I like my Peak Design travel tripod. It's light and easy to setup, it's by no means perfect but it's great for traveling and I can get setup to take shot fairly quickly.
Plenty of tripods have that same no column / removable center plate setup. Induro Grand series, Benro Combination series, Gitzo Systematic. All of these also have (like most tripods) set-screws beneath the head flange so you don't come unscrewed from panning left with some drag set. All have spare center plates available, making swapping heads easy. Benro, Induro, and probably Gitzo have leveling plates that can mount in place of the center plate (pretty handy if you need to pan horizontally to the horizon (video and panoramics).
Mark, I have no problem with you sharing your experience with a tripod you were gifted - it's your channel and your opinions. As an enthusiastic amateur, that price tag is beyond me, but so is a medium format DSLR, but it doesn't stop me watching UA-cam videos about them. Keep it real Mark and I for one thank you for sharing.
$1300 for a tripod is insanity! I've been using a SLIK AMT tripod that cost me $100, with a $400 Acratech ball head for over 10 years and it has worked so well for me that I bought a second set up for my second camera.
Come on man...lol...I see you coming. No way I'm spending that kind of money on a tripod; I'd buy a new body or lens. That thing costs more than your X-T3, etc. lol. I've been using the same $250 tripod I got from B&H ten years ago and it has worked perfectly.
Way too expensive. This costs more than the average guys camera. Take a look at a British one called 3 Legged thing. I just bought one and they are very well made and probably the best I have bought.
First off, CONGRATS on being entered into the club of some awesome photographers Mark, well deserved mate 👍 I much appreciate your review on your new tripod, I can see why you chose that particular one. Instead of people complaining about the price they should be thanking you for your time and effort that you put into sharing all your videos. I for one appreciate you and your efforts for sharing your knowledge on photography, they have helped me A LOT......
Looks like a nice tripod, I would probably have used it too if I got one for free. However, at that price level, I would probably go for a Gitzo with the same or better feature set. Not that it necessarily is better, but it will be easier to get spare parts if needed if you go with a more well-known brand.
Hi Mark, When it comes to stability concern. The more heavier tripod is , the more stability will be, right? The one you review is about 3kg i think. Which is a bit heavy for hiking. (Provided that they made from the same carbon fiber , same maker ) Cheers
I just purchased the Innorel RT90C tripod which is 40mm, 10 layer carbon fiber, has a 75mm bowl, bowl adapter & leveling head, reaches about 68 inches tall with additional flat mount head & spikes for about $330 on Amazon. This tripod is a beast which can hold 44lbs.
I just got the RT90C a few days ago. Use a benro GD3WH geared head still trying to frigure out how to use my geared head instead of my old ball head. Do love the precision of that geared head.
I've had my RT90C for over a year, used extensively in and around salt water all year round, it's still like new, barring a few scratches on the twist locks. I wipe mine down when I finish for the day & give it a bath if its been in salt water. This is the most under rated tripod money can buy, I also have their massive 55mm ball head and it is solid too! All in total, the tripod and ball head cost me $500 Canadian, it will compete with the best of them...IMHO :) I also use mine to sight in my 30-06 rifle, and it doesn't flinch.
@@domscape970 Enjoy your new gear. think gear heads are excellent for really close up macro where super small adjustments are required. I went with a Manfroto video head. Works great eith long lens for wild life also. Enjoy.
@@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism I also bought an AS80C from Amazon. Very happy so far except the free bowl adapter is crap and I couldn't find a decent one anywhere but from Chine. But I eventually got it from China. The one that came with keeps unthreading as it has no set screws, which are a must with a fluid head or even my old ball head.
@@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism It really needed 3 set screws like most of them have to screw up into the base of the head. I didn't want to glue it. The base of the Manfrotto fluid heads are not totally flat and do not even grip that bit of rubbery surface that was on my bowl adapter. Also my old Manfrotto ball head started to unscrew fairly soon when using it on there too. I just ordered a replacement bowl adapter that did have the set screws and that fixed the problem. A pain tho as Vovid slowed down my access to one by months.
My current tripod is a carbon fiber Siri N2204X. It is a great tripod with rubber feet that has screw out metal spikes. The very compact and light weight but reasonable sturdy (I've successfully used it with a gimbal and Canon 7D 2 with 150-600mm Sigma lens. It would probably get a little shaky in windy conditions, so I would like to have a sturdier set, like the one in this video. Also, the Siruri has a center post that adds height, but also adds instability. I usually use it without the center extended at all.
Hi. I recently came acrossed your tripod review. When I shoot wildlife, I use a sigma 150-600 lens. I'm looking for a tripod and head combination that won't slowly start to drift down as I'm shooting with my lens pointing up in the air, such as shooting up into trees. I was wondering how this combination works for you, and if you have any problems with this using longer lenses? Thank you for any feedback you can give me. Keep up the great work with your videos. I very much enjoy them.
Looks good, but one of my motivations for going with a smaller and lighter mirror less system, was that it’d negate the need for a big, heavy and expensive tri-pod...
Well, this isn't meant to be the super portable travel tripod. I've got my Peak Design tripod for that (and yeah, overpriced and not perfect, though SHOULD be). I'm looking at the Fotopro tripods for non-air travel trips where stability is necessary, waterproof/dustproof carbon fiber legs are necessary, no center column needed. This one fits the bill, but I can find a few others that do this. Where I *REALLY* like Fotopro is their gimbal head, which is an all-in-one head for macro, wildlife, landscape, and sports photography. It comes on the E6 and E6L (long), and I'm just now comparing the head cost alone and lesser-priced tripods with the features I need, or if I should just get the tripod/head combo with Fotopro because it's comparable in price anyway. Their 1K carbon fiber is fantastic, and I'll be needing the strength for storm photography.
Looks good. I purchased the RRS TVC 34L2. with the RRS leveler about 6 months ago. I luv it. The leveler cuts down the leveling process 10 fold. Maybe you can mount (swap out) your RRS quick release on top of your new ball head.
Hi Mark, useful review, thank you. Fotopro does make exceptionally high quality products. You may want to also see their innovative gimbal head (I think it's called the Eagle). On this tripod, do you know if the top clamp can be removed and replaced, e.g., with a RRS panning clamp? Also, once you remove the ball head, can you put it along with its platform into another tripod with a standard 75mm or 100mm bowl? (e.g., a Gitzo Systematic or a Leofoto ground level tripod for ground level shots).
6:38 - there are replacement levers for those screw-loaded quick release mechanisms. You just take off the knob and put the lever there. I have one chinese quick release with the knob replaced by lever, it's super convenient. BTW, my cheap lever even has safety button so it doesn't open accidentally.
Thank you for the great videos. I am watching them one by one. I like this tripod, but it seems that will only take the head that comes with it, which means I cannot use with a Colorado ball head or other screw in heads. Am I correct?
I get the promotional point of this video, but you mentioned you've never seen tripod legs that have the duo feet feature. I own an cheap tripod for 130USD that has those kind of feet. Even though it lacks the 'premium' quality, it provides me with functionality. I'm sure that there are many other tripods that have those kinda feet too. Also it is more expensive than most tripods, that are way better. Informative video, but definitely not the "BEST", as there can never be one.
Very interesting video, Mark! As a landscape and product photographer, I've been using Leofoto products for a few years (LN-254CT, NB-34, LS-365, LH-40), and find their build quality to be up there with "the big boys", i.e., Gitzo, RRS, etc.). I find that the Leofoto LS-365 tripod (no center column) plus the LH-40 ball head combo is supremely solid and robust (max payload 44 lbs). Once locked down, nothing moves at all...Looking foward to testing it with an eventual Nikkor 180-600 f/5.6-6.3 telephoto. Out of curiosity, what's the max payload of the model you reviewed? Thanks again!
Oh cool, a tripod recommended by mark, lemme check it out. *Sees price tag* lemme just back up on out of this page before I click on something that will make my wallet cry... On another note, love your work mark and I'm happy to say that after a close decision between a Panasonic Lumix s5 and a Fujifilm x-t4, the x-t4 is arriving today 😀
The lever clamp does have “in-between” setting: flip to the middle loosen the clamp but still keeps it “captured” and as every Arca Swiss plate has two screws to keep it from sliding out. The lever clamp is good for ballhead. But I don’t like it for pano clamp because the lever exerts “off axis” torque which can shift thing ever slightly.
Re: the feet of the tripod, my 10+-year-old Sirui tripod has rubber feet, that, when you twist the rubber feet, the spikes slowly come out. No need to remove anything! Love that design feature.
If you want to use your old lever quick release clamp on your new ballhead you can swap them by un screwing the middle part of the clamp using an allen key.
That thing with ballhead i can do for 3yrs on Benro tripod by now.... nothing new. And the purpose for it is not to shorten ur tripod but to mount leveling base =D
Great news mark, happy for you! BUT I'm sooooo tired of photographers advocating and recommending stupidly and ridiculously overpriced tripods!!!! My £150 carbon fiber knock-off tripod does 95% of what that does, yes even branded screws because that's what makes a tripod functional, isn't it? Like seriously, stop supporting these brands and maybe they'll price their products reasonably
Looks nice but the head attachment seems proprietary unless there's a way to detach the actual head (and attach another) from the interface piece. What can I say. That tripod cost more than my camera... sad but true! Guess I'll be using my ancient Manfrotto / Bogen 3211 for a while longer -- Although I did convert the Manfrotto RC2 QR plate to Arca-Swiss for compatibility.
I mean okay! Price is bit over the top even for a tripod like that. I know that the tripod is landscape photographers favorite tool. But you can get sturdy tripod with all the features you need with 300 €. I guess it all comes to how much you got in your pocket and how much you need it.
A friend loaned me two Manfrotto tripods that I have been very happy with, though I would love the type of ballhead you use with the lever because, yes, it does feel more secure. My camera with a rented lens took a nose-dive off my tripod while in a crowd of photographers! Luckily, only my ego was bruised and the camera fell on a soft surface.
Hi Mark, first of all: thank you for your videos and all the tips and tricks and ideas and suggestions and advice... I like your channel and especially the way you teach and explain all the photographic topics. Thank you so much! Second: yes I ve subscribed and yes there is a "like" on all the video clips I watched! ahahah Third: my question: between a carbon fiber tripod and an aluminum one, which one you think is the best, considering I would like to take pictures going into the water, like river lake and especially sea? (I am from Italy but I live in the Netherlands) I mean, which one, based on your experience can last longer and is possibly easy to clean? Sorry if maybe is a silly question. Please consider also I have a camera with a weight around 2.5kg (pentax 645z) No worries too much no rush to answer my question and thank you in advance for your time and work! Take care Mark and stay safe!
Hi Mark, what I look for in a tripod is the mystical combination of stability, being light-weight and affordable! Some of the places I like to go are remote and take days to hike into and out of, and can be very physically demanding. I am also getting older! Unfortunately, what I would like is waaaay outside my budget. My current tripod is an old aluminium manfrotto 290 with a very simple ball head. And boy, does it weigh a ton! Thanks for the great video. Its always interesting to know what gear is out there. All the best! Ben.
You haven’t heard of it because you can’t find it. B&H doesn’t have that tripod, and the first hit I saw was FotoPro Guangdong. So, is this a Chinese knockoff of something? The tripod is intriguing, but if the reports below are right, and it is really $1,200, I would rather have a RRS tripod or Gitzo, with all the features and legendary sturdiness. In particular, the lever release of the tripod head sounds intriguing and terrifying. Like, one more point of failure for me to track. When the sides of the lever wear, can the head just spring off? I like my screw threads. But hey, if someone gave me that for free I would probably use it? But I cannot see myself buying it. I will stick with my eminently portable Gitzo Carbon Traveller now at half the price, and packs way better!
I’m with the quire here..a little too rich for this retirees blood....I have a ...Mefoto, which was a upgrade for me recently. So far so good. The two that I have owned cost me $220.00 total. The first one got attacked by the salt, I take a lot of pictures in or near salt water. The Mefoto newest one ..I baby and rinse off with fresh water after each use 😊. But thanks for the review Mark.
3hqtw th4 ball head and tripod like to use i use 3leggedthing punks patti but looking at a carbon fibre tripod was considering the benro mach3 with benro g2 ball head or k and f concept tripod or vanguard but then got recommended a brand clled rollei tripods but then got recomended this brand but after looking quite pricey and trying to save for a wildlife lens or my nikon z7 but would just like to as what your opinion is of the ball head and isit arca swiss compatile to stay safe
you could just hang a sand bag or another kind of weight, if the wind was bad enought to knock over the tripod despite the added weight, that would be a fairly substantial wind
@@mcbean1 Or a rock bag. Like a soft shelf that hangs at the top of all 3 legs & can't sway to hit the legs. Any way my camera bag is about 35lbs fully packed out & if it was windy enough to sway enough to hit the tripod legs I probably would be shooting a scape unless the light was something special or at a once in a life time location. Enjoy.
@@andresmiraglia7966 one is not compelled to use the hook, if it's that damn windy, handhold the shot because you'll be unlikely to get a stable shot from the tripod in any event, the hook is also good for keeping your bag off the ground, I've done a number of shoots down at Ocean Rock pools and not getting your bag wet with salt water saves a lot of time in cleaning
Try Benro combination series, Mark. Basically the same, just 1/3 of the price. Okay, maybe half. I am using C3780TN (mouthful as well) and I really love it. With G2 ballhead it can do everything you wish with 100-400 mm lens with full frame camera and it's like 550 EUR? A bit heavy (2700 grams - 2160 legs and 540 head), but I feel this one's on heavy side as well. Thanks for all the videos, Mark, really love them!
I’m puzzled that you prefer a lever-lock on the camera but twist lock on the legs? Seems counterintuitive that you want to see the camera is secure from a distance but not the tripod. That tripod is stunning and so is the price. Is it common to use such a large tripod for landscape? I’m sure it is lightweight but can’t be as light as something smaller that straps to your backpack.
Looks like a quality product, but it's beyond my means... What would your recommend for a tripod under $300 Mark, if you care to say.. Just interested in your opinion.
Great content, but boy you tube is getting crazy with doubling the amount of commercials, it’s making me play a lot less than I would normally. Especially for short post
I bought an Innorel AS80C CF tripod on Amazon.ca $267.00 Can. Not sure it collapses to only 16" but is 60" tall and very light weight. Seems decent quality so far. Only problem it needs a 65mm bowl adapter and it is much easier to find 70mm ones. The one that comes with it is crap and doesn't work well. But I ordered one from China for cheap and it is great.
I think fluid-head is a better option. I got one from Cayer(€160)and it is amazing stuff compared to any Ball-head. I would never suggest buying a Ball-head. It is your liking but it is an outdated thing, ready to slip into history. The fluid-head is excellent for both Videography and Photography.
I also prefer the lever releases for the speed and reasons you mentioned. One thing you failed to mention about the tripod was how you felt about the twist lock leg extensions and how they compare to RRS or Gitzo’s.
Certainly a compromise, but the rule for myself is that if the tripod don't fit inside my pack then it's not coming on a trip. I've done this for 10+ years and it's been less of a problem than I originally expected. I use fairly light equipment (MFT) though. One exception and that's trips from home by car.
You can always just get an allen wrench to swap out the screw plate with the clamped one. Keep the larger diameter ball of the new head while getting the clamp you prefer. Best of both worlds.
That TRIPOD is HUGE. Bonus points for carrying that out in the field. I'm still living in, a duct tape that leg back together I can't afford a new one, world but I think that TRIPOD would survive a nuclear attack. Roaches, corn and Fotopro. 😁
I’m addicted to landscape panos. Any tripod that won’t allow me to mount an “RRS TA-2U LEVELING BASE | TA-2U-LB” is a show stopper. I’m very happy with my Sirui tripods and mono pod. For the record in 6’4”
Hey mark, I’m looking to get a new tripod in the next couple of days. Is Carbon Fiber really worth the extra hundreds of dollars over the aluminum counterparts? Weight really doesn’t matter to me as I already have a travel tripod, just want a big sturdy tripod for the times I don’t need to hike or travel. Thanks
Great informative video, as always. That tripod looks huge! How much does it weigh? And how much weight can it hold? Good thing it's made of carbon fiber. If it was built of aluminum, you would have to hire a Sherpa to carry it for you. 😎
Considering the different way the ball head is installed, is there and plate or something that can be put on this tripod that would allow for a gimbal head (for shooting wildlife or BIF with a big tele for example)?
Mark, excellent video as always Love the tripod, just wish I had the money - there is no substitute for quality!!! I have learned a lot from watching your videos - thank you for posting them.
Actually it's my bank account that doesn't want to hear about it. /. I went to an innorel RT80C which is fabulous for the price and an Acratech head. I do some astrophotography with and it's not moving at all
You need to check out the Innorel L54 ball head. It’s a little pricey at around a hundred bucks but it’s features make it worth it. It can handle 30 kgs (around 66 lbs) and has dual pan ability and both are dampened. The dampening can’t be adjusted but, for a Benjie, not too many gon offer that. There’s a smaller version called the L44 which has pretty much the same features but has a lower max at 20kg/44lb, but for just about 10 bucks less, why skimp?
Hi Mark, I also own a Fotopro tripod and I really love it. The feature I really like is the fact that from the top of the tripod I can level de ballhead so that I don't need an additional levelling base, which I used to need often because of doing so many panorama shots. Could you confirm me that this tripod does not include that feature? Thanks for your review
At 7.89 lbs, that's too heavy a tripod for me. I'll stick with my two Benro tripods for now, with the aluminum one I keep relatively close to home at 4.6 lbs, and the lighter carbon fiber one for hikes and backpacking at 3 lbs. But you're right, there is no "perfect" tripod, as each has a mix of features that appeal to some and not others, and some are heavier but maybe more stable, while others are light enough to be carried for longer hikes.
To anyone who wants a recommendation, check out the center columns chart for tripods. I got a leofoto ls-324c and it’s pretty great for the $350 I paid.
Funny because I was in the market for one and went with the RRS TVC 44 instead. I saw this brand in the market but not familiar much and not risking my gears on something I’m not comfortable. Made is USA is always better these days. Thanks for the information and happy shooting 📷📸
You're right Mark Denny I've never heard of the brand and at over $1,000 I feel pretty fortunate in that respect!. Although, even If I had come across it I think I would have better things to spend my money on. Quite honestly, if I can avoid carrying a tripod of any shape, size or value I will.
They are a rip off of really right stuff! I just got their mini table top one and it is indeed made really well. Super high-quality for fraction of the price.
What’s your Go-To Tripod Brand?
I have a Fotopro, too, but not a high-end type.
Carbon Benro
I have three Sirui, from the lightweight T1204X all the way up to the Monster R5214XL
I like my Peak Design travel tripod. It's light and easy to setup, it's by no means perfect but it's great for traveling and I can get setup to take shot fairly quickly.
Vanguard for travel. The big one is from Andoer, which seems to be carried by Amazon and many others.
I love when these photographers talk about some great product which is something you definitely need, and then it costs as much as a mortgage payment.
Right?
Plenty of tripods have that same no column / removable center plate setup. Induro Grand series, Benro Combination series, Gitzo Systematic. All of these also have (like most tripods) set-screws beneath the head flange so you don't come unscrewed from panning left with some drag set. All have spare center plates available, making swapping heads easy. Benro, Induro, and probably Gitzo have leveling plates that can mount in place of the center plate (pretty handy if you need to pan horizontally to the horizon (video and panoramics).
Mark, I have no problem with you sharing your experience with a tripod you were gifted - it's your channel and your opinions. As an enthusiastic amateur, that price tag is beyond me, but so is a medium format DSLR, but it doesn't stop me watching UA-cam videos about them. Keep it real Mark and I for one thank you for sharing.
You’re the best Steve - much appreciated friend!
$1300 for a tripod is insanity! I've been using a SLIK AMT tripod that cost me $100, with a $400 Acratech ball head for over 10 years and it has worked so well for me that I bought a second set up for my second camera.
$500 for your Tripod setup? 👀
I totally agree. There just no need to pay that sort of money to hold a camera still. Insanity is an apt term.
Come on man...lol...I see you coming. No way I'm spending that kind of money on a tripod; I'd buy a new body or lens. That thing costs more than your X-T3, etc. lol. I've been using the same $250 tripod I got from B&H ten years ago and it has worked perfectly.
Brand and model?
Way too expensive. This costs more than the average guys camera. Take a look at a British one called
3 Legged thing. I just bought one and they are very well made and probably the best I have bought.
And the 3LT support is great!
Yes, bought the Brian model over a year ago. It is an excellent tripod that you can bring just about anywhere.
@@NikoSavic couldn't agree more, I emailed them and they shipped me parts free that were worn out.
First off, CONGRATS on being entered into the club of some awesome photographers Mark, well deserved mate 👍 I much appreciate your review on your new tripod, I can see why you chose that particular one. Instead of people complaining about the price they should be thanking you for your time and effort that you put into sharing all your videos. I for one appreciate you and your efforts for sharing your knowledge on photography, they have helped me A LOT......
Always appreciate ya friend! Hope you’re doing well
Looks like a nice tripod, I would probably have used it too if I got one for free. However, at that price level, I would probably go for a Gitzo with the same or better feature set. Not that it necessarily is better, but it will be easier to get spare parts if needed if you go with a more well-known brand.
Hi Mark,
When it comes to stability concern.
The more heavier tripod is , the more stability will be, right?
The one you review is about 3kg i think. Which is a bit heavy for hiking.
(Provided that they made from the same carbon fiber , same maker )
Cheers
I just purchased the Innorel RT90C tripod which is 40mm, 10 layer carbon fiber, has a 75mm bowl, bowl adapter & leveling head, reaches about 68 inches tall with additional flat mount head & spikes for about $330 on Amazon. This tripod is a beast which can hold 44lbs.
I just got the RT90C a few days ago. Use a benro GD3WH geared head still trying to frigure out how to use my geared head instead of my old ball head. Do love the precision of that geared head.
I've had my RT90C for over a year, used extensively in and around salt water all year round, it's still like new, barring a few scratches on the twist locks. I wipe mine down when I finish for the day & give it a bath if its been in salt water. This is the most under rated tripod money can buy, I also have their massive 55mm ball head and it is solid too! All in total, the tripod and ball head cost me $500 Canadian, it will compete with the best of them...IMHO :)
I also use mine to sight in my 30-06 rifle, and it doesn't flinch.
@@domscape970 Enjoy your new gear. think gear heads are excellent for really close up macro where super small adjustments are required. I went with a Manfroto video head. Works great eith long lens for wild life also. Enjoy.
@@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism I also bought an AS80C from Amazon. Very happy so far except the free bowl adapter is crap and I couldn't find a decent one anywhere but from Chine. But I eventually got it from China. The one that came with keeps unthreading as it has no set screws, which are a must with a fluid head or even my old ball head.
@@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism It really needed 3 set screws like most of them have to screw up into the base of the head. I didn't want to glue it. The base of the Manfrotto fluid heads are not totally flat and do not even grip that bit of rubbery surface that was on my bowl adapter. Also my old Manfrotto ball head started to unscrew fairly soon when using it on there too. I just ordered a replacement bowl adapter that did have the set screws and that fixed the problem. A pain tho as Vovid slowed down my access to one by months.
My current tripod is a carbon fiber Siri N2204X. It is a great tripod with rubber feet that has screw out metal spikes. The very compact and light weight but reasonable sturdy (I've successfully used it with a gimbal and Canon 7D 2 with 150-600mm Sigma lens. It would probably get a little shaky in windy conditions, so I would like to have a sturdier set, like the one in this video. Also, the Siruri has a center post that adds height, but also adds instability. I usually use it without the center extended at all.
Hi. I recently came acrossed your tripod review. When I shoot wildlife, I use a sigma 150-600 lens. I'm looking for a tripod and head combination that won't slowly start to drift down as I'm shooting with my lens pointing up in the air, such as shooting up into trees. I was wondering how this combination works for you, and if you have any problems with this using longer lenses? Thank you for any feedback you can give me. Keep up the great work with your videos. I very much enjoy them.
Looks good, but one of my motivations for going with a smaller and lighter mirror less system, was that it’d negate the need for a big, heavy and expensive tri-pod...
Well, this isn't meant to be the super portable travel tripod. I've got my Peak Design tripod for that (and yeah, overpriced and not perfect, though SHOULD be). I'm looking at the Fotopro tripods for non-air travel trips where stability is necessary, waterproof/dustproof carbon fiber legs are necessary, no center column needed. This one fits the bill, but I can find a few others that do this. Where I *REALLY* like Fotopro is their gimbal head, which is an all-in-one head for macro, wildlife, landscape, and sports photography. It comes on the E6 and E6L (long), and I'm just now comparing the head cost alone and lesser-priced tripods with the features I need, or if I should just get the tripod/head combo with Fotopro because it's comparable in price anyway. Their 1K carbon fiber is fantastic, and I'll be needing the strength for storm photography.
What do you think of a pellet bag above the triple base? Is it as good as the patella
is there anywhere those feet can be bough separately.. I have been looking for a good set of long spike with rubber covers
Looks good. I purchased the RRS TVC 34L2. with the RRS leveler about 6 months ago. I luv it. The leveler cuts down the leveling process 10 fold. Maybe you can mount (swap out) your RRS quick release on top of your new ball head.
Hi Mark, useful review, thank you. Fotopro does make exceptionally high quality products. You may want to also see their innovative gimbal head (I think it's called the Eagle).
On this tripod, do you know if the top clamp can be removed and replaced, e.g., with a RRS panning clamp? Also, once you remove the ball head, can you put it along with its platform into another tripod with a standard 75mm or 100mm bowl? (e.g., a Gitzo Systematic or a Leofoto ground level tripod for ground level shots).
6:38 - there are replacement levers for those screw-loaded quick release mechanisms. You just take off the knob and put the lever there. I have one chinese quick release with the knob replaced by lever, it's super convenient. BTW, my cheap lever even has safety button so it doesn't open accidentally.
Thank you for the great videos. I am watching them one by one. I like this tripod, but it seems that will only take the head that comes with it, which means I cannot use with a Colorado ball head or other screw in heads. Am I correct?
I get the promotional point of this video, but you mentioned you've never seen tripod legs that have the duo feet feature. I own an cheap tripod for 130USD that has those kind of feet. Even though it lacks the 'premium' quality, it provides me with functionality. I'm sure that there are many other tripods that have those kinda feet too. Also it is more expensive than most tripods, that are way better. Informative video, but definitely not the "BEST", as there can never be one.
Situations + Time dictates use of high quality gear. This is essential and worth every penny.
Very interesting video, Mark! As a landscape and product photographer, I've been using Leofoto products for a few years (LN-254CT, NB-34, LS-365, LH-40), and find their build quality to be up there with "the big boys", i.e., Gitzo, RRS, etc.). I find that the Leofoto LS-365 tripod (no center column) plus the LH-40 ball head combo is supremely solid and robust (max payload 44 lbs). Once locked down, nothing moves at all...Looking foward to testing it with an eventual Nikkor 180-600 f/5.6-6.3 telephoto. Out of curiosity, what's the max payload of the model you reviewed? Thanks again!
Oh cool, a tripod recommended by mark, lemme check it out. *Sees price tag* lemme just back up on out of this page before I click on something that will make my wallet cry...
On another note, love your work mark and I'm happy to say that after a close decision between a Panasonic Lumix s5 and a Fujifilm x-t4, the x-t4 is arriving today 😀
Thanks so much! Enjoy your new gear!!
Timothee Milano with his name on it no less🙄
Wallet cry alert! Haha, looks like a great system . Fuji puts out some great colors. Enjoy your new gear.
1200 bucks...yeah it’s great, it better be. Cause that’s just a joke. I thought peak design had lost their mind.
The lever clamp does have “in-between” setting: flip to the middle loosen the clamp but still keeps it “captured” and as every Arca Swiss plate has two screws to keep it from sliding out. The lever clamp is good for ballhead. But I don’t like it for pano clamp because the lever exerts “off axis” torque which can shift thing ever slightly.
Re: the feet of the tripod, my 10+-year-old Sirui tripod has rubber feet, that, when you twist the rubber feet, the spikes slowly come out. No need to remove anything! Love that design feature.
If you want to use your old lever quick release clamp on your new ballhead you can swap them by un screwing the middle part of the clamp using an allen key.
That thing with ballhead i can do for 3yrs on Benro tripod by now.... nothing new. And the purpose for it is not to shorten ur tripod but to mount leveling base =D
Great news mark, happy for you! BUT I'm sooooo tired of photographers advocating and recommending stupidly and ridiculously overpriced tripods!!!! My £150 carbon fiber knock-off tripod does 95% of what that does, yes even branded screws because that's what makes a tripod functional, isn't it? Like seriously, stop supporting these brands and maybe they'll price their products reasonably
Made in China
@@jamesgjurovich7893 lmfao you got me
Chinese knockoff
Looks nice but the head attachment seems proprietary unless there's a way to detach the actual head (and attach another) from the interface piece. What can I say. That tripod cost more than my camera... sad but true! Guess I'll be using my ancient Manfrotto / Bogen 3211 for a while longer -- Although I did convert the Manfrotto RC2 QR plate to Arca-Swiss for compatibility.
I mean okay! Price is bit over the top even for a tripod like that. I know that the tripod is landscape photographers favorite tool. But you can get sturdy tripod with all the features you need with 300 €. I guess it all comes to how much you got in your pocket and how much you need it.
First thing to notice is he had not heard of it before and didn't buy one. They GAVE it to him.
The Centennial Tripod 2-series made by Colorado Tripod Company, priced at $299, offers a great value for money.
A friend loaned me two Manfrotto tripods that I have been very happy with, though I would love the type of ballhead you use with the lever because, yes, it does feel more secure. My camera with a rented lens took a nose-dive off my tripod while in a crowd of photographers! Luckily, only my ego was bruised and the camera fell on a soft surface.
Hi Mark, first of all: thank you for your videos and all the tips and tricks and ideas and suggestions and advice... I like your channel and especially the way you teach and explain all the photographic topics. Thank you so much! Second: yes I ve subscribed and yes there is a "like" on all the video clips I watched! ahahah Third: my question: between a carbon fiber tripod and an aluminum one, which one you think is the best, considering I would like to take pictures going into the water, like river lake and especially sea? (I am from Italy but I live in the Netherlands) I mean, which one, based on your experience can last longer and is possibly easy to clean? Sorry if maybe is a silly question.
Please consider also I have a camera with a weight around 2.5kg (pentax 645z)
No worries too much no rush to answer my question and thank you in advance for your time and work!
Take care Mark and stay safe!
Hi Mark, what I look for in a tripod is the mystical combination of stability, being light-weight and affordable! Some of the places I like to go are remote and take days to hike into and out of, and can be very physically demanding. I am also getting older! Unfortunately, what I would like is waaaay outside my budget. My current tripod is an old aluminium manfrotto 290 with a very simple ball head. And boy, does it weigh a ton! Thanks for the great video. Its always interesting to know what gear is out there. All the best! Ben.
Many thanks for checking out the video Ben!
Can you not flip the legs 180° on this so that the ballhead is 'inside' the legs and shorter when carrying? My travel tripod does this.
You haven’t heard of it because you can’t find it. B&H doesn’t have that tripod, and the first hit I saw was FotoPro Guangdong. So, is this a Chinese knockoff of something? The tripod is intriguing, but if the reports below are right, and it is really $1,200, I would rather have a RRS tripod or Gitzo, with all the features and legendary sturdiness. In particular, the lever release of the tripod head sounds intriguing and terrifying. Like, one more point of failure for me to track. When the sides of the lever wear, can the head just spring off? I like my screw threads. But hey, if someone gave me that for free I would probably use it? But I cannot see myself buying it. I will stick with my eminently portable Gitzo Carbon Traveller now at half the price, and packs way better!
@Mark curious to know where your favorite photography locations are in NC
I’m with the quire here..a little too rich for this retirees blood....I have a ...Mefoto, which was a upgrade for me recently. So far so good. The two that I have owned cost me $220.00 total. The first one got attacked by the salt, I take a lot of pictures in or near salt water. The Mefoto newest one ..I baby and rinse off with fresh water after each use 😊. But thanks for the review Mark.
Isn't that a bit of overkill for your new smaller camera system? I could mount my 4 x 5 metal calumet camera on that and have no worries.
yes, this is overkill for a fuji system
In certain situations it is but it sure comes in handy when shooting at high elevations where it’s usually very windy👍
That ball head removal is genius. The Oben tripods also have the rubber feet covers that you can remove to show the spikes.
3hqtw th4 ball head and tripod like to use i use 3leggedthing punks patti but looking at a carbon fibre tripod was considering the benro mach3 with benro g2 ball head or k and f concept tripod or vanguard but then got recommended a brand clled rollei tripods but then got recomended this brand but after looking quite pricey and trying to save for a wildlife lens or my nikon z7 but would just like to as what your opinion is of the ball head and isit arca swiss compatile to stay safe
Love Fotopro, used them for years now. I've tried every major brand and always end up back with Fotopro.
About that hook, seems to me hanging your bag there would create sail effect if a serious wind catches the extra surface area of the bag.
you could just hang a sand bag or another kind of weight, if the wind was bad enought to knock over the tripod despite the added weight, that would be a fairly substantial wind
@@mcbean1 Or a rock bag. Like a soft shelf that hangs at the top of all 3 legs & can't sway to hit the legs. Any way my camera bag is about 35lbs fully packed out & if it was windy enough to sway enough to hit the tripod legs I probably would be shooting a scape unless the light was something special or at a once in a life time location. Enjoy.
@@mcbean1 Please, come and spend some time in patagonia, and you will experience the uselessness of hanging any sort of bag from the hook. ;-)
@@andresmiraglia7966 one is not compelled to use the hook, if it's that damn windy, handhold the shot because you'll be unlikely to get a stable shot from the tripod in any event, the hook is also good for keeping your bag off the ground, I've done a number of shoots down at Ocean Rock pools and not getting your bag wet with salt water saves a lot of time in cleaning
You need dirt or rocks, not camera bag. Physics demands mass to damp motion.
Try Benro combination series, Mark. Basically the same, just 1/3 of the price. Okay, maybe half. I am using C3780TN (mouthful as well) and I really love it. With G2 ballhead it can do everything you wish with 100-400 mm lens with full frame camera and it's like 550 EUR? A bit heavy (2700 grams - 2160 legs and 540 head), but I feel this one's on heavy side as well. Thanks for all the videos, Mark, really love them!
Thanks so much for checking them out!
I’m puzzled that you prefer a lever-lock on the camera but twist lock on the legs? Seems counterintuitive that you want to see the camera is secure from a distance but not the tripod. That tripod is stunning and so is the price. Is it common to use such a large tripod for landscape? I’m sure it is lightweight but can’t be as light as something smaller that straps to your backpack.
Looks like a quality product, but it's beyond my means... What would your recommend for a tripod under $300 Mark, if you care to say.. Just interested in your opinion.
Check out Benro - I believe they have some options available under $300. Good quality stuff too👍
@@MarkDenneyPhoto Thank you!! Will check them out.
Great content, but boy you tube is getting crazy with doubling the amount of commercials, it’s making me play a lot less than I would normally. Especially for short post
awesome video, I ordered mine and got it the other day. Thank you for the coupon code.
I have a Ifootage Gazelle Tc6 with a Leofoto Lh40 PCL. It's amazing trípode
I have a Fotopro Sherpa Plus and it has been good to me ......
I want a tripod that’s light packs down under 16” and gets taller than 60” without the center column but also one that isn’t dumb expensive
I bought an Innorel AS80C CF tripod on Amazon.ca $267.00 Can. Not sure it collapses to only 16" but is 60" tall and very light weight. Seems decent quality so far. Only problem it needs a 65mm bowl adapter and it is much easier to find 70mm ones. The one that comes with it is crap and doesn't work well. But I ordered one from China for cheap and it is great.
Hope you do a comparison and suitability video on gears.
I think fluid-head is a better option. I got one from Cayer(€160)and it is amazing stuff compared to any Ball-head. I would never suggest buying a Ball-head. It is your liking but it is an outdated thing, ready to slip into history. The fluid-head is excellent for both Videography and Photography.
I also prefer the lever releases for the speed and reasons you mentioned. One thing you failed to mention about the tripod was how you felt about the twist lock leg extensions and how they compare to RRS or Gitzo’s.
So far they seem to hold up well, but one thing I’ve learned is that overtime many of these twist locks start to fail - even my RRS does at times.
Mark Denney what do you do to deal with that? What parts do you replace?
Certainly a compromise, but the rule for myself is that if the tripod don't fit inside my pack then it's not coming on a trip. I've done this for 10+ years and it's been less of a problem than I originally expected. I use fairly light equipment (MFT) though. One exception and that's trips from home by car.
I like that rule!
You can always just get an allen wrench to swap out the screw plate with the clamped one. Keep the larger diameter ball of the new head while getting the clamp you prefer. Best of both worlds.
That TRIPOD is HUGE. Bonus points for carrying that out in the field. I'm still living in, a duct tape that leg back together I can't afford a new one, world but I think that TRIPOD would survive a nuclear attack. Roaches, corn and Fotopro. 😁
Hahha! I agree - tough as nails!
For over $1000 it ought to be made like a tank and have a lifetime guarantee. I'm perfectly happy with my x-tall Benro.
I'm still waiting for my Colorado tripod company centennial 4 series, but for now I'm using their medium ball head attached to my vanguard alta
I’ve heard great things about them👍
I'm still using a modified surveyors tripod I picked up at a pawn shop for 60 bucks. I'd love to have one but as a hobbyist that can never happen.
You can put a RRS dovetail onto your BH-40 and a RRS quick release plate onto your tripod. Problem solved.
That's awesome. Congratulations.
I won't watch this episode as i know he will bring a usd 500+ equipment that i will never ever have, so wait for next wednesday...
The reason I've never heard of this tripod manufacturer before is because like most people I'm simply not in the market for $1000 tripod.
I’m addicted to landscape panos. Any tripod that won’t allow me to mount an “RRS TA-2U LEVELING BASE | TA-2U-LB” is a show stopper. I’m very happy with my Sirui tripods and mono pod.
For the record in 6’4”
Imagine you just happened to be recording and was able to use it as B roll here. 😂
🤣
Hey mark, I’m looking to get a new tripod in the next couple of days. Is Carbon Fiber really worth the extra hundreds of dollars over the aluminum counterparts? Weight really doesn’t matter to me as I already have a travel tripod, just want a big sturdy tripod for the times I don’t need to hike or travel. Thanks
If weight isn’t a big issue then I would save the money and not get carbon fiber. The biggest benefit is that it’s lighter.
Great informative video, as always.
That tripod looks huge! How much does it weigh? And how much weight can it hold?
Good thing it's made of carbon fiber. If it was built of aluminum, you would have to hire a Sherpa to carry it for you. 😎
Great video. Are you still using this tripod ?
I'd be pretty happy getting a $1200 tripod too!!!
Considering the different way the ball head is installed, is there and plate or something that can be put on this tripod that would allow for a gimbal head (for shooting wildlife or BIF with a big tele for example)?
Mark, excellent video as always Love the tripod, just wish I had the money - there is no substitute for quality!!! I have learned a lot from watching your videos - thank you for posting them.
I appreciate you sharing your opinions and experiences with us. Thank you.
Thanks for watching Starr!
Overkill for your Fujis and at camera not tripod prices.
Actually it's my bank account that doesn't want to hear about it. /. I went to an innorel RT80C which is fabulous for the price and an Acratech head. I do some astrophotography with and it's not moving at all
You need to check out the Innorel L54 ball head. It’s a little pricey at around a hundred bucks but it’s features make it worth it. It can handle 30 kgs (around 66 lbs) and has dual pan ability and both are dampened. The dampening can’t be adjusted but, for a Benjie, not too many gon offer that. There’s a smaller version called the L44 which has pretty much the same features but has a lower max at 20kg/44lb, but for just about 10 bucks less, why skimp?
I love the tripod.
Just $1,000 more than I want to spend lol. I'll stick with my $300 one.
Always good to see you friend. Keep the content coming.
Appreciate that man - hope you’re well!
Would you buy it if you were paying for it yourself?
I probably would. My current Really Right Stuff set up is roughly the same price as well.
@@MarkDenneyPhoto I'm looking at the 64C and 74CL. Do you think the 64C can hold telephoto lens in wind or should I go with the 74CL?
WoW. Looks amazing BUT I am sure that it costs THREE legs.
Thank you very much for your time and effort.
Hi Mark, I also own a Fotopro tripod and I really love it. The feature I really like is the fact that from the top of the tripod I can level de ballhead so that I don't need an additional levelling base, which I used to need often because of doing so many panorama shots. Could you confirm me that this tripod does not include that feature? Thanks for your review
I think I have an even more clever solution on my tripod when it comes to the feet. If I screw my rubber feet the spikes will come out.
Thank you
At 7.89 lbs, that's too heavy a tripod for me. I'll stick with my two Benro tripods for now, with the aluminum one I keep relatively close to home at 4.6 lbs, and the lighter carbon fiber one for hikes and backpacking at 3 lbs. But you're right, there is no "perfect" tripod, as each has a mix of features that appeal to some and not others, and some are heavier but maybe more stable, while others are light enough to be carried for longer hikes.
Thanks for checking out the video!
First Amazing channel, I always look forward to your videos. Second, I use a benro geared head, is there anyway to use a geared head on this tripod?
Thanks so much! I’m not 100% sure but I’m sure there has to be a way.
This Tripod is the same as the Lion Rock 25 from Rollei that actually cost less than then half of this one.
To anyone who wants a recommendation, check out the center columns chart for tripods. I got a leofoto ls-324c and it’s pretty great for the $350 I paid.
Gitzo and Arcaswiss P0 , can’t beat it .
Funny because I was in the market for one and went with the RRS TVC 44 instead. I saw this brand in the market but not familiar much and not risking my gears on something I’m not comfortable. Made is USA is always better these days. Thanks for the information and happy shooting 📷📸
Enjoy your new RRS gear - they make great stuff👍
Hmm. One of these.... or XT50mm-140mm, or the 50mm F1, or how about an extra XT4 body? Or about 3 dozen SanDisk 128 GB memory cards. Hmm.
You're right Mark Denny I've never heard of the brand and at over $1,000 I feel pretty fortunate in that respect!. Although, even If I had come across it I think I would have better things to spend my money on. Quite honestly, if I can avoid carrying a tripod of any shape, size or value I will.
Hahha! I told you you’ve never heard of it😃 Thanks for checking out the video thiugh
Yep, have to agree with so many others - way too expensive, and way too bulky!
It's a great club to belong to. Congratulations! Although it's a bit heavy on the boys' side.
Thanks Albert! I agree
They are a rip off of really right stuff! I just got their mini table top one and it is indeed made really well. Super high-quality for fraction of the price.
wait, can you take your tripod in the overhead compartment?
Artcise makes something nearly identical for substantially less!
love the blue ground
Thanks! I’m liking it as well👍
Love Ocracoke!
Not being able to use the BH-40 is a deal breaker for me. Also, looking at their website, it weighs 3.5 kilos, that's some heavy kit!
I still prefer a tripod with a horizontal column, might be useful at times :D
Do they have hiking versions too?
Yep they have two smaller versions as well