As knowledgeable journey photographer, I’ve used lots of journey tripods over time, together with fashions from Manfrotto and Vanguard.
Right now, I’m going to be reviewing Peak Design’s journey tripod, which I’ve been utilizing within the subject for the previous a number of months to see the way it compares to different journey tripods.
I’ve really been a fan of Peak Design’s merchandise for a very long time. They make a variety of images equipment, and I notably like their carry strap system which I’ve been utilizing for years on my cameras. In addition they have a variety of in style luggage.
My expertise so far with their merchandise has been very constructive, they’re effectively made and backed by a wonderful guarantee and help program. Let’s see if that high quality has prolonged to their journey tripod. I’ll share my ideas on utilizing one among their journey tripods for the primary time.
Peak Design Journey Tripod Assessment
Peak Design launched their journey tripod (through Kickstarter) in 2019, with basic availability coming in 2020. This was their first and is at the moment solely tripod.
It’s now been available on the market for a while, and I believed it was about time I gave it a great check and evaluation. Let’s begin with the specs.
Peak Design Journey Tripod Specs
There are two variants of the Peak Design journey tripod available on the market in the intervening time, an aluminum mannequin and a carbon fiber mannequin.
The one distinction between the 2 is the fabric in use, which impacts the load (and value!). All the opposite specs are the identical. Right here’s a fast overview of the principle specs.
Load capability – 20lbs (9.1kg)
Max peak heart column raised – 60″ (152.2cm)
Max peak heart column down – 51.25″ (130.2cm)
Weight aluminum mannequin 3.44lbs (1.56kg)
Weight carbon fiber mannequin 2.81lbs (1.29kg)
Packed peak: 15.4″ (39.1cm)
Packed diameter 3.125″ (39.1cm)
The retail value of the aluminum mannequin is $379.95, and the carbon fiber mannequin is $599.95. You evaluate the most recent costs and purchase it direct from Peak Design right here, on Amazon right here, and from B&H Photograph right here.
This tripod definitely matches what we search for in a journey tripod, which is a mix of portability and a great load capability.
In addition to the uncooked numbers, there are just a few further options of the Peak Design journey tripod I needed to spotlight.
First, the tripod is designed from the bottom as much as be tremendous transportable. The principle approach that is achieved is with the pinnacle design, which may be very compact. The ball head principally matches flush into the tripod when packed away and takes up barely any house.
The flip locks, triangular leg design, and small heart column additionally all contribute to permitting this tripod to fold down actually small.
I’ve used lots of journey tripods over time, and this one is certainly among the finest designs I’ve used by way of the way it packs away to take up a minimal quantity of house.
The ball head can be fairly sensible. There’s an built-in bubble degree to make sure your digital camera is flat, and the flip lock design makes attaching and eradicating your digital camera very straightforward. You may also lock your digital camera into place with the flip of a toggle, which provides nice peace of thoughts.
One other neat characteristic is the combination of a telephone head mount. This lives inside the middle column, and has a quick-release mechanism for straightforward set up.
It then attaches on to the tripod mounting plate and permits you to use your tripod along with your smartphone. This could work with just about any smartphone available on the market right this moment.
It’s a pleasant worth add and can be effectively designed and durable.
One last item I needed to spotlight is the carrying case. That is usually an afterthought with tripods, when you even get one in any respect.
Nicely, Peak Design is understood for his or her luggage and their tripod case is beautiful. It appears to be like nice, the tripod matches inside securely, and it’s each padded and weatherproof. It’s lacking a strap, however there are add-ons to make it appropriate with the Peak Design carry system.
Okay, so these are the principle options. What is that this tripod like to really use in the true world? Let’s discover out.
Peak Design Journey Tripod – Ideas on Actual World Use
I desire to do a evaluation based mostly on actual world expertise, so I traveled with the Peak Design journey tripod as my primary tripod for a number of months to see the way it carried out within the subject.
As it is a journey tripod, I count on it to be one thing I can carry with me when mountain climbing, so I took it with me on quite a lot of hikes up numerous Welsh mountains in addition to different barely much less strenuous strolls. It has additionally been on extra leisurely journeys within the UK, France, and the USA.
Once I’m testing a journey tripod, there are some things I’m desirous about. First, it needs to be light-weight, as a result of nobody desires to hold greater than they should.
This tripod positively meets that requirement, even the aluminum model is gentle sufficient that I don’t should assume twice about including it to my gear for a visit.
The subsequent factor I search for is how straightforward the tripod is to arrange and put away. Once I’m mountain climbing, I don’t need to have to spend so much of time placing a tripod up and down each time I see a chance for a shot.
The Peak Design journey tripod positively works in that regard as effectively. I’m usually not a giant fan of flip-lock legs as they’ll catch on my digital camera bag when establishing and placing away.
Nevertheless, on this case they’re effectively designed in order that doesn’t occur, and so they make arrange and put down a breeze.
The best way the digital camera attaches to the pinnacle additionally works effectively. That is one thing that different tripods don’t at all times do as effectively at, particularly when utilizing the Peak Design carry system which has the carry strap connected to the tripod plate.
The Peak Design carry strap hooks on the digital camera base plate can typically get in the best way of straightforward attachment to the tripod head. Clearly, this being a Peak Design tripod, that challenge has been thought by way of, and the digital camera simply attaches to the tripod head even with the strap nonetheless connected.
There’s additionally a helpful locking mechanism on the tripod head that makes it straightforward to make sure the digital camera is correctly connected to the tripod head.
In fact, any tripod is just price its salt if it really gives a steady platform for capturing from.
I’ve used it with a full-frame mirrorless digital camera paired with a heavy 100-400mm lens, and it carried out very effectively. I additionally used it with my extra regular panorama wide-angle lens, and even with the smartphone adaptor.
Throughout, this tripod carried out very effectively and let me get the pictures I needed, even the lengthy publicity pictures the place the tiniest motion can smash every thing.
The ultimate factor I want in a journey tripod, or any tripod for that matter, is ease of operation.
Now this one was a little bit of a studying curve for me. The design of the Peak Design tripod head is that it slots down into the legs. Nevertheless, it’s important to partially lengthen the central column (round an inch), to get full motion.
Earlier than I acquired used to the tripod, I might attempt to transfer the pinnacle to the place I needed, however not have the ability to as a result of the pinnacle solely has full freedom of motion as soon as the central column has been partially prolonged.
Extending the central column isn’t exhausting, however it’s an extra step to recollect to do.
As soon as the pinnacle is prolonged, adjusting the pinnacle is simple. It’s a ball-style design, and to regulate the angle of the pinnacle you loosen the management ring, transfer the tripod head to the angle you need, after which tighten the management ring.
That is all very straightforward and intuitive when you get used to it. That is actually necessary, particularly when you plan on doing any astrophotography or Northern Lights images, as you would possibly must function the tripod in very darkish circumstances the place you’re working by really feel.
So that’s lots of constructive issues. Are there are points I encountered? Nicely, sure.
The principle draw back I found, which is the principle unfavourable of this tripod, is a scarcity of separate pan and tilt controls.
If you loosen the management ring to regulate the pinnacle, you possibly can transfer the digital camera up, down, left, and proper. Nevertheless, you possibly can’t pan or tilt individually.
So, for instance, in case you have your shot framed nearly completely, however need to shift the view just a few levels to the left, it’s important to watch out to not tilt the digital camera up or down on the similar time.
This additionally makes duties like capturing panoramas much more difficult. Many tripod heads, together with many ball heads, supply separate pan and tilt controls, so you possibly can pan independently of the lean management.
Now, actually, whether or not or not it is a massive deal will rely quite a bit on the photographs you prefer to take. Should you take lots of panoramas, then it will possible be a much bigger challenge.
The excellent news is that the management ring additionally controls the friction, that means you possibly can loosen it solely somewhat after which simply watch out as you progress the digital camera, with friction in your facet to stop undesirable actions on the mistaken axis.
Nevertheless, with a heavy digital camera setup it may be difficult to solely transfer in a single route.
The opposite factor to remember is that over time the flip locks on the tripod leg sections can turn into free, that means that the legs don’t keep prolonged. That is simply an total challenge with all flip lock legs on tripods I’ve used.
This will occur with any tripod, however Peak Design have thought forward and included each a instrument to regulate the leg flip lock tightness, in addition to a helpful clip which lets you connect the adjustment instrument to a tripod leg.
You simply need to bear in mind to carry this with you while you journey, in case a leg wants tightening up while you’re within the subject.
Lastly, while the addition of the bubble degree is appreciated, the sunshine coloration and approach it’s positioned signifies that my digital camera covers most of it up, making it tough to see and never very helpful as soon as my digital camera is about up.
Actually, most cameras and smartphones nowadays have a built-in degree characteristic anyway, so I hardly ever use the bubble degree on a tripod, however I needed to say it in case it was necessary to you.
Total, I positively loved utilizing this tripod within the subject, and it has earned a spot in my images bag for certain.
Peak Design Journey Tripod Professionals and Cons
Having lined my expertise utilizing the Peak Design journey tripod within the subject I needed to share a fast rundown of what I felt to be the principle professionals and cons of this tripod from a journey images perspective.
Professionals
Light-weight, even the aluminum model
Folds down very small
Works effectively with the Peak Design clip system
Very nice tripod bag
Can convert to tabletop tripod
Constructed-in smartphone holder
Lifetime guarantee
Cons
Costly, particularly for carbon fiber mannequin
No straightforward panning management
Some constraint on portrait orientation shot
Total,l I positively assume it’s a great journey tripod. The principle draw back is the price is fairly excessive, particularly in case you are contemplating the carbon fiber mannequin, which prices much more however solely gives a modest lower in weight.
I believe most individuals could be proud of the aluminum mannequin because the options are the identical.
Peak Design Journey Tripod Alternate options
If you begin researching tripods, you will shortly be taught that there are an important many tripods available on the market, and actually, it may be exhausting to inform them aside.
The principle choices will come right down to how a lot you need to spend and the way necessary specs like most load capability, most peak, minimal peak, folded peak and many others. are to you.
Most tripods mess around with these specs, so you need to have the ability to discover the right tripod for you. I needed to spotlight just a few choices to contemplate, and you’ll see extra choices in our information to the very best journey tripods.
Gitzo Traveler Sequence
Any comparability of tripods, particularly high-end tripods, goes to incorporate point out of Gitzo. These are usually considered among the greatest tripods available on the market, though they have an inclination to return with a reasonably eye-watering price ticket.
Nonetheless, the Peak Design carbon fiber tripod isn’t precisely a finances mannequin, so I really feel it’s truthful to match it towards a tripod of this caliber.
There are fairly just a few tripods within the Gitzo Traveler sequence. I’d say essentially the most comparable mannequin could be the Gitzo Traveler, sequence 1, 5 part tripod.
This carbon fiber tripod has a most peak of 58.46″, a folded dimension of 13.98″, a weight of three.13lbs and a max load capability of 22lbs. It has a retail value of $719.99.
So in comparison with the Peak Design carbon fiber mannequin, the Gitzo has a barely smaller folded peak, weighs barely extra, and has a barely decrease most peak.
Vanguard VEO 3 GO 235CB or 265HCB
A fast observe, I’m a Vanguard Ambassador and have been since 2014, and I’ve used lots of their gear over time, lots of which I’ve additionally reviewed.
I believe their merchandise supply quite a bit, and I’ve been very proud of their gear in use around the globe.
The 2 primary tripods I believe they at the moment produce which you would possibly think about as a substitute of the Peak Design Journey Tripod could be from the Vanguard VEO 3 Go vary, and particularly the 235CB or 265HCB fashions.
These are each carbon fiber tripods, however with a retail value round half that of the carbon fiber Peak Design Journey Tripod mannequin.
The 235CB is the smaller tripod, with a most dimension of 53.5″, a folded dimension of 13″, a weight of two.3lbs, and a max load capability of 8.8lbs. It has a retail value of $269.99.
The carbon fiber variant of the Peak Design tripod has a a lot larger load ranking and the next most peak, but in addition weighs extra and doesn’t fold up as small. It’s additionally greater than twice as costly. One to contemplate in case you have a smaller setup that gained’t problem the utmost load ranking.
The 265HCB is the taller tripod, with a most dimension of 65.5″, a folded dimension of 16.1″, a weight of three.1lbs and a max load capability of 22lbs. It has a retail value of $339.99.
The carbon fiber variant of the Peak Design tripod has an analogous load ranking and a decrease most peak, however weighs much less and folds up a bit smaller. It’s almost twice as costly.
Each Vanguard tripods additionally convert to monopods and include a smartphone adaptor and Bluetooth distant shutter set off. They’re additionally obtainable in aluminum, at a lower cost level and the next weight.
The aluminum VEO 3 Go 235AB retails for $219.99, and the aluminum VEO 3 Go 265HAB retails for $269.99. Typically the simplest approach to save cash on a journey tripod is to decide on an aluminum mannequin over a carbon fiber one.
Should you’re on this product, or any of the opposite Vanguard merchandise, it can save you cash utilizing our unique Vanguard low cost code. This offers you 20% off every thing within the Vanguard retailer.
Simply use the code FindingTheUniverse in your low cost! This Vanguard low cost code works within the Vanguard USA, UK, Australia, Spain, and Germany shops.
Must you Purchase the Peak Design Journey Tripod?
Actually, solely you possibly can reply this query! Nevertheless, having used it for quite a lot of months I can positively say that it’s a well-made tripod. It really works very effectively and has sufficient intelligent design options to make it stand out in a really crowded market.
If you add up all of the little further issues like the good bag, smartphone holder, and compatibility with different Peak Design merchandise, it finally ends up as a extremely well-rounded product.
In fact, there are a lot of different tripods available on the market at different value factors, however I don’t assume you can be disillusioned when you resolve to go for it.
You should buy it direct from Peak Design right here, on Amazon right here, and from B&H Photograph right here.
Additional Studying
That’s it for my evaluation of the Peak Design journey tripod – I hope you discovered it useful. Earlier than you go, I needed to share a few of our different content material which we expect you will see helpful.
Our evaluation of the Vanguard VEO 2 265CB tripod after three years of standard use.
A evaluation of the Vanguard VEO 2Go 265HCBM, the VEO 3+ 263AB and the VEO 3T+ 264CB.
We’ve a information to why you want a tripod, a information to selecting a journey tripod, and a round-up of our favorite journey tripods
We’ve a information to find out how to use a compact digital camera, find out how to use a DSLR digital camera, and find out how to use a mirrorless digital camera. We even have a information to how a DSLR works
Figuring out find out how to compose an important picture is a key images ability. See our information to composition in images for many recommendations on this topic
We’ve a information to what depth of subject is and while you would need to use it.
We’re massive followers of getting essentially the most out of your digital picture information, and do to that you will want to shoot in RAW. See our information to RAW in images to grasp what RAW is, and why you need to change to RAW as quickly as you possibly can in case your digital camera helps it.
You’re going to wish one thing to run your picture enhancing software program on. See our information to the very best laptops for picture enhancing for some recommendations on what to search for.
Should you’re on the lookout for extra recommendation on particular suggestions for various situations, we additionally have you ever lined. See our information to Northern Lights images, lengthy publicity images, fireworks images, suggestions for taking photographs of stars, and chilly climate images.
Should you’re on the lookout for an important present for a images loving buddy or member of the family (or your self!), check out our images present information,
Should you’re available in the market for a brand new digital camera, now we have an in depth information to the greatest journey cameras, in addition to particular guides for the greatest cameras for mountain climbing and backpacking, the greatest compact digital camera, greatest mirrorless digital camera and greatest DSLR digital camera. We even have a information to the greatest digital camera lenses.
If you would like a digital camera or lens, however the costs are a bit excessive, see our information to the place to purchase used cameras and digital camera gear for some finances financial savings choices.
Trying to Enhance Your Pictures?
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Since launching the course in 2016, I’ve already helped over 2,000 college students discover ways to take higher photographs. The course covers just about every thing it’s essential know, from the fundamentals of how a digital camera works, by way of to composition, gentle, and picture enhancing.
It additionally covers extra superior subjects, together with astrophotography, lengthy publicity images, flash images, and HDR images.
You get suggestions from me as you progress, entry to webinars, interviews and movies, in addition to unique membership of a Fb group the place you may get suggestions in your work and participate in common challenges.
It’s obtainable for a tremendous one-off value for lifetime entry, and I believe you need to test it out. Which you are able to do by clicking right here.
Notice: We have been despatched this product without cost to see how we appreciated it. I selected to jot down this evaluation based mostly alone private opinion of the tripod after utilizing it for some time. All opinions are our personal.