GEAR
MINI TESTS
PEAK DESIGN CARBON FIBRE TRAVEL TRIPOD £549/$600 peakdesign.com
ball head, with an Arca-Swiss quick- release plate that is somewhat small. This clicks into place, then can be tightened down – for safety – with a large dial. To use the tripod after the legs are unfolded, you actually have to raise the centre column slightly to allow the head to move. Then just unfasten the large locking knob, set the position you want, and lock it back into place. As a photo head or for locked-down video shots, it’s decent and doesn’t slip. But there is no separate pan or tilt control. For serious video use, consider a real video head with a self-levelling base. To fit this to the Peak Design tripod, you need to budget for the optional £27.95/$30 universal head adapter. This has a standard 3/8in-16 threaded mount, meaning you can fit whatever head you like. A real video head will add some weight and length to the overall package. But, if you pick wisely, you will still have an incredibly compact video tripod. The Peak Design tripod has many other nice touches. The centre column can quickly be removed and reversed to get the camera low to the ground. The centre column has a hook, so you can fix on your camera bag for a bit of ballast. Turn the hook attachment to reveal a mobile phone adapter.
Dropping a relatively large amount of cash on a small, travel-size photo tripod might seem like a strange decision for a filmmaker. But the Peak Design carbon fibre tripod is so compact and filled with unique design elements, it shouldn’t be dismissed without some serious investigation. Especially if you prefer to travel as light as possible and use a small mirrorless camera. The biggest benefit is that it folds up incredibly small, to roughly the same diameter and length as a water bottle. That’s a big deal. Instead of being round, which leaves a lot of space when the tripod is folded, the Peak Design legs are flat and wide. They close up tightly to a triangular-shaped centre column. The whole thing weighs just 1.29kg/2.8lb, yet the five-section legs and centre column mean it goes up to 1524mm/60in high – which is plenty for most uses. The legs are top quality and the lever-lock clamps beautifully designed, with just the right amount of pressure needed. And you can undo all five at once. Although the official maximum payload is 9.07kg/20lb, this tripod is best used on smaller and lighter mirrorless cameras. Of course, it is not designed as a video head, as it has a lightweight
COMPACT WONDER The tripod
SPECIFICATIONS Head type: Ball head QR plate: Arca-Swiss type Leg sections: Five carbon-fibre, flip-lock clamps Height range: 140-1524mm/ 5.5-60in Maximumpayload: 9.07kg/20lb Spreader type: None Folded height: 394mm/15.5in Weight: 1.29kg/2.8lb And one of the legs has a plastic attachment, holding a very useful tool that has two hex wrenches. But this is easy to knock out of place, so be warned. The tripod comes in a rather snug-fitting case to hammer home its compact dimensions. But, this makes it hard to get the tripod inside, and if you apply a different head then it certainly won’t fit. However, that’s a pretty minor moan on such a well- designed set of sticks. PROMOVIEMAKERRATING: 9/10 Incredibly compact and light, ideal for small cameras Pros: Super light and tiny Cons: No separate pan or tilt control
packs down tightly inside a carry bag (above left); the head is ball- style (top right); and the mini tool is easily knocked off (above right)
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