As an expert journey photographer, I’ve used numerous journey tripods through the years, together with fashions from Manfrotto and Vanguard.
At the moment, I’m going to be reviewing Peak Design’s travel tripod, which I’ve been utilizing within the discipline for the previous a number of months to see the way it compares to different journey tripods.
I’ve truly been a fan of Peak Design’s merchandise for a very long time. They make a variety of images equipment, and I significantly like their carry strap system which I’ve been utilizing for years on my cameras. Additionally they have a variety of standard baggage.
My expertise up to now with their merchandise has been very constructive, they’re nicely made and backed by a wonderful guarantee and assist 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 Evaluate
Peak Design launched their journey tripod (through Kickstarter) in 2019, with common 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 superb take a look at and assessment. 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 burden (and value!). All the opposite specs are the identical. Right here’s a fast overview of the primary specs.
- Load capability – 20lbs (9.1kg)
- Max top heart column raised – 60″ (152.2cm)
- Max top heart column down – 51.25″ (130.2cm)
- Weight aluminum mannequin 3.44lbs (1.56kg)
- Weight carbon fiber mannequin 2.81lbs (1.29kg)
- Packed top: 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 examine the newest costs and purchase it direct from Peak Design here, on Amazon here, and from B&H Photo here.
This tripod definitely suits what we look for in a travel tripod, which is a mix of portability and a superb load capability.
In addition to the uncooked numbers, there are just a few further options of the Peak Design journey tripod I wished to spotlight.
First, the tripod is designed from the bottom as much as be tremendous moveable. The principle manner that is achieved is with the top design, which may be very compact. The ball head mainly suits 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 numerous journey tripods through the years, and this one is unquestionably among the finest designs I’ve used when it comes to the way it packs away to take up a minimal quantity of house.
The ball head can also be fairly good. There’s an built-in bubble stage to make sure your digicam is flat, and the flip lock design makes attaching and eradicating your digicam very straightforward. You can even lock your digicam into place with the flip of a toggle, which provides nice peace of thoughts.
One other neat function is the combination of a telephone head mount. This lives inside the middle column, and has a quick-release mechanism for simple set up.
It then attaches on to the tripod mounting plate and lets you use your tripod together with your smartphone. This could work with just about any smartphone available on the market as we speak.
It’s a pleasant worth add and can also be nicely designed and durable.
One very last thing I wished to spotlight is the carrying case. That is usually an afterthought with tripods, in the event you even get one in any respect.
Effectively, Peak Design is understood for his or her baggage and their tripod case is gorgeous. It appears to be like nice, the tripod suits 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 primary options. What is that this tripod like to truly use in the actual world? Let’s discover out.
Peak Design Journey Tripod – Ideas on Actual World Use
I desire to do a assessment based mostly on actual world expertise, so I traveled with the Peak Design journey tripod as my predominant tripod for a number of months to see the way it carried out within the discipline.
As it is a journey tripod, I count on it to be one thing I can carry with me when climbing, so I took it with me on numerous hikes up varied 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 all for. First, it must be light-weight, as a result of nobody needs to hold greater than they should.
This tripod undoubtedly meets that requirement, even the aluminum model is mild sufficient that I don’t need to suppose 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 climbing, I don’t need to have to spend so much of time placing a tripod up and down every time I see a possibility for a shot.
The Peak Design journey tripod undoubtedly works in that regard as nicely. I’m usually not a giant fan of flip-lock legs as they’ll catch on my digicam bag when establishing and placing away.
Nevertheless, on this case they’re nicely designed in order that doesn’t occur, and so they make arrange and put down a breeze.
The way in which the digicam attaches to the top additionally works nicely. That is one thing that different tripods don’t at all times do as nicely 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 digicam base plate can typically get in the best way of straightforward attachment to the tripod head. Clearly, this being a Peak Design tripod, that concern has been thought by way of, and the digicam 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 digicam is correctly connected to the tripod head.
In fact, any tripod is barely value its salt if it truly supplies a secure platform for capturing from.
I’ve used it with a full-frame mirrorless camera paired with a heavy 100-400mm lens, and it carried out very nicely. I additionally used it with my extra regular panorama wide-angle lens, and even with the smartphone adaptor.
Throughout, this tripod carried out very nicely and let me get the photographs I wished, even the long exposure shots the place the tiniest motion can damage the whole lot.
The ultimate factor I would like 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, you need to partially lengthen the central column (round an inch), to get full motion.
Earlier than I obtained used to the tripod, I might attempt to transfer the top to the place I wished, however not be capable to as a result of the top solely has full freedom of motion as soon as the central column has been partially prolonged.
Extending the central column isn’t arduous, however it’s a further step to recollect to do.
As soon as the top is prolonged, adjusting the top is straightforward. It’s a ball-style design, and to regulate the angle of the top 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 in the event you plan on doing any astrophotography or Northern Lights photography, as you may must function the tripod in very darkish circumstances the place you’re working by really feel.
So that’s numerous constructive issues. Are there are points I encountered? Effectively, sure.
The principle draw back I found, which is the primary detrimental of this tripod, is an absence of separate pan and tilt controls.
While you loosen the management ring to regulate the top, you may transfer the digicam up, down, left, and proper. Nevertheless, you may’t pan or tilt individually.
So, for instance, if in case you have your shot framed nearly completely, however need to shift the view just a few levels to the left, you need to watch out to not tilt the digicam up or down on the identical time.
This additionally makes duties like capturing panoramas much more difficult. Many tripod heads, together with many ball heads, provide separate pan and tilt controls, so you may pan independently of the lean management.
Now, truthfully, whether or not or not it is a huge deal will rely quite a bit on the photographs you prefer to take. Should you take numerous panoramas, then this may probably be an even bigger concern.
The excellent news is that the management ring additionally controls the friction, which means you may loosen it solely a bit after which simply watch out as you progress the digicam, with friction in your aspect to stop undesirable actions on the incorrect axis.
Nevertheless, with a heavy digicam 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 out to be free, which means that the legs don’t keep prolonged. That is simply an total concern 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 keep in mind to carry this with you once you journey, in case a leg wants tightening up once you’re within the discipline.
Lastly, while the addition of the bubble stage is appreciated, the sunshine shade and manner it’s positioned implies that my digicam covers most of it up, making it troublesome to see and never very helpful as soon as my digicam is ready up.
Truthfully, most cameras and smartphones lately have a built-in stage function anyway, so I hardly ever use the bubble stage on a tripod, however I wished to say it in case it was necessary to you.
Total, I undoubtedly loved utilizing this tripod within the discipline, 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 discipline I wished to share a fast rundown of what I felt to be the primary execs and cons of this tripod from a journey images perspective.
Professionals
- Light-weight, even the aluminum model
- Folds down very small
- Works nicely 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 undoubtedly suppose it’s a superb 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 affords 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
While you begin researching tripods, you’re going to shortly be taught that there are a terrific many tripods available on the market, and truthfully, it may be arduous to inform them aside.
The principle choices will come all the way down to how a lot you need to spend and the way necessary specs like most load capability, most top, minimal top, folded top and so on. are to you.
Most tripods mess around with these specs, so you need to be capable to discover the proper tripod for you. I wished to spotlight just a few choices to contemplate, and you may see extra choices in our information to the best travel tripods.
Gitzo Traveler Collection
Any comparability of tripods, particularly high-end tripods, goes to incorporate point out of Gitzo. These are typically thought to be among the finest tripods available on the market, though they have a tendency 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 check it towards a tripod of this caliber.
There are fairly just a few tripods within the Gitzo Traveler collection. I’d say essentially the most comparable mannequin could be the Gitzo Traveler, series 1, 5 section tripod.
This carbon fiber tripod has a most top 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 top, weighs barely extra, and has a barely decrease most top.
Vanguard VEO 3 GO 235CB or 265HCB
A fast word, I’m a Vanguard Ambassador and have been since 2014, and I’ve used numerous their gear through the years, lots of which I’ve also reviewed.
I believe their merchandise provide quite a bit, and I’ve been very proud of their gear in use all over the world.
The 2 predominant tripods I believe they at the moment produce which you may 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 models.
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 top, but additionally weighs extra and doesn’t fold up as small. It’s additionally greater than twice as costly. One to contemplate if in case you have a smaller setup that received’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 top, 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. Usually the simplest manner to economize 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 gives you 20% off the whole lot within the Vanguard store.
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?
Truthfully, solely you may reply this query! Nevertheless, having used it for numerous months I can undoubtedly say that it’s a well-made tripod. It really works very nicely and has sufficient intelligent design options to make it stand out in a really crowded market.
While 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 very well-rounded product.
In fact, there are a lot of different tripods available on the market at different value factors, however I don’t suppose you’ll be upset in the event you determine to go for it.
You should buy it direct from Peak Design here, on Amazon here, and from B&H Photo here.
Additional Studying
That’s it for my assessment of the Peak Design journey tripod – I hope you discovered it useful. Earlier than you go, I wished to share a few of our different content material which we predict you’ll discover helpful.
- Our review of the Vanguard VEO 2 265CB tripod after three years of standard use.
- A review of the Vanguard VEO 2Go 265HCBM, the VEO 3+ 263AB and the VEO 3T+ 264CB.
- We’ve a information to why you need a tripod, a information to choosing a travel tripod, and a round-up of our favourite travel tripods
- We’ve a information to how to use a compact camera, how to use a DSLR camera, and how to use a mirrorless camera. We even have a information to how a DSLR works
- Understanding learn how to compose a terrific photograph is a key images talent. See our information to composition in photography for plenty of recommendations on this topic
- We’ve a information to what depth of field is and once you would need to use it.
- We’re huge followers of getting essentially the most out of your digital photograph recordsdata, and do to that you will want to shoot in RAW. See our information to RAW in photography to grasp what RAW is, and why you need to swap to RAW as quickly as you may in case your digicam helps it.
- You’re going to wish one thing to run your photograph modifying software program on. See our information to the most effective laptops for photo editing for some recommendations on what to search for.
- Should you’re searching for extra recommendation on particular suggestions for various situations, we additionally have you ever lined. See our information to Northern Lights photography, long exposure photography, fireworks photography, tips for taking photos of stars, and cold weather photography.
- Should you’re searching for a terrific reward for a images loving good friend or member of the family (or your self!), check out our photography gift guide,
- Should you’re available in the market for a brand new digicam, we now have an in depth information to the best travel cameras, in addition to particular guides for the best cameras for hiking and backpacking, the best compact camera, best mirrorless camera and best DSLR camera. We even have a information to the best camera lenses.
- If you need a digicam or lens, however the costs are a bit excessive, see our information to where to buy used cameras and camera gear for some finances financial savings choices.
Seeking to Enhance Your Images?
Should you discovered this put up useful, and also you need to enhance your images total, you may need to take a look at my online travel photography course.
Since launching the course in 2016, I’ve already helped over 2,000 college students learn to take higher photographs. The course covers just about the whole lot it is advisable to know, from the fundamentals of how a digicam works, by way of to composition, mild, and photograph modifying.
It additionally covers extra superior matters, 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 will 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 here.
Be aware: We have been despatched this product free of charge to see how we favored it. I selected to write down this assessment based mostly by myself private opinion of the tripod after utilizing it for some time. All opinions are our personal.
