You should take a look at Leofoto MT03 (or even MT04). Combined with a suited ball head it's my choice as a mini tripod. The MT03 is so small it'll fit in almost all camera bags!
The Smallrig legs are fitted with an allen head screw (key supplied) that allows the leg friction to be tightened. That allows them to stay in any position, not just totally splayed out as you have said. Thus the height can be as high as you feel safe within the limits of the unit itself.
True… I just don’t like positioning the legs where they aren’t locked. But you are right, if you tighten down the allen heads, the legs will stay in a position a little better, but I have about four or five of these for work as well, and when they get tossed around and used on show-site, the technicians don’t even bother to think about tightening them, so they end up a bit looser than when they started so any taller positions just are less stable
Top tip: the excellent SmallRig Mini Tripod is actually generic and available cheaper under different brand names, such as Andoer, who also sell a matching telescopic extension pole which can be used between the tripod and ball head for lighting, monitors or small cameras.
hey i want to thank you your video is great and the assembled mini tripod at the end of your video is an inspiration, i want to copy it. sometimes if the tripod legs with the tripod neck are not well fused, the pan function may fool us, so the neck will be dislodged. reflecting on your Zeadio, i remember when i had a zhiyun trm-02 and i regret selling it, maybe i will consider a mini tripod legs like yours.
HI there. Thank you, I'm glad the video was helpful. And yes, I've often been fooled into thinking that a mini ball head has a pan-function when the ball head becomes loose from the legs and the whole thing spins and loosens itself. I've tried using small ball heads that don't have a pan function and it just seems I NEED to use the pan-only function every single time, especially because with these small tripods, I'm often setting up and using them in confined, cramped areas (like desks and live-event streaming setups where everything is tightly packed on a 6 foot table), and having the ability to ONLY pan a particular monitor (with one hand) to check the connection on the back, etc, is something I find absolutely necessary. I now have about 5,......maybe 6 copies of the Zeadio_Legs + Mini_ball_head + Arca_swiss_clamp.
Hi there. I would say yes, but I would probably choose the Smallrig Mini Tripod if you're choosing out of any of these that I have and use. The Smallrig has a wider leg span and lower center of gravity and it has some weight to the tripod itself which will help with stability. However, they are ALL still relatively small, and that also depends on what camera you're using. A slightly larger but still relatively small tripod that I have (not shown in this video) is this Neewer model. amzn.to/40wN8W8 but even at its lowest, the camera is still about 8" off the ground due to the small vertical post. This Sirui model is similar, but can go lower because it doesn't have a center/vertical post. amzn.to/40rYf2D You can always move up to a slightly larger tripod that can give you longer legs, as long as those legs can also be put in a wide/low position to get your camera low. Most travel tripods can do that.......heavier is better for more stability, but of course will be more troublesome to carry around. I hope that helps :)
@@MarcusHutsell thank you so much for replying. Yes, it is hard and inconvenient to take big tripods esp. while touring around. I have a sony a6000 with Tamron 18-300mm and samyang 12mm manual f2 . I will take a look at those mini tripods esp. the smallrig mini one. Seems like a good deal of sturdiness and size. 😃. Thanks 😊👍
your explanations are so so good, lucid, easy to follow, to the point, all necessary measurements provided like height and width, the absolute best review I came across on youtube so far (I have watched a lot in last couple of days). Thank you so much!
Thank you for showing me. Very informative. That helped me. I like small, lightweight gear. I'm always looking for mini tripods. I have some of them. Unfortunately, most of them have some disadvantages. I like the small rig. Unfortunately, the legs can no longer be fixed in a higher position (which is possible with the 3033 version, but is probably no longer available. I really don't understand why Smallrig changed that). Do you know the “CULLMANN Magnesite Copter CB2.7” for light equipment? Its 18 EURO over here in Europe at the moment. And the “Mini Tripod Moman TR01” for heavier cameras? In combination with something like the Smallrig Headball? If so, are they any good? Any thoughts on these two??
Hey there. You're welcome, I'm glad my video was helpful. I am not familiar with either tripod that you mentioned: Neither the Cullman, nor the Moman, unfortunately. However, looking at the Cullman, it looks VERY similar in size/features to the Ulanzi MT-22 (or "Pictron MT-24) which I do talk about in this video. I'd give the MT-24 a try. I really like it, OTHER than the fact that the ball head that comes with it does not have a pan-only function. I just find that I use that pan-only function ALL THE TIME, I'm even doing some test recording right now and I've been using the pan-only function a lot to just swivel the camera around without having to grab it with both hands. The Moman looks sturdy, but doesn't look like it comes with a ball head,.......which I guess is a bonus because then you/I could choose our own ball head that has the features we want. I've actually got my Sony FX30, in its Smallrig Cage, sitting on my "custom" Mini tripod right now. My "Custom" tripod being, also, the one I talk about in this video with the Zeadio Legs, the tiny ball head with pan-only function, and the small arca swiss clamp. I have about 5 copies of that custom tripod, one for each bag, one for my desk, one for my audio recorder, it's great, but its leg span isn't super wide so you have to be careful with positioning the lens/legs appropriately. Anyway, I'd try the Ulanzi MT-22/Pictron MT-24, has several leg position, leg extensions, you just have to deal with the lack of a pan-only function, but you could swap out the ball head if wanted. Cheers!
Hi Marcus, fantastic video and reviews. I am looking to buy a mini tripod to enable me to take close up photos of moths but I’m having trouble finding the Ulanzi mt-22/24 in the UK - even the Ulanzi website doesn’t seem to have the 22/24 models! - any thoughts would be very much appreciated. The camera I will be using will be a Canon EOS100D. I hope that helps. Thanks Matt
Hi Matt. That's unfortunate, I do like the MT-24's legs, they really spread wide and it can sit very low with those leg extensions.....however I do not use the ball head that came with the MT-24, I swapped it out to my other small/favorite one so I have a pan-only function. On that note, on my "custom" tripod I used the small Zeadio legs, which may be too narrow for you, but Zeadio also makes a slightly longer version (amzn.to/4ic7eNA) for more stability, but they only seem to have the one angle, so those longer Zedio legs would ALWAYS just place your camera very low to the ground. I also have this one, it's very versatile, and although it's small, it's not terribly compact, but it will hold a lot more weight: amzn.to/49ehmBn, but it's not going to fit in your pocket ;) Here's one that I've been wanting to try, and although I have not used it, it *LOOKS very compact when collapsed, and seems to also have a lot of flexibilty, leg extension positions, etc. amzn.to/49ehmBn So, yeah, I use the MT-24 Legs + this ball head: amzn.to/4fSXM08 I hope some of that helps, cheers!
Hi there. I am monitoring my Panasonic GH5 with my iPad. Since the GH5 does not have good autofocus, I always have my GH5 in manual focus… But to get it focus properly while sitting where I need to… I have to use the iPad app, which is mostly great with the GH5, it connects *almost every time the first time, and it really gives me almost full control of everything on the GH5 including touch-focus using the iPad so I can “touch” my face on the iPad and get myself in focus. And of course I can start and stop recording with the iPad versus having to reach up and hit the record button on the camera. Works great, I hate having to rely on manual focus, but it’s been a good solution for me.
I think I understand what you're asking. I don't do a lot of vertical video with my larger cameras, and if I do go vertical, I usually go hand-held when I'm doing photography. Vertical video, I just can't get out of my old-man head that video is horizontal. I know, I'll be a dinosaur soon. Either way, I usually don't go vertical when using any of these mini tripods, as, of course, they might fall over b/c the camera would throw everything off-center and out of balance, assuming I'm using the camera's BOTTOM 1/4-20 hole and rotating the ball head 90 degrees over left/right. That being said, an L-Bracket on the camera would/could solve this b/c I could rotate the camera and keep the center of gravity the same. If you were asking something else, let me know.
I have not. But if you're talking about this one amzn.to/4dPvSRN then that's not a tripod-kit I'm going to purchase because the ball head looks like it does NOT have a pan-only function. So that's why I just buy the Zeadio FEET and different ball heads. Although the Zeadio 11.5 looks like it comes with the same Zeadio feet that I have and use in this video on my "custom" tripod at the end.
@@MarcusHutsell I ended up going with a Frankenstein too. Purchased many, but my favorite is the K&F Concept MS06 mini tripod + SMALLRIG Field Monitor Mount 2905 + Ulanzi Magnetic mount for mounting my phone and tinkering. Great videos...really loved it.
Hi there yes, the size of the MT-16 and the extension tube would be great for an action camera. You need to make sure you have a cage or mount with the Osmo that has a 1/4-20 threaded receiver hole, because he MT-16 has a standard 1/4-20 bolt on top. I’m not sure if the Osmo comes with the proper amount, but something like this should work, if it didn’t already come with the Osmo: amzn.to/3TvuA6O
I love how you made this video very detailed and explaining the pros and cons of each. I enjoyed watching this from start to finish. very informative any opinion about mantispod tho? also do you know any other tripods with the requirements you mentioned but can also extend taller or you prefer to use a different tripod on those cases?
Depends on the lens you use, longer/heavier lenses can make your rig more front heavy. Just be aware of that. Out of these tripods, the Small Rig is the most robust and the most stable because of its lower height and wider leg span. But I do find that wider leg span to be a bit bothersome when I’m in tighter spots….but I know the Small rig Mini tripod just isn’t going to fall over, so that’s great when I have my camera on there. The small rig will definitely be completely supportive of the ZVe10, lens, and mic. Honestly, overall, with all aspects taken into account, I still always reach for my custom tripod With the Zeadio Legs, the mini ball head and a small Arca Swiss clamp. If I use a longer/heavier lens, then I just have to make sure the legs are positioned properly, so it doesn’t tip forward, but it’s usually not a problem.
@@MarcusHutsell oh thank you very much sir. this is a very big help for us small youtuber wondering what mini tripod will use. keep it up sir! godbless ☺️
Hi there. It depends on the brand you're talking about. A lot of brands may have their own proprietary slide-in mounts. Specifically, I have moved over to Falcam F38 plates and clamps because the F38 plates #1 are Arca-swiss compatible (they have the dove-tail design and will fit into any generic arca swiss clamps), but the F38 system has it's own proprietary "slide-in" mount which I love because it clicks-in, and has a button you have to press to release the plate, and then you can also lock the clamp so you don't accidentally press the release button. The Falcam F38 plate/clamp system *is a bit pricier than generic plates/clamps, but for me it's been worth it because of the quick slide in/out, and lockability. Here's their V1 system, of which I have MANY!!: amzn.to/4aL3n60 And here's their v2 system, of which I have a few: amzn.to/4d0GtcB The cool thing is that the F38 plates fit both the V1 and V2 receiving clamps. That is the system I would recommend for slide-in/out ability.
used your recomendation for the last one. it is exactly what i need. Thanks
Great to hear!
You should take a look at Leofoto MT03 (or even MT04). Combined with a suited ball head it's my choice as a mini tripod. The MT03 is so small it'll fit in almost all camera bags!
oooo!!!! NOw I'm intrigued (and probably soon to be lighter in the wallet) looking at those Leefoto tripods. Thanx for the hint!
Hear, hear! Best tripod ever.
The Smallrig legs are fitted with an allen head screw (key supplied) that allows the leg friction to be tightened. That allows them to stay in any position, not just totally splayed out as you have said. Thus the height can be as high as you feel safe within the limits of the unit itself.
True… I just don’t like positioning the legs where they aren’t locked.
But you are right, if you tighten down the allen heads, the legs will stay in a position a little better, but I have about four or five of these for work as well, and when they get tossed around and used on show-site, the technicians don’t even bother to think about tightening them, so they end up a bit looser than when they started so any taller positions just are less stable
Top tip: the excellent SmallRig Mini Tripod is actually generic and available cheaper under different brand names, such as Andoer, who also sell a matching telescopic extension pole which can be used between the tripod and ball head for lighting, monitors or small cameras.
Great to know!! Thank you so much.
hey i want to thank you your video is great and the assembled mini tripod at the end of your video is an inspiration, i want to copy it. sometimes if the tripod legs with the tripod neck are not well fused, the pan function may fool us, so the neck will be dislodged. reflecting on your Zeadio, i remember when i had a zhiyun trm-02 and i regret selling it, maybe i will consider a mini tripod legs like yours.
HI there. Thank you, I'm glad the video was helpful. And yes, I've often been fooled into thinking that a mini ball head has a pan-function when the ball head becomes loose from the legs and the whole thing spins and loosens itself. I've tried using small ball heads that don't have a pan function and it just seems I NEED to use the pan-only function every single time, especially because with these small tripods, I'm often setting up and using them in confined, cramped areas (like desks and live-event streaming setups where everything is tightly packed on a 6 foot table), and having the ability to ONLY pan a particular monitor (with one hand) to check the connection on the back, etc, is something I find absolutely necessary.
I now have about 5,......maybe 6 copies of the Zeadio_Legs + Mini_ball_head + Arca_swiss_clamp.
Can i use these mini pods for seascape landscape photography etc., esp. for long exposure?! Does they wobble when there is wind or water flowing.
Hi there. I would say yes, but I would probably choose the Smallrig Mini Tripod if you're choosing out of any of these that I have and use. The Smallrig has a wider leg span and lower center of gravity and it has some weight to the tripod itself which will help with stability. However, they are ALL still relatively small, and that also depends on what camera you're using.
A slightly larger but still relatively small tripod that I have (not shown in this video) is this Neewer model. amzn.to/40wN8W8
but even at its lowest, the camera is still about 8" off the ground due to the small vertical post.
This Sirui model is similar, but can go lower because it doesn't have a center/vertical post. amzn.to/40rYf2D
You can always move up to a slightly larger tripod that can give you longer legs, as long as those legs can also be put in a wide/low position to get your camera low. Most travel tripods can do that.......heavier is better for more stability, but of course will be more troublesome to carry around.
I hope that helps :)
@@MarcusHutsell thank you so much for replying. Yes, it is hard and inconvenient to take big tripods esp. while touring around. I have a sony a6000 with Tamron 18-300mm and samyang 12mm manual f2 . I will take a look at those mini tripods esp. the smallrig mini one. Seems like a good deal of sturdiness and size. 😃. Thanks 😊👍
wow , what al detailed and clear review . look very unbiased too.
your explanations are so so good, lucid, easy to follow, to the point, all necessary measurements provided like height and width, the absolute best review I came across on youtube so far (I have watched a lot in last couple of days). Thank you so much!
HI there. Thank you so much, I'm glad my delivery was helpful!
Thank you for showing me. Very informative. That helped me. I like small, lightweight gear. I'm always looking for mini tripods. I have some of them. Unfortunately, most of them have some disadvantages. I like the small rig. Unfortunately, the legs can no longer be fixed in a higher position (which is possible with the 3033 version, but is probably no longer available. I really don't understand why Smallrig changed that).
Do you know the “CULLMANN Magnesite Copter CB2.7” for light equipment? Its 18 EURO over here in Europe at the moment.
And the “Mini Tripod Moman TR01” for heavier cameras? In combination with something like the Smallrig Headball?
If so, are they any good? Any thoughts on these two??
Hey there. You're welcome, I'm glad my video was helpful.
I am not familiar with either tripod that you mentioned: Neither the Cullman, nor the Moman, unfortunately.
However, looking at the Cullman, it looks VERY similar in size/features to the Ulanzi MT-22 (or "Pictron MT-24) which I do talk about in this video. I'd give the MT-24 a try. I really like it, OTHER than the fact that the ball head that comes with it does not have a pan-only function. I just find that I use that pan-only function ALL THE TIME, I'm even doing some test recording right now and I've been using the pan-only function a lot to just swivel the camera around without having to grab it with both hands.
The Moman looks sturdy, but doesn't look like it comes with a ball head,.......which I guess is a bonus because then you/I could choose our own ball head that has the features we want.
I've actually got my Sony FX30, in its Smallrig Cage, sitting on my "custom" Mini tripod right now. My "Custom" tripod being, also, the one I talk about in this video with the Zeadio Legs, the tiny ball head with pan-only function, and the small arca swiss clamp. I have about 5 copies of that custom tripod, one for each bag, one for my desk, one for my audio recorder, it's great, but its leg span isn't super wide so you have to be careful with positioning the lens/legs appropriately.
Anyway, I'd try the Ulanzi MT-22/Pictron MT-24, has several leg position, leg extensions, you just have to deal with the lack of a pan-only function, but you could swap out the ball head if wanted.
Cheers!
@@MarcusHutsell Thanks for the detailed answer.
I have put some of the products on my Christmas wish list 😂
Let's see which Santa chooses.
We love mini tripods!!
don't we all?!?!?! :)
Hi Marcus, fantastic video and reviews. I am looking to buy a mini tripod to enable me to take close up photos of moths but I’m having trouble finding the Ulanzi mt-22/24 in the UK - even the Ulanzi website doesn’t seem to have the 22/24 models! - any thoughts would be very much appreciated. The camera I will be using will be a Canon EOS100D. I hope that helps. Thanks Matt
Hi Matt. That's unfortunate, I do like the MT-24's legs, they really spread wide and it can sit very low with those leg extensions.....however I do not use the ball head that came with the MT-24, I swapped it out to my other small/favorite one so I have a pan-only function.
On that note, on my "custom" tripod I used the small Zeadio legs, which may be too narrow for you, but Zeadio also makes a slightly longer version (amzn.to/4ic7eNA) for more stability, but they only seem to have the one angle, so those longer Zedio legs would ALWAYS just place your camera very low to the ground.
I also have this one, it's very versatile, and although it's small, it's not terribly compact, but it will hold a lot more weight: amzn.to/49ehmBn, but it's not going to fit in your pocket ;)
Here's one that I've been wanting to try, and although I have not used it, it *LOOKS very compact when collapsed, and seems to also have a lot of flexibilty, leg extension positions, etc. amzn.to/49ehmBn
So, yeah, I use the MT-24 Legs + this ball head: amzn.to/4fSXM08
I hope some of that helps, cheers!
Very thorough ! Just what I needed !! Much appreciated !! Best regards !
Thank you. I’m glad it helped :)
What are you recording with that you are mirroring to your iPad mini?
Hi there.
I am monitoring my Panasonic GH5 with my iPad. Since the GH5 does not have good autofocus, I always have my GH5 in manual focus… But to get it focus properly while sitting where I need to… I have to use the iPad app, which is mostly great with the GH5, it connects *almost every time the first time, and it really gives me almost full control of everything on the GH5 including touch-focus using the iPad so I can “touch” my face on the iPad and get myself in focus.
And of course I can start and stop recording with the iPad versus having to reach up and hit the record button on the camera. Works great, I hate having to rely on manual focus, but it’s been a good solution for me.
Thanks for the detailed review and great comments.
You’re welcome. And thank you!
rotating arm for height adjustment vertical travel, ????/
I think I understand what you're asking. I don't do a lot of vertical video with my larger cameras, and if I do go vertical, I usually go hand-held when I'm doing photography. Vertical video, I just can't get out of my old-man head that video is horizontal. I know, I'll be a dinosaur soon.
Either way, I usually don't go vertical when using any of these mini tripods, as, of course, they might fall over b/c the camera would throw everything off-center and out of balance, assuming I'm using the camera's BOTTOM 1/4-20 hole and rotating the ball head 90 degrees over left/right. That being said, an L-Bracket on the camera would/could solve this b/c I could rotate the camera and keep the center of gravity the same.
If you were asking something else, let me know.
Really thorough reviews! Thank you!
You’re welcome. And thank you too!!
Have you compared the Zeadio 115 to the Ulanzi MT-14?
I have not. But if you're talking about this one amzn.to/4dPvSRN
then that's not a tripod-kit I'm going to purchase because the ball head looks like it does NOT have a pan-only function. So that's why I just buy the Zeadio FEET and different ball heads. Although the Zeadio 11.5 looks like it comes with the same Zeadio feet that I have and use in this video on my "custom" tripod at the end.
@@MarcusHutsell I ended up going with a Frankenstein too. Purchased many, but my favorite is the K&F Concept MS06 mini tripod + SMALLRIG Field Monitor Mount 2905 + Ulanzi Magnetic mount for mounting my phone and tinkering. Great videos...really loved it.
Can I use the Ulanzi M-16 for my DJI Osmo Action 4?
Hi there yes, the size of the MT-16 and the extension tube would be great for an action camera.
You need to make sure you have a cage or mount with the Osmo that has a 1/4-20 threaded receiver hole, because he MT-16 has a standard 1/4-20 bolt on top.
I’m not sure if the Osmo comes with the proper amount, but something like this should work, if it didn’t already come with the Osmo: amzn.to/3TvuA6O
@@MarcusHutsell thank you
That's an excellent review. Great work.
Thank you!
I love how you made this video very detailed and explaining the pros and cons of each. I enjoyed watching this from start to finish. very informative
any opinion about mantispod tho? also do you know any other tripods with the requirements you mentioned but can also extend taller or you prefer to use a different tripod on those cases?
thank you for sharing.. what do you recommend mini tripod fir sony zv e10 with build cage and boya mm1 mic?
Depends on the lens you use, longer/heavier lenses can make your rig more front heavy. Just be aware of that.
Out of these tripods, the Small Rig is the most robust and the most stable because of its lower height and wider leg span. But I do find that wider leg span to be a bit bothersome when I’m in tighter spots….but I know the Small rig Mini tripod just isn’t going to fall over, so that’s great when I have my camera on there.
The small rig will definitely be completely supportive of the ZVe10, lens, and mic.
Honestly, overall, with all aspects taken into account, I still always reach for my custom tripod With the Zeadio Legs, the mini ball head and a small Arca Swiss clamp. If I use a longer/heavier lens, then I just have to make sure the legs are positioned properly, so it doesn’t tip forward, but it’s usually not a problem.
@@MarcusHutsell oh thank you very much sir. this is a very big help for us small youtuber wondering what mini tripod will use. keep it up sir! godbless ☺️
What is the type of tripod head called that you just slide the camera onto?
Hi there. It depends on the brand you're talking about. A lot of brands may have their own proprietary slide-in mounts.
Specifically, I have moved over to Falcam F38 plates and clamps because the F38 plates #1 are Arca-swiss compatible (they have the dove-tail design and will fit into any generic arca swiss clamps), but the F38 system has it's own proprietary "slide-in" mount which I love because it clicks-in, and has a button you have to press to release the plate, and then you can also lock the clamp so you don't accidentally press the release button.
The Falcam F38 plate/clamp system *is a bit pricier than generic plates/clamps, but for me it's been worth it because of the quick slide in/out, and lockability.
Here's their V1 system, of which I have MANY!!: amzn.to/4aL3n60
And here's their v2 system, of which I have a few: amzn.to/4d0GtcB
The cool thing is that the F38 plates fit both the V1 and V2 receiving clamps.
That is the system I would recommend for slide-in/out ability.
I wanted to get the mt24 one turns it's around 100usd equivalent in india
yikes! Happy tripod hunting.
Thanks for this review! THis is so helpful 🎉
Glad it was helpful!
Those star bits are actually called torx bits 😅
aaaahhh!!!!! Yes........Now that you say that, yes, somewhere in my brain I knew that, thanx for the reminder!
@@MarcusHutsell haha they are a hard name to remember i forget what they are called often
bro said there is nothing on the market ima make my own tripod LOL i feel you dude.. they all lack in somewhere.
Exactly!!
I want a flexible, portable, pocketable tripod thats also magnetic… am i crazy?
Will you hold the damn things still for a moment!?
🤷🏼
PGYTECH CAPLOCK MANTISPOD Z, item number P-GM-158.....(30$)... Ulanzi MT-44 (15$)