As knowledgeable journey photographer, I’ve used quite a lot of journey tripods through the years, together with fashions from Manfrotto and Vanguard.
Immediately, I’m going to be reviewing Peak Design’s journey 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 pictures equipment, and I significantly like their carry strap system which I’ve been utilizing for years on my cameras. You’ll be able to see my Peak Design digital camera strap assessment right here. Additionally they have a variety of fashionable luggage.
My expertise thus far with their merchandise has been very optimistic, they’re properly made and backed by a superb guarantee and assist program. Let’s see if that high quality has prolonged to their journey tripod. I’ll share my ideas on utilizing certainly one of their journey tripods for the primary time.
Peak Design Journey Tripod Assessment
Peak Design launched their journey tripod (by way of Kickstarter) in 2019, with normal availability coming in 2020. This was their first and is at present solely tripod.
It’s now been in the marketplace for a while, and I assumed it was about time I gave it a very good 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 in the marketplace in the meanwhile, an aluminum mannequin and a carbon fiber mannequin.
The one distinction between the 2 is the fabric in use, which impacts the load (and worth!). All the opposite specs are the identical. Right here’s a fast overview of the primary specs.
- Load capability – 20lbs (9.1kg)
- Max top middle column raised – 60″ (152.2cm)
- Max top middle 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 worth 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 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 very good 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 primary means that is achieved is with the top design, which may be very compact. The ball head mainly matches flush into the tripod when packed away and takes up barely any area.
The flip locks, triangular leg design, and small middle column additionally all contribute to permitting this tripod to fold down actually small.
I’ve used quite a lot of journey tripods through the years, and this one is certainly the most effective designs I’ve used when it comes to the way it packs away to take up a minimal quantity of area.
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. It’s also possible to lock your digital camera into place with the flip of a toggle, which supplies nice peace of thoughts.
One other neat characteristic is the mixing of a cellphone 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 together with your smartphone. This could work with just about any smartphone in the marketplace immediately.
It’s a pleasant worth add and can be properly designed and durable.
One final thing I wished to spotlight is the carrying case. That is typically an afterthought with tripods, when you even get one in any respect.
Effectively, Peak Design is understood for his or her luggage and their tripod case is beautiful. It seems to be 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 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 favor to do a assessment 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 discipline.
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 plenty 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 fascinated about. First, it must 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 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 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 possibility for a shot.
The Peak Design journey tripod positively works in that regard as properly. I’m usually not a giant fan of flip-lock legs as they will catch on my digital camera bag when organising and placing away.
Nonetheless, on this case they’re properly designed in order that doesn’t occur, they usually make arrange and put down a breeze.
The way in which the digital camera attaches to the top additionally works properly. That is one thing that different tripods don’t all the time do as properly at, particularly when utilizing the Peak Design carry system which has the carry strap hooked up to the tripod plate.
The Peak Design carry strap hooks on the digital camera base plate can generally get in the best way of straightforward attachment to the tripod head. Clearly, this being a Peak Design tripod, that problem has been thought via, and the digital camera simply attaches to the tripod head even with the strap nonetheless hooked up.
There’s additionally a useful locking mechanism on the tripod head that makes it straightforward to make sure the digital camera is correctly hooked up to the tripod head.
After all, any tripod is simply price its salt if it truly supplies a steady platform for taking pictures from.
I’ve used it with a full-frame mirrorless digital camera paired with a heavy 100-400mm lens, and it carried out very properly. I additionally used it with my extra regular panorama wide-angle lens, and even with the smartphone adaptor.
Throughout, this tripod carried out very properly and let me get the photographs I wished, even the lengthy publicity photographs the place the tiniest motion can destroy the whole lot.
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. Nonetheless, it’s important to partially lengthen the central column (round an inch), to get full motion.
Earlier than I bought used to the tripod, I’d 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 an extra 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 vital, particularly when you plan on doing any astrophotography or Northern Lights pictures, as you may have to function the tripod in very darkish situations the place you might be working by really feel.
So that’s quite a lot of optimistic issues. Are there are points I encountered? Effectively, sure.
The primary draw back I found, which is the primary adverse of this tripod, is a scarcity of separate pan and tilt controls.
Whenever you loosen the management ring to regulate the top, you may transfer the digital camera up, down, left, and proper. Nonetheless, you may’t pan or tilt individually.
So, for instance, when you’ve got your shot framed virtually 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 identical time.
This additionally makes duties like taking pictures 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 lots on the images you wish to take. In case you take quite a lot of panoramas, then this may seemingly be an even bigger problem.
The excellent news is that the management ring additionally controls the friction, that means you may loosen it solely slightly after which simply watch out as you progress the digital camera, with friction in your aspect to forestall undesirable actions on the improper axis.
Nonetheless, with a heavy digital camera setup it may be difficult to solely transfer in a single route.
The opposite factor to keep in mind is that over time the flip locks on the tripod leg sections can turn out to be unfastened, that means that the legs don’t keep prolonged. That is simply an total problem 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 useful clip which lets you connect the adjustment instrument to a tripod leg.
You simply need to bear in mind to carry this with you if you journey, in case a leg wants tightening up if you’re within the discipline.
Lastly, while the addition of the bubble degree is appreciated, the sunshine shade and means 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 ready up.
Actually, most cameras and smartphones nowadays have a built-in degree characteristic anyway, so I not often use the bubble degree on a tripod, however I wished to say it in case it was vital to you.
General, I positively loved utilizing this tripod within the discipline, and it has earned a spot in my pictures bag for positive.
Peak Design Journey Tripod Professionals and Cons
Having coated 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 professionals and cons of this tripod from a journey pictures perspective.
Professionals
- Light-weight, even the aluminum model
- Folds down very small
- Works properly 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
General,l I positively suppose it’s a very good journey tripod. The primary draw back is the associated fee is fairly excessive, particularly if you’re contemplating the carbon fiber mannequin, which prices much more however solely affords a modest lower in weight.
I feel most individuals can be proud of the aluminum mannequin because the options are the identical.
Peak Design Journey Tripod Options
Whenever you begin researching tripods, you will rapidly be taught that there are a fantastic many tripods in the marketplace, and truthfully, it may be arduous to inform them aside.
The primary choices will come right down to how a lot you need to spend and the way vital 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 it’s best to be capable to discover the proper tripod for you. I wished to spotlight just a few choices to think about, and you may see extra choices in our information to the finest journey tripods.
Gitzo Traveler Sequence
Any comparability of tripods, particularly high-end tripods, goes to incorporate point out of Gitzo. These are typically considered a few of the finest tripods in the marketplace, though they have a tendency to come back 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 honest to check it towards a tripod of this caliber.
There are fairly just a few tripods within the Gitzo Traveler collection. I’d say probably the most comparable mannequin can be the Gitzo Traveler, collection 1, 5 part tripod.
This carbon fiber tripod has a most top of 58.46″, a folded measurement of 13.98″, a weight of three.13lbs and a max load capability of 22lbs. It has a retail worth 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 quite a lot of their gear through the years, lots of which I’ve additionally reviewed.
I feel their merchandise provide lots, and I’ve been very proud of their gear in use around the globe.
The 2 primary tripods I feel they at present produce which you may contemplate as an alternative of the Peak Design Journey Tripod can 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 worth round half that of the carbon fiber Peak Design Journey Tripod mannequin.
The 235CB is the smaller tripod, with a most measurement of 53.5″, a folded measurement of 13″, a weight of two.3lbs, and a max load capability of 8.8lbs. It has a retail worth of $269.99.
The carbon fiber variant of the Peak Design tripod has a a lot increased 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 think about when you’ve got a smaller setup that gained’t problem the utmost load ranking.
The 265HCB is the taller tripod, with a most measurement of 65.5″, a folded measurement of 16.1″, a weight of three.1lbs and a max load capability of 22lbs. It has a retail worth of $339.99.
The carbon fiber variant of the Peak Design tripod has the same load ranking and a decrease most top, however weighs much less and folds up a bit smaller. It’s practically twice as costly.
Each Vanguard tripods additionally convert to monopods and include a smartphone adaptor and Bluetooth distant shutter set off. They’re additionally out there in aluminum, at a cheaper price 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 means to economize on a journey tripod is to decide on an aluminum mannequin over a carbon fiber one.
In case 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 will provide you with 20% off the whole lot within the Vanguard retailer.
Simply use the code FindingTheUniverse on 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 may reply this query! Nonetheless, having used it for plenty of months I can positively say that it’s a well-made tripod. It really works very properly and has sufficient intelligent design options to make it stand out in a really crowded market.
Whenever you add up all of the little further issues like the great bag, smartphone holder, and compatibility with different Peak Design merchandise, it finally ends up as a very well-rounded product.
After all, there are a lot of different tripods in the marketplace at different worth factors, however I don’t suppose 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 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 expect you’ll discover helpful.
- I’ve a assessment of the Peak Design digital camera strap system
- Our assessment of the Vanguard VEO 2 265CB tripod after three years of normal use.
- A assessment 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 a fantastic photograph is a key pictures talent. See our information to composition in pictures for plenty of tips about this topic
- We’ve a information to what depth of discipline is and if you would need to use it.
- We’re huge followers of getting probably the most out of your digital photograph recordsdata, and do to that you’ll want to shoot in RAW. See our information to RAW in pictures to know what RAW is, and why it’s best to change to RAW as quickly as you may in case your digital camera helps it.
- You’re going to wish one thing to run your photograph modifying software program on. See our information to one of the best laptops for photograph modifying for some tips about what to search for.
- In case you’re on the lookout for extra recommendation on particular ideas for various eventualities, we additionally have you ever coated. See our information to Northern Lights pictures, lengthy publicity pictures, fireworks pictures, ideas for taking images of stars, and chilly climate pictures.
- In case you’re on the lookout for a fantastic reward for a pictures loving buddy or member of the family (or your self!), check out our pictures reward information,
- In case you’re available in the market for a brand new digital camera, now we have an in depth information to the finest journey cameras, in addition to particular guides for the finest cameras for mountain climbing and backpacking, the finest compact digital camera, finest mirrorless digital camera and finest DSLR digital camera. We even have a information to the finest 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?
In case you discovered this submit useful, and also you need to enhance your pictures total, you may need to try my on-line journey pictures course.
Since launching the course in 2016, I’ve already helped over 2,000 college students discover ways to take higher images. The course covers just about the whole lot it is advisable to know, from the fundamentals of how a digital camera works, via to composition, gentle, and photograph modifying.
It additionally covers extra superior matters, together with astrophotography, lengthy publicity pictures, flash pictures, and HDR pictures.
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 out there for a tremendous one-off worth for lifetime entry, and I feel it’s best to test it out. Which you are able to do by clicking right here.
Observe: We had been despatched this product without cost 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.
