peak design tripod vs gitzo

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. 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. I have used the tripod until recently with my trusty gimbal head, as you can see below. As you can see in the photos, the size of the Fotopro E-6H gimbal is a perfect match for the Peak Design Travel Tripod when you have the Universal Head Adapter in place. The stock head doesn't allow for. 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. It is an interesting design and is very compact. 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. Unfortunately? I dont expect anyone to be feeling buyers remorse with these tripods, and I do expect Peak Design to make some fans of their products for life. But how does the tripod perform in the field? Your email address will not be published or shared. Several reviewers agree with you that it is a much better value and is more stable. 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. 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. Great article on this tripod. Thanks, yea was leaning more on 2545T. 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. You need universal head adapter to use other tripod heads (Libor shows that he used his gimbal with it). So this just comes down to what I was saying earlier: Travel Tripods always have compromises. In that sense, I think it does surprisingly well even with decidedly-not-travel setups like the one above. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. All other specifications are the same. I was lucky enough to have a pre-production model in my hands for some time during the Kickstarter launch, and I took it on an epic 5000km road trip to the Arctic Ocean. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. And it also lacks stability when you have forces applied to the legs from any angle other than directly downwards. Its the only way that I use the tripod myself. The main benefit to it is that it's light and packs up tiny. I tend to think of a tripod as a necessary evil. 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. The five sections and center column are travel features, not stability features. Even the most expensive tripods from the likes of Gitzo and Really Right Stuff dont go to this level of detail. I was under the impression that the Peak Design is the most compact on the market (with the head attached). Hey Everyone! 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. I like Libors suggestion about using a different ball head to replace the Peak Design tripod head in dusty or sandy environments. These are the questions you will have to ask yourself, and the answers will be personal. Additionally the ball head on either the LS-284C (LH-30) or LS-324C (LH-40), are far more versatile than the one on the Peak Design. It is rated for 2 pounds more, but is 5 inches shorter when extended. Itll be interested to see if they expand the range to larger tripods. The strength of the ball head is impressive. Once you decide to purchase the Travel Tripod, the inevitable next question is carbon or aluminum?. 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. No items to compare. I like their heads, not sure about those legs though. 061 415 246. The backpack strap mount is amazing. The Aluminum version of the tripod costs $349.85 and weighs 1613g in the standard configuration. 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. , Thanks. In terms of price and specifications, the Travel Tripod by Peak Design is most similar to the Gitzo Series 2 Traveler (for $649). But before you rush out to buy one, I must once again underline my earlier point about the general nature of travel tripods. However, if you often shoot on surfaces like slippery ice, loose dirt, or gravel, replacing the rubber feet with metal spikes is worth considering. Comparing Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Gitzo . Instead of the $1100 for the RRS TVC-34L and a carry case with Fiesol I spent. Still, the comfort zone of this tripod are wider-angle to medium telephoto lenses. Period. 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. But I find it way too expensive for what it is. What does that include? Excellently, Id say. This Travel Tripod as a system is incredibly versatile. Compare Gitzo GIGT2545T Traveler Series 2 Carbon Fiber Tripod vs Gitzo GT3543LS Systematic Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod Long vs Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod You can choose to still use the centre column, or it can be removed. The LH40 will easily hold your gear. 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. The hex heads are the same sizes as the new tool. Just keep in mind that a fully extended column will harm the stability of a tripod. Thats what Im testing today. It supports 44 lbs - really as I own one, and has a working height before the center column is raised of 57 inches. And there could very well be a case one day when I want to do such a thing myself. 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. Compared to aluminum, the main advantages of carbon fiber are the high strength at a low weight, and the good vibration absorption. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 0 Comment. Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims. Determine which plate you have. Required fields are marked*. By submitting a comment this form also collects your name, email and IP address so that we can prevent spam. The Peak Design Travel Tripod raised an incredible $12million on Kickstarter when it was launched. I learned to live with it and never really missed it. Theres also a small lever that locks the jaws of the head to prevent accidental release of your camera. Duffel Bags. Your own goals need to line up with the tripod designers goals for this to be the right purchase for you. Peak Design also is noteworthy for their limited lifetime guarantee on the tripod, so they definitely trust it to last for many years. Peak Design Travel Tripod Gitzo 1545T Sirui N-1204SK Down below you can vote also your favorite amongst these tripods. The Peak Design tripod is slimmer and more compact, or dense. These are probably the most versatile choice. Live Chat Available +61 2 9299 0177. . The 5-section Peak Design comes in at 2.6 lbs., 3.8 lbs. Flaws but not dealbreakers. Duffel Bags Shop All. Your IP: I hate having to bend over to compose and focus. Both things that require that perfectly level starting point. Any ball head that you place on it, can be held in securely by a trio of set screws that come up from beneath the head. 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. Most unique feature is 3 legged center column that can act as its own tripod. PGYTech MantisPod vs Nebula (Best Vlogging Tripod Confirmed) Best iPhone Accessories for Video for Every Budget. Most of them tend to use one of the smaller versions of Benro carbon fiber tripods when they're having to hike longer distances or they bite the bullet and take their big tripods with them. They say the best camera is the one you have with you. Im glad you are getting on well with the built-in head. I would also prefer a more positive locking mechanism for the legs than the twisting rings. Surprised you didnt mention it in the review. Much like the multitool, Peak Design has also gone to great lengths to make a good tripod bag. This makes them on in soft mud or loose gravel, but not a lot of use on ice or smooth rock. AND the lifetime warranty is really excellent! The conversion process is relatively simple and involves the removal of the telescoping leg sections using an included tool. Sine the tripod head is compatible with Arca-Swiss style plates, its pretty easy to find a good L-bracket. Please To be clear, Im not a PD hater. Something similar can be said of most of the other higher-end carbon fiber companies out there today, like FLM, RRS, and many others. However, a standard ball head will give you the benefits of a proper 90-degree drop notch for portrait shooting, as well as a panning base foe panoramic photography. The other downside to this design is that the head is designed to nest into the top of the tripod legs when fully collapsed. Im not a robot, there will always be some typos . They have taken the PD design and have improved upon it in every way, plus its lighter. How does the Peak Design Travel Tripod perform in this regard? Libor works as a biology teacher, guide, photographer and photography course lecturer. I got a Sirui with a compact ball head. They share a maximum height of 152 cm (60 inches) when the center column is raised, and 130 cm (51 inches) when its not. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. It is the first tripod I have actually used during my 50 years of photographing. If you want to keep the setup as light as possible, theres no better way to do it. I know some people hate on it for having 5 leg segments but I honestly don't mind. 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. Thats one dollar per gram you save! And even your own tripod head. 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. This article was a great help and helped me in my purchase. Unfortunately not. For the photo below, at 35mm, I shot a 240-second long exposure in a moderate breeze, and I didnt get any observable blur. In this case, giving you a max height of 130.2 cm. However, if you have sand in the head which interfere with its use, what are you supposed to do? There's just not that much to them to be worth a fortune. Thank you for your very detailed review! [CDATA[ RED V-RAPTOR 8K VV Lab Test: Rolling Shutter, Dynamic Range and Latitude - plus Video! I have an older PD tool that I prefer: one-piece, and suitable for a key-ring. Ive had several claims with PD products and it was always really fast to get a free replacement! It is designed to screw onto a camera. But it is so light and small that I do not hesitate taking it on the most strenuous hikes. There is an outer locking ring which loosens the jaws around the ball and gives you the traditional tilt and roll movements of a ball head. Ive noticed no wibble during long exposures, even when its been noticeably windy, although those shots are usually at quite short focal lengths. When designing the quick release mechanism on our Travel Tripod, a top criteria was to make sure it functioned well with all the plates that Peak Design has made over the years. It has a max height that is similar to the Peak Design but without having to use a center column, it is carbon fiber and very stable. To jump into a new segment of the market with such a unique design, and do it so successfully, is very impressive. 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. 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. I wouldnt go for a tripod thats much lighter than this one from Peak Design, at the given height. 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. No items to compare. Fotopro is a Chinese tripod company that makes some very high-end equipment. This is a travel tripod, and as such, the designers focussed on making it small and lightweight. 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. Print Email. Radically faster to setup and takedown, our tripod features ergonomic adjustment points, built-in mobile compatibility, and . The Gitzo tripod I have used so far did not have a center column. Review: Peak Design Spike Feet For Tripod - Do They Cut It? Build quality is mediocre. They make good shit though. Need some help with selecting a tripod. Two tripods of the same design made from different materials provide an interesting comparison. I often try to use a tripod without extending the centre column as this always provides increased stability, therefore this requirement was a slight annoyance. Our pick: Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 263AB100. Comparing Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Benro . Thanks for adding your comments, Tim. Comparing Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod vs Gitzo . Have a look at Robus. 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. Thanks for the detailed, honest review. The light weight is a blessing. In other words, for every gram of weight you save, you spend an extra 83cents! A mistake that is, unless the primary reason for downsizing is to get something much smaller and lighter at the expense of some stability. To me that means that I will be more inclined to use it. In this review, Ill look at how the Peak Design Travel Tripod (especially the carbon fiber model that I use) balances them. 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. The biggest plus to the tripod is that it folds down small. On top of the head is a bubble level to help you get a nice level horizon. When everything is locked down tight the tripod is very stable. That tripod is the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod ($599). MSRP $599.99 $649.95 at Amazon. Gimbal heads are incredibly useful for wildlife photography with longer lenses and panoramic photography. Peak Design was laser focused on making the most compact possible, fully featured tripod. Im using the Ulanzi Zero Y carbon fiber. But again, that's just me. My old travel tripod, a Dolica 65", folded down juuuuust small enough to fit in my checked baggage if I jammed it in. Even some typos are fine for me. 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. If you dont really care too much about those two criteria, this is the wrong tripod for you. Is the folded height with the ball head on or off? I had people asking me whether they could sell their 2-series or 3-series tripods and just use the PD Travel Tripod? 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This website may contain affiliate links. I would go with the 2545T if using the 70-200. He reached a total of 5,258 backers who put in $364,698. However, the Peak Design tripod is clearly very good, extremely compact and much more likely to be within people's budgets. While theres certainly still a group who can benefit from these, its small and getting smaller. 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. The Travel Tripod is perhaps more fairly compared to the higher-end Gitzo Traveler series, which retails for up to $1,000. It's a lot of money. The circumference difference of the two tripods is significant. Plus it offers one more leg angle than either the Gitzo or Peak Design offerings, allowing rather more versatility as to leg placement. If your budget can stretch to it, I think the carbon version is worth the extra money for the weight savings. 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. One of the main selling points of this tripod is the minimization of dead space. 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. Carbon tripod similar to Peak Design Travel Tripod but at half the price Started 7 months ago | Discussions thread Forum: Parent: First: Previous: Next: Flat view: tlinn . One other thing I should mention is value. Another way to think of it is, for a 270 g savings in weight, you pay $270 extra. He fell in love with this part of the world and since then he likes to return there with his camera to popularize its nature with his photographs, talks and articles. For years, traditional tripods have suffered from needless bulk and wasted space. 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). Its a heck of a jump from $350 to $600, for a tripod that performs the same and looks almost identical to boot. Lets dive in! For what it's designed for it's excellent. It is as pricey as a Gitzo Mountaineer/Traveler, (and not as stiff,) however, its unique design allows it to be far more compact than . 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. I've been satisfied with every single thing I've bought of theirs. Compare Manfrotto Element Small Aluminum Traveler Tripod Black vs Manfrotto Element MII Aluminum Tripod with Ball Head Black vs Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod vs . Another reason to just use the included head is the cost of entry for the system. It really just comes down to weight, and whether you want to carry that extra 307g on your hikes and travels. It will give you sharper images, but youll have to deal with constantly bending down to use the camera. //