Ultimate Travel Tripod?

sHo0sH · 23 May 2019 at 15:14

Just saw this on kickstarter and I think it looks like a bit of a gamechanger.

I'm a real big fan of the peakdesign stuff and an original kickstarter backer from their clip/leash days. I think this will get a pre-order as well!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/peak-design/travel-tripod-by-peak-design?ref=e2fc9s

Raymond Lin · 23 May 2019 at 16:09

The biggest thing going for it is it’s closed diameter. Length wise it isn’t the shortest and it isn’t the lightest.

So….Pros
It’s narrow when closed
It has a nifty phone holder

Con
Fixed head
The head also isn’t full free at all angles (in Northorp’s video)
5 extensions so not as stable as a 4 extensions
Camera blocking level bubble
No D-ring on the lock or coin lock. Needs a tool.

The nitpicks are that"-

Not cheaper than its competitors
It doesn’t double lock on placement
Clip lock is great, my preferred but it’s not unique to it.
Also unknown reliability, like how easy it is to clear if you get sand in it.
It will be an excellent travel tripod but it’s not one I would have in terms of using it on a work shoot. I like the D-ring, I like something solid and can change the head.

I recently bought a Gitzo, same price as the Peak Design but a time tested design, just slightly thicker.

i know nothing · 23 May 2019 at 17:17

Looks pretty flimsy to me. Pricing is ridiculous.

GSXRMovistar · 23 May 2019 at 17:42

The fact that it's been pushed to so many 'influencers' on YouTube makes me think it needs more help than just standing on its on merits. Very pricey and would consider weight to be a more important factor than size and as above its not the lightest.

Terminal_Boy · 23 May 2019 at 17:46

Why did Peak Design decide on using Kickstarter for this? As I see their products in any decent camera store, I’d have thought that they’d have the money to develop this in-house.

doodah · 23 May 2019 at 18:34

Liked the look of it and then saw Tony's video....and then saw the price. No thanks.

Raymond Lin · 23 May 2019 at 18:38

Terminal_Boy said:
Why did Peak Design decide on using Kickstarter for this? As I see their products in any decent camera store, I’d have thought that they’d have the money to develop this in-house.

So people are literally funding this for them, they don't need to find the money to create stock and worry whether they can sell it. Now it is basically pre-order and build to order.

No risk, with a lower profit, sure but it also get more attention in more hands.

The_Abyss · 24 May 2019 at 00:12

Pricing is ludicrous. And they've spammed this to literally every other YouTube photography channel - under a time embargo too.

And · 24 May 2019 at 07:29

I don't think the pricing is so bad but personally outdoors I wouldn't be shooting with a centre column extended.

Raymond Lin · 24 May 2019 at 09:13

And said:
I don't think the pricing is so bad but personally outdoors I wouldn't be shooting with a centre column extended.

The pricing is okay, especially if you are backing it and get it for about £400. Not so much at full price, that is Gitzo territory.

Terminal_Boy · 24 May 2019 at 09:23

Raymond Lin said:
So people are literally funding this for them, they don't need to find the money to create stock and worry whether they can sell it. Now it is basically pre-order and build to order.

No risk, with a lower profit, sure but it also get more attention in more hands.

Fair enough. Surprised that so many punters were so keen to help PD maximise their profits this way.

Price is bonkers. I picked up my Velbon UT43DII for around £100 4-5 years ago and while I can see that the carbon PD is a nice piece or gear, there’s no way it’s worth 5 time that even for pro photographers.

Drollic · 24 May 2019 at 09:36

If you're using a normal everyday backpack, the biggest issue is the length of the tripod normally.

Raymond Lin · 24 May 2019 at 09:40

Terminal_Boy said:
Fair enough. Surprised that so many punters were so keen to help PD maximise their profits this way.

Price is bonkers. I picked up my Velbon UT43DII for around £100 4-5 years ago and while I can see that the carbon PD is a nice piece or gear, there’s no way it’s worth 5 time that even for pro photographers.

Carbon Fibre is worth it, especially for a travel tripod. Actually, I think the price isn't that big an obstacle to overcome if you use your tripod a lot and carry it everywhere.

The biggest hurdle to overcome is that fixed ball head and unknown reliability.

sHo0sH · 24 May 2019 at 11:35

Terminal_Boy said:
Why did Peak Design decide on using Kickstarter for this? As I see their products in any decent camera store, I’d have thought that they’d have the money to develop this in-house.

Peak designs are a Kickstarter success story. They started off with one product on there years ago and have built upon that. When they have a new release they often go back to Kickstarter for it.

Tysonator · 25 May 2019 at 20:41

The Peak Design travel Tripod is a great innovation especially its closed footprint as it is so small !
The price is pretty steep !

Bearjamin · 19 Jul 2019 at 23:02

I backed the Vixari tripod and still think it's pretty nifty.

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...-tripod-ever-created-for-phone-ds/description

I did back it like a year and a half ago and has been plagued be delays, but it's neeeaaaarly ready to ship now.