One of the primary reasons I'm interested in a light, robust travel tripod is up do landscape panorama shots. As I understand it the integrated head on the Peak Designs trips can't be used in that way as no axis can be locked while the others are adjusted. Seems worth mentioning in any review of this category.
I own the Peak Design Travel Tripod and have trekked hundreds of kilometers with it over the last couple of years. I do a lot of HDR photography so even with IS a tripod is an absolute must. If you are traveling internationally, flying, going through airports, then taking trains and buses and finally walking for weeks, day after day, carrying everything you need to survive on your back - plus your photo gear - the P-D is the only one. I looked at all of those other tripods, not even seriously considered. When my OMD EM-5 and P-D tripod isn't nestled in my arm as I'm walking like a hunter carries his rifle, the tripod is tucked into the water bottle pouch of my backpack while the Olympus is clipped to a shoulder strap with OpTech Reporter camera backpack straps. Works brilliantly. You should try it. The one draw back, and it is a drawback, with the Peak Design Travel Tripod is that because of the unique design of its integrated ball-head, when the camera is pointed steeply up or down you will find that you can become 'gimbal locked' in certain orientations and won't be able to point your camera where you want and keep it level horizontally. The solution is to install a panning base, but it's a 180-200g weight penalty. I pay the penalty because all of the other travel tripods are still non-starters in my opinion. As for speed of deployment, for the P-D the fastest documented RUclips time is about ten seconds; however, with this one hack that hardly even matters: keep your camera attached to your tripod, extend two, three, or even four sections but with the legs folded together, then just walk around with your camera cradled in the crook of your elbow and the legs held in your hand or hands exactly like a hunter would hold his shotgun - it will *always* be ready. I take as many photos with my phone as with my camera so when I want to take a photo with my phone, or do anything else where I need two hands, I just fold out the legs and set the camera down, then when I'm done pick the camera up, refold the legs and continue on. If you're walking around town taking mostly handhelds, fold the tripod up and stick it back in the water bottle pouch on your photo bag. This all might seem very weird to you, after one day you'll wonder why you haven't always done it like this. You'll also find that you actually use your tripod a whole lot more rather than just carrying around dead weight.
[LONG COMMENT WARNING] An entertaining review like always, btw the Gitzo should have about 1.45kg with the ball head and 1.05kg without it. Personally, I have used both the Gitzo 1545T and the Manfrotto Befree GT Carbon, also a few other tripods include in a Sirui Tripod and all for a decent amount of time. To be honest, I hated the Manfrotto GT Carbon, it has a cheap plastic feel and has four incredibly huge problems: - twist-lock doesn't fully lock up even after rotating many times, could rotate infinitely when trying to lock; - the twist-lock uses a hard plastic finish with lots of edges that cut your hands; - the ball head and center column locks are gripless and heavily rely on those things sticking out; - the ball-head lock may be fast to use but for landscape photographers, it DOES NOT LOCK TIGHT at all and you can feel it when you press down the shutter of your camera. I always had my doubts about Gitzo's price but after actually using it and using many other tripods, it is worth every penny I've paid. If you get used to it you could actually only twist your wrist once (yes, only twist once) on each twist-lock both when locking and unlocking and it actually locks up very tight and you know it is locked. If you have your camera sitting on top and you press the shutter down, you will (and I mean it) notice that your camera does not move down even the slightest bit and it does have a distinct feel from all the other tripods that are cheaper. Since I shoot a lot of seascapes, I've found that this Gitzo one usually gets a lot less sand inside the twist lock in comparison to all the lower-priced ones but it isn't the easiest to take apart and clean. My old Sirui R2204 with G20kx ball head has been perfectly functional even being dipped in seawater and chucked in the sand for years without any servicing nor cleaning and still does a way better job than the befree GT Carbon, only that it is oversized and is indeed heavier. It has short twisting distance like the Gitzo, comfortable and thoughtful designs everywhere and it is worth the price.
Hmmm... I have an earlier version of that same Sirui ball head; however mine locks up solid with very little effort; and is otherwise buttery smooth. For the record, I also have one of their earlier carbon fiber travel tripods (T-2005X) thats also been fantastic (but lacks the removable monopod leg feature). Sirui makes good stuff!
@They Caged Non Yes, I stand corrected. It's indeed a T-2205X... I was referring to some incorrect notes when posting above, not the actual tripod. Thanks!
@They Caged Non Yes, everything I've seen of theirs seems to be very well built! I'm surprised Sirui isn't better known. I additionally have one of their enormous silky smooth K-40X ball heads on my 'studio' tripod, a HA-77 boom arm that works extremely well for overhead table top work & a family member has one of their gimbal heads that he loves... all of which see a good bit of use!
@@rwbishop Agreed, I hadn't heard of them until I started looking into the Peak Design tripod and people were saying the Sirui is cheaper and works well. Decided on the PDTT, though, since it packs up better.
The PD has a split centre column now it's launched. It's also aluminium now even in the carbon fibre, which affects stability positively, not negatively. They said they don't have a D-ring plate screw because they don't believe it offers enough torque for the level of security they want given that their plates are the point of connection to the camera. Also at launch, there's an hex key tool attached to one of the legs. Just in case that's useful to anyone reading.
I've both lever lock tripods and twist lock types and levers win hands down for speed and it's clear if they are locked out or not. No mistakes leading to a leg collapsing under load!
I have the PDTT and it is amazing. You can shorten the center column for low shots if you want. Watch their video on this. Also note that they actually have videos on use, maintenance, and repair of the tripod. While mentioning extras, the PDTT also comes with a phone mount that stores in the center column. I like the convenience of the ball head, but it is all or nothing. You cannot lock one axis and only work the others.
A few years back I went into a leading London independent camera shop looking for a travel tripod. Can't recall which one I intended to buy but they recommended the Velbon UT43D II. After checking it out (they had numerous tripods on display) I bought one and I'm delighted with it. Cost under GBP100 with ball head, folds to 11.5 inches and comes with carry bag. It may not have a reversible centre column but for a travel tripod it really suits my needs
Just a quick note for whoever reads this. The Gitzo GT1545T's weight shown at 5:32 *does not* account for the ballhead. Gitzo officially rates the GT1545 kit (with the ballhead) at 1.45kg (3.2 lbs). The weight given for the rest accounts for the ballhead as these are usually sold in kits. So, the PDTT *is* actually the lightest of the bunch when the heads are accounted for.
Gitzo are behind the times, with my Benro I got a very high quality bag, full tool kit, two different length centre columns (long and short), spikes feet and rubber feet and a hook for attaching weight on the underneath of the centre column. Benro are brilliant and their carbon fibre legs are amazing quality.
I agree with Robert, I would assume that most can't afford that much for a tripod. I purchased a carbon fiber Bonfoto for under $125 and it has the same or better features than some of what you featured in this video. It has all metal parts, no plastic knobs, has a great carry case, etc. I'm not sure if you have already, but it would be great to have a video comparing tripods under $150. They will probably be knockoff names, but not everyone cares what brand name is on the leg, they just want something sturdy. That being said, you guys did a great job with this video and it was very interesting to see the tests and results. Let's see a budget version soon! Thank you for the great content you provide!
We have two of the Sirui, but with a much better ball head from AS. It works very well and of the 10+ carbon tripods we have these are our go-to for actually having a tripod in our backpacks. That being said, we have two Peak carbon tripods on order and are looking forward to them as we "think" we will always carry them in our packs even if we may not necessarily need them. The Sirui is a judgment call and we carry them about 50% of the time and many times we kick ourselves for leaving them behind. As with any camera gear, the best one is the one you have with you. Great video!
This month I discovered Peak design and just took delivery of the tripod. I have a hack that helps me use my original ball head and even my Gimbal while giving me a little more height and smooth pano ability. Using a 1/4-20 female to 3/8-16 male adapter ($1.50 from Amazon) on top of a PD plate ($19.95 from PD) to then mount the heads. These then quickly and easily mount and dismount on the original mounting plate. More options, very adaptable, smooth pano, more height while maintaining the original benefits including that unique ball head and compactness. (Pictures available)
I would like to add a couple more brands that you might wish to investigate, or test. Feisol is a Taiwanese tripod manufacturer that has made super light carbon tripods for years. I have owned a CT 3471 for over 15 years, and though large it is super light and stable enough to mount a wood 4x5 view camera on (and it came with spikes, and a bag). They also make great travel tripods. Another newer manufacturer is Ifootage, and I picked up one of the Gazelle Fastbowl carbon tripods and put an Acratech tripod pano head on it, and it also is super light (though not compact). But set up and leveling is the fastest I have ever used for doing pano's and architectural work with that latter combo because of the "fastbowl" ball head leveler built into the tripod itself. And though the Acratech heads are not inexpensive, their quality outmatches my Gitzo, & Manafroto, heads, and easily matches my RRS, and Arca Swiss heads. And I have found them lighter in weight than all four of the other brands heads and easier to clean because of the open design.
Great comparison! I’ve got the Gitzo (Guillermo) and there’s no way it only weights 1.05kg. You forgot to add the weight of the ball head which around 0.4kg. I’m backing the PD tripod and can’t wait for it to arrive. I was surprised you didn’t mention the lack of panning with the PD vs the other tripods. Tripods are a huge pain in the neck and I often leave mine behind only to regret it when I am on location. The PD might actually solve that but let’s see.
I have the Peak Design and I really, really love it. It being so small when folded means I can just throw it in the water bottle holder on my bag without having to carry something separate. I'm also very short so the lower height at full extension isn't a problem for me.
You can break down the peak design center column as well.... also you don't have to use the Peak Design plate if you don't like the hex bolt - any arca plate will work .
hi dont know if this has been mentioned in the comments there are too many to check but surprised you were unaware or didnt mention that Manfrotto do an arca swiss conversion plate for $50 its designed to fit perfectly on the Beefree Advanced and most of their smaller ball heads a perfect and cheap way to have full Arca Swiss
Would be useful to have a comparative test of tripods at the same price point- something more affordable eg 200 - not everyone can stretch to 500-1000.
I've been using the $130 Davis & Sanford TR654C-36 for the past two years. Zero complaint and quite comparable to the four reviewed in this video in terms of height, weight, and features. It's available from B&H.
It all depends on what you are going to use them for and how often,, but Cheap tripods are just that, cheap. They aren't durable nor stable enough. Imagine, you go on the trip of your lifetime, spend tons of money. Are you going to skimp on a tripod? Buy well, buy once.
David Medina So, spending less that 500 or 1000 on a tripod is skimping? That’s fine if you make enough to see that kind of money as small change, but most people are not that fortunate. Indeed even 200 is a lot if you have limited disposable income. Photography is becoming a rich person’s hobby again as it was before film cameras became progressively more affordable post WW2. I know I can’t drop 3500 on a FF body, let alone lenses for them. Either I buy ‘cheap’ or I don’t buy at all. It’s no wonder camera sales are plummeting, which becomes a vicious circle as manufacturers raise prices to try to stay profitable, and so sales fall further. Looking at their prices tripod sales must be falling fast too, not least as ever improving IBIS and IOS lessen the need for them, so you might question the need for a tripod at all on your trip of a lifetime...assuming you can afford such a trip.
I always test my tripods stability by hitting one of the legs while having a 300mm attached to the camera and then I count how long it takes the tripod to get back into a stable non vibrating state (image on live view is not shaking anymore). I have not tested any Gitzo or Peak Design yet, but up till now Sirui was nearly always the winner against Manfrotto, Vanguard, ....
I used the Manfrotto for a while and was not durable and it failed in the middle of a trip. So I moved to the Gitzo and in spite of the price it was a significant step up in stability in the real world. For me worth the money for durability and stability
Couple of comments if I may. 1. Fun and informative video as usual 2. The PDTT can have the screw swapped out to one with a coin slot or D ring for a couple of bucks. I did this to my cheap L bracket and what a life saver it has been 3. If you repeat the test please look at three legged thing and their range of tripods if only for the fact they actually give them names!! Keep up the great work.
I'm not sure how useful the vibration test is. Modeling for actual use cases such as wind, trigger push ...etc are hard, I agree. But the one thing that is common with all of these is that the vibration is not continuous and uniform - it dampens after a while. How quickly a tripod dampens those disturbances is important in addition to how it fares to those disturbances in the first place. say a shot taken as you get a lateral gust of wind, vs a shot taken 3 seconds later.
Bought the Manfrotto Be Free once and regretted it, gave it away, and switched to a Sirui. The Manfrotto ball head is a deal breaker for me. I just don't get why they won't make them fully AS compatible. It seems as if they don't much care that many photographers don't want the hassle of their proprietary plate. I don't really love the Sirui because of weight and bulk but for the price it is hard to beat. After two really hard years use, it is still going strong. I keep hearing good things about the K&F Concepts. I would love to try one of those if my Sirui breaks.
I had 2 K&F Concept ball heads with leaking oil within 3 days of use and returned them (small travel CF tripods, less than 1Kg) I switched to Sirui (T-005XK)and it's still rock solid after one year (also got a Sirui CF monopod)
As a backpacker, the Peak seems to hit nearly all the right notes. That price tag though. Might have to go with aluminum. Is carbon fibre *really* worth it?
Monopods! I would love to see a round-up of monopods, and would be especially interested if there are any good monopods that can fit in an airplane carry-on when collapsed. Anyway, back to travel tripods, I currently own a MeFoto Globetrotter that I bought used for under $200 and it's served me pretty well, but it's nice to see an overview of what else is out there.
Great review. Love your innovative way to test vibration damping! I’ve been using a Sirui with the same ball head and its a great sturdy and reliable tripod. However, I travel a lot and its a bit bulky so I need something compact but effective. I’m waiting on my Pedeeteetee to arrive any day now and I’ll do my own comparison. I’ll check if we have a dampening testing tool at home I can use!! By the way, I think you must have used a preproduction version of the PD tripod, they now have a tool that attaches to the tripod so that should help address the point you made about losing it. Also, PD have a life time warranty so anything breaks from wear and tear you would hope they will replace it for the life off the product. Love your work!
What do you think of the Peedeeteetee now that you've had it for a while? I just got one last week and the tool attachment bracket keeps falling off with the lightest touch or accidental bump... It drives me crazy. Wondering if you or anyone else has noticed the same thing.
Jon Journeys I have used it a few times, not shooting as much during lockdown ☹️. But I can’t say I’ve had any issues with the tool attachment coming off. I’ve just been mindful of where I position it on the leg to make sure it doesn’t press against the opposite leg when it’s closed, mainly to avoid scratches, but I wonder if this may be contributing to your issue?
The Peak Design one is so much smaller than the others when folded - it really makes the case as a "travel" tripod. The others aren't too much smaller than a "normal" tripod. It's stable enough for most work other than really long/heavy set ups when you should probably be using a full-sized tripod anyway. It's the obvious choice for a travel option of these four.
I've heard that in order to tilt the Peak Design head, you have to take of the camera first. Also, to turn it around, you have to raise the head a bit high out above the shoulders.
The clamp on a Sirui is described as "Arca type". I had to return a Sirui tilt head because the clamp would not fit the vertical plate on my L bracket for my camera when equipped with a battery grip. The vertical plate has safety screws, a feature I quit like. The Sirui clamp lacks the grooves for the safety screws found on other clamps. The release button on the Sirui clamp seems to be proprietary. I tried and failed to replace the clamp with one that was truly Arca Swiss.
Not a fan of ball head because it needs heavy effort for me to tighten it, but I bought this Peak Design tripod and pleasantly surprised by how easy to lock it in place even heavy lens. It is expensive, but it is the only one a small senior like me able to travel with. Yes, I hate have to use allen wrench, I lost it the first time using it and a replacement is $20, ouch.
Yes, that would be good. There's the whole gamut from extra cheap tripods to these expensive in the video. I think one can find something nice enough even below 100, especially used. I use Benro tripods often (with their ballheads), and they've served me well for many years. Cheap or cheapish doesn't have to mean bad automatically at all.
@@villemononen5303: I have two Benro tripods. Both are well-made carbon fiber tripods. My workhorse Benro was $300, plenty to be outside the "cheap" renge and still in the good value category. In short, I agree with you!
Thanks for the review, as I was looking at the Peak Design. it is was interesting to not the problem of the height of the user. At 6'6" that is important, but you get used to lowering yourself in the pursuit of stability.
GREAT VIDEO! THANKS! please notice that you have a mistake about the weight of the gitzo kit. the weight of the kit is 1.45 KG, tht 1.05 KG weight you mrntioned is hust the legs without the ball head. there for the Peak Design the lightest which make sense as it also the smallest :) thanks again, great compression as always! can you make another compassion for heavy weight tripod legs? something like the robus 5570 and the rrs tvc 34?
Could you guys test light weight travel tripods specifically for taller photographers? I have yet to find a truly portable solution that I can attach to my backpack, which is also tall enough and light enough to be ideal. At 6' 2", I'm not unusually tall, but I still find most lightweight tripods way too short without having to use that wobbly centre column.
Ild like to see a comparison of sub 1.2 kg tripods and ultra light options for long hikes. I use a sirui t-025x for hiking ,which comes in under 1 kg. Probably not the most stable. but ive had no issue getting decent milkyway shots with it, but ild like to see what other good options there are.
Time to do an update guys and this time add in some features that matter to the mirrorless stills/video shooter - quick setup(leveling on uneven terrain), light and compact, useable fluid movements. Love your work😄
Love your work! Thanks to your boys, too :-) Could you do a review of camera sliders - especially ones that are NOT really short, that are lightweight and functional outdoors.
Way back in the 90's Cullman had a travel tripod that folded flat and fit perfectly in a carry-on. I couldn't say much else positive about it though. I'd be interested in how these tripods performed against the old all metal Gitzo tripods. I worked in/managed pro camera stores in Orange County for a total of 22 years and those big heavy Gitzos were the most rock solid tripods I ever tested. The biggest models are probably still in demand for studio work. Even the more common workhorse ones seemed to nullify vibrations. I still have my old Star-D polished aluminum tripod from 1974 that still gets praised for it's looks. It's solid too. My few years more modern Bogen (Manfrotto) 8221 with its Markins medium ball head gets all the use today and it is going strong and still in great looking shape. That has been with me traipsing through the Newport Back Bay, Mono Lake, Panum Crater, Dana Point tide pools, and there's no sign of rust and very little wear.
Enjoying your fun and professional videos! Any chance you can do a video looking at tabletop tripod options? Dpreview's last written article on this subject appears to be 2015 vintage. Thank you.
Tripods are the only piece of photo equipment I always buy used. One of mine is an aluminium lightweight made 40+ years ago with an off-centre head. Condition- as new, weight - about the same as the Gitzo reviewed plus a tube of Pringles. Size- comparable to those in the review. Cost? Well the Gitzo reviewed costs $900+ and mine is nearly as good. Cost? Mine cost me roughly $70. But of course yours is a Gitzo - so is mine! By the way- one of the boasted advantages of Carbon Fibre is resistance to vibration. A number of tripods over the years have been available in both CF and Aluminium versions but I have never been able to find a comparison test of vibration resistance - suspicious?
You can achieve way faster deployment & unfold time for the PD. It is far easier to unlock all leg sections at once (with the tripod inverted or perpendicular to the ground), rotate & allow the legs to gravity drop as a bunch, lock them all with a simple hand twist at each locking section, and then spread the legs out. I use that method all the time when in the field. Also... the PD center column does come apart to reduce its length to the bare minimum needed to keep their head on. Saves a few oz. in weight.
Very extensive review; wish I had this in mind when I was making my purchase before. Love that certain areas that are not commonly covered are taken into consideration - takes a real photo/videographer master to truly know their trade.
I’d be curious to know how the aluminum version of the PD performed with the vibration test. I realize it weighs more but perhaps that is of benefit? It puts it more in line with the Sirui and Manfrotto in terms of weight but it’s much more compact. It’s also much less expensive than the carbon fiber version. Just curious.
3:50, is the Peak Design tripod really losing height though? The point the legs anchor to are higher than the others so if you raise the center column to be even with the others, won't it still be more stable than the others?
First time here this video was perfect my style of learning, humor! Thank you for making this easy for me to even understand. Im no photo nerd just here to shop for the hubby. You gave me insight and laughter. I will not be going with the Peak as my husband hates bending and hes a tall Viking. Im sort of in love with the Manfred Von BeFree!
I have the Manfrotto BeFree Live carbon fiber, and I think that's a much better option for RUclipsrs because of the video fluid head. It's a killer value, but you definitely want to hang your backpack from it if there's much wind. I have the lever lock version, and that works well for me. Before that, I bought a Magnus video tripod, and it's quite nice but not what I would call portable. But it was very inexpensive!
I'd like to throw in another carbon fiber option: the Manfrotto MT190GOC4 Great balance between size (both collapsed and extended), build quality, ease of use, and weight.
I have the Sirui T-2204X, which does not provide the monopod option and as a result is lighter (the monopod option adds around 500g to the total weight..). 1100g for the tripod, i put a compact lightweight ballhead on that and it's a great travel / mountain hiking tripod.
With the gitzo gt1545t make sure you tighten the legs properly otherwise their will be alittle play (probably the reason for the bad test result you experienced). I tested a 1545t against a sirui 2 series tripod by doing a vibration dampening test (the time it took for vibrations to disappear after a bump to the legs) and the gitzo came out on top!
Dave, how about a review of ball heads and alternatives? Likewise a review of arca-type plates would be interesting, are the cheap ones as good as the pricey ones?
ahhh too late!! lol I just ordered the Innorel RT90 in Carbon fibre. I'm stoked over the specs & from other reviews, this is a solid performer for a 1/3 of the cost of BIG brands.. $389.00 CANADIAN!!...that's like $41 U.S. dollars...lol ;)
For anyone thinking of the manfred, don't worry about the proprietary plate. I have the previous aluminium version and I just bought a replacement Swiss Arca compatible plate for the top. You may just need a dab of thread lock as the replacement plates don't have the same nubs on the underside like the og plate.
At home I've used Gitzo tripods for many years. But, for travel I've used several Benro tripods with a RRS BH40 head. Why? Small, light, and cheap. At least until the last Benro I bought which was around $400.00 but still cheaper than Gitzo or RRS. My main criteria for a travel tripod is that it has to fit in my checked bag without the head. The most recent Benro tripod is also more of a full size tripod and therefore more stable. Is it as good as a Gitzo or RRS? No. But, it gets the job done.
I bought a Artcise C85C two months ago, a carbon tripod. With legs of 32 mm in diameter and an excellent rigid triple-joint, it is more sturdy then the four tested here. So far i tested it in heavy winds, taking night pics with manual shutter around 40 and up to 60 seconds without remote control and with the feet in a small but fast flowing water: nothing wrong to see in the pics. I know that Gitzo is better as regards to the speed of setting up the legs and tighten them, these ones take a little more. I would like to see this one tested next to the tested here. Its a 176 cm high (190 at eye level) around 2,5 pounds and at travel size. Its a chinese newcomer but incredible quality (bought more things by now, all are like that)in a way we forgot how it looked like in Europe. Sold in Amazon for too high prices (same level as manfrotto) but this one goes for 140 euro on Aliexpress.
"BUT WAIT....There's more!" with the sirui the column splits for a reason, the long section is reversed and acts as an extension piece to the mono-pod mode, allowing you to get the small camera over your head for event photography etc ( adds 2' to the mono-pod height).
Thanks for a nice quick travel tripod introduction and review, it will be helpful to many. A few comments: - Peak Design: final design has the hex key neatly stowed on the tripod. - Gitzo GT1545T: better (and cheaper) heads would be FLM CB-32F, or even smaller RRS BH-25; also re-check the weight, it's 2.34 lbs without the head. - vibration test...interesting vibration contraption, helps to understand some times of vibration/damping, but a single larger thump on the camera rig or to a leg will produce some different results which are also important. But sure, I realize this is not an exhaustive test, and so it is still a pretty good overview of four somewhat different tripods and price points.
I was using a cheapo Neewer tripod for about 12 months but recently got the manfrotto compact light smart for around £45 and its brilliant....using my YI M1 with its 2 kit lens and the Olympus ED 40-150mm and also my phone lol
finally a peak design review that doesn't just trash on the price point and stomp their feet lol. Honestly, I almost didn't buy one because of all the people WHO DONT EVEN OWN IT. Writing shit reviews on it. When it arrived at my house. I was pleasantly surprised. Very well built. Super compact. I love it so far.
WRT vibrations. Have you tried standing on a bridge with constant traffic? Also, frequency and length matters. The most affected tripod may have profited from a column extended slightly less.
I agree with some of the comments below that a review of what I’ll just call “less expensive” or “reasonably priced” tripods would be both interesting and useful to a lot of people. I realize that there are compromises involved as the price is reduced, especially among heads, but I suspect there are some capable choices to be had.
Great video. Can you do the same for travel tripods that are aluminium? Carbon fibre is nice, but it comes with a higher price point and people like me can't justify the price tag. Thanks!
I've been using a brick shxx-house Pro Design tripod for several years. It's substantial, doesn't fall over in a wind, and can handle my birding lenses. But OMG it's a beefy thing. I'm getting older and unable to schlep the weight I once did. Going to give the PD travel tripod a try with my smaller lenses for a night sky shoot. If it pisses me off it gets returned. Fingers crossed.
"I wanna work at Chilli's." PURE GOLD!! ×D
I was dying
Does Chili's exist in Alberta, Canada?
Honestly, I wish more parents were okay with their kids having attainable goals.
Chris’s sons have his father’s humor, very 😎
I cant give this enough thumbs up 🤣🤣🤣
One of the primary reasons I'm interested in a light, robust travel tripod is up do landscape panorama shots. As I understand it the integrated head on the Peak Designs trips can't be used in that way as no axis can be locked while the others are adjusted. Seems worth mentioning in any review of this category.
I own the Peak Design Travel Tripod and have trekked hundreds of kilometers with it over the last couple of years. I do a lot of HDR photography so even with IS a tripod is an absolute must. If you are traveling internationally, flying, going through airports, then taking trains and buses and finally walking for weeks, day after day, carrying everything you need to survive on your back - plus your photo gear - the P-D is the only one. I looked at all of those other tripods, not even seriously considered.
When my OMD EM-5 and P-D tripod isn't nestled in my arm as I'm walking like a hunter carries his rifle, the tripod is tucked into the water bottle pouch of my backpack while the Olympus is clipped to a shoulder strap with OpTech Reporter camera backpack straps. Works brilliantly. You should try it.
The one draw back, and it is a drawback, with the Peak Design Travel Tripod is that because of the unique design of its integrated ball-head, when the camera is pointed steeply up or down you will find that you can become 'gimbal locked' in certain orientations and won't be able to point your camera where you want and keep it level horizontally. The solution is to install a panning base, but it's a 180-200g weight penalty. I pay the penalty because all of the other travel tripods are still non-starters in my opinion.
As for speed of deployment, for the P-D the fastest documented RUclips time is about ten seconds; however, with this one hack that hardly even matters: keep your camera attached to your tripod, extend two, three, or even four sections but with the legs folded together, then just walk around with your camera cradled in the crook of your elbow and the legs held in your hand or hands exactly like a hunter would hold his shotgun - it will *always* be ready. I take as many photos with my phone as with my camera so when I want to take a photo with my phone, or do anything else where I need two hands, I just fold out the legs and set the camera down, then when I'm done pick the camera up, refold the legs and continue on. If you're walking around town taking mostly handhelds, fold the tripod up and stick it back in the water bottle pouch on your photo bag. This all might seem very weird to you, after one day you'll wonder why you haven't always done it like this. You'll also find that you actually use your tripod a whole lot more rather than just carrying around dead weight.
The start of the video purely deserves a like
[LONG COMMENT WARNING] An entertaining review like always, btw the Gitzo should have about 1.45kg with the ball head and 1.05kg without it. Personally, I have used both the Gitzo 1545T and the Manfrotto Befree GT Carbon, also a few other tripods include in a Sirui Tripod and all for a decent amount of time.
To be honest, I hated the Manfrotto GT Carbon, it has a cheap plastic feel and has four incredibly huge problems:
- twist-lock doesn't fully lock up even after rotating many times, could rotate infinitely when trying to lock;
- the twist-lock uses a hard plastic finish with lots of edges that cut your hands;
- the ball head and center column locks are gripless and heavily rely on those things sticking out;
- the ball-head lock may be fast to use but for landscape photographers, it DOES NOT LOCK TIGHT at all and you can feel it when you press down the shutter of your camera.
I always had my doubts about Gitzo's price but after actually using it and using many other tripods, it is worth every penny I've paid. If you get used to it you could actually only twist your wrist once (yes, only twist once) on each twist-lock both when locking and unlocking and it actually locks up very tight and you know it is locked. If you have your camera sitting on top and you press the shutter down, you will (and I mean it) notice that your camera does not move down even the slightest bit and it does have a distinct feel from all the other tripods that are cheaper. Since I shoot a lot of seascapes, I've found that this Gitzo one usually gets a lot less sand inside the twist lock in comparison to all the lower-priced ones but it isn't the easiest to take apart and clean.
My old Sirui R2204 with G20kx ball head has been perfectly functional even being dipped in seawater and chucked in the sand for years without any servicing nor cleaning and still does a way better job than the befree GT Carbon, only that it is oversized and is indeed heavier. It has short twisting distance like the Gitzo, comfortable and thoughtful designs everywhere and it is worth the price.
i was gonna get the manfrotto 190 carbon fiber 4 section. i should ge gitzo series 1 travel tripod instead?
Hmmm... I have an earlier version of that same Sirui ball head; however mine locks up solid with very little effort; and is otherwise buttery smooth. For the record, I also have one of their earlier carbon fiber travel tripods (T-2005X) thats also been fantastic (but lacks the removable monopod leg feature). Sirui makes good stuff!
@They Caged Non Yes, I stand corrected. It's indeed a T-2205X... I was referring to some incorrect notes when posting above, not the actual tripod. Thanks!
@They Caged Non Yes, everything I've seen of theirs seems to be very well built! I'm surprised Sirui isn't better known. I additionally have one of their enormous silky smooth K-40X ball heads on my 'studio' tripod, a HA-77 boom arm that works extremely well for overhead table top work & a family member has one of their gimbal heads that he loves... all of which see a good bit of use!
@@rwbishop Agreed, I hadn't heard of them until I started looking into the Peak Design tripod and people were saying the Sirui is cheaper and works well. Decided on the PDTT, though, since it packs up better.
@They Caged Non Agreed.
Best 5 sec cameo ever, and I'm not talking about Chris' children. Oscar worthy.
I believe Peak Design has a video on a faster method on how to extend the tripod fully.
So the vibrator has very little effect on Sarah...
@@MrKikoboy No.
Me thinks a truck rumbling by would have made a better vibrato and a better test tool or maybe a road "whacker" :)))
The PD has a split centre column now it's launched. It's also aluminium now even in the carbon fibre, which affects stability positively, not negatively. They said they don't have a D-ring plate screw because they don't believe it offers enough torque for the level of security they want given that their plates are the point of connection to the camera. Also at launch, there's an hex key tool attached to one of the legs. Just in case that's useful to anyone reading.
I've both lever lock tripods and twist lock types and levers win hands down for speed and it's clear if they are locked out or not. No mistakes leading to a leg collapsing under load!
I agree and it's a quick one hand flick to alter the height if you are on uneven ground.
I have the PDTT and it is amazing.
You can shorten the center column for low shots if you want. Watch their video on this. Also note that they actually have videos on use, maintenance, and repair of the tripod.
While mentioning extras, the PDTT also comes with a phone mount that stores in the center column.
I like the convenience of the ball head, but it is all or nothing. You cannot lock one axis and only work the others.
A few years back I went into a leading London independent camera shop looking for a travel tripod. Can't recall which one I intended to buy but they recommended the Velbon UT43D II. After checking it out (they had numerous tripods on display) I bought one and I'm delighted with it. Cost under GBP100 with ball head, folds to 11.5 inches and comes with carry bag. It may not have a reversible centre column but for a travel tripod it really suits my needs
I realize this is an old comment; however, I received a Velbon tripod for my 21st birthday. I still use it today 39 years later!
Just a quick note for whoever reads this.
The Gitzo GT1545T's weight shown at 5:32 *does not* account for the ballhead. Gitzo officially rates the GT1545 kit (with the ballhead) at 1.45kg (3.2 lbs). The weight given for the rest accounts for the ballhead as these are usually sold in kits.
So, the PDTT *is* actually the lightest of the bunch when the heads are accounted for.
The peak Design center column can also be split to cut down on weight.
Man this is the image quality I want. This video is so crisp. Beautiful
There is no try-pod, only do-pod...
Get your coat, the exit is on your left. 👈🏼
Ba dub tsss.
Womp Womp Woooomp.
Good one
lmao good one
Gitzo are behind the times, with my Benro I got a very high quality bag, full tool kit, two different length centre columns (long and short), spikes feet and rubber feet and a hook for attaching weight on the underneath of the centre column. Benro are brilliant and their carbon fibre legs are amazing quality.
I agree with Robert, I would assume that most can't afford that much for a tripod. I purchased a carbon fiber Bonfoto for under $125 and it has the same or better features than some of what you featured in this video. It has all metal parts, no plastic knobs, has a great carry case, etc. I'm not sure if you have already, but it would be great to have a video comparing tripods under $150. They will probably be knockoff names, but not everyone cares what brand name is on the leg, they just want something sturdy. That being said, you guys did a great job with this video and it was very interesting to see the tests and results. Let's see a budget version soon! Thank you for the great content you provide!
Tip: keep the traditional tripods unscrewed when having the legs upwards. This way you can shove em out in 1 sec once you set it up again.
We have two of the Sirui, but with a much better ball head from AS. It works very well and of the 10+ carbon tripods we have these are our go-to for actually having a tripod in our backpacks. That being said, we have two Peak carbon tripods on order and are looking forward to them as we "think" we will always carry them in our packs even if we may not necessarily need them. The Sirui is a judgment call and we carry them about 50% of the time and many times we kick ourselves for leaving them behind. As with any camera gear, the best one is the one you have with you. Great video!
This month I discovered Peak design and just took delivery of the tripod. I have a hack that helps me use my original ball head and even my Gimbal while giving me a little more height and smooth pano ability. Using a 1/4-20 female to 3/8-16 male adapter ($1.50 from Amazon) on top of a PD plate ($19.95 from PD) to then mount the heads. These then quickly and easily mount and dismount on the original mounting plate. More options, very adaptable, smooth pano, more height while maintaining the original benefits including that unique ball head and compactness. (Pictures available)
I would like to add a couple more brands that you might wish to investigate, or test.
Feisol is a Taiwanese tripod manufacturer that has made super light carbon tripods for years. I have owned a CT 3471 for over 15 years, and though large it is super light and stable enough to mount a wood 4x5 view camera on (and it came with spikes, and a bag). They also make great travel tripods. Another newer manufacturer is Ifootage, and I picked up one of the Gazelle Fastbowl carbon tripods and put an Acratech tripod pano head on it, and it also is super light (though not compact). But set up and leveling is the fastest I have ever used for doing pano's and architectural work with that latter combo because of the "fastbowl" ball head leveler built into the tripod itself. And though the Acratech heads are not inexpensive, their quality outmatches my Gitzo, & Manafroto, heads, and easily matches my RRS, and Arca Swiss heads. And I have found them lighter in weight than all four of the other brands heads and easier to clean because of the open design.
Great comparison! I’ve got the Gitzo (Guillermo) and there’s no way it only weights 1.05kg. You forgot to add the weight of the ball head which around 0.4kg. I’m backing the PD tripod and can’t wait for it to arrive. I was surprised you didn’t mention the lack of panning with the PD vs the other tripods. Tripods are a huge pain in the neck and I often leave mine behind only to regret it when I am on location. The PD might actually solve that but let’s see.
I have the Peak Design and I really, really love it. It being so small when folded means I can just throw it in the water bottle holder on my bag without having to carry something separate. I'm also very short so the lower height at full extension isn't a problem for me.
You can break down the peak design center column as well.... also you don't have to use the Peak Design plate if you don't like the hex bolt - any arca plate will work .
hi dont know if this has been mentioned in the comments there are too many to check but surprised you were unaware or didnt mention that Manfrotto do an arca swiss conversion plate for $50 its designed to fit perfectly on the Beefree Advanced and most of their smaller ball heads a perfect and cheap way to have full Arca Swiss
I love Sirui tripods. Been using one for the last few years.
Would be useful to have a comparative test of tripods at the same price point- something more affordable eg 200 - not everyone can stretch to 500-1000.
I've been using the $130 Davis & Sanford TR654C-36 for the past two years. Zero complaint and quite comparable to the four reviewed in this video in terms of height, weight, and features. It's available from B&H.
I have been using the manfrotto traveler kit carbon for a while now and I absolutely love it. Got it for 100€
Showing the super expensive one is a good way to show how much value is in the lower price.
It all depends on what you are going to use them for and how often,, but Cheap tripods are just that, cheap. They aren't durable nor stable enough. Imagine, you go on the trip of your lifetime, spend tons of money. Are you going to skimp on a tripod? Buy well, buy once.
David Medina So, spending less that 500 or 1000 on a tripod is skimping? That’s fine if you make enough to see that kind of money as small change, but most people are not that fortunate. Indeed even 200 is a lot if you have limited disposable income. Photography is becoming a rich person’s hobby again as it was before film cameras became progressively more affordable post WW2. I know I can’t drop 3500 on a FF body, let alone lenses for them. Either I buy ‘cheap’ or I don’t buy at all. It’s no wonder camera sales are plummeting, which becomes a vicious circle as manufacturers raise prices to try to stay profitable, and so sales fall further. Looking at their prices tripod sales must be falling fast too, not least as ever improving IBIS and IOS lessen the need for them, so you might question the need for a tripod at all on your trip of a lifetime...assuming you can afford such a trip.
I always test my tripods stability by hitting one of the legs while having a 300mm attached to the camera and then I count how long it takes the tripod to get back into a stable non vibrating state (image on live view is not shaking anymore). I have not tested any Gitzo or Peak Design yet, but up till now Sirui was nearly always the winner against Manfrotto, Vanguard, ....
I used the Manfrotto for a while and was not durable and it failed in the middle of a trip. So I moved to the Gitzo and in spite of the price it was a significant step up in stability in the real world. For me worth the money for durability and stability
Couple of comments if I may.
1. Fun and informative video as usual
2. The PDTT can have the screw swapped out to one with a coin slot or D ring for a couple of bucks. I did this to my cheap L bracket and what a life saver it has been
3. If you repeat the test please look at three legged thing and their range of tripods if only for the fact they actually give them names!!
Keep up the great work.
I'm not sure how useful the vibration test is.
Modeling for actual use cases such as wind, trigger push ...etc are hard, I agree. But the one thing that is common with all of these is that the vibration is not continuous and uniform - it dampens after a while. How quickly a tripod dampens those disturbances is important in addition to how it fares to those disturbances in the first place. say a shot taken as you get a lateral gust of wind, vs a shot taken 3 seconds later.
Bought the Manfrotto Be Free once and regretted it, gave it away, and switched to a Sirui. The Manfrotto ball head is a deal breaker for me. I just don't get why they won't make them fully AS compatible. It seems as if they don't much care that many photographers don't want the hassle of their proprietary plate. I don't really love the Sirui because of weight and bulk but for the price it is hard to beat. After two really hard years use, it is still going strong. I keep hearing good things about the K&F Concepts. I would love to try one of those if my Sirui breaks.
I had 2 K&F Concept ball heads with leaking oil within 3 days of use and returned them (small travel CF tripods, less than 1Kg)
I switched to Sirui (T-005XK)and it's still rock solid after one year (also got a Sirui CF monopod)
Great comparisons - all important factors I would consider when buying a tripod
As a backpacker, the Peak seems to hit nearly all the right notes.
That price tag though. Might have to go with aluminum.
Is carbon fibre *really* worth it?
OMG that vibration calibration tool.
Monopods! I would love to see a round-up of monopods, and would be especially interested if there are any good monopods that can fit in an airplane carry-on when collapsed.
Anyway, back to travel tripods, I currently own a MeFoto Globetrotter that I bought used for under $200 and it's served me pretty well, but it's nice to see an overview of what else is out there.
Great review. Love your innovative way to test vibration damping! I’ve been using a Sirui with the same ball head and its a great sturdy and reliable tripod. However, I travel a lot and its a bit bulky so I need something compact but effective. I’m waiting on my Pedeeteetee to arrive any day now and I’ll do my own comparison. I’ll check if we have a dampening testing tool at home I can use!! By the way, I think you must have used a preproduction version of the PD tripod, they now have a tool that attaches to the tripod so that should help address the point you made about losing it. Also, PD have a life time warranty so anything breaks from wear and tear you would hope they will replace it for the life off the product. Love your work!
What do you think of the Peedeeteetee now that you've had it for a while? I just got one last week and the tool attachment bracket keeps falling off with the lightest touch or accidental bump... It drives me crazy. Wondering if you or anyone else has noticed the same thing.
Jon Journeys I have used it a few times, not shooting as much during lockdown ☹️. But I can’t say I’ve had any issues with the tool attachment coming off. I’ve just been mindful of where I position it on the leg to make sure it doesn’t press against the opposite leg when it’s closed, mainly to avoid scratches, but I wonder if this may be contributing to your issue?
The Peak Design one is so much smaller than the others when folded - it really makes the case as a "travel" tripod. The others aren't too much smaller than a "normal" tripod. It's stable enough for most work other than really long/heavy set ups when you should probably be using a full-sized tripod anyway. It's the obvious choice for a travel option of these four.
*No!* The Peak Design is so instable! 😛I'd never buy it as my travel tripod! 😆
Chris, you explain things soooo well. This was a great episode.
I've heard that in order to tilt the Peak Design head, you have to take of the camera first. Also, to turn it around, you have to raise the head a bit high out above the shoulders.
This really is a fantastic overview. I wish all product comparisons on RUclips were this well thought-out and succinct
Thank you! An actual comparison video and not a commercial
Fantastic comparison video very helpful 💚
The clamp on a Sirui is described as "Arca type". I had to return a Sirui tilt head because the clamp would not fit the vertical plate on my L bracket for my camera when equipped with a battery grip. The vertical plate has safety screws, a feature I quit like. The Sirui clamp lacks the grooves for the safety screws found on other clamps. The release button on the Sirui clamp seems to be proprietary. I tried and failed to replace the clamp with one that was truly Arca Swiss.
Absolutely fantastic video, in depth the perfect amount and really hammering on the important parts for usage. Great content.
Not a fan of ball head because it needs heavy effort for me to tighten it, but I bought this Peak Design tripod and pleasantly surprised by how easy to lock it in place even heavy lens. It is expensive, but it is the only one a small senior like me able to travel with. Yes, I hate have to use allen wrench, I lost it the first time using it and a replacement is $20, ouch.
can we get a low budget tripod comparison please
this is for people who invest money in their gear. For everybody else there are kmart and AliExpress.
Dominic Lee Don‘t buy it. In the long run you buy the better ones.
Yes, that would be good. There's the whole gamut from extra cheap tripods to these expensive in the video. I think one can find something nice enough even below 100, especially used. I use Benro tripods often (with their ballheads), and they've served me well for many years. Cheap or cheapish doesn't have to mean bad automatically at all.
@@villemononen5303: I have two Benro tripods. Both are well-made carbon fiber tripods. My workhorse Benro was $300, plenty to be outside the "cheap" renge and still in the good value category. In short, I agree with you!
I use the 3 legged thing billy tripod.
Not that expensive and pleased with it so far.
Thanks for the review, as I was looking at the Peak Design. it is was interesting to not the problem of the height of the user. At 6'6" that is important, but you get used to lowering yourself in the pursuit of stability.
Calgary! I had no idea until I saw the metal structures from Ralph Klein park
GREAT VIDEO! THANKS!
please notice that you have a mistake about the weight of the gitzo kit. the weight of the kit is 1.45 KG, tht 1.05 KG weight you mrntioned is hust the legs without the ball head.
there for the Peak Design the lightest which make sense as it also the smallest :)
thanks again, great compression as always!
can you make another compassion for heavy weight tripod legs?
something like the robus 5570 and the rrs tvc 34?
Could you guys test light weight travel tripods specifically for taller photographers? I have yet to find a truly portable solution that I can attach to my backpack, which is also tall enough and light enough to be ideal. At 6' 2", I'm not unusually tall, but I still find most lightweight tripods way too short without having to use that wobbly centre column.
I wouldn't mind seeing a video on great products that have been discontinued. What made me think of that was the discontinued Manfrotto 685B monopod.
Twist the top twistys first. If you tighten the bottom first, you have all that slop in the segments above it.
This is probably my favourite tripod video.
you can take the center column off the PD as well. You can also remove all the legs and use it as a table only tripod.
Ild like to see a comparison of sub 1.2 kg tripods and ultra light options for long hikes. I use a sirui t-025x for hiking ,which comes in under 1 kg. Probably not the most stable. but ive had no issue getting decent milkyway shots with it, but ild like to see what other good options there are.
See my post about my Benro Tripster, which weighs 2.2 lb and is loaded with features.
Time to do an update guys and this time add in some features that matter to the mirrorless stills/video shooter - quick setup(leveling on uneven terrain), light and compact, useable fluid movements. Love your work😄
Love your work! Thanks to your boys, too :-) Could you do a review of camera sliders - especially ones that are NOT really short, that are lightweight and functional outdoors.
Way back in the 90's Cullman had a travel tripod that folded flat and fit perfectly in a carry-on. I couldn't say much else positive about it though.
I'd be interested in how these tripods performed against the old all metal Gitzo tripods. I worked in/managed pro camera stores in Orange County for a total of 22 years and those big heavy Gitzos were the most rock solid tripods I ever tested. The biggest models are probably still in demand for studio work. Even the more common workhorse ones seemed to nullify vibrations.
I still have my old Star-D polished aluminum tripod from 1974 that still gets praised for it's looks. It's solid too. My few years more modern Bogen (Manfrotto) 8221 with its Markins medium ball head gets all the use today and it is going strong and still in great looking shape. That has been with me traipsing through the Newport Back Bay, Mono Lake, Panum Crater, Dana Point tide pools, and there's no sign of rust and very little wear.
Enjoying your fun and professional videos! Any chance you can do a video looking at tabletop tripod options? Dpreview's last written article on this subject appears to be 2015 vintage. Thank you.
Colors look great on this video
Surprised to hear you liking the twist legs. I got an older BeFree, knowing it has a lot of downsides, just because I hate the twist locks.
Tripods are the only piece of photo equipment I always buy used. One of mine is an aluminium lightweight made 40+ years ago with an off-centre head. Condition- as new, weight - about the same as the Gitzo reviewed plus a tube of Pringles. Size- comparable to those in the review. Cost? Well the Gitzo reviewed costs $900+ and mine is nearly as good. Cost? Mine cost me roughly $70. But of course yours is a Gitzo - so is mine! By the way- one of the boasted advantages of Carbon Fibre is resistance to vibration. A number of tripods over the years have been available in both CF and Aluminium versions but I have never been able to find a comparison test of vibration resistance - suspicious?
You can achieve way faster deployment & unfold time for the PD. It is far easier to unlock all leg sections at once (with the tripod inverted or perpendicular to the ground), rotate & allow the legs to gravity drop as a bunch, lock them all with a simple hand twist at each locking section, and then spread the legs out. I use that method all the time when in the field. Also... the PD center column does come apart to reduce its length to the bare minimum needed to keep their head on. Saves a few oz. in weight.
Very extensive review; wish I had this in mind when I was making my purchase before. Love that certain areas that are not commonly covered are taken into consideration - takes a real photo/videographer master to truly know their trade.
Have toi checked out three legged thing yet? Saw that they LOOK solid and fairly well priced.
I’d be curious to know how the aluminum version of the PD performed with the vibration test. I realize it weighs more but perhaps that is of benefit? It puts it more in line with the Sirui and Manfrotto in terms of weight but it’s much more compact. It’s also much less expensive than the carbon fiber version. Just curious.
3:50, is the Peak Design tripod really losing height though?
The point the legs anchor to are higher than the others so if you raise the center column to be even with the others, won't it still be more stable than the others?
Have you ever used the Feisol CT-3442 tournament series? I love it for backpacking/travel
The Peak Design center column can be made shorter by taking the bottom part off, at 13:16 you mention Sarah is the only one that does that.
First time here this video was perfect my style of learning, humor! Thank you for making this easy for me to even understand. Im no photo nerd just here to shop for the hubby. You gave me insight and laughter. I will not be going with the Peak as my husband hates bending and hes a tall Viking. Im sort of in love with the Manfred Von BeFree!
I have the Manfrotto BeFree Live carbon fiber, and I think that's a much better option for RUclipsrs because of the video fluid head. It's a killer value, but you definitely want to hang your backpack from it if there's much wind. I have the lever lock version, and that works well for me.
Before that, I bought a Magnus video tripod, and it's quite nice but not what I would call portable. But it was very inexpensive!
I'd like to throw in another carbon fiber option: the Manfrotto MT190GOC4
Great balance between size (both collapsed and extended), build quality, ease of use, and weight.
I have the Sirui T-2204X, which does not provide the monopod option and as a result is lighter (the monopod option adds around 500g to the total weight..). 1100g for the tripod, i put a compact lightweight ballhead on that and it's a great travel / mountain hiking tripod.
With the gitzo gt1545t make sure you tighten the legs properly otherwise their will be alittle play (probably the reason for the bad test result you experienced). I tested a 1545t against a sirui 2 series tripod by doing a vibration dampening test (the time it took for vibrations to disappear after a bump to the legs) and the gitzo came out on top!
It would be great if you could add product links in the description. I have to hunt through the video to find model numbers...
Dave, how about a review of ball heads and alternatives? Likewise a review of arca-type plates would be interesting, are the cheap ones as good as the pricey ones?
I'm looking at buying an Innorel tripod (either RT80, RT85 or RT90), any thoughts, experience or suggestions.. or reasons not to get the Innorel??
ahhh too late!! lol
I just ordered the Innorel RT90 in Carbon fibre. I'm stoked over the specs & from other reviews, this is a solid performer for a 1/3 of the cost of BIG brands.. $389.00 CANADIAN!!...that's like $41 U.S. dollars...lol ;)
For anyone thinking of the manfred, don't worry about the proprietary plate. I have the previous aluminium version and I just bought a replacement Swiss Arca compatible plate for the top. You may just need a dab of thread lock as the replacement plates don't have the same nubs on the underside like the og plate.
At home I've used Gitzo tripods for many years. But, for travel I've used several Benro tripods with a RRS BH40 head. Why? Small, light, and cheap. At least until the last Benro I bought which was around $400.00 but still cheaper than Gitzo or RRS. My main criteria for a travel tripod is that it has to fit in my checked bag without the head. The most recent Benro tripod is also more of a full size tripod and therefore more stable. Is it as good as a Gitzo or RRS? No. But, it gets the job done.
Great video, love your style and the amount of knowledge you pack in.
I bought a Artcise C85C two months ago, a carbon tripod. With legs of 32 mm in diameter and an excellent rigid triple-joint, it is more sturdy then the four tested here. So far i tested it in heavy winds, taking night pics with manual shutter around 40 and up to 60 seconds without remote control and with the feet in a small but fast flowing water: nothing wrong to see in the pics. I know that Gitzo is better as regards to the speed of setting up the legs and tighten them, these ones take a little more. I would like to see this one tested next to the tested here. Its a 176 cm high (190 at eye level) around 2,5 pounds and at travel size. Its a chinese newcomer but incredible quality (bought more things by now, all are like that)in a way we forgot how it looked like in Europe. Sold in Amazon for too high prices (same level as manfrotto) but this one goes for 140 euro on Aliexpress.
Why no major RUclips camera gears review do a review on Vanguard Alta pro 2+ tripod series??
"BUT WAIT....There's more!" with the sirui the column splits for a reason, the long section is reversed and acts as an extension piece to the mono-pod mode, allowing you to get the small camera over your head for event photography etc ( adds 2' to the mono-pod height).
Thanks for a nice quick travel tripod introduction and review, it will be helpful to many.
A few comments:
- Peak Design: final design has the hex key neatly stowed on the tripod.
- Gitzo GT1545T: better (and cheaper) heads would be FLM CB-32F, or even smaller RRS BH-25; also re-check the weight, it's 2.34 lbs without the head.
- vibration test...interesting vibration contraption, helps to understand some times of vibration/damping, but a single larger thump on the camera rig or to a leg will produce some different results which are also important.
But sure, I realize this is not an exhaustive test, and so it is still a pretty good overview of four somewhat different tripods and price points.
Super helpful video. I have been looking at travel tripods. This helps a lot in that decision making.
Superb video, all the info needed with a pinch of brevity and humour .....more of this please, ‘nuff said ‘ !
what camera and color grade lut are you using. Your review is outstanding.
I was using a cheapo Neewer tripod for about 12 months but recently got the manfrotto compact light smart for around £45 and its brilliant....using my YI M1 with its 2 kit lens and the Olympus ED 40-150mm and also my phone lol
I've been using the Rollei Traveler Carbon No.1, it is lighter than all of those, but has very good built quality and is only $100!
finally a peak design review that doesn't just trash on the price point and stomp their feet lol. Honestly, I almost didn't buy one because of all the people WHO DONT EVEN OWN IT. Writing shit reviews on it. When it arrived at my house. I was pleasantly surprised. Very well built. Super compact. I love it so far.
WRT vibrations. Have you tried standing on a bridge with constant traffic? Also, frequency and length matters. The most affected tripod may have profited from a column extended slightly less.
Nothing a tripod can do about the earth moving for you.
I agree with some of the comments below that a review of what I’ll just call “less expensive” or “reasonably priced” tripods would be both interesting and useful to a lot of people. I realize that there are compromises involved as the price is reduced, especially among heads, but I suspect there are some capable choices to be had.
Great video. Can you do the same for travel tripods that are aluminium? Carbon fibre is nice, but it comes with a higher price point and people like me can't justify the price tag. Thanks!
3 legged things tripods are amazing. Definitely recommend for price and weight. They can also hold way more weight than all these tripods.
bro i REALLY appreciate your scientific approach to finding the best one. you’ve helped me make up my mind. subbed 💯
I've been using a brick shxx-house Pro Design tripod for several years. It's substantial, doesn't fall over in a wind, and can handle my birding lenses. But OMG it's a beefy thing. I'm getting older and unable to schlep the weight I once did. Going to give the PD travel tripod a try with my smaller lenses for a night sky shoot. If it pisses me off it gets returned. Fingers crossed.
You guys should do an episode on video tripods if you haven't already. What kind of tripod or monopod does Jordan use?