That was the bummer for me. I tried one out for a while but could not get past that dinky mount for multiple reasons with a full frame mirrorless and no larger than one of the lightest 300m zooms out there. From "the neck down" it seemed pretty good. Back in the box.
Great review. I use Peak Design straps and plates on all my cameras so this would work for me. Although modeled after the PD tripod, the ball head on this Neewer tripod is FAR superior, as it allows horizontal motion of the camera when mounted and allows for height adjustments when the camera is in vertical orientation. So many tripods do not allow for this movement. And, if you have to replace the ball head, it is no longer cost effective. I also really like the locking mechanism as opposed to a thumb screw when mounting a camera. Although it has never happened to me, I am always a little nervous about the possibility of the camera falling off when carrying my tripod around with the camera mounted. When I take real estate photos, it makes sense to leave the camera mounted to the tripod as I move from room to room. I just bought this tripod but haven’t used it yet. My biggest concern is the plastic locking levers on the legs. Seems like a really stupid idea to me. That being said, it is hard to find everything you need in one tripod. They always seem to be lacking something. There is a brand new carbon fiber tripod from Ulanzi that is Arca Swiss compatible and looks perfect to me. Advertised price is $499 but it is not yet available.
Excellent review Dustin....have been using this for a few months. I find this much better than the Peak Design, Ulanzi or any other CF tripods available..value for money, accessories, build, colour, case.
Well, I bit on this tripod thanks to this review! I recently acquired a leg injury, and I could no longer lug around my 8-pound, 32- inch Sirui SH15. Despite this tripod’s only real flaw which you pointed out: the plastic leg latches (I would have gladly paid fifteen dollars more for metal leg latches that had a dampened clamping action), this tripod absolutely rocks! It’s super strong while being compact and extra lightweight. It carries the same exact load as my Sirui, and it’s still stable. The legs fall to the earth with a super smooth action. And while I hate ball heads, this ball head is the nicest I’ve ever used. As for the arca compatibility, I am heavily invested in the Falcam F-22/F38 quick-release system, and so I simply attached a Falcam “claw” base to the arca plate they provided, and since all my footed lenses already have a Falcam “claw” top, that problem was solved for me! Thanks for reviewing this super tripod!
The tripod, like Peak Design's is more stable if you keep the bottom most leg components collapsed and use the thicker leg segments unless you need maximum height.
That's very typical, unfortunately.... But I think the reason is, there's simply no better placement for it to ensure you get it level, so Dustin said; you level it first, then mount the camera.
Bit worried about that limited arca swiss plate compatibility. Have you by any chance tried RRS arca swiss L-brackets with this head? I've about a dozen of those...
Thank you for this review. I've been looking at this tripod, the Heipi, or the Ulanzi Coman Zero Y to upgrade from my K&F standard aluminum tripod I have been using for over 5 yrs now for hiking and travel. It is true, the price for the Neewer makes it standout amongst my picks. I guess my only concern would be how secure when using an L-bracket on the ballhead.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Just an update. I noticed on Amazon that the discounts ranged from $20 to recently (at the time of this comment) $65. Making it $150.99 w/ discount applied. I finally caved in and ordered it. I attribute it to your comprehensive review in making this decision. I may get the Heipi one day as an alternative to the Neewer when traveling. Thank you again!
Over € 300.- in Europe… thank you Neewer, for taking yourself out of the market here so smoothly. A real ripoff!! Thank you still for reviewing this tripod. The main reason being the price, as you mentioned, it is clearly not for anybody outside of the American mainland.
I ended up getting this tripod to replace Ulanzi Zero Y. I really like the ballhead and compatibility with PD quick release plates, but the legs are kinda flimsy when fully extended is you compare it to round legs on Ulanzi.
hi, nice review. I have a Sony A6700 with Tamron 18-300 lens. I use a smallrig cage with its own type of dovetail mount and would be interested to know if this locking plate will fit? Also with the lens hanging out front would it be stable. thanks
Hmmm, I haven't tested it with a Smallrig grip/cage, but those are designed for Arca compatibility, so it should work. No promises, though. The Tamron is far from being so heavy that it would cause balance issues.
My Sony cameras see the most use, with my Fuji X-H2 as #3, and the Canon R5 as #4. I love the R5, but I haven't been getting many Canon loaners, so I don't do as many reviews on it...thus it gets less use.
I am partial to two things about the Heipi: 1) the removable tabletop tripod. It's very convenient. 2) The Heipi's quick release system seems a little more accommodating to more Arca options. The Heipi is also twice as much, though, and that's a real consideration. This Neewer definitely offers tremendous bang for the buck. It feels like a full blown tripod that also manages to be nice and light.
Considering to buy this to replace my Ulanzi Zero Y. Using PD plates with Ulanzi's is not safe, there's no pins that would stop slipping forward or backward
Thanks Dustin. Do you know how does this compare to the carbon fiber travel tripods from Sirui? I have that one now. My biggest concern is if it will hold the arca swiss Kirk foot for my Sony 200-600mm lens, that could be a deal-breaker for me. Are you using a peak clip on the bottom of your 200-600mm lens ? Cheers
I've only tested one Sirui tripod (Traveler 5C), and this is a much nicer tripod than that one. But, to answer your question, I'm almost certain that it won't hold the Kirk foot right (though I haven't tested that). I used a slightly larger QR plate on my 200-600 to give a bit more stability.
@@DustinAbbottTWI thanks. Then this is likely no go for me. Price is tempting but it may not work for me. Thanks my friend. What QR plate do you use if I may ask? Cheers
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks, I mainly shoot handheld with my 200-600mm for following BIF. Sometimes use a monopod if I get tired. But I will use a tripod if I am doing very slow shutter speeds with the 200-600mm. Cheers
@@DustinAbbottTWI Dustin, I checked my goodies and I have three QR similar to Oben QR-20 , two on my cameras already, LOL Cheers and thanks. So the QR-20 will fit this tripod?
There's some give and take. Ulanzi makes some good products. I would say the Ulanzi is a little lighter and I like the joint design better, but the Neewer is more stable and typically lighter.
When reviewing tripods, I always miss a simple test for stability and vibration damping. I suggest doing a little comparison of several tripods just for vibration/wind susceptibility. Place a popular 24-X class lens on the camera. Do magnification on the screen, snap the middle leg of the tripod and record a video of it. Whenever I see a review of a light tripod (and praise for its nice features), I wonder how the tripod will behave at night when there is wind and I have to adjust the exposure time to 10 seconds or more. Times of the order of hundredths of a second are not a challenge for a tripod.
I once did the simple test I described above. Two tripods entered the competition: Ulanzi & Coman Zero Y (900g without head) and Sirui N1205 (110g without head). Ulanzi vibrated (a lot - it depends on the force of tapping) longer and its vibrations resembled a double-sided saw. Sirui vibrated for a shorter period of time and the vibrations were like a sine wave. Since then, I've been liking old Sirui again.
Looks like a great value for a CF tripod, but the lack of full arca-swiss compatability makes it a no-go for me. Terrific review as always Dusitn!
That's fair.
That was the bummer for me. I tried one out for a while but could not get past that dinky mount for multiple reasons with a full frame mirrorless and no larger than one of the lightest 300m zooms out there. From "the neck down" it seemed pretty good. Back in the box.
Great review. I use Peak Design straps and plates on all my cameras so this would work for me. Although modeled after the PD tripod, the ball head on this Neewer tripod is FAR superior, as it allows horizontal motion of the camera when mounted and allows for height adjustments when the camera is in vertical orientation. So many tripods do not allow for this movement. And, if you have to replace the ball head, it is no longer cost effective. I also really like the locking mechanism as opposed to a thumb screw when mounting a camera. Although it has never happened to me, I am always a little nervous about the possibility of the camera falling off when carrying my tripod around with the camera mounted. When I take real estate photos, it makes sense to leave the camera mounted to the tripod as I move from room to room. I just bought this tripod but haven’t used it yet. My biggest concern is the plastic locking levers on the legs. Seems like a really stupid idea to me. That being said, it is hard to find everything you need in one tripod. They always seem to be lacking something. There is a brand new carbon fiber tripod from Ulanzi that is Arca Swiss compatible and looks perfect to me. Advertised price is $499 but it is not yet available.
Excellent review Dustin....have been using this for a few months. I find this much better than the Peak Design, Ulanzi or any other CF tripods available..value for money, accessories, build, colour, case.
It's good value for sure.
Well, I bit on this tripod thanks to this review! I recently acquired a leg injury, and I could no longer lug around my 8-pound, 32- inch Sirui SH15. Despite this tripod’s only real flaw which you pointed out: the plastic leg latches (I would have gladly paid fifteen dollars more for metal leg latches that had a dampened clamping action), this tripod absolutely rocks! It’s super strong while being compact and extra lightweight. It carries the same exact load as my Sirui, and it’s still stable. The legs fall to the earth with a super smooth action. And while I hate ball heads, this ball head is the nicest I’ve ever used. As for the arca compatibility, I am heavily invested in the Falcam F-22/F38 quick-release system, and so I simply attached a Falcam “claw” base to the arca plate they provided, and since all my footed lenses already have a Falcam “claw” top, that problem was solved for me! Thanks for reviewing this super tripod!
You're welcome. I'm glad it is working well for you.
Ok the one real question, compared to the real peak design that goes for 599, how close is it?
The tripod, like Peak Design's is more stable if you keep the bottom most leg components collapsed and use the thicker leg segments unless you need maximum height.
That's true.
I have one of these, for me the biggest negative is the levelling bubble is underneath the plate, so you can't see it with a camera mounted.
I find that a lot of tripods have very odd designs with the leveling bubble. You basically have to set it before you mount the camera.
That's very typical, unfortunately.... But I think the reason is, there's simply no better placement for it to ensure you get it level, so Dustin said; you level it first, then mount the camera.
I thank Sony all the time as they have on screen leveling display.
@@z352kdaf8324 Oh boy, a SONY FanBoi for sure! Most all cameras made today have levels in their software and on rear LCD, juss sayin.
@@z352kdaf8324 My Nikon D610 has it also. So the only time I need to level the tripod base is when I want to make panos.
Bit worried about that limited arca swiss plate compatibility. Have you by any chance tried RRS arca swiss L-brackets with this head? I've about a dozen of those...
I haven't, unfortunately.
Thank you for this review. I've been looking at this tripod, the Heipi, or the Ulanzi Coman Zero Y to upgrade from my K&F standard aluminum tripod I have been using for over 5 yrs now for hiking and travel. It is true, the price for the Neewer makes it standout amongst my picks. I guess my only concern would be how secure when using an L-bracket on the ballhead.
I went with the heipi. Even though the peak design was around $400 and change last black Friday 2023.
It's a definite winner in price.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Just an update. I noticed on Amazon that the discounts ranged from $20 to recently (at the time of this comment) $65. Making it $150.99 w/ discount applied. I finally caved in and ordered it. I attribute it to your comprehensive review in making this decision. I may get the Heipi one day as an alternative to the Neewer when traveling. Thank you again!
@@braddahjerry That's a lot of play in the pricing! Enjoy it.
Over € 300.- in Europe… thank you Neewer, for taking yourself out of the market here so smoothly. A real ripoff!!
Thank you still for reviewing this tripod. The main reason being the price, as you mentioned, it is clearly not for anybody outside of the American mainland.
It's always strange to me how much the price varies from market to market. That price is twice what the American price is.
@@DustinAbbottTWI It's $208 where I am, I don't know why haha
I ended up getting this tripod to replace Ulanzi Zero Y.
I really like the ballhead and compatibility with PD quick release plates, but the legs are kinda flimsy when fully extended is you compare it to round legs on Ulanzi.
I haven't found it flimsy, but Ulanzi makes nice tripods, so I wouldn't be surprised if they were a bit more stable.
Why did you replace the ulanzi? I want to get the ulanzi because the ball head can act as a levelling base which is great for panos.
hi, nice review. I have a Sony A6700 with Tamron 18-300 lens. I use a smallrig cage with its own type of dovetail mount and would be interested to know if this locking plate will fit? Also with the lens hanging out front would it be stable.
thanks
Hmmm, I haven't tested it with a Smallrig grip/cage, but those are designed for Arca compatibility, so it should work. No promises, though. The Tamron is far from being so heavy that it would cause balance issues.
@@DustinAbbottTWI thanks
It's currently £178.49 in the UK. That's tempting as have been considering the ULANZI F38
The price is definitely appealing.
Hey Dustin! What's your top 2 cameras right now? The Sony and the Canon?
My Sony cameras see the most use, with my Fuji X-H2 as #3, and the Canon R5 as #4. I love the R5, but I haven't been getting many Canon loaners, so I don't do as many reviews on it...thus it gets less use.
Thank you I’m definitely considering this tripod.. I’d love your opinion in this vs the Heipi.
I am partial to two things about the Heipi: 1) the removable tabletop tripod. It's very convenient. 2) The Heipi's quick release system seems a little more accommodating to more Arca options. The Heipi is also twice as much, though, and that's a real consideration. This Neewer definitely offers tremendous bang for the buck. It feels like a full blown tripod that also manages to be nice and light.
@@DustinAbbottTWI much appreciated, thanks!
Considering to buy this to replace my Ulanzi Zero Y.
Using PD plates with Ulanzi's is not safe, there's no pins that would stop slipping forward or backward
Fair enough.
Thanks Dustin. Do you know how does this compare to the carbon fiber travel tripods from Sirui? I have that one now. My biggest concern is if it will hold the arca swiss Kirk foot for my Sony 200-600mm lens, that could be a deal-breaker for me. Are you using a peak clip on the bottom of your 200-600mm lens ? Cheers
I've only tested one Sirui tripod (Traveler 5C), and this is a much nicer tripod than that one. But, to answer your question, I'm almost certain that it won't hold the Kirk foot right (though I haven't tested that). I used a slightly larger QR plate on my 200-600 to give a bit more stability.
@@DustinAbbottTWI thanks. Then this is likely no go for me. Price is tempting but it may not work for me. Thanks my friend. What QR plate do you use if I may ask? Cheers
It's an Oben QR-20. I don't really use the tripod anymore, but I do use the QR plate.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks, I mainly shoot handheld with my 200-600mm for following BIF. Sometimes use a monopod if I get tired. But I will use a tripod if I am doing very slow shutter speeds with the 200-600mm. Cheers
@@DustinAbbottTWI Dustin, I checked my goodies and I have three QR similar to Oben QR-20 , two on my cameras already, LOL Cheers and thanks. So the QR-20 will fit this tripod?
How this compared against Ulanzi carbon fiber? Which one is better?
There's some give and take. Ulanzi makes some good products. I would say the Ulanzi is a little lighter and I like the joint design better, but the Neewer is more stable and typically lighter.
The review was very helpful. I was wondering if you had the chance to test the Sunwayfoto t2841ce tripods? Thanks!
Unfortunately not
i wonder how is holds up against the even cheaper k&f BA225 ?
Haven't reviewed it, so I can't say.
Well shit, I was purposely buying this for my new Tamron 150-600 but it may not fit?
I definitely think that's a possibility.
@@DustinAbbottTWI well thanks for saving me some money, I would have ordered it if not for this video.
Nice I have 3 tripods but this one looks tempting
It's pretty nice, for sure.
Just got one off auction for $40!
Wow!
This or the Neewer LT32???
I'm not sure the LT32 is newer, but as I haven't spent any time with the LT32, I can't say with certainty.
When reviewing tripods, I always miss a simple test for stability and vibration damping. I suggest doing a little comparison of several tripods just for vibration/wind susceptibility. Place a popular 24-X class lens on the camera. Do magnification on the screen, snap the middle leg of the tripod and record a video of it. Whenever I see a review of a light tripod (and praise for its nice features), I wonder how the tripod will behave at night when there is wind and I have to adjust the exposure time to 10 seconds or more. Times of the order of hundredths of a second are not a challenge for a tripod.
Interesting feedback. Thanks
I once did the simple test I described above.
Two tripods entered the competition: Ulanzi & Coman Zero Y (900g without head) and Sirui N1205 (110g without head). Ulanzi vibrated (a lot - it depends on the force of tapping) longer and its vibrations resembled a double-sided saw. Sirui vibrated for a shorter period of time and the vibrations were like a sine wave.
Since then, I've been liking old Sirui again.
Hmm... I see $269 with a 50 discount on Amazon US. UPDATE: Signed in I see 215-50. Strange.
I see $215 minus $50 at the moment myself.
@AdvayMengle, the extra $50 coupon is applied at checkout, Dustin is correct.
Indeed once I sign in I get 215-50. Signed out I get 269-50. Strange!
@@AdvayMengle Perhaps it is a Prime thing?
Why put that price on the thumbnail if it is not true?
???? That's exactly what the price is right now. $215.99 - a $50 instant coupon.
Look at @AdvayMengle comment for potential clarification.