If youre looking for a travel tripod, youd be mad not to have this one on your shortlist. 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. From a speed perspective, the Peak Design Travel Tripod blows the competition out of the water. But I find it way too expensive for what it is. Get answers to your questions in our photography forums. At $40 they are quite expensive, as as far as spiked tripod feet go, they are fairly mediocre. But before you rush out to buy one, I must once again underline my earlier point about the general nature of travel tripods. Keeping the centre column collapsed is always a good idea in anything but the calmest wind conditions with any travel tripod. I have an older PD tool that I prefer: one-piece, and suitable for a key-ring. Yes, there are some that collapse a little shorter in length, but they also have a shorter maximum height. 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. The circumference difference of the two tripods is significant. Thats not to say that the included head is totally useless, though. Shop All. You pull the 7/8" knob out and twist. I tend to concur with your review. Shop By Category. GK1555T-82TQD is a Traveler tripod/head kit comprising the 5-section GT1555T Tripod and the GH1382TQD Center Ball Head. Sort: Clear All. Sort: Clear All. 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. The Travel Tripod is perhaps more fairly compared to the higher-end Gitzo Traveler series, which retails for up to $1,000. You can't rely on manufacturers weight ratings at all. Even this Peak Design tripod. 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. 1K, 3K, & MT-11- Review . A good tripod can be an essential tool for the traveling photographer, but when you're on the go size matters. Mine is a cheap carbon travel tripod from K&F. Again, an absolutely astounding value. One of the main selling points of this tripod is the minimization of dead space. The quick-release plate also works with Peak Design's Capture Clip carrying system. Back to Product List . I don't have a blog or a Youtube channel to make a review so I figured I'd just do it here. It will give you sharper images, but youll have to deal with constantly bending down to use the camera. Most of them tend to use one of the smaller versions of Benro carbon fiber tripods when they're having to hike longer distances or they bite the bullet and take their big tripods with them. When you do this, there will always be a sacrifice to the tripods stability. Thanks Andrew. There will be other larger and heavier tripods that offer a more stable platform. Surprised you didnt mention it in the review. I wouldnt go for a tripod thats much lighter than this one from Peak Design, at the given height. Available online and in-store in the heart of Limerick City. The ball with a diameter of 3cm is firmly connected to the column. 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. Instead of using traditional cylindrical legs, Peak Design sought to shape the leg in such a way that the centre column would be nested closely within the folded legs. It comes with a nice bag that is only barely large enough to fit the tripod with some wrangling. In this review, we will discuss all the features and performance of the Travel Tripod, as well as comparing the carbon version with the aluminium version, and examining all the available accessories. All of which phones are highly capable of capturing these days. It rises to 60 (150 cm) which is very impressive for a tripod that packs down to just 15.4 (39 cm). Hi Libor, thanks for the review, an interesting read! Minor height adjustments using the center column are useful for composition and shooting over objects like fences. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. With the stopper screws in place (shown in the photo below) only the supplies Peak Design tripod plate will work. 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. Flaws but not dealbreakers. Databases. 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 If you need a travel tripod, it comes highly recommended. Live Chat Available +61 2 9299 0177. . The gitzo gt1555t is about on par with the peak design- wider but shorter- I'd call it a draw overall although the gitzo head is superior in usability but overall dimensions are wider. While theres certainly still a group who can benefit from these, its small and getting smaller. This is a travel tripod, and as such, the designers focussed on making it small and lightweight. You know a tripod is 3 legs that folds up. 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. Hopefully answered those questions you had. 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. The backpack strap mount is amazing. Gitzo GT1545/2545T leg height position question: 5: Shout Out To PayBoo' Most bookmarked in this forum. 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. 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?. Sort: Clear All. The PD is one of the stiffest tripods for its size. Compare Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Benro TMA38CL Long Series 3 Mach3 Carbon Fiber Tripod vs Gitzo GIGT1545T Traveler Series 1 Carbon Fiber Tripod vs FEISOL CT-3442 Tournament Rapid . Comparing Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Benro . Period. 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. Its not insignificant weight. The jaws around the ball slot neatly into the area between the leg joints. Duffel Bags Shop All. This Travel Tripod as a system is incredibly versatile. I tend to think of a tripod as a necessary evil. For long exposures, I recommend keeping the center column retracted. January 31 st, 2023 84. Are you serious? Discover a wide range of DSLRs, Mirrorless Cameras, Camera Lenses and Photographic Equipment with Ireland's Oldest Camera Store. But once you retract the two thinnest sections, the tripod is immediately rock-solid even with a telephoto. 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. Any conscientious buyer will be comparing the specifications of various tripod options. Its definitely worth a look if you have a store near you, or a friend that has one. If you like our content, you can subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly email updates using the link below. The tripod head itself works in the opposite way of most conventional ball heads. 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. TBF I watch mostly landscape photography youtubers, and I haven't seen a single one even try the PD tripod, even for travel purposes. When I really need to travel light, I use the ball head that comes with the tripod. In the past, I often wondered whether or not I should take my tripod into the field with me. The tripod Im reviewing today appeared on Kickstarter in 2019, and of all the companys products so far, it has generated the most interest among the public. I measured that it takes about 15 seconds to unfold the tripod completely. When everything is locked down tight the tripod is very stable. Lots of different photographers with lots of different styles and lots of different needs all saying that this one tripod is the best ever? So this just comes down to what I was saying earlier: Travel Tripods always have compromises. November 3 rd, 2022 59. chevron_rightshow all Lab Tests. The large and heavy Manfroto now stays at home for still life/product photography. Print Email. Instead of the $1100 for the RRS TVC-34L and a carry case with Fiesol I spent. Typically this comes in the form of heavy winds. For sure this is on me for not tightening up the ball head more, but it's really not the easiest thing. I love that you can latch and unlatch all of the legs at once really easily. There is only ONE tripod that collapses to truly "tiny", weighs less than 3 lbs (1.3kg), and yet is still decently tall when fully extended. Best for use with multiple cameras: Vanguard VEO 3T+ 234AB. 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. Compared to all other Tripods on the market, however, the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod performed great. They make good shit though. I get what they were going for, and it's a really clever idea. Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM vs Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM. As for now I cant see any reason to buy another tripod. With this kit and the centre column removed, the carbon tripod weighs just 601g. In the West, we tend to associate the Chinese photo brands with cheaper, low-end photo gear, but Fotopro should not be thought of in this way. 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. In the table below I have provided my measured weights for all individual parts of the Travel Tripods, as well as combined weights of the most common setups using included parts and optional accessories. As always, we appreciate it when you use the links on this page to make your purchases. 99% of the time it works just as well as or better than the massive Vanguard tripod I have with a much larger head which is double the weight. Optional accessories also include stainless steel spikes or the aforementioned ultralight conversion kit (both $30). Performance & security by Cloudflare. AND the lifetime warranty is really excellent! But how does the tripod perform in the field? Even the most expensive tripods from the likes of Gitzo and Really Right Stuff dont go to this level of detail. The 5-section Peak Design comes in at 2.6 lbs., 3.8 lbs. Some lightweight models can do more harm than good, but the Peak Design travel tripod definitely is worth carrying in my bag. Any recommendation on the ball head? It is rated for 2 pounds more, but is 5 inches shorter when extended. In order to minimize the folded size of the tripod, it features 5 telescoping leg sections that have a unique cross-sectional shape. Sort: Clear All Print Email Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod You Pay: $649.95 (1029) Add to Cart Add to Wish List Gitzo GT1545T Series 1 Traveler Carbon Fiber Tripod with Center Ball Head Price: $679.00 Instant Savings -$130.00 You Pay: $549.00 (33) Add to Cart Add to Wish List The downside to the low-profile head design is that it doesnt have an independent panning base. The opening of the legs is similar as you can in one motion, open the cam locks, extend out the single leg, and lock. Thanks, yea was leaning more on 2545T. 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. Then theres the matter of shooting vertical photos. I have bought a more conventional head and a L bracket. Looking forward to seeing it live. Its still possible to do a better job than your competitors at minimizing those sacrifices, but they will be there. 0 Comment. I bought mine right from Amazon with my own money. Its these kinds of small details that set Peak Design apart from everyone else. It is an interesting design and is very compact. The price of the carbon fiber model tested is currently $650 at B&H, at the time Im publishing this review. The platform diameter is 5.4cm (2.13), but you could use a head that is bigger than this if you needed to. The tripod is fitted with rubber feet as standard. 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. Fwiw, among the ones you've listed, I'd be inclined to eliminate the Gitzo 1555 -- it has similar stiffness to the PD CF, but it's more expensive and doesn't get as compact -- and the Benro, given it's folded length. Im late to the discussion, but Ive been using the aluminium version for a couple of years, and have just bought the carbon fibre version as I needed another tripod for lighting. I dont know if this is an unpopular opinion or not, but the way Peak Design got all these YouTubers to whore themselves out for this tripod really rubbed me the wrong way. The gimbal in question is the Fotopro E-6H. I'm surprised I don't see more people talk about it, or maybe there's something about the company I don't know. Have a look at Robus. Im sure its a good marketing strategy and works well to drive sales but Im inclined to agree. As an ornithologist, Libor has studied the avian diversity of the South American Andes. When Ulanzi offered a tripod for testing, I was keen to see how it fared. The Ultimate Peak Design Travel Tripod Review! But the reality is that if you want the sharpest images, you will spend more time using the tripod with the column lowered. 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. To jump into a new segment of the market with such a unique design, and do it so successfully, is very impressive. This Peak Design travel tripod is made of weather-resistant and impact-resistant materials for durability. Finally, if the original head does not suit you, any other head can be substituted. Peak Design Travel Tripod The best tripod for its design and folded size, but not the cheapest! 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. 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. To me the big fail of the PD tripod is the non standard clamp. There is an outer locking ring which loosens the jaws around the ball and gives you the traditional tilt and roll movements of a ball head. Hoping to receive my Heipi in a couple weeks or so (Bought on Kickstarter.). With taxes in, the RRS tripod tops $1000 and that's a tough pill for a lot of people to swallow. It is the first tripod I have actually used during my 50 years of photographing. Have read some reviews that are very positive and have one on order. The unique design of the Travel Tripod doesnt stop at the legs. It can hold its own against the much more expensive Gitzo Traveller and the RRS TFC-14/TVC-14. 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 have both tripods. They have free shipping to many places and their customer service team are always on hand to help if you have any problems. Both tripod and head are very good quality and cost less than the Peak Design. 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. Im glad it helped. Despite having bigger legs, the Peak Design Tripod has a circumference of 27cm, against 34cm for the Sirui. The stock head doesn't allow for. I lost the hex wrench after a few weeks. I probably should have bought this, although I'm not a fan of that style of leg locks and it's not as tall as the PD. 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. Cleaning out the sand requires carefully disassembling the heads inner mechanism which includes tiny parts such as springs. Depending on your head choice, its very likely that your standard ball head will also have a higher load capacity and just generally be more ergonomically friends than the somewhat fiddly head that comes with the tripod. Sure, our own Travel Tripod is pretty sweet and works with all Peak Design accessories, but we also designed the plates that come with our clips and straps to be compatible with 3rd party tripods - whichever one you may own. Comparing Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Gitzo . Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2d79334b7b3718 I like Libors suggestion about using a different ball head to replace the Peak Design tripod head in dusty or sandy environments. While they do have a broad product range that includes cheaper tripods, their top-of-the-range Fotopro Eagle tripods and gimbals are easily Gitzo and Really Right Stuff levels of quality, stability and price. Thats a weight saving of 307g for the price increase of $250. Determine which plate you have. Add at least two items to compare. Weve looked at the Universal Head Adapter as a way to use a 3rd party head on this tripod, but there is another option. The Spike Feet set for the Travel Tripod are designed for use on softer ground. I bought the Peak Design tripod (carbon fiber) after a few enthusiastic reviews when it was really new on the market. Please To be clear, Im not a PD hater. The tripod might be all great, but Its plate and the fact that you need a special tool to screw it on a camera is a no go for me. In his latest video, Lok Cheung goes over some of the major differences between the Peak Design Travel Tripod and the Manfrotto Befree tripod. Specifications Material: Carbon fiber, or aluminum alloy Extended height: 153cm Folded height: 39cm Weight: 1.27kg (carbon fiber)/1.56kg (aluminum) Feet: Pads (spikes optional extra) Leg sections: 5 Max load (legs, head): 9kg Today's Best Deals When fully collapsed, there are barely any gaps between the legs, leg locks and column. 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. I have been reading some reviews and so far you are the first one to mention using the tripod with a mirrorless camera. However, if you often shoot on surfaces like slippery ice, loose dirt, or gravel, replacing the rubber feet with metal spikes is worth considering. Again, there is no magic here. 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. The ball head is also pretty nice. I have this and it is so much work to lock/unlock separately all those hundred locks that i barely use it. since when having choices is an unfortunate thing? Aluminum construction Peak Designhas designed the legs and center column so that when folded, everything fits together like the petals of a snowdrop flower. 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. Another reason to just use the included head is the cost of entry for the system. My old travel tripod, a Dolica 65", folded down juuuuust small enough to fit in my checked baggage if I jammed it in. After some time, most of them have been collecting dust in a dark corner although I have been able to sell some of them. 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. My guess is that Peak Design would strongly recommend not disassembling the head and it provides no drawings of the heads inner mechanism. Professional photographer based in Yukon, Canada, and founder of Shutter Muse. In fact, I think it was less than 2 days before the starting time question hit my in-box. Peak Design Camera Straps; Canon Battery Grips; Nikon Battery Glips; . As such, the actual weight of the tripod isnt going to be that clear from the single specified weight on the PD website. 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. My travel tripod is a Sirui N-2204. 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. Have not seen or touched the peak tripod. Peak Design Travel Tripod Gitzo 1545T Sirui N-1204SK Down below you can vote also your favorite amongst these tripods. Try to find a small to medium-sized ball head if you go this route. The height with the conversion kit is as follows: Removal of the main leg sections results in a dramatic weight loss for the tripod. Another benefit is that the tripods built-in head than acts as a leveling head, enabling you to quickly set up a perfectly flat base for the second head for panoramic photography or filmmaking. Peak Design Shop All. I totally get why they have gone with this design. The Aluminum version of the tripod costs $349.85 and weighs 1613g in the standard configuration. Dont forget the cost. For $200 you get a tripod that folds shorter and is lighter. There are far better alternatives out there. The tripod is obviously lightweight and portable, but that would be useless if it had issues supporting a camera. You can see more of Libor's work on his Instagram page. Its too short! 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. Two-leg angles allow for a standard tripod height or low ground level shot that provides more stability. So, although Im reviewing the carbon fiber version today, much of what I say about the Peak Design Travel Tripod applies to both variations. MSRP $599.99 $649.95 at Amazon 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. They cost $380 and $650 respectively. His passion is birds. If you need a tripod that takes up as little space as possible then Peak Design has an extremely compelling product. 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. No items to compare. Small size, sufficient height, good vibration absorption, high durability, easy handling, and light weight. The total weight was just under 6.5kg, which is approaching the 9.1 kilo load rating. 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. Theyre fine, I guess, but I wish they were sharper. Unlike the Universal Head Adapter, its unlikely to be a configuration that you use all the time. 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. However, if you have sand in the head which interfere with its use, what are you supposed to do? Where this tripod really wins is the collapsed circumference. For me that's the selling point. (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.). This is not to deny its usefulness. The Peak Design Travel Tripod works with many (but not all) 3rd party Arca-compatible tripod plates. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about this tripod, and Ill do my best to answer! 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. Unfortunately? This is an excellent article for those traveling with large, heavy bodies and lenses. Look at the Feisol CT-3441T travel tripod. The Gitzo tripod I have used so far did not have a center column. Libor works as a biology teacher, guide, photographer and photography course lecturer. This helps to keep the collapsed length of the tripod down, but it means that you have to extend the centre column about an inch before you can adjust the angle of the tripod head. Compare Gitzo GIGT2545T Traveler Series 2 Carbon Fiber Tripod vs Gitzo GT3543LS Systematic Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod Long vs Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod

Squishville Series 2 Checklist, Articles P