Its a heck of a jump from $350 to $600, for a tripod that performs the same and looks almost identical to boot. It is the first tripod I have actually used during my 50 years of photographing. Where it stands out are the extremely compact design and the unusual features like the phone holder, integrated ballhead, and the ability to convert it to a tabletop tripod. For more info check our privacy policy. Tripod Clearance Sale Page 2 - Georges Cameras 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. lighting fixtures So often I'd look at my old tripod and just be "ugh" and I'd leave it home. For people looking to take panoramic photographs, a panning base is a must-have feature. My biggest complaint is the head. The downside to the low-profile head design is that it doesnt have an independent panning base. I lost the hex wrench after a few weeks. This article was a great help and helped me in my purchase. There are two tripods in the Peak Design portfolio, the only difference being the materials used. If I know I will be shooting mainly with a telephoto lens, I replace it with my original gimbal head. Duffel Bags Shop All. As an ornithologist, Libor has studied the avian diversity of the South American Andes. 173.212.197.150 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. The capacity of both versions of the tripod is the same, and as far as I can tell from my own testing, there is really no measurable difference in the stability that is provided by both options. 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. Thankfully, the Peak Design Tripod, despite being one of the tiniest tripods I've ever used, it's also surprisingly tall. You can use these weights to give a much more accurate comparison to any other tripods you might be considering. The Peak Design Travel Tripod: Pricey but a Small Breakthrough 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. Its the only way that I use the tripod myself. I had people asking me whether they could sell their 2-series or 3-series tripods and just use the PD Travel Tripod? For Peak Design gear I always recommend buying directly. The Ultimate Peak Design Travel Tripod Review! Is the folded height with the ball head on or off? PGYTech MantisPod vs Nebula (Best Vlogging Tripod Confirmed) Best iPhone Accessories for Video for Every Budget. Add at least two items to compare A hidden internal pocket can be used to store the multitool shown above, and in that pocket, you will also find a small tool to help you remove the tripod legs for cleaning or addition of optional tripod feet. And even your own tripod head. The unique design of the Travel Tripod doesnt stop at the legs. The other downside to this design is that the head is designed to nest into the top of the tripod legs when fully collapsed. 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. 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. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); document.getElementById("ak_js_2").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); I have looked a couple of times to the Peak Design tripod. Avoiding the weight of a ball head is an important part of the package, as is the low profile of the PD head. If you want to use your own ball head on the Peak Design Travel Tripod, the included inverted ball head can be quickly removed and replaced with the Universal Ball Head Adapter. A key feature on the Peak Design Tripod is the speed at which you can extend the legs. The latching mechanism for the quick release is fine. Comparing Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Gitzo . Gitzo's Traveler series has even smaller models, the lightest of which has a weight of just 0.9kg, including the head. Professional photographer based in Yukon, Canada, and founder of Shutter Muse. Using 3rd Party Tripod Plates & L-Brackets in the Peak Design Travel Keeping the centre column collapsed is always a good idea in anything but the calmest wind conditions with any travel tripod. This is a travel tripod, and as such, the designers focussed on making it small and lightweight. Peak Design Travel Tripod vs Gitzo Series 1 Traveler Tripod GT1545T It is an interesting design and is very compact. The legs are lighter than the complete Peak Design tripod, it stands tall (higher than the Peak Design) for a tripod that packs down so small, and is very rigid for a travel tripod. Ulanzi Travel Tripod Tested (Compared to Peak Design) If so, it would be interesting to hear what your other choices are and what you use most? My guess is that Peak Design would strongly recommend not disassembling the head and it provides no drawings of the heads inner mechanism. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. If youre looking for a travel tripod, youd be mad not to have this one on your shortlist. I have chosen a very lightweight head in the form of the Acratech GXP, and this gives me full-sized ball head controls and a 50lb load limit. Again, it isn't the easiest to lock down. They cost $380 and $650 respectively. A universal adapter is provided for this purpose. 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. The Peak Design Travel Tripod is available in two versions, and then there are further options to adapt the tripod by adding accessories or removing unnecessary parts. 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. 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. Compare Manfrotto Befree Advanced Travel Aluminum Tripod with 494 Ball Head Lever Locks, Black vs Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod vs Oben AT-3565 Aluminum Travel Tripod and BZ-217T Triple-Action Ball Head vs Gitzo GT1545T Series 1 Traveler Carbon Fiber Tripod with Center Ball Head Both things that require that perfectly level starting point. I probably should have bought this, although I'm not a fan of that style of leg locks and it's not as tall as the PD. (just my 2 YMMV) Much prefer the gitzo with the above ball head. Peak Design's Travel Tripod Is a Must-Have For Photographers on the Go 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. DPReview TV: Travel Tripod Shootout (Manfrotto, Peak Design, Gitzo and Another benefit is that the tripods built-in head than acts as a leveling head, enabling you to quickly set up a perfectly flat base for the second head for panoramic photography or filmmaking. I bought the Peak Design tripod (carbon fiber) after a few enthusiastic reviews when it was really new on the market. Your IP: The tripod is obviously lightweight and portable, but that would be useless if it had issues supporting a camera. The interest in it was enormous. Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod TT-CB-5-150-CF-1 B&H I was referring to travel tripods. For people with very lightweight mirrorless camera setups, its possible for this to be your only tripod. Gitzo Legende Backpack and Tripod Review: Well-Intentioned The answer here is a definitive no! Ground-level shots are quickly captured by simply reversing the center column. This clamp is Arca-Swiss compatible, so it will work with any of your existing tripod plates and L brackets when the two stopper screws are removed. These are probably the most versatile choice. I learned to live with it and never really missed it. However, one needs to be very careful in protecting the tripod head from sand and other fine particles. Shop By Brand. Its still possible to do a better job than your competitors at minimizing those sacrifices, but they will be there. PL provides various digital photography news, reviews, articles, tips, tutorials and guides to photographers of all levels, By Libor Vaicenbacher 22 CommentsLast Updated On February 20, 2023. 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. As such, the actual weight of the tripod isn't going to be that clear from the single specified weight on the PD website. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. since when having choices is an unfortunate thing? Cheung compares the carbon fiber versions of. Sort: Clear All. 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. I feel, it goes above and beyond Peak Design and is almost half price. Any recommendation on the ball head? 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. Lets dive in! When I really need to travel light, I use the ball head that comes with the tripod. An alarming number of people have asked me whether this tripod can replace all their tripods, or replace things like a 3-series Gitzo tripod, and of course there the answer is no. 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 can't imagine it will be easy to adjust with gloved hands. Peak Design Travel Tripod Review | PCMag Not only is it strong, smooth and stable, but it also has the unique ability to rotate the vertical gimbal arm forwards or backwards up to 180 degrees in 45-degree increments. Determine which plate you have. The quick-release plate also works with Peak Design's Capture Clip carrying system. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Gitzo Tripod Legs (28) GNARBOX (9) GNARBOX Backup Devices (5) GNARBOX Hard Drives & Storage Devices (5) GNARBOX Memory Card Readers (3) Goal Zero (21) GODOX (355 . It is the TFC version that presents the best competition to the PD travel tripod. For long exposures, I recommend keeping the center column retracted. Thanks for the kind words. However, the Peak Design tripod is clearly very good, extremely compact and much more likely to be within people's budgets. Peak Design Travel Tripod Orders You can place an order on the Peak Design website. TTArtisan 50mm f/1.2 Lens for Canon RF - imastudent.com Home Gear Reviews The Ultimate Peak Design Travel Tripod Review! After going through a similar exercise recently I settled on the Leofoto LS-284C with a Sirui K-10x ballhead and couldn't be happier. Using Peak Design Plates in 3rd Party Tripods Such a massive setup looks strange on the small tripod legs. I'm very happy with my Leofoto LS-324C and carry it everywhere. Print Email. /r/photography is a place to politely discuss the tools, technique and culture of photography. These will snap into the ground like the spikes of an ice pick, potentially increasing the tripods stability. This is an excellent article for those traveling with large, heavy bodies and lenses. USED Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L II USM Lens | Wex Photo Video Print Email. This makes a taller and heavier setup, but it has the benefit of being faster to swap between using the built-in head and using a 3-rd party ball head that has additional panning features and more ergonomic controls. Like, really really really nice. Larger 2 or 3-series tripods are more stable than any travel tripod. In the past, I often wondered whether or not I should take my tripod into the field with me. Peak Design Travel Tripod (Carbon Fiber) Ultra-Portable, Stable and There is only ONE tripod that collapses to truly "tiny", weighs less than 3 lbs (1.3kg), and yet is still decently tall when fully extended. I bought a Sirui and it fell apart in 2 years. Its too short! 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. Peak Design also is noteworthy for their limited lifetime guarantee on the tripod, so they definitely trust it to last for many years. The cheaper of the pair uses aluminum alloy for the legs, while the tripod Im reviewing today is made of carbon fiber. Depending on your head choice, its very likely that your standard ball head will also have a higher load capacity and just generally be more ergonomically friends than the somewhat fiddly head that comes with the tripod. Unfortunately, other than smartphones, travel is dominated by small, light, often stabilized, crop sensor cameras. This requires the purchase of a universal head adapter for $30. The Aluminum version of the tripod costs $349.85 and weighs 1613g in the standard configuration. It's $600. The Peak Design Travel Tripod is available in two versions, and then there are further options to adapt the tripod by adding accessories or removing unnecessary parts. Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims. I recommend using an L-bracket instead of a conventional plate, because otherwise, there are some restrictions on the range of movements once you flip the head vertically. Shop All. , Thanks. Portability or sturdiness? I have a few tripods on the shelf, but when you need something lightweight just in case this ticks the boxes nicely. I totally get why they have gone with this design. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2d79334b7b3718 But if you cant stretch that far, the aluminum version is actually a better value. 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. The Peak Design Travel Tripod rethinks what a go-anywhere tripod looks like, eschewing the fold-up designs of competitors to more easily fit into your pack. This Tilta Full Camera Cage for Kinefinity MAVO Edge 6K offers enhanced protection for the Kinefinity MAVO Edge 6K/8K and expands options for mounting various camera accessories. This system is a feature of all their camera straps and means that can of them can be paired easily with this tripod. These are the questions you will have to ask yourself, and the answers will be personal. Boasting impressive specs, the tripod height adjusts from 5.5 to 60", folds down to only 15.5", holds up to 20 lb, and is constructed from carbon fiber. It will give you sharper images, but youll have to deal with constantly bending down to use the camera. 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. 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. Comparison of expert ratings Highly Recommended Recommended Mentioned Not Mentioned PCmag The ball head is also pretty nice. Controls for the head are simple. I have no info on that, but youd have to assume that they will at some point. To me, this shows that there was a high demand for a proper travel tripod among photographers. Ein ideales Stativ fr Reisen und Wanderungen. That tripod is the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod ($599). While theres certainly still a group who can benefit from these, its small and getting smaller. Yes portability is top of my criteria - no tripod is good if I have to think twice before packing with me. Its these kinds of small details that set Peak Design apart from everyone else. No items to compare. Despite having bigger legs, the Peak Design Tripod has a circumference of 27cm, against 34cm for the Sirui. Sort: Clear All. Lab Test. Love Peak Designs, their attention to detail is excellent. In terms of price and specifications, the Travel Tripod by Peak Design is most similar to the Gitzo Series 2 Traveler (for $649). Plus it offers one more leg angle than either the Gitzo or Peak Design offerings, allowing rather more versatility as to leg placement. 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 . If pano photos are your thing, youll want to pay attention to a following section that discusses options for adding 3rd party heads to this tripod. Two-leg angles allow for a standard tripod height or low ground level shot that provides more stability. On top of the head is a bubble level to help you get a nice level horizon. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"UUtxcX0A28JS6Grxm6.PIDJQ7dJ4JezLjiPedqPBFRs-86400-0"}; The Peak Design will fit and leave plenty of room for whatever crap I need to pack. Was thinking of just getting the kit head that comes with it at BH. 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. Itll be interested to see if they expand the range to larger tripods. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about this tripod, and Ill do my best to answer! Then theres the matter of shooting vertical photos. How does the Peak Design Travel Tripod perform in this regard? Im sure that little touches like this, and the phone holder, are the sorts of things that put customers at ease with the cost of their relatively expensive purchases. The carbon version costs $599.95 and weighs 1307g in the standard configuration. For years, traditional tripods have suffered from needless bulk and wasted space. Like many others, I have bought too many tripods. The included ball head weighs 214g and the Universal Head Adapter weighs 88g. Nikon Z 9 N-RAW Lab Test (FW 3.00) - Rolling Shutter, Dynamic Range and Latitude. 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. To me the big fail of the PD tripod is the non standard clamp. Thanks, Noel. Gura Gear Kiboko City Commuter 18L The Perfect Camera Bag Found? Yes, there are some that collapse a little shorter in length, but they also have a shorter maximum height. Several times I've noticed my camera (a Fuji XT-2 with the 18-55 lens) slowly slipping down. If you did this it would be a very expensive tabletop tripod. Heroclip - The Handy Tripod and Camera Bag Accessory, Quick Review: 3 Legged Thing Vanz Tabletop Tripod Conversion Kit, Best Camera Protection in A Regular Backpack, Travel Tripod Aluminum Standard as-shipped configuration [Includes centre column, head, phone holder], Travel Tripod Carbon Standard as-shipped configuration -[Includes centre column, head, phone holder], Travel Tripod Aluminum [Ball head swapped for Universal Head Adapter], Travel Tripod Carbon [Ball head swapped for Universal Head Adapter], Travel Tripod Aluminum centre column removed, Travel Tripod Carbon centre column removed, Travel Tripod Aluminum centre column removed + ball head swapped to Universal Head Adapter, Travel Tripod Carbon centre column removed + ball head swapped to Universal Head Adapter, Travel Tripod Aluminum Ultralight Conversion Kit installed No centre column, Travel Tripod Carbon Ultralight Conversion Kit installed No centre column, Travel Tripod Aluminum Ultralight Conversion Kit installed No centre column Ball head swapped for Universal Head Adapter, Travel Tripod Carbon Ultralight Conversion Kit installed No centre column Ball head swapped for Universal Head Adapter, Travel Tripod Case (comes included with tripod), Tripod tool + clip (comes included with tripod), Universal Head Adapter (optional accessory), Phone Holder + Hook (comes included with tripod), Included ball head (standard included tripod part), Centre Column (standard included tripod part), Individual leg weight (removed when Ultralight Conversion Kit Installed, Max height (center column raised): 152.4 cm (60), Max height (center column down): 130.2 cm (51.25), Tabletop Mode (center column raised): 57.2 cm (22.5), Tabletop Mode (center column down): 35.9 cm (13.125), Max height (center column down): 36.3cm (14.29), Max height (center column up): 58.1cm (22.87). Thanks Chuck. The backpack strap mount is amazing. I have this and it is so much work to lock/unlock separately all those hundred locks that i barely use it. Both the case for the Travel Tripod and the tripod itself has connection points for the Peak Design Anchor System. But at that weight, youre sacrificing a lot of stability. Peak Design Travel Tripod (Carbon Fiber) Check Price 9 Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 263CB 100 Check Price 10 Gitzo GT5563GS Check Price (Image credit: Luk Vatko on Unsplash) The best carbon fiber tripods are some of the best tripods that photographers can buy. Comparing Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Gitzo Of course, if you already use one of these on your camera, you can quickly disconnect that and use it on the tripod, too. More Details In Stock 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. Regular readers of this site will have heard me talk about the tripod before. The spike feet are lighter than the rubber bushes by a few grams, but are incredibly tough and bite without slippage into ice and on rock: the points are quite clever, exposed when the legs are extended at an angle but not so sharp as to snag on fabric. Anxious to compare it against my Peak Design. The Peak Design Travel Tripod rethinks what a go-anywhere tripod looks like, eschewing the fold-up designs of competitors to more easily fit into your pack. With long exposures, telephoto lenses, and windy conditions, youll want to collapse some parts of the tripod. 061 415 246. Gitzo Tripods; Vanguard Tripods; 3 Legged Thing Tripods; Joby Tripods; Calumet Tripods; Sachtler Tripods; Velbon Tripods; . Great piece, love your honest reviews. I guess you have more tripods, depending on what you are doing and restrictions due to weight & luggage etc? Hoping to receive my Heipi in a couple weeks or so (Bought on Kickstarter.). 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. Included with the tripod is a built-in ball head that doesnt look like most head on the market. You can see more of Libor's work on his Instagram page. Travel Tripod Roundup: Manfrotto vs. Sirui vs. Gitzo vs. Peak Design Period. Interestingly, hidden within the center column is a smartphone holder that you can pull out and clamp to the tripod head. I purchased just the legs on ebay for $269 and the ballhead on Amazon on a great sale for $99. I would go with the 2545T if using the 70-200. I personally use an Acratech GXP on mine in this way. Peak Design Travel Tripod Review - The Center Column There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Peak Design's latest offering is one of the more expensive travel tripods I've seen, but it's well-built, compact, and as cleverly designed as you'd expect. Duffel Bags. Soviet Lens Buyer's Guide - By Tito Ferradans | CineD He recently wrote a starter guide on how to pick up a vintage lens from the Soviet era, condensing almost a decade of hard-earned knowledge into an easily accessible resource. As you can see, by removing the centre column and making use of the various optional accessories, you have options here that range from 1613g all the way down to just 601g. If you dont really care too much about those two criteria, this is the wrong tripod for you. The included head gets you started if your budget is limited. Cover this product: 3-Year Protection $65.99 Learn more 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. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Peak Design again comes close with its travel tripod and while it is smaller and has a unique. Honest Pros and Cons of the Peak Design Tripod - Shotkit This helps to keep the collapsed length of the tripod down, but it means that you have to extend the centre column about an inch before you can adjust the angle of the tripod head. It rises to 60 (150 cm) which is very impressive for a tripod that packs down to just 15.4 (39 cm). Im not a robot, there will always be some typos . Joby Gorillapod or Ulanzi Camera Stand? It took me over one hour to find the popped out parts, remove the sand and then figure out how to reconstruct the assembly. Look at the Feisol CT-3441T travel tripod. It comes with a nice bag that is only barely large enough to fit the tripod with some wrangling. Features Compatible with most digital cameras With a maximum weight capacity of 20 lbs., this tripod is ideal for mirrorless and compact DSLR cameras. 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. Thanks for adding your comments, Tim. The problem is that most gimbal heads are quite tall and heavy. Although designed for this tripod, you could use the phone holder in any other Arca-Swiss compatible clamp. They share a maximum height of 152 cm (60 inches) when the center column is raised, and 130 cm (51 inches) when its not. So, although Im reviewing the carbon fiber version today, much of what I say about the Peak Design Travel Tripod applies to both variations.