Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod.

[Brian L]

Does anyone here have this tripod? Do you like it. It's a bit pricey (all their products are, but IMO the ones I have, are very well made, and made in the USA). I particularly like the snap locks for the legs, vs the twist lock. Planning an Alaska trip in May and this is around 1.5 lbs!

I know this has been discussed before, but wanted an update.

Travel Tripod | Peak Design Official Site

The award-winning professional travel tripod that packs down to the diameter of a water bottle, without compromising height, stability, or features.

www.peakdesign.com

Hi, I asked the same question on another recent thread I posted. At the time I too was leaning to the PD travel tripod. Many endorsed it.

So, I visited The Camera Store here in Calgary, fully intending to buy it. But I got talking with the associate there and he asked me whati intended using it for. In my case, it’s pure travel, visiting as a tourist other countries and cities. Given my needs, he sold me on a Leophoto LX-254 carbon tripod, much lighter and more compact, at close to half the price of the PD.

Thats right. The sales guy convinced me to by the cheaper alternative.

if I were going to Alaska for wildlife, I’d take my wildlife tripod, FLM with the Flexshooter head. But, then again, I use lightweight lenses, 600mm 6.3 pf on my Z8 and 150-400mm 4.5 TC on my OM1, so rarely use a tripod for birds and wildlife these days. To me, my monopod with the Wimberley head is more than enough and very light and compact.

 

[viper699]

It seems like a lot of money for a carbon fiber tripod

Agreed- when it was launched all the reviews I saw all had something like “Is it worth 600$”

 

[viper699]

It seems like a lot of money for a carbon fiber tripod. I have used Sirui tripods with great success and are just as small and light. Maybe this one would suit:
Without head:

Waterproof Carbon Fiber Tripod Kit

Buy the SIRUI ST-224+ST-20 Carbon Fiber Tripod. Get a sturdy and reliable support system for your camera with our professional range of tripods.

store.sirui.com

With K10X Head:

Waterproof Carbon Fiber Tripod Kit ST-124+K-10X ST-125+K-10X

Buy the SIRUI VH-10 Fluid Video Head with Quick Release Plate. Get a sturdy and reliable support system for your camera with our range of tripods.

store.sirui.com

Specs suggest just as light, just as small and extends to similar heights etc. Has a load rating of 12kg and supposedly waterproof. The KX10 ball head that comes with it is 390gms and a load of 20kg.
I know it doesn't have the snap lock legs but the twist type are almost as fast to deploy - only 3 per leg rather than the snap locks of the Peak Design's 4 per leg. However, if you are shooting with a tripod you aren't necessarily after speed.
However, I have a Leophoto LH-40 ball head at 450gms for my Sirui which is an older version Sirui T-1204X. It has been perfect for my Z8 + 24-70 f2.8 etc.

​

The bottom link- nice one for me I think. I wonder how water proof their claim is re sand/grit.

Will have to find some reviews, put this on my wishlist

 

[Flemming Morgan]

I also have this tripod in the carbon fibre version and am very happy with it. I changed the balllhead but it’s a great tripod for travel.

 

[Webbie!]

This is a great alternative for a travel tripod, and Benro has these in their Specials - Open Box from time to time. I snagged one for $140.

Benro CyanBird Carbon Fiber 5 Section Tripod w/FS20PRO 2 in 1 Head

This lightweight and travel-friendly tripod is perfect for photo, video, and content creation, and is made with lightweight Carbon Fiber with a sleek ocean blue design. It extends to over 60 inches high and easily folds down to just 17.1 inches, making it the perfect fit for any backpack or...

benrousa.com

 

[agrumpybirdphotographer]

Does anyone here have this tripod? Do you like it. It's a bit pricey (all their products are, but IMO the ones I have, are very well made, and made in the USA). I particularly like the snap locks for the legs, vs the twist lock. Planning an Alaska trip in May and this is around 1.5 lbs!

I know this has been discussed before, but wanted an update.

Travel Tripod | Peak Design Official Site

The award-winning professional travel tripod that packs down to the diameter of a water bottle, without compromising height, stability, or features.

www.peakdesign.com

Yip I bought one very recently. Build quality superb as per usual PD standards, not used it alot as yet but plan to take it on upcoming holiday. Abroad l intend to use the head it comes with as it will be landscapes/nightscapes. The supplied head is a faff for telephotos’s but I bought the plate accessory and used that with a Markins BH and their BV-22 BH accessory.

In short very light, superb build quality, seems stable and compact, not cheap but and I thought long and hard before commiting and I have found out to my cost many times buy cheap buy twice. ….

I’m more likely to travel with this tripod than any tripod Ive owned,

Hope this helps.

 

[RonV2]

Does anyone here have this tripod? Do you like it. It's a bit pricey (all their products are, but IMO the ones I have, are very well made, and made in the USA). I particularly like the snap locks for the legs, vs the twist lock. Planning an Alaska trip in May and this is around 1.5 lbs!

I know this has been discussed before, but wanted an update.

Travel Tripod | Peak Design Official Site

The award-winning professional travel tripod that packs down to the diameter of a water bottle, without compromising height, stability, or features.

www.peakdesign.com

I have this tripod and love it; however, I replaced the head with a small RSS head. The included head make work for. I highly recommend the tripod. It opens fast and stays in place.

 

[sib]

One could ask the same about Apple products ( )

(Note - I buy plenty of Apple products anyway...)

Huh. Thanks, I did not know that! I wonder then why they are so pricey?

 

[Wink Jones]

I love my PD Designs Carbon fiber tripod. I replaced a $100 cheap metal tripod that I used for my first Milky Way photo and have been forever grateful.

It may be expensive, but it works well for me.

I paid too much for my camera too, but I love it also. Although, frankly, if I didn’t love wildlife so much, I could just use my phone. Those five and six hundred mm shots just are not yet available on my phone.

 

[ccirelli]

I have it, and it quickly became a favorite. Some of the features / mechanisms take some getting used to, but it's basic muscle memory just like any other new tool. Very compact, light weight, typical PD top build quality, and comes with a very nice carry case that adds very little bulk when carrying (it can also attach to PD anchors and a strap to sling across your back / side).

NOTE: Given the number of wildlife folks here, I should add - I don't use this PD travel tripod with my long lens. I have a larger Oben carbon fiber tripod and a gimbal but most of the time, I just use a monopod and small tilt head for long lens outings.

 

[ccirelli]

Exactly why I wouldn't buy the Ulanzi, just on principle. Not sure about the "better" part. Zero judgement, but personally it always bothers when I see this. Especially when it happens to a company I've support for some time.

They stole Peak Design's design, and then made everything about it better and cheaper.

 

[nmerc_photos]

Exactly why I wouldn't buy the Ulanzi, just on principle. Not sure about the "better" part. Zero judgement, but personally it always bothers when I see this. Especially when it happens to a company I've support for some time.

I take the opposite stance, and it bothers me that Peak Design inflates their price just based on greed alone.

Why be mad at a competitor for offering you a better product for at a lower price point, while defending a company that is gouging you on price?

Clearly Peak Design isn't doing anything patented or special with their design, such that other companies couldn't follow the same blueprints.

Differing opinions for sure

 

[ccirelli]

PD's prices are based on the quality of the design / materials / build. But yes in general, blatant theft of design from foreign under-cutters does bother me a lot. Even if it benefits some consumers financially. I see this with PD probably more than any other company in this category, likely because of their innovative design and engineering approach.

Ya it's inevitable, it happens, but I don't like or support it. At least knowingly / for me. Not trying to convince anyone just stating my position, it's all good.

Some pages / info, if interested:

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/04/amazon-accused-of-copying-camera-gearmaker-peak-designs-top-selling-item-.html

Directory Contents

peakd.net

I take the opposite stance, and it bothers me that Peak Design inflates their price just based on greed alone.

Why be mad at a competitor for offering you a better product for at a lower price point, while defending a company that is gouging you on price?

Clearly Peak Design isn't doing anything patented or special with their design, such that other companies couldn't follow the same blueprints.

Differing opinions for sure

 

[Carmel Nikon]

Wow, I totally LOVE Peak Design's humorous ad highlighting the Amazon knock-off of their sling bag! Whatever one may think about Peak Design, it seems rare that a firm can galvanize their consumers to help push back against a copycat competitor. Good on them.

Peak Design has a page listing their many patents (link below), and clearly they spend money to protect their intellectual property (filing for patents isn't cheap). Whether one thinks they are a sleazy, greed machine or a firm that has earned their margins through innovation (similar to Apple and other firms like it), one has to admit they are innovative, as evidenced by convincing the US Patent and Trademark Office as well as other nations' patent systems (UK, EU, China, etc.) that their products are novel enough to be granted patent protection.
Peak Design patent page

 

[riseform]

Yesterday I happened to see a video of Lee Hoy unboxing a new FotoPro Origin Plus Travel tripod where he stated he did not like the Peak design travel tripod because it was unsteady and he could easily flex the legs when held in his hands.

The new FotoPro had the snap locks for the legs, but it was basically a quick evaluation and unboxing video.

 

[MoMoChee]

Yesterday I happened to see a video of Lee Hoy unboxing a new FotoPro Origin Plus Travel tripod where he stated he did not like the Peak design travel tripod because it was unsteady and he could easily flex the legs when held in his hands.

The new FotoPro had the snap locks for the legs, but it was basically a quick evaluation and unboxing video.

At 6:04 in the video he shows how easily the PD legs flex.

FotoPro Origin Plus Travel tripod looks like a stiffer PD with less sexy head but more functional.

There are talks of PD working on a another tripod. Not sure if it is entirely different type or a revision to their current travel tripod.

 

[StarTracker50]

Exactly why I wouldn't buy the Ulanzi, just on principle. Not sure about the "better" part. Zero judgement, but personally it always bothers when I see this. Especially when it happens to a company I've support for some time.

Thank you, everyone for your comments and critiques, very much appreciated.

I have mixed feelings about buying a so called "copied" product. Innovation is ALWAYS copied. Somebody comes up with a good idea and everyone rushes to market with something similar. American car companies for example, rushed to copy the more reliable Japanese products many years ago. I'm not sure if they've caught up yet. Sometimes the "knock-offs" are cheap imitations, sometimes they start with a concept of that design, and actually make a better product. In the case of the Ulanzi Coman design, I believe that is the case, and that's why I just ordered one.

On the subject of Peak Design, I don't necessarily attribute their pricing to greed. They offer a lifetime warranty, and that should be worth something. That being said, if this AMERICAN company manufactured IN the USA, I would gladly shell out $600, to buy an American designed AND made product. But when they ship overseas, IMO, they are now on a level playing field with ALL Chinese made products. So, to compete, they either lower their price (assuming they have recovered their initial cost), or risk me going somewhere else.

BTW I own several PD products that I believe ARE better, even though pricey!

My decision was to go somewhere else. Only time will tell if I made the right decision. Thanks again, for all your help.