Peak Design Travel Tripod- Should you buy the Carbon Fiber or Aluminum version?
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- Опубликовано: 5 дек 2020
- Whichever tripod you choose you are making a good decision. We hear more people ask which Peak Design Travel Tripod they should get... Carbon Fiber or Aluminum. Carbon Fiber is a quality product and is superior to the Aluminum in build quality and durability. But is it more stable? We found that it was a very close call... maybe not worth the $150 more.
1st, the Cat D8 platform was genius. 2nd, your intuition as to the nature of carbon shake is correct. Namely, a much, much higher modulus of elasticity (resistance to bending, aka stiffness) in the epoxy-carbon combined with highly compatible adhesive at joints will efficiently transmit vibration in the carbon set up. The mechanics are identical even though real-world stability is probably more about low frequency disturbances, like wind, footstep on boardwalks, etc. where the "stability" would have more to do with frame geometry, joint/build quality and where the additional mass of the aluminum may even improve it's performance a sliver more. All in all, nice work, gentlemen!
James C., Chief Structural Engineer
Dang! To say I understand would be a lie, but you use enough words that seem right that I am just going to agree! Well said (I think) Thanks for explaining in the correct terms for anyone else who comes along and might understand!
@@sciotoriverco-op6358 stiffness...tight joints. Consider kids talking via two cups and a string. The tighter the string, the better the transmission!
That was my thought...
When the vibration is coming from what the tripod is sitting on the softer support will act as a better shock absorber... so the stiffer support will transmit more of the vibration. (So the "test" is sort of backwards from most real-world situations.)
Great video guys! Love the fam style and humor. And thanks for showing us the way to carry it like that. I’m gonna try it. 😊👍
Brilliant Test! Great video. Thank you!
Excellent review. Super honest, informative. I give thumbs up/like videos all the time, but it takes a lot more to subscribe, but I did. Look forward to seeing more videos.. Great work. Thanks.
Thank you! I am out on a trip through Wyoming so hopefully I can keep some good stuff coming.
@@sciotoriverco-op6358 Awesome!
nearly 2 years later, this video was super helpful for me in my decision making on which tripod to purchase. Carbon fiber or aluminum - I'd watched one too many videos on the topic! Ended up "settling" on the aluminum one. Peak Design just recently hiked the price up on each of these models. The AL version is now $370, and the CF is $650. I was able to find a brand new AL one for $300, cheapest new CF was the $650... A bit lighter, a bit stiffer, sure. $350 better? eh. I'm typically a "buy once, cry once" guy, but really had to consider how often I use a tripod. I suppose if I use the aluminum version a lot, I could eventually consider grabbing the carbon fiber version in time. Appreciate the video!
Great video guys!
Thanks so much!
Nice video guys! I was wondering if the CF version will take more beat and left with less mark. Your video has the exact info I was looking for, thank you!
Without a doubt! They both work great, but the CF holds up a little better. I can't say for sure about heavy beatings, but average use shows less wear on the CF! Thanks for the comment!
This was not the first video I have seen showing that the aluminium is sturdier.. When you setup a test, one cannot ignore the results, just because the outcome is different than expected. It looks like that the price makes you biased. It is a nice video though, well done!
Good review chaps. 👍🏼 Don't know if I can fork out for the CF version though. 🤔
I am with you on that! I am always amazed at the number of people who think everyone should simply buy the CF version... I would love to have enough money laying around to have that decision be so simple.
@@sciotoriverco-op6358 I definitely need something though as I use a small flexible tripod for vlogging my hiking trips, and it's just not tall enough.
@@WalkWithWallace This is the one, my guy! The way Sage carries it on his bag makes for quick access and minimal discomfort
i dont think u can compare its stability by putting it up a shaking platform and compare the photos lol. that has to be compare by feels. heck no tripod will be stable on a shaking floor. you could have tried blowing a leaf blower or something on it :). its how the engine vibrated at the time of the shot that mattered. vibration is not the same all through out.
i was really looking to see if u moved the camera around and feel the smaller legs flex or vibrate on a stable surface or blow a leaf blower near it simulating wind-- that will tell its stability.
Great video, but the out of focus was very distraction. I subscribed.
Noted!
But, I think they have a hook for somebody to attach a carabiner that can hold some weight, or the strap of a bag for example. having that ability lessens the vibration in the wind? It looks like both of these are great tripods.
Absolutely! Where the cell phone holder goes in there is a hook down there. I have seen many people use their camera bags to latch on to add stability.
@@sciotoriverco-op6358 can you attach a fluid head to these? Or do you need to buy a separate piece?
Nice tripod a little blurry
did you film with panisonic
Our focus was off. We filmed with an A7iii.
When I build drones
I use carbon fiber frames
The higher quality and stronger the carbon is
The more jello I get in the footage
From motor vibration
The reason I deal with that is because it is stronger in a crash
So I soft mount everything
That said
Aluminum looks better because it’s a weaker and less dense
I think the extra weight of the aluminum could factor into it resisting a more constant humming type of vibration. against winds the carbon fiber will no doubt do better.
why would you bother testing a tripod on a vibrating platform at all? if it were rock steady it would just transfer all vibrations to the camera.
a tripod is to fix it to the platform as best as possible and prevent other forces (your hands, wind, a flowing stream) from shaking the camera
@@tylerdurden6882 I think I said why we chose this platform. It is the most consistent vibrating surface we had. We had no way to guarantee the same wind speed or force would influence the tripod.
I also think that CF does a better job of eliminating vibration because the sine wave should stay smaller with less flexibility long the material.
@@sciotoriverco-op6358 interesting method. there’s an app that will graph vibration I’ve seen another reviewer use. maybe that would make more sense than still images to see how they dampen or transmit as it could be over a a longer period of time and shown in real numbers rather than a low-light and noisy photo
Guy with the grey/red shirt: your jeans are too loose. You could size down for a nicer look. No harm intended.
Is it weird that this comment made my day? There was a time when these bad boys were way too tight lol.
Good vid but it seems like you are trying to talk yourself into thinking the CF is better when your observations say otherwise.
You are definitely right! The build on the CF is better regardless of what the tests came out with. And I don't entirely trust my test method.
Same here! It’s so contradicting. The results are there but they just keep saying that CF is better. Even the explanation doesn’t make sense. CF undoubtedly great because it’s light and strong but based on the results, it’s not good with external forces. They should’ve acknowledged that for credibility.
@@alphaspouse961 I'd say it is because the method was bad. If they were putting the tripod on a vibrating platform, then they needed to photo something also on the same vibrating platform. If the tripod is super stiff then it should all shake at the same rate as the vibrating platform, and be motionless relative to each other. Whereas something not as stiff that has a big heavy camera atop of it won't move in time with the vibrating platform and the vibrating photo subject.
If you look up stability tests the CF does much better and the aluminum is actually ranked pretty low on the list of small tripods. If you care bout getting the shot Id prob shell out the extra cabbage. Who cares about the money when your up on a mountain and can't get a shot because your tripod is shaking in the wind.
Good points! For my use, which is mainly video, stability is not the most important feature. I always have the option to lower the profile and get more stability, but i don't require absolute stability for 30 second exposures in the wind. I would say the decision is easy so long as you have the extra money. Not everyone has the extra money so aluminum appeals to them (or me).