the one above. I found this useful for some behind-the-scenes shots on my phone in the field. Shop By Brand. Gitzo Tripod Legs (28) GNARBOX (9) GNARBOX Backup Devices (5) GNARBOX Hard Drives & Storage Devices (5) GNARBOX Memory Card Readers (3) Goal Zero (21) GODOX (355 . Gitzos Traveler series has even smaller models,the lightest of whichhas a weight of just 0.9kg, including the head. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Where it stands out are the extremely compact design and the unusual features like the phone holder, integrated ballhead, and the ability to convert it to a tabletop tripod. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The jaws around the ball slot neatly into the area between the leg joints. The edges are grooved so you can get some friction, but it's annoying and I'm never super confident that it will be tight enough. He fell in love with this part of the world and since then he likes to return there with his camera to popularize its nature with his photographs, talks and articles. If you want to use your own ball head on the Peak Design Travel Tripod, the included inverted ball head can be quickly removed and replaced with the Universal Ball Head Adapter. So, do you save 300+ grams of weight on your total carrying load, or, does carrying the carbon version of the tripod allow you the capacity to carry an extra lens in your bag that you might otherwise have left at home? Its doubtful you will find a head for less than 126g, so going this route does increase the overall weight of your setup. The stock head doesn't allow for. It is relatively easy for sand to enter the inner mechanisms of the head. What moves is the rest of the head, to which you mount the camera. Its too short! Compare Manfrotto Element Small Aluminum Traveler Tripod Black vs Manfrotto Element MII Aluminum Tripod with Ball Head Black vs Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod vs . I thought the small ball head would be more likely to slip but you know you have to put a ridiculous amount of weight on it for that to happen and even then, only if it's at a wonky angle. Comparing Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Gitzo . The Ultimate Peak Design Travel Tripod Review! There is nothing magic about this tripod in that regard. It will give you sharper images, but youll have to deal with constantly bending down to use the camera. I can pretty much guarantee that it is stiffer than the 5-section Sirui A1205 (and while the Sirui collapses 20 mm shorter, it is wider when collapsed than the PD). Traveler Tripods, with the 180 Degree leg folding system pioneered by Gitzo, makes more efficient use of folded space by accommodating the center column and head in between the folded tripod legs. Duffel Bags. Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims. The first thing I would want to do is replace the expensive PD clamp system with a proper Acra Swiss compatible one. Gura Gear Kiboko City Commuter 18L The Perfect Camera Bag Found? Even the load capacity is the same 9.1 kg (20 lbs) on both although keep in mind that load capacity ratings are inconsistent between tripod companies. (1) MeFoto - was used for when I needed a little "travel" tripod. The Peak Design Travel Tripod rethinks what a go-anywhere tripod looks like, eschewing the fold-up designs of competitors to more easily fit into your pack. One of the main selling points of this tripod is the minimization of dead space. This makes a taller and heavier setup, but it has the benefit of being faster to swap between using the built-in head and using a 3-rd party ball head that has additional panning features and more ergonomic controls. Back to Product List . Interestingly, hidden within the center column is a smartphone holder that you can pull out and clamp to the tripod head. This gimbal really is a jack of all trades. The Gitzo is 35% stiffer and benefits from a standard ball head. The carbon version costs $599.95 and weighs 1307g in the standard configuration. When you consider purchasing a travel tripod of any type, this lower maximum height is another thing that needs consideration. I purchased just the legs on ebay for $269 and the ballhead on Amazon on a great sale for $99. (just my 2 YMMV) Much prefer the gitzo with the above ball head. Another thing I dont like is that in order to move the head, you first have to raise the center column slightly only about 1cm, so it wont really affect rigidity, but it does affect the ease of use. Thats one dollar per gram you save! Thanks for the kind words. As you can see in the photos, the size of the Fotopro E-6H gimbal is a perfect match for the Peak Design Travel Tripod when you have the Universal Head Adapter in place. I have larger tripods in my closet but I do keep coming back to this one when Im packing my bag and feeling it getting heavier and heavier. Keeping the centre column collapsed is always a good idea in anything but the calmest wind conditions with any travel tripod. Performance & security by Cloudflare. (FYI) Have only seen it online and didn't like the design. But at that weight, youre sacrificing a lot of stability. This is still a travel tripod, and if you are planning on buying one then you must be prioritizing small size and light weight, otherwise, this isnt the right tripod for you. Peak Design has taken this one step further and created a bespoke mini multitool that can be stored in your bag or attached to the leg of the tripod in a removable plastic sheath. We spent 4 years redesigning the tripod from the ground up, creating a travel tripod that packs down to the diameter of a water bottlewithout compromising height, stability, or features. If youre looking for a travel tripod, youd be mad not to have this one on your shortlist. Another way to think of it is, for a 270 g savings in weight, you pay $270 extra. Peak Design again comes close with its travel tripod and while it is smaller and has a unique. These are the questions you will have to ask yourself, and the answers will be personal. PL provides various digital photography news, reviews, articles, tips, tutorials and guides to photographers of all levels, By Libor Vaicenbacher 22 CommentsLast Updated On February 20, 2023. In order to minimize the folded size of the tripod, it features 5 telescoping leg sections that have a unique cross-sectional shape. Never in history has a tripod received as much online press attention as the Peak Design Travel Tripod. If so, it would be interesting to hear what your other choices are and what you use most? Just keep in mind that a fully extended column will harm the stability of a tripod. Portability or sturdiness? Fitter, younger photographers might not bat an eyelid at an extra 300g, but you certainly will feel that difference on a long day of hiking as you get older. The Peak Design Travel Tripod uses a quick-release plate that is small with a low profile. But keep in mind that the Peak Design tripod is intended primarily as a travel model. The tripod head itself works in the opposite way of most conventional ball heads. Offering a sleek and retro design, the 35mm f/0.95 Lens from TTArtisan is an ultra-fast normal-length prime for APS-C-format cameras. I like Libors suggestion about using a different ball head to replace the Peak Design tripod head in dusty or sandy environments. If needed, the stiffness of each lever can be fine-tuned with the included hex wrench. After some time, most of them have been collecting dust in a dark corner although I have been able to sell some of them. For years, traditional tripods have suffered from needless bulk and wasted space. Used with my long lenses (300 f/2.8, 200-600, etc) with no issues. Even with todays image stabilization, a tripod is still a requirement in many cases, so its important to find one with the right balance of characteristics. But it is so light and small that I do not hesitate taking it on the most strenuous hikes. Ein ideales Stativ fr Reisen und Wanderungen. Compare Manfrotto Befree Advanced Travel Aluminum Tripod with 494 Ball Head Lever Locks, Black vs Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod vs Oben AT-3565 Aluminum Travel Tripod and BZ-217T Triple-Action Ball Head vs Gitzo GT1545T Series 1 Traveler Carbon Fiber Tripod with Center Ball Head It really just comes down to weight, and whether you want to carry that extra 307g on your hikes and travels. From a speed perspective, the Peak Design Travel Tripod blows the competition out of the water. When fully collapsed, there are barely any gaps between the legs, leg locks and column. The legs are nice. If "fold" length is your primary factor neither Leofoto tripod suggested by sjms is going to beat the Peak or Gitzo. I'm sure this post doesn't break much new ground but most of the negativity I've seen has been towards the legs and price and not a lot of talk about the ball head. If you need a tripod that takes up as little space as possible then Peak Design has an extremely compelling product. I recommend it over the Peak Design. This clever outside-the-box thinking has truly produced the most compact full-sized travel tripod I have ever seen. But I find it way too expensive for what it is. Ive noticed no wibble during long exposures, even when its been noticeably windy, although those shots are usually at quite short focal lengths. Peak Design Travel Tripod Gitzo 1545T Sirui N-1204SK Down below you can vote also your favorite amongst these tripods. Hey Everyone! The circumference difference of the two tripods is significant. Thanks Andrew. I was lucky enough to have a pre-production model in my hands for some time during the Kickstarter launch, and I took it on an epic 5000km road trip to the Arctic Ocean. These tripods weigh more than my camera body. There are many other tripods on the market that are more stable than the Peak Design Travel Tripod, but they are heavier and larger 2-series or 3-series designs. Sample Images: Any recommendation on the ball head? I am amazed there was $12M of total business out there for new travel tripods thats what 4000 pre-orders from increasingly rare animals (photographers who actually pack tripods, etc). The hex heads are the same sizes as the new tool. By installing a reducer bushing into the 3/8 16 thread on the base of your ball head, you can then attach the included Peak Design tripod plate onto the head and directly mount it to the built-in ball head of the tripod. No items to compare. Its definitely worth a look if you have a store near you, or a friend that has one. Sirui is the most underrated brand. Required fields are marked*. They share a maximum height of 152 cm (60 inches) when the center column is raised, and 130 cm (51 inches) when its not. In terms of price and specifications, the Travel Tripod by Peak Design is most similar to the Gitzo Series 2 Traveler (for $649). Im using the Ulanzi Zero Y carbon fiber. If you did this it would be a very expensive tabletop tripod. Hoping to receive my Heipi in a couple weeks or so (Bought on Kickstarter.). I hate having to bend over to compose and focus. GK1555T-82TQD is a Traveler tripod/head kit comprising the 5-section GT1555T Tripod and the GH1382TQD Center Ball Head. RED V-RAPTOR 8K VV Lab Test: Rolling Shutter, Dynamic Range and Latitude - plus Video! The cheaper of the pair uses aluminum alloy for the legs, while the tripod Im reviewing today is made of carbon fiber. That being said, there are a lot of great tripods that are cheap(er than the PD) and really stiff, like the Leofoto LS-224C, the CTC Centennial 2 Aluminum, and the new FLM tripods. (By the way, this is the same Prague Castle that I told you about in my recent Photography News, the largest coherent castle complex in the world.). They say the best camera is the one you have with you. Your email address will not be published or shared. Determine which plate you have. This can come in handy if, for example, you were shooting with the tripod submerged in muddy water or the sea. lighter than the 3-section Gitzo setup at 6.4 lbs. I tend to think of a tripod as a necessary evil. Comparison of expert ratings Highly Recommended Recommended Mentioned Not Mentioned PCmag The Peak Design Travel Tripod raised an incredible $12million on Kickstarter when it was launched. Was thinking of just getting the kit head that comes with it at BH. Boasting impressive specs, the tripod height adjusts from 5.5 to 60", folds down to only 15.5", holds up to 20 lb, and is constructed from carbon fiber. Peak Design also is noteworthy for their limited lifetime guarantee on the tripod, so they definitely trust it to last for many years. In this effort they have been spectacularly successful, but they cannot operate outside the laws of physics. I was worried the k-10x wouldn't be strong enough for my setup but it adjusts as smooth as butter and locks down rock solid. Raising the center column to adjust the tilt of the ball head is annoying, especially since you have to really crank the knob on the side to lock it in place. Peak Design was laser focused on making the most compact possible, fully featured tripod. 1K, 3K, & MT-11- Review . Compare Benro MeFoto GlobeTrotter Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod Kit Black vs Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Gitzo GT2545T Series 2 Traveler Carbon Fiber . Its important to understand that this is not a magic tripod that has suddenly overcome all laws of physics. Its light, small enough to fit into the side pocket of my bag. My old travel tripod, a Dolica 65", folded down juuuuust small enough to fit in my checked baggage if I jammed it in. The opening of the legs is similar as you can in one motion, open the cam locks, extend out the single leg, and lock. it clearly provides a lighter tripod that is shorter when collapsed. Youre getting a lot of clever design for your money here, and there are fewer competitive products. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"UUtxcX0A28JS6Grxm6.PIDJQ7dJ4JezLjiPedqPBFRs-86400-0"}; You can use any arca swiss compatible plate with it. Not only is it strong, smooth and stable, but it also has the unique ability to rotate the vertical gimbal arm forwards or backwards up to 180 degrees in 45-degree increments. Although designed for this tripod, you could use the phone holder in any other Arca-Swiss compatible clamp. What I started to notice, though, is that a lot of people were considering this tripod when it was clearly not the right choice for them. Flaws but not dealbreakers. You are welcome, Rita. When Ulanzi offered a tripod for testing, I was keen to see how it fared. This Peak Design travel tripod is made of weather-resistant and impact-resistant materials for durability. On this tripod, the center column is not the usual circular shape. Something similar can be said of most of the other higher-end carbon fiber companies out there today, like FLM, RRS, and many others. This is not a good place to simply share cool photos/videos or promote your own work and projects, but rather a place to discuss photography as an art and post things that would be of interest to other photographers. A whopping 27,169 backers raised a record amount of $12,143,435. If you want to keep the setup as light as possible, theres no better way to do it. Is the folded height with the ball head on or off? I bought a Sirui and it fell apart in 2 years. But if you cant stretch that far, the aluminum version is actually a better value. The Peak Design Travel Tripod is available in two versions, and then there are further options to adapt the tripod by adding accessories or removing unnecessary parts. At $350, the aluminum Travel Tripod is slightly more expensive but also lighter than MeFoto's $220 GlobeTrotter Classic, but it's cheaper than Gitzo's $725 1.97-pounds Series 0 Traveler. And even your own tripod head. Some lightweight models can do more harm than good, but the Peak Design travel tripod definitely is worth carrying in my bag. /r/photography is a place to politely discuss the tools, technique and culture of photography. With the ballhead, the Sirui is a bit heavier (1,6kg) but this comes at a fraction of the price of the Peak Design tripod. The key is to know the tripodslimitations. When designing the quick release mechanism on our Travel Tripod, a top criteria was to make sure it functioned well with all the plates that Peak Design has made over the years. Hes a lucky guy, John! So, just because Im very happy with the Peak Design travel tripod, doesnt mean its the only option out there. This makes them on in soft mud or loose gravel, but not a lot of use on ice or smooth rock. They have free shipping to many places and their customer service team are always on hand to help if you have any problems. Im really enjoying mine. Hopefully answered those questions you had. It might not be that bad if the knob was bigger or had a flat part that you could put pressure on it to tighten it down, but you adjust it as if you were setting the time on an analog watch. The unique design of the Travel Tripod doesnt stop at the legs. The Peak Design Travel Tripod features five-section aluminum or carbon fiber legs with quick-release latches. I travel up to 6 months each year. To me that means that I will be more inclined to use it. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about this tripod, and Ill do my best to answer! Additional Ways to Use a 3rd Party Ball Head, The Perfect Gimbal Head for the Peak Design Tripod, in-depth guide to the best gimbals on the market, Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod Tripod. I've been satisfied with every single thing I've bought of theirs. The Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod was liked best by camerajabber.com, which gave it a score of 10, while the Gitzo Mini Traveler got its highest, 8, score from camerajabber.com. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The whole thing is either locked or unlocked. DPReview TV: Travel Tripod Shootout (Manfrotto, Peak Design, Gitzo and Sirui) Ulanzi MT-34 at 1690| Unboxing Ulanzi 3 in 1 MT-34 Extendable Stick| Ulanzi Best Tripod. Finally, if the original head does not suit you, any other head can be substituted. While theres certainly still a group who can benefit from these, its small and getting smaller. In this case, giving you a max height of 130.2 cm. Any ball head that you place on it, can be held in securely by a trio of set screws that come up from beneath the head. This means you save 126g by removing the ball head, but of course, you then need to find a ball head of your own to install. It has a max height that is similar to the Peak Design but without having to use a center column, it is carbon fiber and very stable. Gitzo GT1545/2545T leg height position question: 5: Shout Out To PayBoo' Most bookmarked in this forum. Its the only way that I use the tripod myself. The E-6H gimbal is absolutely tiny compared to every other gimbal on the market, yet it is rock solid and has by far the smoothest pan and tilt motions of any gimbal I have ever tested.
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