The answer here is a definitive no! How we tested. Peak Design Travel Tripod Review for Photographers - Shotkit I thought the small ball head would be more likely to slip but you know you have to put a ridiculous amount of weight on it for that to happen and even then, only if it's at a wonky angle. This article was a great help and helped me in my purchase. Its light, small enough to fit into the side pocket of my bag. The Peak Design Travel Tripod: Pricey but a Small Breakthrough I wasn't talking about systemic tripods, though. I can't imagine it will be easy to adjust with gloved hands. Love the multi-tool if only all manufacturers would use the same size we could all carry just one, or maybe two hex keys and this is the way to do it. I replaced my RRS TVC-34L with the Feisol CT-3472 which tripled my options for usage. I personally use an Acratech GXP on mine in this way. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Compared to all other Tripods on the market, however, the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod performed great. Optional accessories also include stainless steel spikes or the aforementioned ultralight conversion kit (both $30). These are probably the most versatile choice. If you need an extremely light, tabletop tripod for a particular shoot, an unusual feature of this tripod is the ability to remove the extendable leg sections entirely, and replace them with a set of tripod feet. If you understand what you are buying, and when such a tripod makes sense to use, you are going to be very happy indeed with this purchase. Thank you for your very detailed review! Such a massive setup looks strange on the small tripod legs. But I'd rather deal with some inconveniences than miss shots because I tried to hand hold because I left my other tripod at home. Tripod Clearance Sale Page 2 - Georges Cameras Re: Carbon tripod similar to Peak Design Travel Tripod but at half the All other specifications are the same. I know some people hate on it for having 5 leg segments but I honestly don't mind. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. The light weight is a blessing. PGYTech MantisPod vs Nebula (Best Vlogging Tripod Confirmed) Best iPhone Accessories for Video for Every Budget. Get answers to your questions in our photography forums. If youre looking for a travel tripod, youd be mad not to have this one on your shortlist. Minor height adjustments using the center column are useful for composition and shooting over objects like fences. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"UUtxcX0A28JS6Grxm6.PIDJQ7dJ4JezLjiPedqPBFRs-86400-0"}; This is not a good place to simply share cool photos/videos or promote your own work and projects, but rather a place to discuss photography as an art and post things that would be of interest to other photographers. The tripod might be all great, but Its plate and the fact that you need a special tool to screw it on a camera is a no go for me. Databases. The problem is that most gimbal heads are quite tall and heavy. The edges are grooved so you can get some friction, but it's annoying and I'm never super confident that it will be tight enough. It's the shortest and thinnest with center column down, the Peak Design falls behind the others, whereas the others are more or less on similar hight Peak Design again comes close with its travel tripod and while it is smaller and has a unique. Photographers looking for a lightweight, high-quality tripod will want to consider the extensive range from the Italian brand Gitzo. Typically this comes in the form of heavy winds. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This website may contain affiliate links. If you plan on putting a camera setup on this tripod this is pushing up towards the specified weight limits, then yes, I think this is well worth doing. its one more thing to have to do when setting up the tripod, and it somewhat negates the speed benefits of the fancy fast opening leg locks. It really just comes down to weight, and whether you want to carry that extra 307g on your hikes and travels. I have both tripods. Im glad you are getting on well with the built-in head. I bought the Peak Design tripod (carbon fiber) after a few enthusiastic reviews when it was really new on the market. I have larger tripods in my closet but I do keep coming back to this one when Im packing my bag and feeling it getting heavier and heavier. , Thanks. For many thats a very high driving factor. Instead of just reducing the folded length as many travel tripods do, Peak Design has dramatically reduced the overall folded volume. Every bit shortly as Actually Right Stuff launched the Arise-14 travel tripod, I knew I would go questions about how it compares to the Summit Pattern Travel Tripod. And while it lacks some features, it still extends to become almost as tall as the Peak Design tripod and, with that optional short column add-on, retracts to be almost as short as well. Peak Design Travel Tripod Review - Photography Life As someone who is 74 tall (188cm), it's not quite tall enough for me to put my eye to the viewfinder. The Spike Feet set for the Travel Tripod are designed for use on softer ground. So often I'd look at my old tripod and just be "ugh" and I'd leave it home. The platform diameter is 5.4cm (2.13), but you could use a head that is bigger than this if you needed to. More Details In Stock Thanks, yea was leaning more on 2545T. Its not insignificant weight. Tel. The total weight was just under 6.5kg, which is approaching the 9.1 kilo load rating. And even your own tripod head. Portrait-length prime is designed for APS-C-format Canon RF-mount mirrorless cameras and offers a 75mm equivalent focal length. Im not a robot, there will always be some typos . At $349.95 I think the aluminum version of the Travel Tripod is excellent value. For a fairer comparison, add Gitzo's own 1382TQD head, which they also sell as a kit with the legs, and the whole package is only 160g heavier than the Peak Design. Although designed for this tripod, you could use the phone holder in any other Arca-Swiss compatible clamp. For sure this is on me for not tightening up the ball head more, but it's really not the easiest thing. I like their heads, not sure about those legs though. Also, with the provided tripod bag being such a tight squeeze, if you dont collapse the column down after using it, re-seating the head into the top of the legs, you wont actually be able to fit the tripod into the bag. Legs. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Honest Pros and Cons of the Peak Design Tripod - Shotkit At $449 its not a cheap piece of equipment, but it is easily one of the best tripod heads of any kind that I have ever tested for this site. The quick-release plate also works with Peak Design's Capture Clip carrying system. Cheung compares the carbon fiber versions of. The four levers are positioned one over the other, so you use four fingers simultaneously to loosen them. Both tripod and head are very good quality and cost less than the Peak Design. I doubt that many people will buy this tripod for the sole purpose of using it with a phone, but Youtube creators will likely find it handy for behind-the-scenes shots, b-roll and time-lapses. Tripod: PeakDesign vs Gitzo Traveler Series 2 - FM Forums There is nothing magic about this tripod in that regard. In fact, I find it generally more impressive than the overall stability of the legs, and Im confident you could comfortably lock a heaver-than-specified load as almost any angle. My Peak Design Travel Tripod experience : photography But the reality is that if you want the sharpest images, you will spend more time using the tripod with the column lowered. Any recommendation on the ball head? If you like our content, you can subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly email updates using the link below. Two tripods of the same design made from different materials provide an interesting comparison. On top of the head is a bubble level to help you get a nice level horizon. Hi Libor, thanks for the review, an interesting read! Gitzo Tripods; Vanguard Tripods; 3 Legged Thing Tripods; Joby Tripods; Calumet Tripods; Sachtler Tripods; Velbon Tripods; . If you want to keep the setup as light as possible, theres no better way to do it. Ive noticed no wibble during long exposures, even when its been noticeably windy, although those shots are usually at quite short focal lengths. The jaws around the ball slot neatly into the area between the leg joints. The five sections and center column are travel features, not stability features. I would go with the 2545T if using the 70-200. Even this Peak Design tripod. Peak Design makes two versions of its Travel Tripod, one with aluminium alloy legs and one with carbon fibre legs. Traveler Tripods, with the 180 Degree leg folding system pioneered by Gitzo, makes more efficient use of folded space by accommodating the center column and head in between the folded tripod legs. Thats what Im testing today. Some lightweight models can do more harm than good, but the Peak Design travel tripod definitely is worth carrying in my bag. In this review, Ill look at how the Peak Design Travel Tripod (especially the carbon fiber model that I use) balances them. People want a piece of the hype, and they want what is frankly one of the coolest looking piece of photo gear on the market. I have some of their stuff and theres lots of other products of theirs I would want to buy if I had the money, but this tripod has never been one of them and I dont understand everyone wetting their pants over it. You know a tripod is 3 legs that folds up. //]]>. Yeah its a crazy number isnt it! lighting fixtures I'm sure this post doesn't break much new ground but most of the negativity I've seen has been towards the legs and price and not a lot of talk about the ball head. I dont say this as a negative of this particular tripod, its just a gentle reminder to everyone that you should think carefully about what you are giving up when you decide to opt for a tripod that was built with a focus on its small size and light weight in mind. Peak Design Travel Tripod Gitzo 1545T Sirui N-1204SK Down below you can vote also your favorite amongst these tripods. A whopping 27,169 backers raised a record amount of $12,143,435. Dont forget the cost. Peak Design also is noteworthy for their limited lifetime guarantee on the tripod, so they definitely trust it to last for many years. I honestly dont really know why people suddenly forgot how to choose the right tripod, but I had enough conversations like this to know it is a thing. I have used the tripod until recently with my trusty gimbal head, as you can see below. I found this useful for some behind-the-scenes shots on my phone in the field. Print Email. TTArtisan 50mm f/1.2 Lens for Canon RF - imastudent.com 10: The PD tripod alongside the RRS TFC-14 and Gitzo GT1545T. I would also prefer a more positive locking mechanism for the legs than the twisting rings. Starting from a clean sheet of paper instead of being influenced by iterated designs from a current product lineup has catapulted Peak Design into the upper echelons of the tripod market. At $40 they are quite expensive, as as far as spiked tripod feet go, they are fairly mediocre. Even the load capacity is the same 9.1 kg (20 lbs) on both although keep in mind that load capacity ratings are inconsistent between tripod companies. Even with todays image stabilization, a tripod is still a requirement in many cases, so its important to find one with the right balance of characteristics. Peak Designhas designed the legs and center column so that when folded, everything fits together like the petals of a snowdrop flower. The best carbon fiber tripods in 2023 | Digital Camera World Great article on this tripod. As for now I cant see any reason to buy another tripod. Expert news, reviews and videos of the latest digital cameras, lenses, accessories, and phones. Best for use with multiple cameras: Vanguard VEO 3T+ 234AB. The Gitzo tripod I have used so far did not have a center column. Its a very good tripod, but the light weight means it does lack some stability with heavy camera setups. Two-leg angles allow for a standard tripod height or low ground level shot that provides more stability. Look at the Feisol CT-3441T travel tripod. What is the right tripod for me? Benro, Peak Design, Gitzo. - reddit The cheaper of the pair uses aluminum alloy for the legs, while the tripod Im reviewing today is made of carbon fiber. You need universal head adapter to use other tripod heads (Libor shows that he used his gimbal with it). lighter than the 3-section Gitzo setup at 6.4 lbs. Hopefully answered those questions you had. The Peak Design Travel Tripod works with many (but not all) 3rd party Arca-compatible tripod plates. But keep in mind that the Peak Design tripod is intended primarily as a travel model. If your budget can stretch to it, I think the carbon version is worth the extra money for the weight savings. Peak Design Travel Tripod (Carbon Fiber) - T K Foto By installing a reducer bushing into the 3/8 16 thread on the base of your ball head, you can then attach the included Peak Design tripod plate onto the head and directly mount it to the built-in ball head of the tripod. The Peak Design Travel Tripod raised an incredible $12million on Kickstarter when it was launched. It might not be that bad if the knob was bigger or had a flat part that you could put pressure on it to tighten it down, but you adjust it as if you were setting the time on an analog watch. The TFC-14 performs wonderfully, but is significantly larger when folded than the PD tripod, doesn't have a center column, and is much more expensive. In the future, you can always look to add the flat base and a 3rd party ball head when it makes financial sense. Compare Gitzo GIGT2545T Traveler Series 2 Carbon Fiber Tripod vs Gitzo DPReview TV: Travel Tripod Shootout (Manfrotto, Peak Design, Gitzo and If you havent heard of it, you must have been hiding under a rock because this is easily the most famous tripod on the market. But at that weight, youre sacrificing a lot of stability. Thats a weight saving of 307g for the price increase of $250. Included with the tripod is a built-in ball head that doesnt look like most head on the market. If so, it would be interesting to hear what your other choices are and what you use most? Have a look at Robus. Comparing Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Benro DPReview TV: Travel Tripod Shootout (Manfrotto, Peak Design, Gitzo and Sirui) Ulanzi MT-34 at 1690| Unboxing Ulanzi 3 in 1 MT-34 Extendable Stick| Ulanzi Best Tripod. Peak Design Travel Tripod Review (Worth The Price 2023?) Still, the comfort zone of this tripod are wider-angle to medium telephoto lenses. If you dont really care too much about those two criteria, this is the wrong tripod for you. It comes with a nice bag that is only barely large enough to fit the tripod with some wrangling. Built quality is somewhat better than the RRS version and the Feisol tripod comes with an excellent carry case - all I got from RRS was a cardboard box. Offering a sleek and retro design, the 35mm f/0.95 Lens from TTArtisan is an ultra-fast normal-length prime for APS-C-format cameras. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1432473-REG/leofoto_ls_284c_lh_30_kit_ls_284c_lh_30_ranger_series_tripod.html/?msclkid=f27cc65bc86f1bf374eea6c95293abd7, https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1432474-REG/leofoto_ls_324c_lh_40_kit_ls_324c_ranger_series_tripod.html, Leofoto Portage Kit LS-324C+LH-40+32LS Tripod Carbon Fiber CF 4 Section & 40mm Low Profile Ball Head & Modular Strap, https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/848826-REG/FEISOL_CT_3441T_RAPID_CARBON_TRIPOD_TRAVEL_4_SECTION_TALL.html, https://thecentercolumn.com/rankings/systematic-tripod-rankings/, https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1328229-REG/gitzo_gk2545t_82qdus_traveler_tripod_kit_gt2545t.html. From a speed perspective, the Peak Design Travel Tripod blows the competition out of the water. Thanks, Noel. Where this tripod really wins is the collapsed circumference. A robustly built walkaround lens for daily use, this FUJIFILM X-mount lens is ideal for landscapes, cityscapes, portraits, street scenes, and more. I learned to live with it and never really missed it. Thanks Dan great review, purchased for my son, keep up the great work. Need some help with selecting a tripod. The hex heads are the same sizes as the new tool. Tripods & Monopods Complete Tripods Add to your order Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary) 24/7 support when you need it. The LH40 will easily hold your gear. Raising the center column to adjust the tilt of the ball head is annoying, especially since you have to really crank the knob on the side to lock it in place. Thanks Chuck. The downside to the low-profile head design is that it doesnt have an independent panning base. They cost $380 and $650 respectively. (By the way, this is the same Prague Castle that I told you about in my recent Photography News, the largest coherent castle complex in the world.). But if you cant stretch that far, the aluminum version is actually a better value. Used with my long lenses (300 f/2.8, 200-600, etc) with no issues. since when having choices is an unfortunate thing? USED Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L II USM Lens | Wex Photo Video The PD is one of the stiffest tripods for its size. In the table below I have provided my measured weights for all individual parts of the Travel Tripods, as well as combined weights of the most common setups using included parts and optional accessories. Love Peak Designs, their attention to detail is excellent. I can pretty much guarantee that it is stiffer than the 5-section Sirui A1205 (and while the Sirui collapses 20 mm shorter, it is wider when collapsed than the PD). Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM vs Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM. Specifications Material: Carbon fiber, or aluminum alloy Extended height: 153cm Folded height: 39cm Weight: 1.27kg (carbon fiber)/1.56kg (aluminum) Feet: Pads (spikes optional extra) Leg sections: 5 Max load (legs, head): 9kg Today's Best Deals RED V-RAPTOR 8K VV Lab Test: Rolling Shutter, Dynamic Range and Latitude - plus Video! Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims. Das neue kleine und leichte Stativ von Peak Design ist leicht und kompakt. Thanks for the kind words. In practical conditions I rarely have more than 1kg on the tripod so why was I worrying about it? Compare Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Gitzo GT4553S Systematic Series 4 Carbon Fiber Tripod Standard . For me that's the selling point. For people with very lightweight mirrorless camera setups, its possible for this to be your only tripod. While the price of the aluminium tripod is more palatable, if low weight is especially important, bite the bullet and go for the carbon fibre tripod which is 290g lighter. While they do have a broad product range that includes cheaper tripods, their top-of-the-range Fotopro Eagle tripods and gimbals are easily Gitzo and Really Right Stuff levels of quality, stability and price.