Peak Design Travel Tripod - In Depth Review - Is It Really The Best Travel Tripod Ever Made?

[@Z06Wingnut]

This is hands down the best review of this tripod. I've watched them all, I can say that.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you so much, I'm glad I could help!

[@bokbokeh]

You’re the only reviewer who is deploying both tripods normally, it’s annoying how most reviewers act all clumsy when doing what you’ve just done. And wow, 4 seconds!? I’m sold!!!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Yeah, people tend to be a bit biased to emphasize the superiority of the "better" product by intentionally handling the other product less optimally. I love trying to get the best out of every product and really want to show the actual differences if you use both in an optimal way. I'm really glad that my effort is appreciated! Thank you very much Kent :)

[@TheSparkdog]

Easily the best of many reviews I've watched on this product. Well done.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you, I really appreciate you commenting this :)

[@mswimages]

I was undecided on a travel tripod, but eventually purchased the aluminum model. Now I'm really glad I did! Thanks for the fantastic detailed review without boring us. I've enjoyed all your reviews and in fact, have purchased virtually every PD product after watching your reviews! Keep up the good work.

[@_what_the]

Same here. By the way, how's the aluminum model so far? I'm also thinking of buying this one. Any thoughts? Thank you

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you very much, I hope you are happy with all the products you bought and have found the reviews truthful and comprehensive. I'm quite confident that you will be very happy with the aluminium tripod at least :)

[@Adventuregrapher]

Kent, most of what I have heard about the aluminium model makes me pretty confident that it's a very good choice too, at least if you don't really need the weight savings. Also, if you decide to buy one, please consider doing so through my link below the video, that helps to support the channel with a small commission without any extra cost for you :)

[@_what_the]

@@Adventuregrapher Hi Aleksi, thank you for your reply. Yes, your reviews are the "awesomemest" of all the reviews in youtube. Very detailed and highly informative. With regards to buying it now, i would love to use your link, but unfortunately because of this pandemic, we're kinda low on funds. Plus we don't know when will this end. However i'll keep your link, and by the time i have to purchase it i'll use it. Thanks a lot

[@stevelink21]

Hey Michael. Yes, I know that PD makes quality products, however, I found a Chinese brand called Leofoto, that makes an Amazing travel tripod, AND it includes a fantastic ball head with one feature that I've not found INCLUDED on any other ball head...namely, a panoramic head! This allows the single ball head to function as a pano head, plus, if you swing it into the notch, turns the pano head into a "poor man's " gimbal head! (Max payload = 22 lbs.) Also, another feature of this tripod/head combo, is that the knobs/controls on the ball head each have a different shape and texture (ALL metal, CNC aluminum)! Simply ingenious design, because it eliminates the possibility of inadvertently loosening the wrong knob!! Why ALL ball head manufacturers don't do this is beyond me...actually, probably because of design and manufacture costs! In any case, this Leofoto LN-254CT Tripod is awesome...10X carbon fiber legs, included quality metal spikes (with rubber gaskets), included handy carabiner allen tool, and a very nice carrying case. Well worth $380, IMHO.

[@LuisRiveraRomero]

Awesome review, I finally decided to order the tripod thanks to this review and no regrets so far. The "shake test" was the deciding factor.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you, I'm glad so many of you guys appreciate the shake test. It was quite a bit of extra work but I'm sure happy I included it! Cheers :)

[@tylrwnzl]

After watching about ten reviews of this tripod, this was by far the best. It addressed questions I didn't find answered elsewhere, and was based on actual use instead of so many "reviews" where people are just unboxing it for the first time.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you Tyler, I'm glad you found the video actually informative! I'm always trying to base the reviews on real life use and be as thorough as possible and I'm happy to hear the effort is appreciated! Thanks for the support :)

[@tylrwnzl]

@@Adventuregrapher I did! And I got the tripod. :) Liking it so far.

[@maisiaola]

After watched your PD's straps review and here I came. You did such excellent explanatory and instructive for the products. You got my sub+1. Thank you as well for the info

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thanks a ton for the support Andy!

[@aaronramos6056]

Amazing review. Short and goes deeper than most reviews. While beeing shorter !

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thanks a lot Aaron!

[@jonizzzle]

Thanks for doing a PROPER review! Others have pointed out that you’re the only one to include the “shake test” which I was mostly concerned about (the Peak Design center column is rather thin). I’m still going stick with my 3 Legged Thing Corey since $200 was already a lot, let alone the Peak Design’s starting price of $349.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you, I'm really glad to hear that the effort I put in with the shake tests is appreciated! 3 Legged Thing is a great brand and I feel that you are making the right choice in sticking with their quality tripod if you don't see a clear reason for upgrading. I think the $200 range is almost like a sweet spot if you want very good quality but still don't want to pay a huge premium :)

[@mariusnicula7541]

It seems nobody noticed that the "shake test" comparison with Sirui and Benro was done with Peak Design having the column all the way down, while the other 2 with the columns extracted. Big difference. It's the very column that induces the most shake/vibrations, as clearly seen in the first Peak only test with column up vs. down

[@joelmulder]

And don’t forget that with the Sirui (or something like the Befree) you’d actually want to lower the center column too, since it’s pretty wobbly with the column fully extended. Oh and best thing I’ve seen so far, is attaching the carrying case to the bottom loops of a Peak Design bag. It fits there very well, and leaves both your side pouches free for other stuff.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Great tip with attaching the carrying case to the bottom of the bag, will definitely try that out!

[@gwynneharries7024]

just got mine today. It is truely excellent. Costly yes but I am still delighted. I love great design and this screams out ‘look at me’ ... well not me but the tripod. I love it.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Yeah, it surely is a cool looking and super functional piece of quality gear! Enjoy :) Thanks for the comment!

[@tmsmqwx]

Great review and some lo-key comedy to boot. Nice!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you, really appreciate you dropping a nice comment :)

[@williamreymond2669]

A lot of people are very whining and complaining about the price of the Peak Design travel tripod. "Why is it so expensive??" People without a background in manufacturing might wish to know that the carbon fiber [or aluminum for that matter] tubes used in the PD travel tripod are completely custom manufactured, five distinct tube sections *- and that ain't cheap.* There are dozens, maybe hundreds of manufacturers world wide who can spec you a set of carbon fiber tubes - if they are cylinders. Want a set of *five* nesting trapezoidal tubes? You are going to have to *pay* for that, and the cost to set up a set of five new pulltrusions is not cheap if you are selling on the order of thousands to tens of thousands of products. It remains to be seen if PD can maintain profitability with this new tripod. I own one now and I like it. But, every part is new and completely custom, nothing is off-the-shelf or can be easily second sourced. That is a real problem for a manufacturer, especially when our business relationships with manufacturing in China is about to undergo a fundamental reordering. And that ain't cheap.

[@Adventuregrapher]

That's quite perfectly explained the reasons why the price is what it is. And on top of the manufacturing costs, you need to weight in the planning, R&D, operational costs, charity donations and at least some profit margin. Yeah, it's more expensive than most "regular" tripods. But keep in mind, it's NOT a "regular" tripod :) Hopefully PD can keep it up, as you can probably tell, I really like their products and appreciate their values as a company! Thanks for chiming in with some insight!

[@Kal319]

Many thanks for this great review! I guess you covered all points and pointed out some issues i wasn't aware of. As always on any product there are (at least for some customers) down points. That's okay. There are some here for me too. But the real deal breaker is the missing panning functionality. Hell no! Hopefully Peak Design surprises us with an improved version 2 the next years. At least a single-to-buy head from them with the panning functionality included. I don't wanna replace the head by an 3rd-party-head, so i will stay with my current tripod - until Peak Design "fixes" their head. All in all --> Awesome development work!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you, I agree that there is no such a thing as a perfect product. And for many people like you the missing panning functionality is a huge issue. I would also like it but for my use it's not critical. You made a right choice by skipping this for now, and maybe/hopefully there will be an upgraded version at some point :) Again, thank you for the support!

[@GO3rab]

Amazing review buddy, I'm shocked you only have 2.5K subs, keep at it, the subs will come with time!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you for the support and encouragement man :) I know it's a grind but I'm also loving doing it. The subs are just a bonus :) Cheers!

[@fotonocity3887]

This was the best review of this tripod I’ve seen. Thanks!!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you very much, really appreciate you dropping a nice comment!

[@PeterCrandall]

Thank you for the comprehensive breakdown, nice work!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you Peter, I appreciate the comment!

[@MikeCastellucci]

Really helpful review as I decide on it. Thanks so much.

[@Adventuregrapher]

My pleasure, I'm glad I could help :)

[@cjsfriend2]

Great review! Loved the way you demonstrated all of the features, examined each drawback and provided useful comparison footage!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you very much, I'm happy my effort is appreciated :)

[@vivekthambu9751]

Excellent review, seen it many times, thank you.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you for dropping a nice comment :)

[@fredriksandegren1948]

I really looking forward for your next video! Keep up the good work!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you very much for your support! I have been a bit busy with some other very exciting projects so haven't been uploading for a while.. But tomorrow I'm shooting the next one and will be posting quite soon so stay tuned :)

[@Moni-qd9no]

Great information , thanks for this helpful video. I decided to order it!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you, I hope and believe you will enjoy it a lot :) Let me know how you like it when you get it!

[@Burritosarebetterthantacos]

People seem to be hung up on price but honestly its a fair price compared to other mid range carbon tripods. I really think the size is the biggest win despite the weird ballhead because it will fit inside a bag easily and the best tripod is the one you have with you. Btw, if you know a veteran or first responder in USA its possible to get this for 20% off.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Fully agree with you, Skip :)

[@hatpeach1]

I've watched a dozen of these reviews. Yours was the best. I've subscribed.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you, really appreciate it!

[@behaviorman1]

Well done review! So after yet another year since your review are you still happy with this tripod!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you, It's still working nicely and I'm using it more than any other tripod when I'm outside of my studio. Really love the quick deployment and fold up time and the compact size! There are a few small quirks that could be improved though: the ball head's locking mechanism sometimes get's kind of stuck so it's hard to detach the camera (once I even had to use a tool to unlock it as it was locked so tightly) and secondly the center column's height adjustment knob of my unit doesn't stay in anymore, it constantly pops open which makes it harder to fit inside the soft case. Also the ball head still feels a bit limited sometimes as it has only those those three "slots" instead of fully free movement. But like I said, I still really really like it and use it a lot :)

[@behaviorman1]

@@Adventuregrapher I ended up buying one and love it...agree with some of your 'need for improvement' comments but I feel thus far the positives outweigh the negatives enough that, well, it is the only tripod I take with me now...it is a fairly large paradigm shift in tripod construction and hopefully PD will continue to make improvements. I dont use the soft case much anymore as it is a bit of a pain to get in and out of it. the quick deployment is amazing and that is often my priority...a quick and sure footed set up...so no guessing if a leg is not locked down...the flip tabs are brilliant. The ball head is for the most part a great design and again I hope they build on that. It would be nice if other ballheads could be utilized on it. I do take care of my fuji cameras but I am probably close to abusive towards tripods...they are made to sit in water and dirt and mud --and so we shall see how it shakes out over time. Thanks for your update. Much appreciated!

[@TamerBekir]

This channel is the shit. You’re on point.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Really appreciate it, thanks for the comments! :)

[@jlking85748]

Great Job! It's the best evaluation of a product I've ever seen. Thanks.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you John, I'm super flattered!

[@TheHumanPhotographer]

Thank you for the detailed video!!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thanks for dropping a comment, Nadine :)

[@TheHumanPhotographer]

@@Adventuregrapher of course :)

[@acorchia]

Excellent video mate! And you made me hungry there in the end :D

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thanks for dropping a comment and for sticking with it all the way to the very end :D Even though you probably have no clue what I'm talking about in that sequnce of Finnish nonsense :'D If you ever happen to visit Finland, just send me a message and the chicken wings will be on me :P

[@arminweise1178]

First of all, thanks for this detailed review. You included some things that other reviews didn't focus on so much. Thanks for that! I mostly photograph plants and fungi very low to the ground (often nearly level with the ground) and that often are on slopes that require me to have one or two of the legs angled above the flat position so as to having one or two legs running up the hill while one is in a more normal angle down the slope (as is possible with the Manfrotto Befree GT XPRO). Any of the videos and reviews of the Peak Design tripod that I have watched, including yours, show the deployment of the legs into low mode which brought them almost parallel with the ground but still only ~ 85˚ from their folded position (not quite 90˚) - as is dictated by the two lock modes. I am wondering if the legs of the Peak Design tripod can extend past the 90˚ mark and possibly up to a 135˚ or beyond their folded position? Thanks ahead of time for your response!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Hi Armin and sorry for my delayed reply! Unfortunately the legs of the PD don't turn beyond that ~85˚ angle. That was actually something I never thought about testing so I needed to try it out just now to see if that would be possible! However, wouldn't it be possible to use the tripod in the low mode on the hill even if that would mean the center column wouldn't point upwards and the tripod would be "tilted"? But you could correct this by turning the ball head to level the camera. This might not be 100% optimal but it should work if I understand the situation correctly. Feel free to clarify if I misunderstood the question or missed something! Anyway, thanks for your kind comment and an interesting question :)

[@psoon04286]

Peak Design's video is ok, but yours is much clearer and descriptive, demonstrating all the key features. They should pay you and add your video on their website.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you very much Philip, I'm happy I can help my audience out and fortunately Peak Design also has a fair affiliate program so these reviews do help generating some small income as well :) But the best reward for me is getting these nice comments and feedback from you guys!

[@makkoproject]

Thank you!! good review!!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thanks!

[@PeteEdmunds]

Your reviews are truly excellent.

[@Adventuregrapher]

My late thanks, Pete :)

[@PeteEdmunds]

@@Adventuregrapher can I ask how tall you are. Want to get feel for my own eye level with peak design centre column extended. I’m 5ft 11 / 180cm

[@Adventuregrapher]

@@PeteEdmunds Well, we are just about the same height then, I'm around 181 or 182 cm :) So should be easy to get some feel from the video!

[@ghoutdoors1857]

It was a deal and you succeeded😂you got a new subscriber

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you bro, really appreciate it! Hopefully I manage to eventually provide some new content for you guys after being quite inactive lately..

[@CalaisRider]

Excellent presentation. Thanks for taking the time and posting. I'd probably consider a Fluid Head as I'm mainly using my Samsung Galaxy S20 ultra to get both camera and simple carriage. I'm mainly a stills photo taker rather than video or VLOG

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you :) How have you been liking the S20 Ultra so far?

[@projectfoto536]

Great content and review 👍🏻

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thanks man!

[@MusikPiratCH]

Compared to the Gitzo Traveler S-1 (in a kit that costs about $/€ 900) the Peak Design seems to be a bargain. ;) However I was shocked how the legs flex compared to the Gitzo traveler S-1! I also prefer the "normal" ball heads to this special PD one. With an L-bracket there might be no difference in use. But to unlock the camera each time you want to switch from landscape to portrait mode seams a little time consuming. In addition if you like to shoot panoramas this PD ball head isn't made for this user case! It might be most expensive but the best choice to combine the Gitzo GT1545t with the Novoflex Classic Ball 3 and a Novoflex Q-Mount II. If you invert the Classic Ball 3 then it serves perfectly for panoramas! But as you mentioned to spend so much money for a travel tripod migth not be for everybody. A cheaper solution such as the Sirui (may it be the 5C or the 7C) or a Benro TSL08CN00 for under $/€ 150 might be the right choice (on a budget). There are also other brands that offer similar features to the Sirui or Benro. Here in the German speaking countries the Rollei C6i is quiet popular.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Good analysis and I agree with basically everything here like the issues with the ball head. Of course the head is also nicely compact and flush with the tripod body while folded and I like how fast it is to clip the camera on and off it. But for panoramas or any video stuff the head is not practical. For most people the cheaper options are better and some may find it perfectly justified to spend even more money on a Gitzo setup. For me the PD is a nice middle ground with some unique features that I really value. Thanks for your input and sorry for the late reply :)

[@sil3ntscr3amlx]

Good review with the shake test. Isn't the carbon fibre centre column pre-production unit? The final production unit is aluminium?

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you! Yes, my unit is still a pre-production one so it has a few small differences compared to the final product :) Well spotted!

[@stephendoggett190]

Excellent review thank you. I also purchased this tripod on Kickstarter and have found a couple of small annoying design faults with this tripod. Firstly, if you use the Universal Head Adapter and fail to tighten the three little hex screws (because you are swapping heads frequently), then they have a tendency to fall out and could be lost. It is a pity that they do not have a stop thread. Fortunately mine fell out in my Pelican case while traveling. Secondly is with the supplied hex tool; tightening the same screws with the supplied tool is difficult as the you can only do a half turn as the tool when opened as the arm of the tool (i.e. the other hex hey) hits the centre column during tightening. It is a pity that the tool cannot be straightened to avoid this happening. I intend to grind away the stop with a dremel so that it can be opened straight. To be honest, I believe these are quite basic issues that could have been sorted out earlier.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you Stephen for the compliments and sharing your valuable insight on the product! There are a few quirks indeed and the issues you have discovered are something I haven't experienced with my use as I'm not really using exactly the same features that you are. But I can definitely agree that the use of tools and screws could have been implemented better and I can see why these smallish things could actually make quite a big difference for you! Again, thanks for sharing!

[@MrPhilbautista]

Tripod boss. Liked and subbed for that demo.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Cheers, really appreciate it my friend!

[@matthewsequoyah2665]

Excellent review 😀👍 . I’m debating between getting this Peak Design & Feisol CT-3441T.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thanks Matthew, the Feisol seems like a good option as well. Let me know what you end up getting when you have made your mind :)

[@peterivarsson9267]

Great vid, how does it compare to say manfrotto xprob 055 in terms of stability, it looks a bit weak

[@Adventuregrapher]

I don't have experience with the 055 but that one seems to be quite a bit heavier and has fewer leg segments so it might actually be a bit sturdier. So if stability is the most important thing and portability and other features not that much of a priority, there are many great options :)

[@LericheProductions]

Some serious tripodkido skills

[@Adventuregrapher]

Haha, thanks :D

[@mirkolanux]

Great video!! This gear has an excellent portability and unique features. Do you think we can trust it in the long run?

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thanks :) Only time will tell for sure, but I'm very confident on it as my other PD products have been very reliable on long term and they offer great lifetime quarantee!

[@scb2scb2]

On remark with most l-brackets (smallrig i tested all of them for sony, some i have co-designed) you only need to remove one pin so the second one can still act as a safety system making sure the camera doesn't slide out. I have a test/demo video on my channel.

[@Adventuregrapher]

That's a good point! I actually might start using it with one pin attached, thanks for sharing the tip :)

[@scb2scb2]

@@Adventuregrapher I already have checked the upcoming models (prototypes) for this. Its not perfect (smallrig could no predict it 100%) but its workable and having a pin does make. the whole thing more secure and that is almost a must for me.

[@geraldgarner9160]

Excellent video!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thanks Gerald!

[@Hjoerleif]

Ihan huippusiisti arvostelu! Kiitoksia koodista myös! Oonko ensimmäinen suomalainen kommentti-osiossa? :D

[@Adventuregrapher]

Suuri kiitos! Ihan yhden käden sormilla laskettavissa on suomenkieliset kommentit koko kanavalla olleet, mutta sitä suuremmalla syyllä kiva kun jaksoit kirjottaa :) Pitkähkön tauon jälkeen ois taas uutta videotakin suunnitteilla, eli jäähän seuraamaan niin saa jatkossakin jonkun kommentin suomeksi :D

[@drivingwoodphotography7786]

Thanks fot the thorough review, good job! I got mine today and I´m wondering why the center column of your version is partly made of carbon fiber? Mine is aluminum although the rest of it is carbon Fiber.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Nothing to worry about, mine is a pre-production unit so there are some small differences! The finished retail version has an aluminium center column so yours is completely normal :) Thanks!

[@drivingwoodphotography7786]

@@Adventuregrapher Thank you for clearing this up :)

[@DM-dq1mh]

Great review, could you say more about the gimbal setup you use with the peak design tripod?

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you :) I use the Zhiyun Weebill Lab with an Arca plate under the handle so it's really fast to attach on the tripod just like the camera. I have also added an Arca quick release system to the gimbal release plate so also attaching the camera to the gimbal is very convenient. This way the setup time for fluid tripod video is quite manageable even though it's not as simple/compact as using a dedicated video head. If you want, I can take a picture of the setup the next time I use it and share it here for you :)

[@PhilLuo]

Did you get a pre-production unit? The final product has an aluminum center column where yours looks to be carbon fiber. It also comes with the hex-tool and the piece that attaches to the tripod that you showed briefly on their website.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Hi, you are correct, my unit is close to the final model but still a pre-production one and for example the hex tool clip was still missing. But it's not one of the initial pre-production units that had the tighter soft case and so on. However, there might still be a few differences like the center column you mentioned, well spotted!

[@phototristan]

Adventuregrapher The new aluminum center column on the final version is much better.

[@joakimtollerud2172]

Wow, this was by far the best review of this tripod I have seen yet. Anyways, do you think it's a big drawback to get the aluminium version instead of carbon fiber?

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you Joakim! I actually think that for most people getting the aluminium makes more sense and it's not a big drawback at all unless you are trying to travel ultralight :) And even if you are, with the money you save by buying the aluminium, you can even afford to buy the carbon fiber Sirui model as an ultralight second tripod! Hope this helps, oh and let me know what you decide(d)!

[@38201270298]

Is it possible to attach center column upside-down for macro shots? How sturdy is this tripod with 60sm side arm(like Manfrotto 131D for example)?

[@Adventuregrapher]

Hi, yes it's very easy to turn the center column upside down and that's what I have been doing for macro shots! Haven't used it with a side arm but I would be quite confident that there shouldn't be any big problems unless you want to have the camera very far away from the tripod as this can tip the balance point quite a bit. The tripod has only two settings for the leg angles and the higher setting might not be wide enough for extreme cases with the side arm. But if you plan to shoot low anyway, there shouldn't be any problems. Hope this helps :)

[@jessrobson3029]

I took the subscribe challenge and "lost." Good job on the world record tripod deployment!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you very much, I hope you don't need to be dissapointed about that "loss" :) I haven't been uploading for a while but there is a new gear review coming up real soon so stay tuned :)

[@jessrobson3029]

@@Adventuregrapher No disappointment at all. I'm looking forward to what you share! Thank you!

[@Adventuregrapher]

@@jessrobson3029 Thanks for the support Jess!

[@danfloresmusic]

perfect review!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you Dan!

[@foxrunstudio]

Great review

[@Adventuregrapher]

My late thanks!

[@peterivarsson9267]

Great video, World you say it can replace an manfrotto xpro055 with a Sony and a telephoto zoom

[@williamreymond2669]

I'm very interested in the Peak Design travel tripod, in September 2020 I'm going to walk 725km across south-west France carrying everything for the six week trip on my back the whole way, one 'gîte,' one 'chambre d'hôte,' at a time - so I'm not roughing it exactly, but I *am* carrying it. I have to be able to carry everything 24-32km a day and it has to all fit entirely inside the bag for air travel. And, I want to take some nice pictures along the way. My plan has been to take a monopod and gorillapod legs along and swap a little Joby ball head between them. Could be enough. Then I heard about the PD travel tripod, and thought maybe I can ditch the gorillapod completely and take a *real* tripod instead! In my scenario no other tripod is compact enough to be worth considering - nothing Italian - just too much wasted space, or it is too small or flexy to be worth bothering with. So, more real world reviews like this gives me confidence that the PD really is the way to go when nothing but the most compact possible is really an option. Ok, maybe a little panning base too.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Of, that sounds like an epic adventure you are going for! And yes, the PD tripod is a great fit for that type of stuff! Oh, and check out the Sirui tripod in this video too, it's even a bit lighter even though the PD still wins in portability in the end, at least in my books :)

[@williamreymond2669]

@@Adventuregrapher I got it! arrived yesterday, first time out with it tonight! And wouldn't you know it I bumped up against that weird little thing with the three lugs on the ball-had that everyone complains about. High angles can be a real problem, particularly, because of the way the dovetail for the Arca mount lines up with those three lugs. There was the half-moon framed perfectly in the gap in the new spring foliage in a tree I walk by every night on my evening walk, it's just after sunset - I'm in training remember? I struggled and struggled to get everything to line up in the ten minute window I had to get that shot, but ungh! I knew that was going to happen. The panning bas will be here Monday. The extra degree-of-freedom that the panning base provides will completely cure that problem - and costs only 125g. Oh, I forgot to mention. At the end of this adventure, I get to bury my father, or at least half his calcinated remains, with his father in his home town in Le Puy en Velay, France. Watch for me on Flickr.

[@Adventuregrapher]

@@williamreymond2669 Yeah, the angle limitations have been one the most annoying parts of the tripod for me too in the long run - even though turning the camera 90 degrees on the mount often solves the problem. I'm not sure why they had the dovetail of the mount partially lining up with one of those knobs.. To me it would make more sense if it was aligned with the gap between them so you would be able to tilt straight up freely while the camera is mounted "normally". Now you need to mount it "sideways" to get that free upwards tilt.. Actually, I have never taken the ballhead apart and I'm starting to wonder if it might actually be possible to adjust the alignment of the mount (probably not though).. Sorry to hear that your father has passed away.. Anyway, what an emotional ending point for the trip! Sending support your way for training and the whole adventure! You are not planning to post any videos to KZbin from the trip? I'll be following through Flickr for sure, also feel free to share an Instagram link if you post there as well :)

[@AugmentedGravity]

This turned out to be a dance lesson.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Haha yes, using a tripod is not that simple after all :P

[@Scorge120]

Considering that this tripod has a niche and outperforms any other tripod in this niche, I'm surprised they didn't charge more for it. The aluminum version represents great value imo.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Exactly, and I think that's something that many people overlook with this tripod: It's not meant for everybody and every situation. But for people with specific needs of compactness, portability and fast deployment, it's simply the best option out there :)

[@RivuSouravBanerjeeVideoEditor]

Awesome review .. the only thing keeping me getting this tripod is price.

[@RivuSouravBanerjeeVideoEditor]

What is the model number if the sirui tripod u r using ?

[@stevelink21]

Excellent reivew sir! Though I am a PD fan, using several of their other products, as a landscape photographer, I simply cannot fathom the logic of designing a $600 tripod WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO MAKE A LEVEL PAN!! Sorry, but for my kind of work, that's a deal breaker. As for touting the "light weight" design feature of any tripod, I actually prefer a heavier tripod, even when hiking, for maximum stability under adverse conditions. Thanks again for the great review.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you very much for the compliments and sharing your thoughts! I understand your point and I would also have preferred to have a panning head if they could have included that without sacrificing other features. And yes, the weight is also a two edged sword as it also increases the stability :)

[@stevelink21]

@@Adventuregrapher Thanks, and just FYI, I found a Chinese brand called Leofoto, that makes an Amazing travel tripod, AND it includes a fantastic ball head with one feature that I've not found INCLUDED on any other ball head...namely, a panoramic head! This allows the single ball head to function as a pano head, plus, if you swing it into the notch, turns the pano head into a "poor man's " gimbal head! (Max payload = 22 lbs.) Also, another feature of this tripod/head combo, is that the knobs/controls on the ball head each have a different shape and texture (ALL metal, CNC aluminum)! Simply ingenious design, because it eliminates the possibility of inadvertently loosening the wrong knob!! Why ALL ball head manufacturers don't do this is beyond me...actually, probably because of design and manufacture costs! In any case, this Leofoto LN-254CT Tripod is awesome...10X carbon fiber legs, included quality metal spikes (with rubber gaskets), included handy carabiner allen tool, and a very nice carrying case. Well worth $380, IMHO.

[@hot88s23]

Compliments on the '56 Chevy.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Well spotted! It's my dad's car, I will forward the compliments to him :)

[@dougnewman1636]

I use the Canon 500mm, f4 lens with 1.4 multiplier, is the Carbon unit Peak Design with Standard Ball Head durable and adequate for high quality use?

[@Adventuregrapher]

Hi, I don't have a 500mm lens to test this with but I'm quite confident that the ball head would actually handle it pretty well as long as you use the tripod collar of the lens. But to be honest, fully extended the Peak Design tripod will probably be a bit shaky with that setup. This can be solved by using a self timer or having the center column down and maybe the lowest leg segments unopened. Again, I don't see a problem with the ball head as it's really sturdy but overall I might recommend a heavier tripod for that setup unless you need the compact size and the speedy setup of the Peak Design. Hope this helps!

[@thestrider4739]

Is it sturdy enough for long exposure? Or heavy duty tripods such as Indura are the only way to go?

[@Adventuregrapher]

Hi and sorry for my late reply! The PD is fine for long exposures with most lenses as long as you use a 5 or 10 second timer after last touching the camera/tripod. I use it a lot for astrophotography for example :) But of course heavier tripods will be more stable and are preferred for long exposures if size and weight are not issues.

[@adyuaic]

Which one would you recommend for smartphone use only? Aluminium or carbon? Also, the smartphone mount from underneath, how much weight can it support? I mean, on a smartphone, if you attach a heavy lens+ND filters, will it work on both?

[@Adventuregrapher]

For a smartphone either version will work just as well even though both can be considered a bit pricey for "just" smartphone use even though the included mount is very nice touch. So aluminium if you want to save money and carbon if you want the lightest option and money is not an issue. I don't have experience with using a phone with external lenses or filters but the mount feels very similar to other phone mounts I have used so it's not anything exceptionally sturdy but it doesn't have any trouble supporting my phone either. That being said, I would be quite careful if trying to use it with a heavier kit.

[@adyuaic]

@@Adventuregrapher the reason for which I stopped to this tripod, even if its so expensive when using it just with smartphone, is that its very small and easy to carry in your backpack. You can't find so many out there that can be stiff, steady, even if its quite windy, as its in UK. I f you have other recommendations for this particular case, I'd be more than happy to listen to professionals 🙂

[@maheshs1315]

Hi, Thanks for the wonderful review i was wondering how this tripod would perform with heavy lenses. I currently have the 3 Legged thing Leo carbon fiber with the ball head which is their most lightweight travel tripod with upto 20Kg weight bearing capacity. Unfortunately its having some issues wile collapsing the feet post usage, so i wanted to get the new LEO 2 but now i will give this is a serious thought. By the way any other light weight travel tripod that you would recommend ? Price no bar for me. It has to be super easy to set up and carry around.

[@Burritosarebetterthantacos]

I had 3 l3gged things but I didn't like the flashy colors. It felt cheap on professional shoots for me even though it wasn't.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Hi there, and sorry for the late reply! For the setup and carrying convenience, the Peak Design is quite superior to anything else I have used. With really heavy setups the legs do bend slightly and I would recommend leaving the lowest leg segments closed and center column down to gain more stability if you can sacrifice some height. The LEO might be a bit more stable considering it has a higher weight rating but I don't personally have any experience with it so it's hard to compare. When it comes to high end travel tripods, the Peak Design is the best I have any personal experience with. However, many pros seem to love Gitzo tripods so that's something you might want to take a look at if the cost is not an issue. Please let me know if you already got something or made a decision, would be interesting to hear about your experience with any product you end up getting :)

[@maheshs1315]

@@Adventuregrapher Hi Thanks for the reply. Yes i did get a tripod and its come half the way around the world from US to Dubai, and yet to reach my hands (I am in India and hoping to get it in May). The one that I brought is Feisol which among many (including gitzo) seemed to be the right blend of quality and price though i think gitzo still is the alpha. I decided to give up on super light weight because its not working out in say in heavy winds or in the beach with waves crashing in or when your in a rapid with flowing water so needed something which can take those kind of abuses and at a price which is not 1000$ plus, so for 700$ i got the Feisol which can take upto 45Kg and has a good height and easy to set up weighing in at about 1.8Kg. Now i am on lookout for a good ball head which is low weight there is company called Colorado tripod company who make titanium ball heads just making a study on them, if you have any info on those do let me know.

[@simonleonp]

thtis video is really well made keep it up, just dont eat at the end... haha

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you Simon and I appreciate you sticking with it all the way to the end :P

[@AbrahamTario]

I need one..

[@Adventuregrapher]

I know the feeling :D

[@michaellaskin6645]

Is the leg releases are plastic or metal?

[@karinschneewind6286]

witch other tripods would you suggest at almost the same label? please put names and models

[@yvonnefoo1113]

Can it be set up to do overhead shots?

[@Adventuregrapher]

Hi, yes you can turn the camera to point straight down but for overhead shots you might also want to consider a tripod with a rotatable center column. With this one you might get the tripod feet in the image if you are shooting with a wide focal length. Moreover, for tabletop overhead shots I would recommend a dedicated rig and not a tripod at all as setting one up on a table can get quite sketchy. Hope this answered your question :)

[@godsakes]

I don't get the hype, the peak is clearly larger & heavier and the ball head has more quirks than the sirui - the sirui is the clear winner as a travel tripod. Hell you can get even more compact then the sirui try the Velbon Ultrek series.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Yeah, the Sirui is the winner if portability and price are the most important criteria. But I love the functionality of the Peak, most importantly the speed of operation. It's also taller and more stable than the Sirui. But again, for most people looking for an ultralight tripod, I would recommend the Sirui over the PD if they are on a budget :)

[@reynaldogomez3246]

Great job on the review, now when reviewing a product that is almost all black and your background and shirt are the same color you loose the product details being reviewed to the background !!! Kind regards !!!

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thanks, I totally agree that my background and clothing choices in this one were really bad :D Well, I know better now :)

[@leblanc-marc]

Hey, for reference at 8:47, how tall are you?

[@Adventuregrapher]

182cm, which converts to around 6 feet

[@leblanc-marc]

@@Adventuregrapher Excellent, thank you, I think you just sold me on a PD tripod :p

[@Adventuregrapher]

@@leblanc-marc Haha, well, I'm sure you will like it if you decide to get it :) And if you do, ordering through the link in my video description helps support my channel and won't cost you any extra, so that's always appreciated! :)

[@garybrown9719]

Im 6ft 5in looks a little short Might as well subscribr I whatch 2 other photographers from Finland

[@changleon7441]

The price isn’t a con on the tripod. It’s a con on me

[@Adventuregrapher]

Well said, it's a con on me too :D

[@S.tebban]

How fast does one needs to deploy a tripod? I believe that is what we have ISO for... If you need a tripod, you have time.

[@Adventuregrapher]

I see your point, definitely many times it doesn't really matter. But there have also been many situations I have surely been very thankful of the deployment speed. One example being run and gun video stuff where I often need to get a quick static shot in one spot and then be able to quickly move on. I also find myself relying less on high ISO if using the tripod for "quick shots" is as effortless as possible, which also results in cleaner images. I think it's pretty much the same thing with phones vs actual cameras, you rarely really need a real camera when you can take very good photos with a phone that is faster and more simple to use and takes no effort to carry around. But if you make your real camera as effortless/fast/convenient to use as possible, you might actually end up using it more and you will be rewarded with better photos.

[@jaymeez]

Can you do top down shots with it?

[@Adventuregrapher]

You most definitely can, the head allows to point the camera straight down :)

[@jaymeez]

@@Adventuregrapher No I mean top down shots like for unboxings? I think I may have to find a different tripod for that

[@Adventuregrapher]

@@jaymeez ah, got it! For that you probably want a tripod with a horizontally rotating center column or a DIY built dedicated overhead rig instead of a tripod. With this tripod it's possible but quite sketchy to open it up on top of a table and even then the tripod legs might end up in your shot. But I have done exactly this a few times.

[@smigielski.studio]

10:20-10:38 - this is not the same setup on the upper pictures vs lower pictures. There is a traditional ball head (looks like Sirui) on the upper pictures (not a specific PD ball head) and the lens is not 800mm, as you told. And, finally, you stated (7:36) you would never use a PD adapter.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Adam, I think you got a bit confused on how I carried out the shake test. On the LOWER row I have 3 different tripods, a Sirui on the left, a Peak Design in the middle and a Benro on the right. I did the test to demonstrate how stable the PD is comparing to these other tripods. On the TOP row there is another completely DIFFERENT camera setup on a Sirui tripod. The top row videos were shot with the lower row camera+tripod combos and the lower row videos were shot at the same time with the top row camera. This way you can see me tapping each of the tested tripods on the lower row and at the same time what how much shake there is on the top row. And I never said anything about a 800mm lens. I said I'm using a 400mm lens and that's what I used. On the lower row there are 3 different tripods (to compare them), each with an identical A7RIII + Sony 100-400mm GM camera setup. These were used to shoot the videos you can see on the top row. I know it's a bit tricky but hopefully this helped with the confusion :)?

[@smigielski.studio]

@@Adventuregrapher Oh! Yes, of course. I got it! :-)

[@erichstocker4173]

I think an interesting design. However, for me the cost/performance is not that good. Speed of setting up a tripod is a funny metric. Since working on tripods is a slow activity by design. If it cost what the Sirui cost then it would be the clear winner. Also, I hate the built-in ballhead. I like my own.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Hi, if the speed is not important for you, then you are clearly better off with another alternative :) I often find myself setting up a tripod for just a single shot dozens of times during a day and there have been many occasions when I have actually skipped taking a shot I wanted because setting up a tripod would take too much time. This is especially true with quick and spontaneous group shots or if I'm traveling with other people who are not photographers and they quickly get annoyed in having to wait for me :D But you have a fair point and I can see that for most users speed of setup is not one of the important metrics and might even seem funny :) Thanks for dropping a comment!

[@คณิตฟิสิกส์ครูแมว]

สุดยอดๆๆๆ อยากได้ครับ

[@eivindmoe4446]

👍👍👍

[@TheGalacticWest]

im sure the deployment is from inside the zipper case to full stand.

[@Adventuregrapher]

That will obviously add a few seconds but you are not forced to use the zipper case :) Like I showed in the video, you can even carry the tripod with a strap so it's instantly ready to go :)

[@TheGalacticWest]

Adventuregrapher I know but i just assume when they mean the had a competition they went from fully packed to full stand. It’s a good Tripod never the less.

[@AugmentedGravity]

En ymmärrä mitään siitä, mitä sanoit videon lopussa, mutta google tekee :)

[@Adventuregrapher]

Nice, I knew somebody would be curious and get that stuff translated :D Thanks for sticking with the video all the way to the end my friend :)

[@AugmentedGravity]

@@Adventuregrapher Amazing work, keep it up :)

[@vcancer]

For that damn price, I'll stick with my heavy Vanguard Alta pro.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Yeah, I totally understand, it's definitely pricey compared to a lot of alternatives!

[@Anarki2U]

No, but Novoflex tripod system are www.novoflex.de/en/products-637/camera-support-systems/triopod-products.html

[@Adventuregrapher]

Going to check them out :)

[@garylau6676]

If can, in future please use white background n if he can wear light Color shirt. Becos d products mostly is black. Everything is same black. Very hard to view.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Thank you for the feedback! I will try to have some better contrast between the background and the product in the future reviews!

[@mytube2013]

But it is only 4s faster to deploy than the competition

[@martinhalmo5678]

OK its a tripod ... serves the same as other quality tripods around 150eur ... so my question is : Did it fall on someones head, so they are selling it for 600eur ?? Or they just think that photographers have bottomless wallets.

[@Adventuregrapher]

Yeah, it's expensive and for most people the 150€ tripod is the better purchase. But this one has many unique features that you can't get in any other tripod so I think the high price is at least somewhat justified :)

[@FrayAdjacentTX]

Funny thing, the company "Sirui" pronounces it "SOO-ray".

[@Adventuregrapher]

Yeah, Chinese company name pronounciations are always soo confusing :D

[@mofi3641]

so, youre 10 seconds (?) faster than with other tripdoes...but who cares? i guess taking the photo takes much more time, so this is not important, or is it?

[@Adventuregrapher]

Good point, I can agree that 90% of the time the setup time doesn't really matter that much as taking the photo/photos takes a way longer time anyway. But at least for me those 10% of cases are actually quite important. One example are spontaneous group shots that most other people would just take with their phones selfie camera as setting up a tripod would take too much time for that simple snap. But with a tripod you can get a superior composition. Another example is a single 5sec exposure shot of a river/stream etc while hiking: if the view is not super spectacular and I only had a "regular" tripod with me, I probably wouldn't bother stopping even for a single minute to set up and collapse the tripod for just one snap but with the PD tripod that would take under 30 seconds so I actually might stop. This is especially true while hiking/traveling/hanging out with other people that can get really annoyed if you want to stop for one minute every five minutes. But if each of those stops is only 30 seconds it's at least a bit more manageable. Might sound silly but these are real situations where I have actually found that the setup time really does matter at least for me :)

[@dougfalconer973]

Great review, thank you.

[@Adventuregrapher]

My late thanks for the nice comment :)