Much like the multitool, Peak Design has also gone to great lengths to make a good tripod bag. 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. Tubular legs take more space but allow for a screwing system that seems more durable. While the price of the aluminium tripod is more palatable, if low weight is especially important, bite the bullet and go for the carbon fibre tripod which is 290g lighter. If not, let me know! Like many others, I have bought too many tripods. Both tripods are 39.1 cm (15.4 inches) when collapsed. I was referring to travel tripods. In terms of strap choice, the Leash or the Slide Lite makes the most sense. The downside to the low-profile head design is that it doesnt have an independent panning base. Using a hex wrench, the original head is first removed and then replaced with the adapter. By submitting a comment this form also collects your name, email and IP address so that we can prevent spam. You have to measure the stability of the tripod to get a sense of the weight rating. 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). 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. It's the shortest and thinnest with center column down, the Peak Design falls behind the others, whereas the others are more or less on similar hight The Anchor System allows a strap to be quickly disconnected, so you can swap it from the tripod to the tripod bag in a few seconds if need be. So, although Im reviewing the carbon fiber version today, much of what I say about the Peak Design Travel Tripod applies to both variations. No items to compare. Much better and stable than expected, its only significant downside being that it does not go very high. Comparing Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Gitzo . Its the only way that I use the tripod myself. How does the Peak Design Travel Tripod perform in this regard? PGYTech MantisPod vs Nebula (Best Vlogging Tripod Confirmed) Best iPhone Accessories for Video for Every Budget. I like their heads, not sure about those legs though. Ein ideales Stativ fr Reisen und Wanderungen. A universal adapter is provided for this purpose. Also, the 50mm f/1.2 has a manual focus design, capable of focusing as close as 1.6' away, and a 10-blade diaphragm that contributes to a smooth bokeh quality. Im glad it helped. I measured that it takes about 15 seconds to unfold the tripod completely. Dont know yet but so far holds up very well. Excellently, Id say. Legs. They have taken the PD design and have improved upon it in every way, plus its lighter. Is there a way to compensate for the progressive wear of the locks? Mine is a cheap carbon travel tripod from K&F. Optional accessories also include stainless steel spikes or the aforementioned ultralight conversion kit (both $30). To jump into a new segment of the market with such a unique design, and do it so successfully, is very impressive. Of course, if you already use one of these on your camera, you can quickly disconnect that and use it on the tripod, too. Photographers looking for a lightweight, high-quality tripod will want to consider the extensive range from the Italian brand Gitzo. Several table-top tripods. A mistake that is, unless the primary reason for downsizing is to get something much smaller and lighter at the expense of some stability. Print Email. Thanks for the detailed, honest review. Aluminum construction I would also prefer a more positive locking mechanism for the legs than the twisting rings. Compare Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Gitzo GT1545T Series 1 Traveler Carbon Fiber Tripod with Center Ball Head vs Peak Design Essentials Trifecta Kit . They have free shipping to many places and their customer service team are always on hand to help if you have any problems. That said, anything larger than this might not be the ideal pairing because its likely a large and heavy head that would make the tripod top-heavy. The legs are nice. How we tested. With the price of the carbon version way up at $599.95, I would class that value as good, but not excellent. The Ultralight Conversion Kit costs $40 and converts your Peak Design Travel Tripod into a tabletop tripod. Sort: Clear All. For those with larger mirrorless setups that use heavier lenses, and DSLR users, you are probably going to want this tripod as a second tripod. 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. I know some people hate on it for having 5 leg segments but I honestly don't mind. So without further ado, let's give . The Peak Design Travel Tripod raised an incredible $12million on Kickstarter when it was launched. 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. Expert news, reviews and videos of the latest digital cameras, lenses, accessories, and phones. Thats not to say that the included head is totally useless, though. On top of the head is a bubble level to help you get a nice level horizon. Im really enjoying mine. Comparison of expert ratings Highly Recommended Recommended Mentioned Not Mentioned PCmag If you like our content, you can subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly email updates using the link below. The peak design is the newest and most uniquely designed of the 4 (it is super compact although the Gitzo is a bit lighter). The tripod clearly takes design cues from the Peak Design Travel Tripod and the RRS Ascend-14 tripod, but it hits a much lower price point than either of these options. The 5-section Peak Design comes in at 2.6 lbs., 3.8 lbs. As such, the actual weight of the tripod isn't going to be that clear from the single specified weight on the PD website. You should be able to look at the cross-section above, and the other photos of the lower leg sections, and see that there will be some flex in these skinny legs compared to larger tripods. Are you serious? 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. A robustly built walkaround lens for daily use, this FUJIFILM X-mount lens is ideal for landscapes, cityscapes, portraits, street scenes, and more. Interestingly, hidden within the center column is a smartphone holder that you can pull out and clamp to the tripod head. So often I'd look at my old tripod and just be "ugh" and I'd leave it home. Im glad you are getting on well with the built-in head. However, these features often conflict with each other! The circumference difference of the two tripods is significant. Compared to aluminum, the main advantages of carbon fiber are the high strength at a low weight, and the good vibration absorption. I have chosen a very lightweight head in the form of the Acratech GXP, and this gives me full-sized ball head controls and a 50lb load limit. Something similar can be said of most of the other higher-end carbon fiber companies out there today, like FLM, RRS, and many others. 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. Libor works as a biology teacher, guide, photographer and photography course lecturer. Portrait-length prime is designed for APS-C-format Canon RF-mount mirrorless cameras and offers a 75mm equivalent focal length. So with that in mind, would you say Gitzo is better option (keeping money aside)? Any recommendation on the ball head? For long exposures, I recommend keeping the center column retracted. Then theres the matter of shooting vertical photos. Where this tripod really wins is the collapsed circumference. I wouldnt go for a tripod thats much lighter than this one from Peak Design, at the given height. Never in history has a tripod received as much online press attention as the Peak Design Travel Tripod. The unique design of the Travel Tripod doesnt stop at the legs. Press J to jump to the feed. Nikon Z 9 N-RAW Lab Test (FW 3.00) - Rolling Shutter, Dynamic Range and Latitude. 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. Is the folded height with the ball head on or off? Hopefully answered those questions you had. At $40 they are quite expensive, as as far as spiked tripod feet go, they are fairly mediocre. Thank you for your very detailed review! The hex heads are the same sizes as the new tool. I lost the hex wrench after a few weeks. 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. Wie schneidet es aber gegenber einem vom uns sehr viel gebrauchten. 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. Duffel Bags. His passion is birds. Compare Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Gitzo GT4553S Systematic Series 4 Carbon Fiber Tripod Standard . The conversion process is relatively simple and involves the removal of the telescoping leg sections using an included tool. Plus it offers one more leg angle than either the Gitzo or Peak Design offerings, allowing rather more versatility as to leg placement. Ground-level shots are quickly captured by simply reversing the center column. Almost every time you buy a tripod or a ball head youll find one or two hex wrenches in the box. Perhaps in the next $12M pre-order V2 by PD! The biggest load I personally put on the tripod was a Nikon Z9 with a Nikon 400mm f/2.8 G plus an Atomos Ninja recorder with mount. Controls for the head are simple. Joby Gorillapod or Ulanzi Camera Stand? 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. 1K, 3K, & MT-11- Review . The Comparison the Peak Design win the compactness battle. The biggest plus to the tripod is that it folds down small. I have a few tripods on the shelf, but when you need something lightweight just in case this ticks the boxes nicely. 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. It is designed to screw onto a camera. But I find it way too expensive for what it is. I recommend using an L-bracket instead of a conventional plate, because otherwise, there are some restrictions on the range of movements once you flip the head vertically. The opening of the legs is similar as you can in one motion, open the cam locks, extend out the single leg, and lock. Surprised you didnt mention it in the review. Click to reveal I got a Sirui with a compact ball head. That tripod is the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod ($599). Back to Product List . The Peak Design Travel Tripod features five-section aluminum or carbon fiber legs with quick-release latches. The price of the carbon fiber model tested is currently $650 at B&H, at the time Im publishing this review. The tripod is obviously lightweight and portable, but that would be useless if it had issues supporting a camera. If you understand what you are buying, and when such a tripod makes sense to use, you are going to be very happy indeed with this purchase. Determine which plate you have. With this kit and the centre column removed, the carbon tripod weighs just 601g. I recommend it over the Peak Design. I was considering this until I came across Heipi. I get what they were going for, and it's a really clever idea. I have been reading some reviews and so far you are the first one to mention using the tripod with a mirrorless camera. Its doubtful you will find a head for less than 126g, so going this route does increase the overall weight of your setup. Gitzo Tripods; Vanguard Tripods; 3 Legged Thing Tripods; Joby Tripods; Calumet Tripods; Sachtler Tripods; Velbon Tripods; . What moves is the rest of the head, to which you mount the camera. 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. This is a great tripod, but I really want to make sure that people buy the right tripod for their needs! Like, really really really nice. If pano photos are your thing, youll want to pay attention to a following section that discusses options for adding 3rd party heads to this tripod. So, just because Im very happy with the Peak Design travel tripod, doesnt mean its the only option out there. 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. 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. Shop By Brand. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"UUtxcX0A28JS6Grxm6.PIDJQ7dJ4JezLjiPedqPBFRs-86400-0"}; The package includes the tripod, a handy neoprene soft case, a hex wrench, and a bushing removal tool for maintenance. Carbon Travel Tripod: $599.95 The stock head doesn't allow for. 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. For a fairer comparison, add Gitzo's own 1382TQD head, which they also sell as a kit with the legs, and the whole package is only 160g heavier than the Peak Design. 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. It is as pricey as a Gitzo Mountaineer/Traveler, (and not as stiff,) however, its unique design allows it to be far more compact than . 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. It is more of a triangle with rounded edges. Theres also a small lever that locks the jaws of the head to prevent accidental release of your camera. 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. Gitzo GT1545/2545T leg height position question: 5: Shout Out To PayBoo' Most bookmarked in this forum. This makes them on in soft mud or loose gravel, but not a lot of use on ice or smooth rock. But if you cant stretch that far, the aluminum version is actually a better value. A good tripod can be an essential tool for the traveling photographer, but when you're on the go size matters. If you need an extremely light, tabletop tripod for a particular shoot, an unusual feature of this tripod is the ability to remove the extendable leg sections entirely, and replace them with a set of tripod feet. The ball head is also pretty nice. Compared to all other Tripods on the market, however, the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod performed great. Its important to understand that this is not a magic tripod that has suddenly overcome all laws of physics. (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.). For years, traditional tripods have suffered from needless bulk and wasted space. , Thanks. 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. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. It can hold its own against the much more expensive Gitzo Traveller and the RRS TFC-14/TVC-14. 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 PD is super small when collapsed, but a bit flimsier as a trade off and the Gitzo is a lot longer collapsed, but of course will be stronger. 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? I tend to think of a tripod as a necessary evil. Features Compatible with most digital cameras With a maximum weight capacity of 20 lbs., this tripod is ideal for mirrorless and compact DSLR cameras. I got the carbon fiber version of that on sale last year and have no complaints at all. What does that include? I love that you can latch and unlatch all of the legs at once really easily. Tripods & Monopods Complete Tripods Add to your order Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary) 24/7 support when you need it. No items to compare. [CDATA[ It is relatively easy for sand to enter the inner mechanisms of the head. Instead of just reducing the folded length as many travel tripods do, Peak Design has dramatically reduced the overall folded volume. Built quality is somewhat better than the RRS version and the Feisol tripod comes with an excellent carry case - all I got from RRS was a cardboard box. I commented on that pre-production version at the time, but today Im gathering even more information together to create the ultimate resource for people to learn about this tripod. 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. Radically faster to setup and takedown, our tripod features ergonomic adjustment points, built-in mobile compatibility, and . //]]>. Add at least two items to compare In his latest video, Lok Cheung goes over some of the major differences between the Peak Design Travel Tripod and the Manfrotto Befree tripod. Again, it isn't the easiest to lock down. I had people asking me whether they could sell their 2-series or 3-series tripods and just use the PD Travel Tripod? I've been satisfied with every single thing I've bought of theirs. Peak Designhas designed the legs and center column so that when folded, everything fits together like the petals of a snowdrop flower. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Small size, sufficient height, good vibration absorption, high durability, easy handling, and light weight. But the reality is that if you want the sharpest images, you will spend more time using the tripod with the column lowered. For a long time I simply ruled out using a gimbal with a small tripod, but then I came across a new gimbal while I was researching updates for my in-depth guide to the best gimbals on the market. Both the case for the Travel Tripod and the tripod itself has connection points for the Peak Design Anchor System. The Spike Feet set for the Travel Tripod are designed for use on softer ground. And you can attach Peak Design anchors to use the mount with Peak Design straps . For tripods, it's hard to beat Gitzo for the quality and repairability at this price. Two tripods of the same design made from different materials provide an interesting comparison. To me that means that I will be more inclined to use it. I honestly dont really know why people suddenly forgot how to choose the right tripod, but I had enough conversations like this to know it is a thing. A hidden internal pocket can be used to store the multitool shown above, and in that pocket, you will also find a small tool to help you remove the tripod legs for cleaning or addition of optional tripod feet. Period. Such a massive setup looks strange on the small tripod legs. When I really need to travel light, I use the ball head that comes with the tripod. I may replace the ball head with something different, which obviously defeats the purpose of such a tiny tripod but hopefully it'll be easy to remove and reinstall. $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 bought a more conventional head and a L bracket. Just by way of example, my beloved Sony 20mm f/1.8 G lens weighs 370g, and there are lots of other small lenses out there that have weights in that range. 10: 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. Im sure that little touches like this, and the phone holder, are the sorts of things that put customers at ease with the cost of their relatively expensive purchases. The flip locks are made entirely of metal for increased durability - a feature you'll rarely find on other tripods - and open and close smoothly, without any 'snapping' in the motion. This is something else you need to factor into the purchase of a travel tripod. You are welcome, Rita. If you think you can get by with the height reduction, this is another cool upgrade for your tripod. Add at least two items to compare. This clamp is Arca-Swiss compatible, so it will work with any of your existing tripod plates and L brackets when the two stopper screws are removed. Hes a lucky guy, John! 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. Have read some reviews that are very positive and have one on order. The strength of the ball head is impressive. Again, there is no magic here. To me the big fail of the PD tripod is the non standard clamp. Sirui is the most underrated brand. If you want to save money, you can get the aluminum alloy version for $380. Peak Design also is noteworthy for their limited lifetime guarantee on the tripod, so they definitely trust it to last for many years. I totally get why they have gone with this design. My old travel tripod, a Dolica 65", folded down juuuuust small enough to fit in my checked baggage if I jammed it in. Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM vs Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM. As you can see above, the tripod legs are made up of five sections that are tightened using four quick-release levers. 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. Cover this product: 3-Year Protection $65.99 Learn more By admin | 26/07/2022. As you may or may not know, Tito Ferradans is a tireless lens enthusiast and the author of the Anamorphic Cookbook Course on MZed. No items to compare. The foldable phone holder is cleverly hidden inside the centre column, accessible by rotating and removing the centre columns bottom hook. Build quality is mediocre. Discover a wide range of DSLRs, Mirrorless Cameras, Camera Lenses and Photographic Equipment with Ireland's Oldest Camera Store. For sure this is on me for not tightening up the ball head more, but it's really not the easiest thing. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I bought a Sirui and it fell apart in 2 years. To this day, Peak Design continues to use Kickstarter to raise funds for its product development. Its still possible to do a better job than your competitors at minimizing those sacrifices, but they will be there. 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?. People want a piece of the hype, and they want what is frankly one of the coolest looking piece of photo gear on the market. In the case of a tripod, I would be rather cautious with that statement. As you can see in the photos, the end of the spikes are not that sharp at all. As you can see, by removing the centre column and making use of the various optional accessories, you have options here that range from 1613g all the way down to just 601g. The platform diameter is 5.4cm (2.13), but you could use a head that is bigger than this if you needed to. Try to find a small to medium-sized ball head if you go this route. The Peak Design Travel Tripod works with many (but not all) 3rd party Arca-compatible tripod plates. November 3 rd, 2022 59. chevron_rightshow all Lab Tests. When you've adjusted the angle of the ball head you have to spin a wheel along its horizontal surface to lock it in place. Typically this comes in the form of heavy winds. Still, the comfort zone of this tripod are wider-angle to medium telephoto lenses. The gimbal in question is the Fotopro E-6H.