When fully collapsed, there are barely any gaps between the legs, leg locks and column. Using the Peak Design Travel Tripod After a couple of delays due to the coronavirus slowing shipping from China, the tripod arrived, beautifully packed in a cylinder, which contained a soft. TourBox Elite Review Wireless Photo Editing Controller, 3 Legged Thing Bucky Travel Tripod Review, LIVE: Peak Design Donating Profits From Travel Tripod Sales to COVID-19 Relief, Best Accessories for the Peak Design Travel Tripod. Cover this product: 3-Year Protection $65.99 Learn more Fwiw, among the ones you've listed, I'd be inclined to eliminate the Gitzo 1555 -- it has similar stiffness to the PD CF, but it's more expensive and doesn't get as compact -- and the Benro, given it's folded length. 1K, 3K, & MT-11- Review . Thanks, yea was leaning more on 2545T. In terms of strap choice, the Leash or the Slide Lite makes the most sense. Theyre fine, I guess, but I wish they were sharper. There is nothing magic about this tripod in that regard. In fact, I think it was less than 2 days before the starting time question hit my in-box. I have used the tripod until recently with my trusty gimbal head, as you can see below. Peak Design was laser focused on making the most compact possible, fully featured tripod. I hate having to bend over to compose and focus. With the stopper screws in place (shown in the photo below) only the supplies Peak Design tripod plate will work. One way to get around this is to use a 3rd party ball head, and the various options for this will be discussed below in another section. I love that you can latch and unlatch all of the legs at once really easily. The tripod is obviously lightweight and portable, but that would be useless if it had issues supporting a camera. With the price of the carbon version way up at $599.95, I would class that value as good, but not excellent. You pull the 7/8" knob out and twist. 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 Peak Design Travel Tripod (Carbon) or Gitzo GK1545T-82TQD Series1 eXact It is rated for 2 pounds more, but is 5 inches shorter when extended. Cheung compares the carbon fiber versions of. If you want to save money, you can get the aluminum alloy version for $380. 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. Like, really really really nice. You can see more of Libor's work on his Instagram page. The included head gets you started if your budget is limited. This is still a travel tripod, and if you are planning on buying one then you must be prioritizing small size and light weight, otherwise, this isnt the right tripod for you. 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. Mine is a cheap carbon travel tripod from K&F. Any conscientious buyer will be comparing the specifications of various tripod options. Please To be clear, Im not a PD hater. The included ball head weighs 214g and the Universal Head Adapter weighs 88g. There are many other tripods on the market that are more stable than the Peak Design Travel Tripod, but they are heavier and larger 2-series or 3-series designs. 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. And even your own tripod head. When you've adjusted the angle of the ball head you have to spin a wheel along its horizontal surface to lock it in place. If you like our content, you can subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly email updates using the link below. The hex heads are the same sizes as the new tool. The latching mechanism for the quick release is fine. For those with larger mirrorless setups that use heavier lenses, and DSLR users, you are probably going to want this tripod as a second tripod. For people looking to take panoramic photographs, a panning base is a must-have feature. Classic 3 sections vs 4 section tripod, so if those are the two you narrowed it down to, you just have to determine what is more important. By admin | 26/07/2022. Although the idea that I paid $600 is also a motivator for me to get some use from the thing. Unfortunately, other than smartphones, travel is dominated by small, light, often stabilized, crop sensor cameras. Several times I've noticed my camera (a Fuji XT-2 with the 18-55 lens) slowly slipping down. One other thing I should mention is value. Tilta Full Camera Cage for Kinefinity MAVO Edge 6K - Tactical Gray Peak Design again comes close with its travel tripod and while it is smaller and has a unique. (FYI) Have only seen it online and didn't like the design. Its doubtful you will find a head for less than 126g, so going this route does increase the overall weight of your setup. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. This system is a feature of all their camera straps and means that can of them can be paired easily with this tripod. 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. Thanks for the kind words. I was considering this until I came across Heipi. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Two-leg angles allow for a standard tripod height or low ground level shot that provides more stability. That said, anything larger than this might not be the ideal pairing because its likely a large and heavy head that would make the tripod top-heavy. Radically faster to setup and takedown, our tripod features ergonomic adjustment points, built-in mobile compatibility, and . For $200 you get a tripod that folds shorter and is lighter. Expert news, reviews and videos of the latest digital cameras, lenses, accessories, and phones. Never in history has a tripod received as much online press attention as the Peak Design Travel Tripod. If needed, the stiffness of each lever can be fine-tuned with the included hex wrench. The platform diameter is 5.4cm (2.13), but you could use a head that is bigger than this if you needed to. Thank you for your very detailed review! When averaged out, it earned a rating of 9.0 out of 10, which is much better than the 7.6 review average of Tripods in general. Sort: Clear All Print Email Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod You Pay: $649.95 (1029) Add to Cart Add to Wish List Gitzo GT1545T Series 1 Traveler Carbon Fiber Tripod with Center Ball Head Price: $679.00 Instant Savings -$130.00 You Pay: $549.00 (33) Add to Cart Add to Wish List I guess it just goes to show how many people were unexcited by the standard array of options out there. 0 Comment. It is the first tripod I have actually used during my 50 years of photographing. For fast deployment, the five-section aluminum leg cams can be released at the same time. In practical conditions I rarely have more than 1kg on the tripod so why was I worrying about it? Peak Design Travel Tripod Review - The Center Column Is the folded height with the ball head on or off? Namely, if you want to take a panorama, for example, the tripod head cannot be moved only horizontally. The foldable phone holder is cleverly hidden inside the centre column, accessible by rotating and removing the centre columns bottom hook. A key feature on the Peak Design Tripod is the speed at which you can extend the legs. What I started to notice, though, is that a lot of people were considering this tripod when it was clearly not the right choice for them. As you may or may not know, Tito Ferradans is a tireless lens enthusiast and the author of the Anamorphic Cookbook Course on MZed. It looks like Peak handed out review tripods to Youtubers like crazy so right from the jump I'm inclined to not trust the reviews. But how does the tripod perform in the field? All travel tripods make sacrifices in stability in order to achieve their compact folded size and light weight. I don't have a blog or a Youtube channel to make a review so I figured I'd just do it here. I replaced my RRS TVC-34L with the Feisol CT-3472 which tripled my options for usage. The Travel Tripod is perhaps more fairly compared to the higher-end Gitzo Traveler series, which retails for up to $1,000. The Ultralight Conversion Kit costs $40 and converts your Peak Design Travel Tripod into a tabletop tripod. 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. Yeah its a crazy number isnt it! But once you retract the two thinnest sections, the tripod is immediately rock-solid even with a telephoto. Peak Design Travel Tripod (Carbon Fiber) Ultra-Portable, Stable and What is the right tripod for me? Benro, Peak Design, Gitzo. - reddit The gitzo gt1555t is about on par with the peak design- wider but shorter- I'd call it a draw overall although the gitzo head is superior in usability but overall dimensions are wider. Love Peak Designs, their attention to detail is excellent. I totally get why they have gone with this design. I may replace the ball head with something different, which obviously defeats the purpose of such a tiny tripod but hopefully it'll be easy to remove and reinstall. The jaws around the ball slot neatly into the area between the leg joints. My old travel tripod, a Dolica 65", folded down juuuuust small enough to fit in my checked baggage if I jammed it in. GK1555T-82TQD is a Traveler tripod/head kit comprising the 5-section GT1555T Tripod and the GH1382TQD Center Ball Head. Best Tripod For Landscape Photography - SLR Lounge 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. No items to compare. You should be able to look at the cross-section above, and the other photos of the lower leg sections, and see that there will be some flex in these skinny legs compared to larger tripods. Panoramic photographers will appreciate the unique click stops that can be engaged on the panning base to allow for easily repeatable panning positions, and filmmakers will appreciate the included panning arm that lets you create silky smooth pan and tilt movements that are far cleaner than you get with low-end video fluid heads. I wasn't talking about systemic tripods, though. My travel tripod is a Sirui N-2204. Fitter, younger photographers might not bat an eyelid at an extra 300g, but you certainly will feel that difference on a long day of hiking as you get older. And it also lacks stability when you have forces applied to the legs from any angle other than directly downwards. Caveat: I mostly use it for landscape, nightscapes and cityscapes with relatively light mirrorless cameras and bodies. Gitzo Legende Backpack and Tripod Review: Well-Intentioned I also really can't stand it when companies do that sort of thing. Thankfully, the Peak Design Tripod, despite being one of the tiniest tripods I've ever used, it's also surprisingly tall. Determine which plate you have. The PD tripod alongside the RRS TFC-14 and Gitzo GT1545T. I dont know if this is an unpopular opinion or not, but the way Peak Design got all these YouTubers to whore themselves out for this tripod really rubbed me the wrong way. For tripods, it's hard to beat Gitzo for the quality and repairability at this price. This means you save 126g by removing the ball head, but of course, you then need to find a ball head of your own to install. Thanks for the detailed, honest review. In the future, you can always look to add the flat base and a 3rd party ball head when it makes financial sense. Regular readers of this site will have heard me talk about the tripod before. 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. Canon 24-70mm f2.8L II USM vs Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L USM. As a companion to a good general purpose or systematic tripod, the peak design tripod is a great addition for when size matters but not a good choice as a sole . I like their heads, not sure about those legs though. My Oben has a clip on the legs, but I always worry itll come off and I wont notice the keys should go in the center column like the phone adapter. There are far better alternatives out there. That being said, there are a lot of great tripods that are cheap(er than the PD) and really stiff, like the Leofoto LS-224C, the CTC Centennial 2 Aluminum, and the new FLM tripods. MSRP $599.99 $649.95 at Amazon. The Peak Design tripod is slimmer and more compact, or dense. Peak Design Travel Tripod The best tripod for its design and folded size, but not the cheapest! The gimbal in question is the Fotopro E-6H. Lastly, we averaged out all of the reviews scores that we could find on these two products and compared them to other Tripods on the market. Dont forget the cost. Additional Ways to Use a 3rd Party Ball Head, The Perfect Gimbal Head for the Peak Design Tripod, in-depth guide to the best gimbals on the market, Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod Tripod. Fotopro is a Chinese tripod company that makes some very high-end equipment. Compared to all other Tripods on the market, however, the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod performed great. As someone who is 74 tall (188cm), it's not quite tall enough for me to put my eye to the viewfinder. To me, this shows that there was a high demand for a proper travel tripod among photographers. Both the case for the Travel Tripod and the tripod itself has connection points for the Peak Design Anchor System. In terms of cleaning the tripod, the four lower sections can be removed without tools using the lever at the end of the first section. There has been a renaissance in this part of the photography world, and lots of reputable companies make great carbon fiber travel tripods today. How many tripods do you guys have? - FM Forums Peak Design Travel Tripod - Hands On! - Dan Carr Photography I can't imagine it will be easy to adjust with gloved hands. However, these features often conflict with each other! The first thing I would want to do is replace the expensive PD clamp system with a proper Acra Swiss compatible one. I was under the impression that the Peak Design is the most compact on the market (with the head attached). 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. They make good shit though. Any recommendation on the ball head? The price of the carbon fiber model tested is currently $650 at B&H, at the time Im publishing this review. This article was a great help and helped me in my purchase. This setup is light and easy to carry while hiking and is very stable with my D750 and either 24-70 f/2.8 or 70-200 f/4. They seem to be making some very good tripods for very competitive prices. Weve looked at the Universal Head Adapter as a way to use a 3rd party head on this tripod, but there is another option. What does that include? Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2d79334b7b3718 DPReview TV: Travel Tripod Shootout (Manfrotto, Peak Design, Gitzo and Home Gear Reviews The Ultimate Peak Design Travel Tripod Review! So, just because Im very happy with the Peak Design travel tripod, doesnt mean its the only option out there. They share a maximum height of 152 cm (60 inches) when the center column is raised, and 130 cm (51 inches) when its not. For use when the situation dictates that an ultralight setup is the best tool for the day. 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. Its light, small enough to fit into the side pocket of my bag. Peak Design Travel Tripod review: The nicest tripod you (probably The PD is super small when collapsed, but a bit flimsier as a trade off and the Gitzo is a lot longer collapsed, but of course will be stronger. Or, if you are willing to rely on natural height assistance from rocks or fallen trees when you need extra height. 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. The Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod was liked best by camerajabber.com, which gave it a score of 10, while the Gitzo Mini Traveler got its highest, 8, score from camerajabber.com. Both things that require that perfectly level starting point. Thanks, Noel. Peak Design has taken this one step further and created a bespoke mini multitool that can be stored in your bag or attached to the leg of the tripod in a removable plastic sheath. The aluminum alloy model weighs 1.56 kg (3.44 lbs), while thecarbon fiber version weighs 1.29 kg (2.81 lbs). Here, too, would be a good place for them to put some sort of leverage point to let you tighten the ring more securely. The circumference difference of the two tripods is significant. You can't rely on manufacturers weight ratings at all. The total weight was just under 6.5kg, which is approaching the 9.1 kilo load rating. I have no info on that, but youd have to assume that they will at some point. 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. Compared to aluminum, the main advantages of carbon fiber are the high strength at a low weight, and the good vibration absorption. How does the Peak Design Travel Tripod perform in this regard? Surprised you didnt mention it in the review. But at that weight, youre sacrificing a lot of stability. The main benefit to it is that it's light and packs up tiny. lighter than the 3-section Gitzo setup at 6.4 lbs. In this review, we will discuss all the features and performance of the Travel Tripod, as well as comparing the carbon version with the aluminium version, and examining all the available accessories. Just by way of example, my beloved Sony 20mm f/1.8 G lens weighs 370g, and there are lots of other small lenses out there that have weights in that range. No wildlife photography with long and heavy lenses. 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. I was looking at tripods recently and to me neither the Peak Design or Gitzo Traveler Series 2 really competes with each other. Peak Design makes two versions of its Travel Tripod, one with aluminium alloy legs and one with carbon fibre legs. Gura Gear Kiboko City Commuter 18L The Perfect Camera Bag Found? These will snap into the ground like the spikes of an ice pick, potentially increasing the tripods stability. Due to this media attention, more photographers than ever are aware of this tripod and I have received vastly more questions about it than any other tripod or piece of support equipment. Soviet Lens Buyer's Guide - By Tito Ferradans | CineD Several table-top tripods. Back to Product List . Re: Carbon tripod similar to Peak Design Travel Tripod but at half the I would also prefer a more positive locking mechanism for the legs than the twisting rings. Peak Design tripod - FM Forums As an ornithologist, Libor has studied the avian diversity of the South American Andes. Im really enjoying mine. At $350, the aluminum Travel Tripod is slightly more expensive but also lighter than MeFoto's $220 GlobeTrotter Classic, but it's cheaper than Gitzo's $725 1.97-pounds Series 0 Traveler. Ground-level shots are quickly captured by simply reversing the center column. Nikon Z 9 N-RAW Lab Test (FW 3.00) - Rolling Shutter, Dynamic Range and Latitude. Again, it isn't the easiest to lock down. Shop By Category. For people with very lightweight mirrorless camera setups, its possible for this to be your only tripod. Ulanzi Travel Tripod Tested (Compared to Peak Design) Something similar can be said of most of the other higher-end carbon fiber companies out there today, like FLM, RRS, and many others. I feel, it goes above and beyond Peak Design and is almost half price. (just my 2 YMMV) Much prefer the gitzo with the above ball head. The peak design is the newest and most uniquely designed of the 4 (it is super compact although the Gitzo is a bit lighter). 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. The conversion process is relatively simple and involves the removal of the telescoping leg sections using an included tool.