Lightest travel tripod ever? K&F Concept comparison

[@DIYTinkerer]

I saw a video review of the K+F 225, they suggested you connect the ball head to the leg to make the monopod, using the central column as well it snapped in half at the joint between the leg and central column - metal bolt into plastic thread - it was never going to be robust.

[@benharveyphotography]

Hello, this is quite an old video and I have produced and updated travel tripod comparison that you might be interested in. Link is here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobYapemm9SIaMksi=S2c-4XzO0noECBdB

[@johnjoannou372]

HI Ben, Coincidentally, I just placed an order for a similar K&F Tripod a couple of days ago. I was looking for something lightweight and reliable yet within budget range. So glad you gave it such a high recommendation - looking forward to getting it in the coming weeks. Cheers, John...

[@benharveyphotography]

I hope you are happy with whatever tripod you ordered. There are so many to choose from - if you ever posts online ‘what tripod should I get?’ You will get such a variety of answers it is daunting!

[@sald1965]

My Manfrotto is an Art 109 purchased 40+ years ago. It's heavy, has wing nuts for tightening leg lenghth ajustment and tubular aluminum legs but a forged metal head and base where the legs connect to making it very heavy. The center post is reversible as well.

[@benharveyphotography]

Sounds like that was designed to last forever, as well as give you a bad back! It would be nice for Manfrotto to review the design of the tripod plate though. It really digs into your hands when you cup the camera in your hand.

[@Alogicchannel]

Manfrotto do last. K&F last until it drops your camera and you throw it away. K&F put their brand name on anything. I had a K&F tripod, the plate popped out of the quick release and dropped my camera. Stay clear

[@luismartins3262]

What?? A landscape photographer without at least one Benro tripod? A landscape photographer named Ben... without a Benro?! Oh, the horror!!

[@benharveyphotography]

Ben-no tripod :-) I know. I won’t give into the peer pressure!

[@MrGuto]

Very nice! Just a curiosity, was that you in that old Top Gun movie? If not, that guy looked a lot like you :)

[@benharveyphotography]

Yep, he is my stunt double ;-P

[@jonasforare1191]

Great and ambitious review. But concerning connection plates, there are several models of Arca Swiss/Manfrotto dual designs. I have one from Peak Designs and one from Manfrotto themselves.

[@benharveyphotography]

Hi Jonas, I am aware that some Manfrotto heads are arca Swiss compatible, but do you know of any products or ways of using my existing Manfrotto geared head with arca Swiss plates? I guess it would be a plate that is Manfrotto on the bottom half and arca Swiss on the top half?

[@josephasghar]

You’re right about the versatility of the Arca system, which is great for switching composition, but with landscape and zero light I prefer the 410 plates that just click in place. I find I really need good tactile feedback about what I’m adjusting. I’ve had a Phase One sitting loose on an Arca plate for a long exposure - eek!

[@benharveyphotography]

The Manfrotto quick release plate with the reassuring click is nice. What does put me off using them is also hand hold a camera with them fitting to the body, as the corners dig into the palm of your hand. The camera is also raised up off a surface when you put it down also. I kind of lived with this before I knew of the area Swiss plate, and now they live on all of my cameras and its a lot more pleasing to hold. The larger area Swiss plates which have the safety mechanism stopping them sliding off a tripod head left or right are great also, but don’t work with my peak design bag-strap clip. Does no one make an arca Swiss plate that fits into a Manfrotto head?

[@scotty4418]

Got mixed feelings about K&F Ben. I bought one last year for my London trip as the heaviest lens I took was my 24-70mm and I didn't fancy hauling my large Manfrotto tripod all over London. Few days into my trip there was a component failure in one of the legs so the leg wouldn't stay locked in position. Ended up going to Parks Cameras and buying a Benro. To be fair to K&F, as soon as I got home, I contacted them and without quibble after sending pictures of the disintegrated part they sent a used tripod for me to cannibalise so can't fault their customer service. I now just use it locally when I am shooting timelapses and touch wood, have had no other issues with it

[@benharveyphotography]

Hey Jim, I remember talking about your London Trip and you need a tripod for long exposures! That must have been gutting. Were they twisty legs that failed? I have had a similar issue with my 3legged thing, one of the ‘washers’ that tightens the legs came lose and it just wouldn’t hold. It kind of put me off buying another one of their tripods.

[@scotty4418]

@@benharveyphotography Hi Ben, yes it was a twist lock leg. The plastic sleeve where the top of the leg section sat in broke apart so there was nothing to grip onto when the leg lock was tightened. Still have the Benro and the geared head and is now my main tripod although still have the Manfrotto as a back up

[@benharveyphotography]

Because I made a tripod video I am not getting bombarded with adverts from K&F and Benro - it always happens. I know the plastic sleeve you are referring to, when I was trying to convert it into a monopod I kind of dismantled it a bit - had to put it back together. All working fine though.

[@bcegerton]

@@benharveyphotography I’ve been looking at K&F, had a few things from them but not a tripod. I’ve always fancied the twist locks but I’ve seen a few videos where the screw thread that’s glued on has come away, probably not enough or not strong enough glue used but no matter it being a great price, you still need it to work.

[@benharveyphotography]

I can check, but I don’t think the plastic washers inside the legs are glued in. It is a chamfered piece of plastic that sits loose and then tightens as you turn the twist lock onto the thread.

[@MCSoto3329]

Have you tested the Manfrotto Be Free travel tripod?

[@benharveyphotography]

I have had a go on a friends be free, but not properly used one. Do you get on with it or are you thinking about getting one?

[@chrismcpherson3258]

hi I just bough an J & F Concept tripod. but one I bought was made of Aluminum.. well build like It a lot total, length is 18 inches. in the bag. over all a good tripod. am happy. camper. Chris.

[@sald1965]

Itoo havehtto tripod for years but repplacement heads if needewd were expensive. I appreciate the feature rich K&K concepts pods better vs Manfrotto.

[@Mattwillo]

I have a K&D tripod, the one above this one I believe, I use it for my 700 60AZ telescope, sturdy as a rock!

[@williamwalksTO]

Great review! Thanks for sharing this!

[@RM831BC4E4]

I have the same travel tripod :-) find it works very well for when needed.

[@benharveyphotography]

Glad to hear it. I think a travel tripod at this price out of carbon fibre is very impressive.

[@RM831BC4E4]

@@benharveyphotography I will second that.

[@OthonALeon]

Hello Ben! What Arca Swiss plate do you use for your Sirui ST-24, your cameras and backpack, please?

[@benharveyphotography]

I use the Peak Design plate, which is compatible with the Peak Design Capture clip and all of the Arca Swiss tripods.

[@OthonALeon]

@@benharveyphotography Thanks. I'll check that out.

[@OthonALeon]

@@benharveyphotography But, are they compatible with the Sirui tripods as well, please?

[@benharveyphotography]

The Peak Design plate is compatible with Sirui tripods yes. The only difference between using the Peak design plate (which works perfectly with the Peak Design Capture clip that goes on your bag strap) and the plate that comes with most tripods is that the dedicated plate for each tripod will have a safety mechanism on it. Therefore if you loosen the plate on the tripod head a little bit on the Sirui plate for example, it will slide across and then stop the camera from falling off. With the Peak Design plate it will slide straight off, which I actually prefer. You will find that the Peak Design plate is much smaller (Square) and has a thinner profile, whereas brand plates are often rectangular and have a bit more thickness to them. I hope this helps!

[@OthonALeon]

@@benharveyphotography it does help, Ben. Thank you very much. Looking forward for your next video! Best regards.

[@bcegerton]

Can’t really say it’s a comparison between the K&F and Peak Design, the quality of the Peak Design is far superior but granted, it’s definitely overpriced

[@benharveyphotography]

The peak design is genuinely a new way of designing a tripod isn’t it. And it fits in the side pouch of my bag where a water bottle normally goes. And yes, you have to pay for that innovation.

[@neilcole3406]

If the k&f tripod only comes up to your eye level Tom……..er sorry l mean Ben, isn’t it a bit short?

[@benharveyphotography]

This is what you get with travel tripods. They predominantly rely upon the central column to gain any height and that is when they are most unstable. You have to figure out what the priorities are when you select a tripod, weight, cost, size, the gear that you will mount on it, will you be in challenging winds?

[@stuartmenzies3928]

The glasses dont work for you bud! :)

[@pizzafroth1521]

How is the manfrotto legs? Mine has served me very well.

[@benharveyphotography]

Hello. I have a few manfrotto tripods, but all of them have durable legs and locking mechanisms that have lasted a very long time and only require cleaning after being in the sea. My manfrotto ones are the clip lock though, so I couldn’t speak about any others that they might do.