the NEW king of travel tripods?? Peak Design Travel Tripod vs the NEW Freewell Real Travel Tripod!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ก.ค. 2024
- Which travel tripod do YOU think is the best? Is the Peak Design dethroned?
🔴 Freewell Real Travel Tripod: geni.us/9Q1EnST (save $50 for the first two weeks!)
🔴 Peak Design Travel Tripod (Carbon Fiber): geni.us/PDtripodCF
🔴 Peak Design Travel Tripod (Aluminum): geni.us/PDtripodAL
Full spec comparison in chart form (including weight capacity) is here photojoseph.com/yt/freewell-v...
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00:00 Start
00:25 Tripod carrying case
01:39 Folded length
02:10 Design aesthetics
03:06 Tabletop setup (non-extended legs)
03:28 Two stop vs three stop leg spread
03:57 Included accessories (AirTag holder!)
05:12 Tripod heads
07:15 Camera mounting plates
08:04 Phone mounting hidden accessories
09:48 Bottom hook (camera bag / stabilization hook)
10:36 Disassembling center column (shorten column)
11:33 How low can you go? (lowest point comparison)
12:29 Inverted center column mounting
13:08 Tripod weights
13:47 Leg opening mechanisms
14:34 Freewell monopod feature!
15:07 Freewell 1/4-20 mounting points
17:22 Setup speeds
18:23 Maximum heights
19:21 Price of Freewell vs PeakDesign (and some final thoughts)
Introduction:
This comparison explores the Peak Design Travel Tripod and the Freewell Real Travel Tripod, analyzing their design, accessories, setup speed, weight, and prices.
Case Design:
Comparing cases, Peak Design's is slightly larger with a non-adjustable handle, while Freewell's offers more versatility with a traditional strap.
Size and Aesthetic Design:
Peak Design's elegant, compact hexagonal design contrasts with Freewell's traditional round style. Peak Design's sleekness may appeal to users seeking a visually striking option.
Tabletop Setup:
Peak Design offers a slightly lower minimum height, but Freewell's extra leg expansion stage allows potential lower settings.
Accessories:
Both tripods provide a tool for tightening, while Freewell features an AirTag holder for added security.
Head Design:
Peak Design's traditional ball head vs. Freewell's combination of a video and ball head. Videographers will need to pay special attention to this difference.
Quick-Release Plate:
Both feature unique quick release plates; the Peak Design is compatible with other PD accessories and the Freewell incorporates a phone holder in its plate. (The Peak Design also has a phone holder hidden in its center column).
Center Column Disassembly:
Both allow disassembly for lower placement, and column inversion for on-the-ground camera placement.
Setup Speed and Weight:
Freewell's single-release mechanism offers quicker setup, and its significantly lighter weight is crucial for portability.
Price Considerations:
Peak Design's excellence comes at a higher cost: $380 for aluminum and $600 for carbon fiber. Freewell offers competitive pricing at $300, with an early launch special at $250.
Conclusion:
Choosing between Peak Design and Freewell depends on individual preferences, needs, and budget. This comparison provides insights for an informed decision.
⚠️ DISCLAIMER ⚠️ I am a professional content creator; a photographer, TH-camr, filmmaker, and ALSO a Panasonic LUMIX Ambassador. This means I am SPONSORED by Panasonic and therefore am naturally biased towards their gear. I regularly state this in my videos, but in case I don't say it, it's still true. Thanks for watching!
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What a great video, exactly all the questions I would ask and seeing it the way you do your video, is just as good as having to buy both tripods to see for myself! Thank you!
Love that!
Very nice video and a clear comparison, well done. I have the Peak Design and am very happy with it
same here.
Sirui Traveler X has the same twist lock legs that the Freewell has, at $130. It is missing a few features like the mono-pod, phone mount and airtag mount, but its still the same legs. You also have the option of ordering a video head or photo head. Would love to see the two directly compared. Then you have Fotopro Aircross 2 that is the same as the Sirui, but with a good rubber grip on 1 leg for $160. They all have the same super fast twist legs and are just under 2 pounds. Great budget options for us APSC shooters ;)
I have the aluminum Peak, got it at the funding they did. I’ve a mefoto tripod with the twist leg for quick deployment. Based on my experience with the mefoto, after a few months of use, the twist mechanism would not lock the legs completely allowing the tripod to slowly slip with weight on the it. Never had that problem with the peak. So 7 sec difference for set up and approximately $90 difference for a secure reliable setup, I well stay with the peak.
Got the PD carbon fiber one during the Kickstarter and it's already gone around Asia. The eyelets on the bag really are meant for the PD anchors so you can attach a strap (which I use regularly when going light with the belt clip for the camera) but the fact that the PD one fits nicely in a water bottle pouch on most bags makes it so easy to pack up. I regret the lack of video features, but I do more travel/run and gun photos than video work.
Awesome, thanks for sharing. The additional cost for the minimal weight difference was too much for me to carry (ha) back then, but I don’t regret the aluminum one at all.
What a fantastic video. Thank you so much for putting in the effort. I'm in the market for a new tripod but unfortunately neither of these are tall enough for my use case. Subscribed.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video about tripods! Thank you! I am a new subscriber to your video channel!
Thanks for the sub!
I appreciate the in-depth comparison!! Great job!
Thanks for watching!
Good comparison, but I wish you had also looked at the stiffness and damping (important for low shutter speeds), and gear weight.
I have never seen any presenter/TH-camr who showed a lightweight travel tripod show a test of the tripod's stiffness and damping. I once did my test of Sirui N1205 vs Ulazni & Coman Zero Y (or something like this). I set up the camera with a 200mm lens, set the digital magnification to 10x on the screen and... touched the tripod. Sirui trembled but suppressed it within an acceptable amount of time, Ulanzi twitched and twitched and twitched (you can get scared). After unscrewing the head, the weight of Sirui is 1100g, the weight of Ulanzi with the central column removed (and of course the head) is 900g. There's no need to get excited, you can't cheat the laws of physics.
Got two asap. If I like the Freewell enough over the year. Ill get 2 or 3 more during this years Black Friday sales. ;) Thank you for reviewing this Joseph.
Nice!
Nice Video, I currently have the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod, along with RRS Versa MK2 TVC-34L, I absolutely love the Peak Design Tripod, it is extremely easy to pack, and the carrying pouch, when traveling by Airlines, the PD is the one that's always carried since it compact enough to carry on with my Camera Gear, and easily attached to my PD 30L Everyday Backpack. When a Fluid Head is needed, the PD Tripod can accommodate the Komoto K5 S without any problems, I use this combination with my Nikon Zf and Z8, and use the RRS Tripod for my Z9 and heavier Lens, but, hands down, the PD Travel Tripod is a thing of Beauty, and is definitely built for travel.
A reasonable comparison, yet stability is something that needs to be discussed. A few notes: (1) Any Peak Design shoulder strap mounts easily on the bag loops. (2) Snap a small panning head with Arca Swiss foot onto the PD head itself and get any kind of panning action you want, when you need it. (3) The Peak Design tripod description video shows a method for opening and extending the legs that is much faster than shown here.
To quickly open and close a PD Tripod, rotate your hand around the tripod in the closed position, in a smooth circular motion.This opens all the cam locks together. Then Extend the legs together. You use the same motion to close the legs but you can only do 3 locks at a time. Overall, you will find that it will be pretty close to the Freewell in set up time. Using a fine tool like this is a joy. And, keep your tools in a pouch in your camera bag. You are just asking for trouble using the leg mount. I bought the Carbon Fibre with the optional Universal Head Adapter for a video setup.
Enjoyed~that is unreal travel- godspeed~;)
Thanks!
Great comparison, the new Freewell tripod seems like a worthy competitor to the Peak Design travel tripod. Great video, thanks for sharing.
And thanks for watching!
So great to see you back online and making videos.
Thanks Tom! It’s really good to be back ☺️
Great video, informative, fair, fun.
Glad you enjoyed it! That’s what I was going for!
I'll stay with my PD as I have come to really love it.
Truly a great tripod
Great comparison. Just know that with the PD you can lock/unlock legs with them all together (not spread apart) and you can do it much quicker.
Someone else scolded me on that. Good to know! I probably have done that in the past, without even thinking about it to be honest. Making videos is hard! Ha ha.
@@photojoseph nah don't mind. I don't think it invalidates anything else you said which has been very thorough. Just was funny to see doing it with the legs open, seemed counterintuitive haha. I own the PD but don't love the ballhead quirks. The rest is quite good, specially stability for the size/weight. Just not the best bang for the buck nowadays, after years of others copying features and improving their models. And more and more I can get by on trips without it and just taking the smaller Mantispod.
Thanks, Joseph. Very nice and interesting comparative review!
But I've actually got Ulanzi OMBRA two years ago for just 56 USD and very happy with it 🙂
Happiness with our gear is all we can ask for!
Tip on extending the PD tripod legs quickly: have the three legs together, unlock all levers at once, extend (legs still together), lock, then spread the legs, done. You could even unlock it, turn it upside down and shake it out to extend, then lock and spread and that would be a bit quicker.
Great video, Joseph! Happy to see you back at it. Your new studio space is 🔥
I have the Peak Design TT carbon fiber. Very happy with it. Remember that there is a PD adapter that allows one to remove the head and install ~any other on it, such as a video head or a Platyball. I did it with my Platyball, which does have panning.
Thank you! Yeah I'm pretty happy with the studio 😊 So about the head -- that's interesting, I didn't know that. Someone else inferred that you could swap the head, and I guess this is what they meant. Cool!
@@photojoseph I was about to post the same comment. I, too, have the carbon fiber version (Kickstarter) and I took advantage of the add-ons which included the PD head adapter. I have found times where the regular PD head wasn't quite what I needed, so I changed out the head mount and added my own panhead (Platyball head) to it. So very convertible!
@wcareyphoto that’s awesome!
Thanks Joseph, nice to see the difference in features, size etc but would have been great to see an actual usage review. Which is more stable, which has more flex, which fares best in winds, which fares better on uneven ground. At the end of the day those are the things which really matter. I have a K&F carbon fibre travel tripod which folds smaller than either of those and is just a few grams heavier than the Freewell and extends to 158cm. I'm looking to upgrade but although its important to know the features and differences, it really helps to see the performance
Hey PhotoJoseph, I miss your Nik Collection tutorials! Cheers.
I miss doing those! Unfortunately DxO stopped doing all those webinar a couple of years ago. Really too bad!
That new tripod is my dream go-to way to do it. Def gonna buy one
I love my PD tripod for the weight etc. when I bought it I did not release that I would not be able to use it for panoramas though. I guess the Freewell head would allow that. Having invested in the carbon fibre PD I don’t think that I’ll be changing any time soon. Good to see a similar alternative though should I ever need a new tripod
I am looking for a tripod that is more focused on recording function. I have never seen the Freewell tripod. It is lightweight and has the function of a monopod. This surprised me and introduced me to this new product. Well done. brother
Glad to hear it helped!
One of the best reviews I’ve seen! Very thorough and straight forward. Being a tall person (6’-5”) I am not sure either would work for me. However, I would lean towards the Peak Design because it seems a bit sturdier with the wider initial stance and the taller triangular section (shorter center bar). I like the idea of a removable leg for a monopod, but it’s just too short fro be of much use.
Did I mention you can attach the center column to the monopod leg? That might help!
@@photojoseph I didn’t hear that. It may make a significant difference. Thanks!
Excelente vídeo. Compare também HEIPI Travel Tripod e o Neewer TP30
i have the Manfrotto 055cxpro with a 322rc2 head. it is no traveltripod, but good. Good video, thanks
My Peak carbon fibre tripod is a thing of outstanding beauty, design and part of an eco system. The other tripod had some nice little touches (snigger) ❤
Haha I get it, I get it!
Just subbed Joseph. Really liked the video and you taught me a lot about DxO back in the day
Very in depth review, although as an owner of the PD Carbon Fiber (Kickstarter) I am curious as to how you find the adjustability of the Freewell when needing odd length legs to accomodate for terrain variability... other reviews suggest that the click system isn't refined and fails to lock at anything other than a full length of a given leg.
I haven’t had an issue with it locking at varying lengths. In fact I just used it yesterday at less-than-full and it’s fine. But I will say that it’s easier to slightly adjust the length once extended on the PD.
I got mine through Kickstarter also and love it ❤!!! Besides the head which is definitely not appropriate for video or bird photography (hey, you can’t have it all, right?), this thing is the most brilliantly executed tripod I’ve ever seen! It holds everything from an iPhone to a medium format camera with a good chunk of a lens….sturdy!!!
The weight/sturdiness ratio is unbeatable according to this tripod review-test site which measures stability (I don’t remember its name though).
Don’t forget it’s a travel tripod! For studio work I’d suggest something bigger too. Beautiful design. It can’t get better!
I use a pano rail also with. Perfect combo
Awesome!
Wondering why you don’t test for stability. Also the foot configuration.
Yeah I should have done something for stability. Sorry. Foot config; not sure what you mean. You see the feet in plenty of close-ups, no?
Peak design is the work of art I used carbon one and love it😊
Tripods will always have a place, but with new cameras like the G9II or the GH6 you can get by with out one most of the time with the IBIS.. I really want to travel lite.
The Fotopro X-Aircross 3 lite @$199 is another great contender for "the King" of travel tripods. I love them so much I bought two! One thing's for sure is that there's never been a better time for selecting a travel tripod!
Awesome. I’m learning of a few from the comments I’d never seen before. Awesome!
Something you missed about faster setup with the Peak Design (and many other tripods) is to NOT unfold the legs. First, just run your hand around all the locks and disengage, then extend all the legs together, then run your hand around each level of locks. Finally, spread the legs open. I can do this in half the time!
Nice!
I swear by my PD travel tripod. It costs more, and if you are on a budget, save money where it makes sense for you. The tripod is the thing that holds up all your expensive gear, and it is something you will use with multiple lenses that probably cost more than the tripod. Using a good one helps more than you realize until you actually use one. I would point out the PD advertises how they build in the US and pay workers living wages. Their video slamming Amazon Basics copying their design was priceless. They also promote the sell of their customers' used gear as a form of recycling. If this kind of corporate behavior means something to you, then factor that in. They will also sell you parts if anything is broken or worn out. I haven't had either over the last few years, but it is nice knowing I do not have to be a dealer to get and new leg section should one break.
I do use Freewell Magnetic filters, so it isn't like I can't stand them. The PD Travel Tripod is just really good. It fits in an airport carry on, but without a ton of room to spare..
well. It's great to see you opinion about new heipi carbon tripod:D
🤨
I own the Ulanzi/Comen f38 tripod. I love the f38 system. The tripod compares greatly to the PD but has smooth panning. I also have the PD aluminum. It's cool, BUT I just don't like the head. The Ulanzi wins. MORE IMPORTANTLY, I want to get HEIPI travel tripod which I think truly is the king of all travel tripods. I can always move to other tripods and still use the f38 system with a 20ish dollar adapter plate. HEIPI is what i dream of all the time, but honestly, I don't use tripods enough to justify buying it when my Ulanzi one does such a fantastic job.
Well heck, now I have research to do 😅
I've got the Ulanzi with an adapter too. It's a great tripod. I also bought the fluid head to go with it.
I believe an even better option is the Ulanzi&Coman zery y carbon 😀 absolutely love that thing. Was torn up between the Ulanzi or the carbon peak design. Have not regretted it for one seccond
Hi Joseph, this is a very good video. You could improve it by also discussing the amount of weight that the respective tripods can support.
Yep. Neglected that; it’s on the website linked in the description photojoseph.com/yt/freewell-vs-peakdesign
So I'm not in love and gushing over my PD tripod, and I likely wouldn't have paid full price for it, but it's done pretty well as a travel tripod. A tip is that you can open and lock all the leg levers together at the same time... just a tad bit faster. I also keep a small ulanzi fluid head on an arcaswiss plate for whenever I need to have a dedicated pan/tilt setup on any of my tripods. These days, max hight w/o a center column and having an integrated leveling base are the two features that I'm looking for in my next tripod.
How do you lock all the levers at the same time when they’re a tripod leg segment apart? Or do you mean on all legs at the same position. Which, yeah o guess I do that but didnt think of it when shooting.
@@photojoseph sorry, not lock all the segments, but you can lock the same segment of all 3 legs at the same time. leave the legs together and you can manipulate the clamp levers more or less at the same time. Then spread the legs. Could probably do something similar with the other tripod.
Got it - yeah I think I have done that!
It's a tough one, because I have the peak camera mount which is a plate that fits on the bottom of the camera. Then again I rarely use a tripod so it's not a big deal. The freeway tripod is far better especially because it has the monopod option. Fantastic review. Thank you. It's the freewell for me. The weight is everything, and if course the price
Thanks! It’s fun to compare to very good products and let the audience decide which is the right one for them 😄
I had a Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod but could not get used to it. Even though it felt secure, it also felt clumsy to set up and adjust.
Regarding the FreeWell Travel Tripod, how easy is it to level out on irregular ground? With my current tripod, I will extend all legs, place 2 legs down hill, and shorten the uphill leg (to taste) using the topmost nut.
It looks like the FreeWell would be a lighter load than my tripod.
The ball head makes it easy to level, even if the feet aren’t!
Two winters ago in Yosemite, I found the Peak Design tool in the snow on Sentinel Bridge. The photographer next to me had the PD tripod and I was all "you want an extra tool?" and he was "I never worried about losing mine, but a back-up doesn't hurt either!"
That is an EPIC story!!
Excellent video. I’ve had my carbon PD for years and still love it. 👍
Right on!
For my use, I do both photo and video, I would buy the Freewell even if the price was the same. The Peak Design looks cool and streamlined and all that, but the Freewell looks and seems to work like a tool. Attachment points are a big bonus and a great time and space saver for improvised "talking head" video etc. Just attach a couple of arms with lights and mics, no light stand needed, and I'm good to go.
The quick setup is another plus. Sometimes 7 seconds can mean the difference between getting the shot or not. Then there's the monopod option, which is great for that single 20 second tricky pan that I would not like to carry a separate monopod for but often have to.
So for an ultra compact work setup, not having to bring a light stand, not having to bring a monopod means only two items to carry; the camera bag and the tripod, the Freewell seems to be an ideal tool for me. If I were just looking for a compact tripod that looks nice together with a Hasselblad and other cool stuff... Peak Design would look very nice in the back of my Porsche. But I don't go on vacation much, and I don't have a Porsche (or a Hasselblad).
Would have been nice if that handle could have been extended though. Even the pans shown on Freewell's own promotional video are not very smooth, and a longer handle would probably help.
Awesome comment. May a Porsche and Hasselblad be one day in your garage 😊
Can you use the peak design plate on the freewell tripod? Or is the Freewell one Arca Swiss compatible at all? Would be great to know. Gread vid Joseph!
They are not compatible with each other. I don’t recall what each one is compatible with but I do remember trying to swap them and that didn’t work.
@@photojoseph thank you!
Peak Design wins on every aspect for me. Especially on aesthetics it's miles better. Also I have zero interest in a video handle on my ballhead,so...
Great video, I had not heard of the Freewell, I have the PD Carbon and love it, I don’t shoot video (anymore) so the integrated ball head is perfect for me. Super compact for travel as well.
I personaly went with the Ulanzi Zero F38, it is like the Peak Design carbon with some improvements and better price. They also make a video version.
I keep hearing that. I guess I need to try it!
@@photojoseph There are a few comparison videos, that's what helped me choose, the tripod and the F38 quick release ecosystem are amazing alternatives to Peak Design versions.
I have a clunkier but more versatile tripod that I love, but that Freewell looks nice, especially the head. I don't need another tripod at the moment, but if they sell the head separately I'd seriously consider getting one.
It is a good head, isn’t it
Even though the Freewell's folding mechanism looks simpler, there may be times when they become more difficult to handle than basic ones, such as when you need a different height for each of the legs. I think this would be a nightmare as it has a locking mechanism at the bottom of the legs 🤔
0:57 - those tabs can be used with Peak Designs anchor links which you can then use with their camera straps so you can carry over your shoulder, a little miss information there, Joseph. ;)
Is the camera strap included? No. Then it’s not “miss information”.
@@photojoseph you mentioned they could be used to attach under a backpack or hiking bag, you should have mentioned that you can use the anchors and camera strap (sold separately) which this case gives you more versatility when carrying as you can remove them and not have a strap flapping around.
Can you remove the head from the Freewell to leave a 1/4" or 3/8" spigot?
Yes; ⅜
And if you need to change the leg length after trying to put it in place in the field you now have to unlock/lock the leg in the midst of brambles, nettles or mud - whatever is on the ground where you placed the tripod. Not always you have the luxury to need all legs the same length or can gauge the needed length before setting them down.
Very fair point
I use the excellent and very versatile Novoflex tripod system.
Nice!
? Would I be okay with heavier 2.8 lenses like the Sigma 160mm Macro, Tamron 24-70, Or the Magic Drainpipe?
I put the weight limits along with full spec comparison on my website. Link in the video description.
Excellent video! Does the Freewell have a lifetime warranty like the Peak Design?
It does! “Limited lifetime warranty”, according to their website.
@@photojoseph Thank you.
Nice points!
If it was up to me though that twist and lock legs should be banned from the universe haha, it's literally the only thing I could never use! I had a tripod with a similar mechanism and it was so painful when trying to level on uneven terrain and/or with heavier setups. In my opinion nothing beats the ease of use of independent levers
Thanks for the great video. I lost the adjustment tool the day I got it :D in the forest. Worse design ever in that regard but I have a hex key on my keychain at all times so no big deal
Cheers
LOL nooo! That’s too bad. Mine is super secure. Weird!
The Ulanzi has the option to remove the head to have just the 3/8 mount to put whatever head you want on, which is why I’m more interested in that one than the peak design and legit for no other reason! I just do not like the limitations of the PD head!
Great video, well made, thank you. Me ? I'd go Freewell (they make good cases, lenses & filters for phones) Good company, ships to the UK. If it were £150 I'd buy one tomorrow. Incredible weight & head.
One spec you omitted is the maximum load. I have the Heipi travel carbon fibre with a neat 50mm ball head, very quick arca release and a maximum load of 55 pounds or nearly 25 Kg. That's more than twice the capacity of these two contenders. Reasonably priced at £322 that for a carbon fibre is comparable with the PD aluminium.. Otherwise a good review.
You’re right and I realized that too late. The specs are on the comparison chart I published on my website.
I find the most important part of a tripod is the head. I spend quite a bit on a good head. I use heavy lenses and the sag drives me crazy. But a good set of legs is important too. So spending an extra bit on decent legs is a good investment.
Definitely. In other words … both need to be awesome 🤩
I have the Peak CF model and find it very good unless I use an extremely long lens. I think the Freewell may be susceptible to dirt getting not the leg mechanism. That said, the Freewell looks like a good tripod. I'm kind of a tripod junky and have 10 different tripods and each gets used for different things,
Tripods are a lot like bags. WE NEED THEM ALL 😂
Both of those are too expensive for me and I don’t need a tripod in my suitcase. That said you did not show if the Freewell can be set up at less than full height. I know that the PD can because of the clamp design. I prefer the clamp design over an internal clutch which after time can fail or slip. I also would not cantilever my Manfrotto magic arm from a 1/2”-20 bolt The arm itself weighs over 2 pounds. If cost was not an issue I would go for the PD based on your review only because of the leg design. Otherwise I like the Freewell better. Great review.
Thanks! And yes both can be set up part-way.
Interesting review.; thank you. The biggest issue I have had with "travel tripods" is how quickly they fold up and are stored in their respective bag. I find that most, similar to the Freewell, take a tremendous amount of fiddling and time to get them to fit in their storage bag. The Peak Design appears to be easier to store; is that true?
The Peak definitely slides in nice and easily. It’s tight but when you close the tripod there’s only one place for pieces to go. The Freewell, you do have to have the handle positioned just right. It’s not a big deal, but it is a difference.
Thank you!@@photojoseph
Peak design makes some beautiful products with a lot of practical features but you do pay a premium price for all that engineering work - which is kind of understandable. For pure photo work I'd take the Peak design but if you want to combine it with video then the Freewell. I thought Smallrig also had a Peak design-esque travel tripod and there was another Chinese brand I think those would likely be cheaper than the PD.
Yeah I agree. And it’s Neewar that totally ripped off the PD design. Even amazon ripped off the PD sling bag. Of course none of the material or craftsmanship are anywhere near the quality of Peak Design. You do get what you pay for!
How do you adjust the Freewell leg height lower once it is setup? I think reducing the amount of time and effort it takes to setup a tripod when filming yourself is everything. Less friction. Less effort. More shots. Freewell looks amazing in this regard.
Just twist and turn. Same as setup. It can be locked at any position. The lock is at the base though so you’ll need to tilt the tripod to twist that open if you want to adjust the leg length once set up.
@@photojosephAh, I was afraid that would be the answer. So, just to be clear, there is no way to adjust the segments separately without lifting up and twisting bottom of leg?
@landscapesandmotion correct.
@@jessejayphotographythis is a deal breaker for me. No way I am bending over in the snow to grab a knob at the bottom of the tripod to adjust one leg
@dan.allen.digital extremely fair observation!!
The screw that fits thru the plate into the camera is extremely short on every tripod. I imagine cameras simply don’t have room for longer screws? As a result, my camera eventually loosens no matter how tightly I have screwed it in - every time. I’ve almost knocked my camera off more than once. How do I prevent this? Thank you for your help.
Yeah the holes are only so deep. You just gotta keep checking it. Hard to imagine that you wouldn’t see that it’s that loose before attaching it to the tripod? Also you could try a lock tight liquid; it’s like a glue for screws. Not permanent but extra sticky.
@@photojoseph ok, thank you. Using a lock tight liquid may be the answer. Yes, I always tighten everything before attaching. I don’t understand why it loosens so easily. Thanks for the tip.
Honest question. I already own the Peak Design carbon fiber and I love it... with one big exception. I hate HATE the ballhead on it. I know the peak design is set up in a way to remove the ballhead and put in third party heads. Could you try and see if you can move the ballhead from the freewell tripod and put it onto the peak design? I really really love that ballhead from everything I've seen from it.
That's all, I'd love to know if it's possible.
I don't see how the PD head can be removed. You can split the column, but that's it. The Freewell has a standard head plate (go to the monopod chapter; you can see how I've removed the head) but the PD has no such thing. The head and ball and column are very integrated. Besides if you did replace the head, it'd. just be a regular tripod. Why not just use the Freewell in its entirety?
It's called the PD Universal Head Adapter. I bought mine at @PaulsPhoto @@photojoseph
ahhhhh OK then! So it's a separate adapter, cool.
Regarding the „emergency phone holder“: Probably it‘s meant for situations when you have to use your phone instead of your dedicated camera because that one broke. Which would be an emergency situation for some people. 😁 🚑
haha you know, that's a really good point - I definitely didn't think of it that way!!
My personal case I do a lot of video so I would probably get the freewell
2:17 Yes, for some reason guys think gear can be beautiful.
I don't know if we appreciate the care, the engineering or something else but it is definitely there.
It’s not just guys! Quality engineering _is_ art. And this definitely gets the badge.
I just bought Fotopro Tripod (with fluid head), is designed same as Freewell, but the its price is lower.
PD should fix that tool carrying plastic - I have dropped that many many times
I think I would get the Freewell.
hie photojoseph, l ordered my gh5 last year December as my hybrid camera from uk, l've been buying equipment so that it can be shipped at once since l live in Zimbabwe [Africa] l specialise in events documentary and weddings l thing a gh5 would be great for that but l need a 2nd camera equally capable but geared towards stills, lm eyeing for the gh4, g7, g85, g9 or just getting a second gh5. i was using canon entry-level dslr for a while so lm also worried my flash triggers might not be compatible with lumix.
GH5 is a good idea so you have a backup for video, and your muscle memory of the cameras buttons doesn’t have to change as you switch cameras. The G9 is the next alternative I would suggest. It’s a great camera for still photography and very capable at video as well. As for your Canon light triggers; they probably are not going to work. Definitely not for any kind of automatic TTL lighting but you might be able to get them to work as just dumb triggers. Good luck!
@photojoseph thanks man really helpful, l just watch your video on the flash lights and twas really helpful
Still PD is the best 👍
what's the camera weight limit?
Check the link in description to my site with more info. It’s all there.
Very detailed review! For the Freewell, are you able to take the head off to fit in a carry on better? I imagine it can be unscrewed?
Yes you can!
good review , personally I'd take the ULANZI Zero Y Travel Tripod over both of them
Seems a popular choice!
The weight difference is partly due to the total height.
Fair! However it’s ⅓ lighter, but not ⅓ shorter.
What a "great" way to change legs length - seems like someone travels only to very clean places where is no mud and dirt :D I own Ulanzi Zero Y with Manfrotto ballhead - best choice for me :) You should test how quick you can make a small adjust to legs length with camera mounted on each of this tripods, but in their target environment - in the mountains, forest or at the lake.
That would be a good test… sorry I couldn't cover it all!
I have the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod. Yes it's expensive, but it's really really stable. Peak Design sell a universal head adapter, to which you can mount any tripod head, such as a particularly fancy video fluid video head, should that be required. I often do not deploy the tripod to its full extent and the separation of leg deployment make this really easy. How does the Freewell deploy for partial leg deployment, is it easy or rather fiddly please?
Easy! Just twist at any point. As others have pointed out, though, the single locking mechanism does end up on the ground so it’s a little harder to adjust once it’s set up.
Has anyone seen the Heipi ? It’s a good one!
I do have the Heipi W28 and I love it. Excellent tripod.
Lowest position didn't reflect a true measurement because the Peak would have to be lifted a bit to have the ball functionality.
Fair, but, invert as I said and they’re both on the ground.
So..... you don't like to be corrected? 🤣@@photojoseph
My Benro Cyanbird Carb Tripod+FS20PRO head is much better 💪🏼
didn't show if Freewell can set legs at different lengths for uneven ground. Only showed fully extended. Can it do that?
Yes it can. You can lock the legs at any position.
I’d forget the PD and compare to the Ulanzi
The Ulanzi appears to be (appears being operative word… I have not seen it in person) a design rip-off of the PD. Most PD ripoffs are inferior quality; how good is it?
@@photojoseph I haven’t used the Ulanzi. I did rent the PD last summer. From much research on all specifics and videos I watched the Ulanzi seemed to be superior for several worthy reasons. One of which is positioning the camera on the head on the Ulanzi where as the PD is more limited
Your set uo speed is not fair: you can set up all three legs of the pd all together! Whatch pd video!
I hardly think I’m being unfair to the PD. I’ve owned that tripod since the beginning. If you have to watch a video to learn “how to open it”, then it’s not how most people will open it. I assume you mean to open all three sets of latches while keeping the legs closed. But they all still have to be closed individually. Accept that the single release on the freewell is faster.
You dont have to close the latches one by one on each leg. You close them all together and then you spread out each of the three legs to the 1st angle. I also own and use a pd tripod now for over 2 years and I learned how to use it watching the pd tutorial. And what I say does not mean that pd is better than the other one or that I do not appreciate your video and/or views. Be open to constructive comments.
The little tabs on the Peak Design case are to attach a Peak Design strap. No comparison. The PD is a better sturdier tripod.
Heipi ftw
What do you mean the peak design is not as versatile regarding straps! It is designed to connect a peak design strap 🤷🏻♂️
So you have to buy another strap or have one of their bags.
@@photojoseph Yes, it is built for that versatility. It can be included at purchase or added after. Had it not got the loops for the peak design connectors then that would be a lack of versatility.
Fair enough
Which one do you think is best? The Freewell Real Travel Tripod geni.us/9Q1EnST, the Peak Design Travel Tripod (Carbon Fiber) geni.us/PDtripodCF or the Peak Design Travel Tripod (Aluminum) geni.us/PDtripodAL ??
I bought a 3.2 lb tripod which does 90% of what those do for $72.... twice as much as I usually pay. Perhaps if I pay more I'll get better photographs.
Or more stable ones. Once you use a good tripod… there’s no going back.
Ulanzi Y is the best by far!
many people seem to agree!