Peak Design - Travel Tripod - Carbon
Travel lightly with the Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod from Peak Design. This 2.8 lb support is designed with compactness in mind. Its folded length of 15.5 inch takes up less volume in its closed state, which is ideal when traveling. You can open the leg’s 5-sections by releasing all its aluminum leg locking cams at the same time, which enables you to quickly set up or break down the tripod. Extending the legs along with the center column, you can reach a maximum height of 60 inch, a height of 51.245 inch with the center column down, and a minimum height of 5.5 inch with the legs completely splayed out. At the same time, the column is reversible to practically get a worm’s eye view.The ball head is also part of the tripod’s innovative compact design because it has no knobs or levers sticking out; the head has a single adjustment ring that allows omnidirectional movement and locks into place with the locking ring located above the adjustment ring. Its quick release system is compatible with most Arca-type plates on the market, but also accepts Peak design’s standard plates. Arca-type L-brackets also fit by removing the safety pin inside the clamp. DSLRs with a telephoto lens or other large gear weighing up to 20 lb is maintained by the tripod. Even a smartphone is adaptable by removing the center column’s weight hook and deploying the mobile mount.
Travel lightly with the Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod from Peak Design. This 2.8 lb support is designed with compactness in mind. Its folded length of 15.5 inch takes up less volume in its closed state, which is ideal when traveling. You can open the leg’s 5-sections by releasing all its aluminum leg locking cams at the same time, which enables you to quickly set up or break down the tripod. Extending the legs along with the center column, you can reach a maximum height of 60 inch, a height of 51.245 inch with the center column down, and a minimum height of 5.5 inch with the legs completely splayed out. At the same time, the column is reversible to practically get a worm’s eye view.The ball head is also part of the tripod’s innovative compact design because it has no knobs or levers sticking out; the head has a single adjustment ring that allows omnidirectional movement and locks into place with the locking ring located above the adjustment ring. Its quick release system is compatible with most Arca-type plates on the market, but also accepts Peak design’s standard plates. Arca-type L-brackets also fit by removing the safety pin inside the clamp. DSLRs with a telephoto lens or other large gear weighing up to 20 lb is maintained by the tripod. Even a smartphone is adaptable by removing the center column’s weight hook and deploying the mobile mount.
Travel lightly with the Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod from Peak Design. This 2.8 lb support is designed with compactness in mind. Its folded length of 15.5 inch takes up less volume in its closed state, which is ideal when traveling. You can open the leg’s 5-sections by releasing all its aluminum leg locking cams at the same time, which enables you to quickly set up or break down the tripod. Extending the legs along with the center column, you can reach a maximum height of 60 inch, a height of 51.245 inch with the center column down, and a minimum height of 5.5 inch with the legs completely splayed out. At the same time, the column is reversible to practically get a worm’s eye view.The ball head is also part of the tripod’s innovative compact design because it has no knobs or levers sticking out; the head has a single adjustment ring that allows omnidirectional movement and locks into place with the locking ring located above the adjustment ring. Its quick release system is compatible with most Arca-type plates on the market, but also accepts Peak design’s standard plates. Arca-type L-brackets also fit by removing the safety pin inside the clamp. DSLRs with a telephoto lens or other large gear weighing up to 20 lb is maintained by the tripod. Even a smartphone is adaptable by removing the center column’s weight hook and deploying the mobile mount.
Travel lightly with the Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod from Peak Design. This 2.8 lb support is designed with compactness in mind. Its folded length of 15.5 inch takes up less volume in its closed state, which is ideal when traveling. You can open the leg’s 5-sections by releasing all its aluminum leg locking cams at the same time, which enables you to quickly set up or break down the tripod. Extending the legs along with the center column, you can reach a maximum height of 60 inch, a height of 51.245 inch with the center column down, and a minimum height of 5.5 inch with the legs completely splayed out. At the same time, the column is reversible to practically get a worm’s eye view.The ball head is also part of the tripod’s innovative compact design because it has no knobs or levers sticking out; the head has a single adjustment ring that allows omnidirectional movement and locks into place with the locking ring located above the adjustment ring. Its quick release system is compatible with most Arca-type plates on the market, but also accepts Peak design’s standard plates. Arca-type L-brackets also fit by removing the safety pin inside the clamp. DSLRs with a telephoto lens or other large gear weighing up to 20 lb is maintained by the tripod. Even a smartphone is adaptable by removing the center column’s weight hook and deploying the mobile mount.
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The lowest price for Peak Design - Travel Tripod - Carbon right now is $637.53 at Camera West, compared across 23 retailers.
The all-time low was $612.86 on 20 Apr 2026 — today's price is 4% above the lowest ever. This is at or near its all-time low — a good time to buy.
Prices last updated 8 June 2026.
Last updated at 08/06/2026 15:51:11
Peak Design Travel Tripod, Carbon Fiber, Compact Design, Quick Setup and Takedown, Pro-Level Stability, Ergonomic Ball Head, Compact and Portable
Delivery $7.95
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Peak Design Travel Tripod, Carbon Fiber, Compact Design, Quick Setup and Takedown, Pro-Level Stability, Ergonomic Ball Head, Compact and Portable
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod, Boxed ABBAO18C01056
Peak Design TTCB5150CF1 Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Peak Design TTCB5150CF1 Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Peak Design Travel Tripod - Carbon Fibre
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Peak Design Travel Tripod - Aluminium
Delivery $9.95
Peak Design Carbon Travel Tripod Camera and Video Tripods
Free delivery between Wed – Thu
Peak Design | Travel | Tripod Carbon Fiber / Black
Free delivery
Peak Design Travel Tripod Carbon Fibre - Live Price Matching
Delivery $7.95
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
Tripods are traditionally bulky, heavy, and expensive. I've been using the same Manfrotto tripod for 12 years because it works well, never broke, and was therefore not a priority. Except one thing: it is heavy! It's so heavy that I will think twice before bringing it, and frequently not bring it at all if a shoot requires me to be nimble on my feet, is out in the field, or if I'm shooting alone. As a result, I've been a heavy monopod user for a long time. Enter the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod. This thing is a game changer. After hedging between the aluminum and the carbon fiber, I'm glad to say I went carbon fiber. This tripod fits in my backpack and is light as a (2.8lb) feather. It's so light and easy to set up, that I don't think twice about bringing a ... MoreTripods are traditionally bulky, heavy, and expensive. I've been using the same Manfrotto tripod for 12 years because it works well, never broke, and was therefore not a priority. Except one thing: it is heavy! It's so heavy that I will think twice before bringing it, and frequently not bring it at all if a shoot requires me to be nimble on my feet, is out in the field, or if I'm shooting alone. As a result, I've been a heavy monopod user for a long time. Enter the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod. This thing is a game changer. After hedging between the aluminum and the carbon fiber, I'm glad to say I went carbon fiber. This tripod fits in my backpack and is light as a (2.8lb) feather. It's so light and easy to set up, that I don't think twice about bringing a tripod anymore. Within the first week I bought it, I used it 4 times on shoots that I may have just brought a monopod to. All 4 times it came in incredibly handy and I was thrilled to have it with me. You know what you can't do with a monopod? Leave your camera standing at hand-height while you set up additional kit items, tend to audio, etc. It doesn't come with a video head (which would be handy), and I may upgrade with the add-on adapter from Peak Design, but even the set-up out of the box is incredibly helpful for fast, single-person use. Very happy with this tripod!
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
This is my second travel tripod. Previously, I had the Sirui 1205x with the g20x ball head after a gentleman at B&H recommended it back in 2017, I though the tripod was great...at first. Being super lightweight, relatively small and compact and somewhat stable. (After upgrading to the Peak Design later, I have come to realize the Sirui really wasn't as stable as I thought.) I came to realize that the Sirui was not reliable and customer service was as far as I'm concerned non-existent. Eventually on the Sirui, one the legs came out because the clip inside broke and I was never able to get ahold of anyone at Sirui to fix it or get a replacement part. The panning on the Sirui no longer long runs smoothly, so I'm not too impressed with that either. After repeated tries ... MoreThis is my second travel tripod. Previously, I had the Sirui 1205x with the g20x ball head after a gentleman at B&H recommended it back in 2017, I though the tripod was great...at first. Being super lightweight, relatively small and compact and somewhat stable. (After upgrading to the Peak Design later, I have come to realize the Sirui really wasn't as stable as I thought.) I came to realize that the Sirui was not reliable and customer service was as far as I'm concerned non-existent. Eventually on the Sirui, one the legs came out because the clip inside broke and I was never able to get ahold of anyone at Sirui to fix it or get a replacement part. The panning on the Sirui no longer long runs smoothly, so I'm not too impressed with that either. After repeated tries and months later with no responses I decided to upgrade to the Peak Design.The Peak Design intrigued me. I don't know about the customer service, but it is super stiff compared to the Sirui. It folds up nice and compact with nothing sticking out so it doesn't tear up my bags when I repeatedly put it in and pull it out, making it easier and quicker to deploy too. Because of its compact size and easy of storage, I tend to carry it more than and the Sirui, meaning it gets a lot more use.The tripod head is not as traditional or full featured as the sirui, but it is easy enough to use for most travel photos such as landscapes, family, etc. I've even used it for my son's soccer practice and and it works well enough for quickly panning along with the action for video an stills. For work, I usually use an Arca Swiss c1 cube gear-head on my full size tripod, so its a big difference, but easy enough. I've read complaints about using in in portrait mode, but I use (and would recommend anyone shooting in portrait orientation especially with a light weight tripod with heavier equipment) an L bracket, so this is not an issue for me.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I have been blown away by the innovative architecture of my Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod. I had fully intended to buy another Manfrotto tripod instead. While I love my Manfrotto MT190XPro4 fitted with a Manfrotto Ball Head 322RC2 with Joy Stick Handle, it is a bit, long and heavy combination for traveling. I did some research and kept looking for a downside to the Peak Design Travel Tripods. The one obvious complaint is that they aren't cheap, but ultimately I went with the aluminum Travel Tripod instead of the carbon fiber unit. The aluminum model is only 10 oz. heavier than the carbon fiber model and is priced for $250 less. I figured that my 73 year old body could manage with the extra 10 ounces for the couple mile hikes that I usually face.When I ... MoreI have been blown away by the innovative architecture of my Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod. I had fully intended to buy another Manfrotto tripod instead. While I love my Manfrotto MT190XPro4 fitted with a Manfrotto Ball Head 322RC2 with Joy Stick Handle, it is a bit, long and heavy combination for traveling. I did some research and kept looking for a downside to the Peak Design Travel Tripods. The one obvious complaint is that they aren't cheap, but ultimately I went with the aluminum Travel Tripod instead of the carbon fiber unit. The aluminum model is only 10 oz. heavier than the carbon fiber model and is priced for $250 less. I figured that my 73 year old body could manage with the extra 10 ounces for the couple mile hikes that I usually face.When I received the Peak Design tripod I marveled at the thought that went into the creation of it. Personally, I like the flip-lock leg extension locks that are similar to my Manfrotto. The maximum working height of 60' is less than my Manfrotto, but that would be the case with all of the travel tripods that I considered. I had wondered about the Allen wrench used to secure the ball head and the prospect of losing it. But, I was delighted with the Allen wrench holder holder built into one of the legs. I was concerned about the light weight handling my arsenal of large, heavy Sigma lenses. My first test was using my Nikon D850 with the heaviest of my Sigma's the 4lb. 70-200mm f2.8 Sport on the Peak Design tripod. It handled this pairing with aplomb. The way they designed the ball head to retract into the legs for storage is brilliant. The ball head inself, while not the ergonomic wunderkind of my Manfrotto joystick, is quite stout and easy to use. AND, it accommodates the arca-type quick release plates. The hard shell case provided seems quite durable to store in a suitcase or inside of the van for trips, and given that it measures 15.5 packed versus the almost 28 of my Manfrotto makes the choice of which one I travel with an easy decision. Even my inexpensive SLIK tripod with a pan tilt head weighs 3 oz. more and is about 5 in. longer, and not nearly as stout or capable. If money is not a concern, or if you are mountaineering for days at a time, buy the carbon fiber unit. But, I could not more highly recommend the Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod.
| Head Type | Ball Head |
| Camera Mounting Screw | 1/4"-20 Male |
| Quick Release Plate Type | Arca-Type |
| Number of Bubble Levels | 1 |
| Friction Control | No |
Peak Design Travel Tripod, Carbon Fiber, Compact Design, Quick Setup and Takedown, Pro-Level Stability, Ergonomic Ball Head, Compact and Portable
Delivery $7.95
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Peak Design Travel Tripod, Carbon Fiber, Compact Design, Quick Setup and Takedown, Pro-Level Stability, Ergonomic Ball Head, Compact and Portable
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod, Boxed ABBAO18C01056
Peak Design TTCB5150CF1 Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Peak Design TTCB5150CF1 Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Tripods are traditionally bulky, heavy, and expensive. I've been using the same Manfrotto tripod for 12 years because it works well, never broke, and was therefore not a priority. Except one thing: it is heavy! It's so heavy that I will think twice before bringing it, and frequently not bring it at all if a shoot requires me to be nimble on my feet, is out in the field, or if I'm shooting alone. As a result, I've been a heavy monopod user for a long time. Enter the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod. This thing is a game changer. After hedging between the aluminum and the carbon fiber, I'm glad to say I went carbon fiber. This tripod fits in my backpack and is light as a (2.8lb) feather. It's so light and easy to set up, that I don't think twice about bringing a ... MoreTripods are traditionally bulky, heavy, and expensive. I've been using the same Manfrotto tripod for 12 years because it works well, never broke, and was therefore not a priority. Except one thing: it is heavy! It's so heavy that I will think twice before bringing it, and frequently not bring it at all if a shoot requires me to be nimble on my feet, is out in the field, or if I'm shooting alone. As a result, I've been a heavy monopod user for a long time. Enter the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod. This thing is a game changer. After hedging between the aluminum and the carbon fiber, I'm glad to say I went carbon fiber. This tripod fits in my backpack and is light as a (2.8lb) feather. It's so light and easy to set up, that I don't think twice about bringing a tripod anymore. Within the first week I bought it, I used it 4 times on shoots that I may have just brought a monopod to. All 4 times it came in incredibly handy and I was thrilled to have it with me. You know what you can't do with a monopod? Leave your camera standing at hand-height while you set up additional kit items, tend to audio, etc. It doesn't come with a video head (which would be handy), and I may upgrade with the add-on adapter from Peak Design, but even the set-up out of the box is incredibly helpful for fast, single-person use. Very happy with this tripod!
This is my second travel tripod. Previously, I had the Sirui 1205x with the g20x ball head after a gentleman at B&H recommended it back in 2017, I though the tripod was great...at first. Being super lightweight, relatively small and compact and somewhat stable. (After upgrading to the Peak Design later, I have come to realize the Sirui really wasn't as stable as I thought.) I came to realize that the Sirui was not reliable and customer service was as far as I'm concerned non-existent. Eventually on the Sirui, one the legs came out because the clip inside broke and I was never able to get ahold of anyone at Sirui to fix it or get a replacement part. The panning on the Sirui no longer long runs smoothly, so I'm not too impressed with that either. After repeated tries ... MoreThis is my second travel tripod. Previously, I had the Sirui 1205x with the g20x ball head after a gentleman at B&H recommended it back in 2017, I though the tripod was great...at first. Being super lightweight, relatively small and compact and somewhat stable. (After upgrading to the Peak Design later, I have come to realize the Sirui really wasn't as stable as I thought.) I came to realize that the Sirui was not reliable and customer service was as far as I'm concerned non-existent. Eventually on the Sirui, one the legs came out because the clip inside broke and I was never able to get ahold of anyone at Sirui to fix it or get a replacement part. The panning on the Sirui no longer long runs smoothly, so I'm not too impressed with that either. After repeated tries and months later with no responses I decided to upgrade to the Peak Design.The Peak Design intrigued me. I don't know about the customer service, but it is super stiff compared to the Sirui. It folds up nice and compact with nothing sticking out so it doesn't tear up my bags when I repeatedly put it in and pull it out, making it easier and quicker to deploy too. Because of its compact size and easy of storage, I tend to carry it more than and the Sirui, meaning it gets a lot more use.The tripod head is not as traditional or full featured as the sirui, but it is easy enough to use for most travel photos such as landscapes, family, etc. I've even used it for my son's soccer practice and and it works well enough for quickly panning along with the action for video an stills. For work, I usually use an Arca Swiss c1 cube gear-head on my full size tripod, so its a big difference, but easy enough. I've read complaints about using in in portrait mode, but I use (and would recommend anyone shooting in portrait orientation especially with a light weight tripod with heavier equipment) an L bracket, so this is not an issue for me.
I have been blown away by the innovative architecture of my Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod. I had fully intended to buy another Manfrotto tripod instead. While I love my Manfrotto MT190XPro4 fitted with a Manfrotto Ball Head 322RC2 with Joy Stick Handle, it is a bit, long and heavy combination for traveling. I did some research and kept looking for a downside to the Peak Design Travel Tripods. The one obvious complaint is that they aren't cheap, but ultimately I went with the aluminum Travel Tripod instead of the carbon fiber unit. The aluminum model is only 10 oz. heavier than the carbon fiber model and is priced for $250 less. I figured that my 73 year old body could manage with the extra 10 ounces for the couple mile hikes that I usually face.When I ... MoreI have been blown away by the innovative architecture of my Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod. I had fully intended to buy another Manfrotto tripod instead. While I love my Manfrotto MT190XPro4 fitted with a Manfrotto Ball Head 322RC2 with Joy Stick Handle, it is a bit, long and heavy combination for traveling. I did some research and kept looking for a downside to the Peak Design Travel Tripods. The one obvious complaint is that they aren't cheap, but ultimately I went with the aluminum Travel Tripod instead of the carbon fiber unit. The aluminum model is only 10 oz. heavier than the carbon fiber model and is priced for $250 less. I figured that my 73 year old body could manage with the extra 10 ounces for the couple mile hikes that I usually face.When I received the Peak Design tripod I marveled at the thought that went into the creation of it. Personally, I like the flip-lock leg extension locks that are similar to my Manfrotto. The maximum working height of 60' is less than my Manfrotto, but that would be the case with all of the travel tripods that I considered. I had wondered about the Allen wrench used to secure the ball head and the prospect of losing it. But, I was delighted with the Allen wrench holder holder built into one of the legs. I was concerned about the light weight handling my arsenal of large, heavy Sigma lenses. My first test was using my Nikon D850 with the heaviest of my Sigma's the 4lb. 70-200mm f2.8 Sport on the Peak Design tripod. It handled this pairing with aplomb. The way they designed the ball head to retract into the legs for storage is brilliant. The ball head inself, while not the ergonomic wunderkind of my Manfrotto joystick, is quite stout and easy to use. AND, it accommodates the arca-type quick release plates. The hard shell case provided seems quite durable to store in a suitcase or inside of the van for trips, and given that it measures 15.5 packed versus the almost 28 of my Manfrotto makes the choice of which one I travel with an easy decision. Even my inexpensive SLIK tripod with a pan tilt head weighs 3 oz. more and is about 5 in. longer, and not nearly as stout or capable. If money is not a concern, or if you are mountaineering for days at a time, buy the carbon fiber unit. But, I could not more highly recommend the Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod.
This tripod will make you smile. SO easy to use. I bought the aluminum, and it's a bit heavy, but not enough to justify the extra cost for the carbon fiber, which is only a half-pound or so lighter. Funny thing is, when you get it out of the case and open, it seems super light. As for the case, I almost took off a star, as it's almost impossible to get it back in. If you don't have strong hands, forget it. Too bad, as the tripod itself is stellar. C'mon, Peak Design, you can do better. How can you design the best tripod ever and yet blow the case so badly, when the case is so simple? In any case (ha), don't let it deter you from buying the tripod, as it's a real gem. Best one I've ever owned, and I've been doing photography for many years (pro).
The overall design is well thought out. I used this in the field on several long weekend trips for stacked and panorama shots, and general landscape photography. The legs are easy to both extend and collapse with the lever locks (my previous travel tripod had screw-type locks which sometimes came lose and overall made the legs cumbersome to extend and collapse). My Nikon full framecamera with a 28-70mm lens and RRS L-plate feels secure on the tripod with the quick release locking system. I haven't used the tripod in windy conditions. I did read that certain RRS plates with one closed dovetail require special orientation when securing to the tripod. Also, there is a small Allen wrench and Phillips head screwdriver, which clamps vis a small plastic holder to one ... MoreThe overall design is well thought out. I used this in the field on several long weekend trips for stacked and panorama shots, and general landscape photography. The legs are easy to both extend and collapse with the lever locks (my previous travel tripod had screw-type locks which sometimes came lose and overall made the legs cumbersome to extend and collapse). My Nikon full framecamera with a 28-70mm lens and RRS L-plate feels secure on the tripod with the quick release locking system. I haven't used the tripod in windy conditions. I did read that certain RRS plates with one closed dovetail require special orientation when securing to the tripod. Also, there is a small Allen wrench and Phillips head screwdriver, which clamps vis a small plastic holder to one leg. I took this off and put in my camera bag because I was losing the tools as I flipped the tripod upside down while collapsing the legs. Again, I am very pleased with this compact travel tripod and look forward to taking it on international vacations.
I am a hobby photographer who has been looking to transition into doing serious creative work. I've been struggling with my larger, cheaper tripod for the past year. While it mostly got the job done, it was becoming far too unwieldy; as a result, I have been discouraged from taking it out with me on my photo jaunts. This tripod though?It's amazing how compact this thing is. It slides perfectly into my side pouch, and doesn't hamper my ability to go through MTA turnstiles or navigate crowded streets. It's also INCREDIBLY sturdy -- it genuinely takes some effort to open the legs, which I just love. It's loaded with clever features such as a phone mount that hides in the center column, and an emergency two-size hex wrench that fits snugly into a holster mounted on ... MoreI am a hobby photographer who has been looking to transition into doing serious creative work. I've been struggling with my larger, cheaper tripod for the past year. While it mostly got the job done, it was becoming far too unwieldy; as a result, I have been discouraged from taking it out with me on my photo jaunts. This tripod though?It's amazing how compact this thing is. It slides perfectly into my side pouch, and doesn't hamper my ability to go through MTA turnstiles or navigate crowded streets. It's also INCREDIBLY sturdy -- it genuinely takes some effort to open the legs, which I just love. It's loaded with clever features such as a phone mount that hides in the center column, and an emergency two-size hex wrench that fits snugly into a holster mounted on one of the legs.This thing rules. Best of all, it fits my needs exactly and will allow me to take my photography to the next level.
Right out of the box you can tell this is a solid tripod. The materials are great and it's very easy to stick into my bag.But I do have two issues:1) The top head, above the slider adjustment, has protruding grooves making it difficult to get the camera into a completely 90 degree, vertical orientation. I've had to loosen the plate on my camera, turn that, then tighten to get the camera to face straight out in vertical orientation. This is very annoying.2) The very bottom section of one leg is already loose after one use. When tightened with the lever, as soon as I stand the tripod on the ground it starts sagging in one direction because that leg is sliding down, even though it's tightened. This happened literally 20 seconds after putting framing a shot for ... MoreRight out of the box you can tell this is a solid tripod. The materials are great and it's very easy to stick into my bag.But I do have two issues:1) The top head, above the slider adjustment, has protruding grooves making it difficult to get the camera into a completely 90 degree, vertical orientation. I've had to loosen the plate on my camera, turn that, then tighten to get the camera to face straight out in vertical orientation. This is very annoying.2) The very bottom section of one leg is already loose after one use. When tightened with the lever, as soon as I stand the tripod on the ground it starts sagging in one direction because that leg is sliding down, even though it's tightened. This happened literally 20 seconds after putting framing a shot for the first time. For a $400 tripod, this is unacceptable.
I received my new Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod fifteen minutes ago and all I can say is, WOW!!! Where has this tripod been all my life!? I'm so stunned by the size, design, workmanship, stability, and ease of use, that I just couldn't wait to write a review to rave about it!P.S. Sorry for the blurry and/or poorly exposed photos, they were taken with my cellular telephone and somewhat hastily.First of all, it's TINY!!! I have two other tripods that don't go to the height this one does and don't have the stability that this one does and don't function nearly as intuitively as this one does, and I've actually SUFFERED with them for decades! I had no idea that a tripod could be this well designed and at the same time, be this TINY!I know there are some big ... MoreI received my new Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod fifteen minutes ago and all I can say is, WOW!!! Where has this tripod been all my life!? I'm so stunned by the size, design, workmanship, stability, and ease of use, that I just couldn't wait to write a review to rave about it!P.S. Sorry for the blurry and/or poorly exposed photos, they were taken with my cellular telephone and somewhat hastily.First of all, it's TINY!!! I have two other tripods that don't go to the height this one does and don't have the stability that this one does and don't function nearly as intuitively as this one does, and I've actually SUFFERED with them for decades! I had no idea that a tripod could be this well designed and at the same time, be this TINY!I know there are some big names out there in the tripod world and there are other tripods that might provide better stability, but not much. This will more than serve my needs probably for the rest of my life. I'm in love with it.My primary bodies are the Nikon D5 and D850 and soon to be Z9. I mount anything from 50mm f1.8 prime to a 200-500mm zoom. I can tell already that this tripod will be very adequate for all of that. I did mount my D5 with 70-200 zoom, and it was rock-solid. Did I mention that when it's folded up this tripod is TINY!? When I first received it and saw the box that it was in, my initial reaction was, I might have screwed up, there's no way that's going to be large enough to provide any stability for my equipment. I was wrong. The more I opened it up and fiddled with it, the more stunned I became! It took me about five minutes to figure out how the ball head worked and that was the hardest part of the whole thing. By the way, the ball head is exquisite. It's so intuitive to use and the design is elegant.The only thing that justifies this being called a travel tripod is its tiny size. Don't let that label dissuade you from buying one; it's every bit as stable as a regular tripod, despite its size. The only thing I could find about the tripod that could have been done a LITTLE better was the tool mount for the hex wrench set. The tool slides into a little spot under one of the legs, and that's great, but it does fall out pretty easily. I'll fix that by tying a string to the tool and tying the other end to the tripod and it will be fine. Just don't lose it, because it's a perfect tool for mounting the shoe to your camera and making adjustments to the tripod on the fly. By the way - this tripod's legs fold up tightly against each other so you can easily use it as a monopod if you want. I never knew a tripod could be this good. I'm so pleased with the purchase. Time will tell how it holds up and serves my needs. If I have ANY problems in the future as I put it through its paces, I'll post updates here. Otherwise, assume it's the bomb.
Pros: Very compact, very well engineered, very sturdy for its size. Adjustment tools and accessories included, also very nice soft case. The ball head and the Quick Release shoe work really well.Cons: The ball head doesn't move until you extend the centre column a little, and if you rotate it to take portrait photos, the range of movement becomes quite limited - Up/Down about 50 degrees each way. You can get around it by repositioning the camera in the QR shoe but it's a nuisance. Quite expensive, although much cheaper than the slightly lighter Carbon Fibre version. Surprisingly heavy in the hand - you expect something this small to be lightweight, but it's a similar weight to other compact tripods although those are much more bulky.
ok, its not going to replace my main tripod for everything i do, but out in the field, i often don't want to take and carry that large heavy tripod. so the first thing to say, is this is small and compact, so it fits comfortable in my pack, or in my hand, and having a tripod, good or bad, is better than not having a tripod. something to note, is that i did NOT say light. its surprisingly dense, which is a good and bad thing. its not nearly as heavy as my main tripod with either a ballhead or a gimble head, but its solid and dense, and feels like it is as heavy when you handle it for the first time. it's like an optical illusion, only involving weight. the second thing to say is that its remarkably solid. i read a review elsewhere that noted that half the instability ... Moreok, its not going to replace my main tripod for everything i do, but out in the field, i often don't want to take and carry that large heavy tripod. so the first thing to say, is this is small and compact, so it fits comfortable in my pack, or in my hand, and having a tripod, good or bad, is better than not having a tripod. something to note, is that i did NOT say light. its surprisingly dense, which is a good and bad thing. its not nearly as heavy as my main tripod with either a ballhead or a gimble head, but its solid and dense, and feels like it is as heavy when you handle it for the first time. it's like an optical illusion, only involving weight. the second thing to say is that its remarkably solid. i read a review elsewhere that noted that half the instability of tripods with center columns, comes from the column, and the other half from the bottom 90% of the tripod. i tested that, and its true that after tapping my camera with a long lens on it, with and without the column up, it seems to take 2x as long to settle with it up, which is consistent with that other review. stated another way, use this with the column down, and its 2x as stable and net net, its a pretty stable tripod. remarkably so. add the doo-dads (like the phone mount and the arca-swiss compatible mount, and this really fits my needs for a versatile, fast, lightweight and compact design. i've often told people that i suspected that using a large heavy solid tripod with an equally heavy gimbal head for bird photography (my main passion), isn't really necessary. all you need (if you're old like me) is something to take the weight off your arms. the tripod doesn't stabilize the long lens, your arms do, so it doesn't matter if the legs are less stiff than a Gitzo 35xx series carbon fiber rig. its better than a monopod, as you're not prone to changing the distance to the subject too. the question might arise, 'but can it handle the heavy weight? its rated for 20 lbs, and i have no doubt about how it handles my 600, f/4 when its in my hands and i'm using it. with respect to it tipping, breaking, or having the built-in ballhead let the camera flop over, i do have some doubts. that said, i'm not leaving it unattended on a windy cliff, but i'm not doing that with a heavy tripod either, and if a leg ever slips, i'll tighten the offending leg lock with the handy tool that is clipped to one of the legs. i wouldn't leave my camera with even a small lens on a heavy tripod unattended under those conditions. i would recommend not locking the ballhead in a position where a large heavy long lens can flop over. i could see that breaking something, possibly the camera/lens. don't do that. for landscapes, i typically use my timer or a remote trigger, so again, this little tripod meets my needs, and is much easier to tote on a hike. yet to be tested is using it for astro. for that, i suspect (TBD) that you may have to use it with most of the lower leg sections not extended. so big lens or small, this little gem works for me, and its just a marvelously crafted and ingeniously engineered pleasure to behold!on the con side, it will require (not much of a choice) using the timer or a remote trigger on even a windless day for landscapes and whatnot, and will require weight (on the convenient hook under the head) and lowering the column for landscapes in a slight breeze. in windy conditions, you might need to collapse the lower legs and shoot from a lower position, no matter what other tricks you have in your bag. i also don't like the process to disassemble the legs. I often shoot at the beach, or in water, so i expect to get dirt and sand in the joints. from the video they provide online, that looks like its going to be more of a challenge than i want, even for this old retired engineer. perhaps most importantly for some, but not for me, is that this will NOT work for video, as far as i can tell, for anyone, unless you're sitting in your studio filming a vlog. I don't shoot video, so maybe it will be useful to some creative videographers out there?? finally, while it does get nice and close to the ground, i found that the splayed leg angle was a bit too wide. when i shoot at the beach (see shot attached), i typically leave all the legs collapsed, except for the lowest section, which i leave out a little, so sand does not get in the joints. with the legs splayed and the lowest leg extended about halfway, the legs sink into the sand enough to dip the joints into the sand, unless you're watching it all the time and re-positioning the tripod. i guess i'm going to have to watch that, or i'm going to have to take things apart more often (grrr).all of that said, i've only had it a couple of weeks, so those are my initial test results and conclusions. ask me more in a couple of years.shot attached was shot with the tripod low to the ground. it does get pretty low! i think next time, i'll try lowering the rig to the side of the ballhead and see how low can i go. then i can let the lowest leg sections out further, and that might obviate my complaint about the splayed leg angle resulting in sand in the joints.
| Head Type | Ball Head |
| Camera Mounting Screw | 1/4"-20 Male |
| Quick Release Plate Type | Arca-Type |
| Number of Bubble Levels | 1 |
| Friction Control | No |
