A tri-pod in it's simplest form is a three-legged stand for supporting a camera or other apparatus. I've used several tripods throughout the years, and each one excels at one thing or another. Some are light, some are super sturdy, and some are miniature making them easy to pack away or carry on a day trip.
For my general photography use (product photography, long exposures) I've found that finding the right set of compromises leads to the best tripod for my needs. That's where I've found the K&F to excel at meeting my specific set of needs. Here's what I like:
The tripod is light. It's not feather weight, or forget it's there light, but it's light enough to be able to carry around all day strapped to a comfortable camera bag. Weighing in at just 3.3 lbs, it's about as light of a travel tripod built of aluminum I could expect.
Completely folded, this tripod is about 17 inches long. Plenty of "collapsability" to be able to pack it on the side of your bag without it sticking up in the air.
This tripod feels really well built for being a sub $100 travel tripod. When you hold it, it feels and looks substantial. Not heavy, just very tight tolerances, and generally aesthetically pleasing. The anodizing on the aluminum lock-outs and ball head are a really nice touch. It is rated to hold 22lbs/10kg. I'm certain it will hold that easily, if not more. The rubber grips are all implemented nicely with zero movement between the rubber grip and the lock out it turns.
So, the absolute most important factor for me in a tripod, is obviously the stability. While this tripod will extend to almost 69 inches/175 cm, it's most stable when the center support is at the mid to low setting, and only the top three leg extensions are out. It's absolutely rock solid at it's med high, to mid level settings. When everything is extended to full height, a strong wind would absolutely introduce some movement.
Leg lock outs are as expected. They lock out firmly and confidently when unfolding. When extending the legs, the rubber twist locks are easily tightened and I have zero doubt about their ability to stay put.
The 28mm ball head is surrounded by what looks like a teflon sleeve offering smooth camera movements. The head also pans buttery smooth like a geared or fluid head would. The Arca-Swiss mount is a great option and seems to be the new standard in quick mounts. The Arca base also has a spirit level which is handy if your camera doesn't have in-camera level indication.
One leg is designed to be used as a monopod. I don't use that feature, but it's nice to have and easy to transition. Under center post is a bag or weight hook. This can be removed revealing a 3/8 female mount. Great for mounting a second ball head for quick camera position swaps. My only gripe would be that the feet are not replaceable. They are shallow spiked rubber feet that are not interchangeable. They work fine for light duty use.
All in all, I am very happy with this tripod purchase. At $90, I'm not sure you could get a better photo tri-pod for general use photography. It's lightweight, stable, and looks great. Just buy this tripod already, you won't be disappointed.
For my general photography use (product photography, long exposures) I've found that finding the right set of compromises leads to the best tripod for my needs. That's where I've found the K&F to excel at meeting my specific set of needs. Here's what I like:
The tripod is light. It's not feather weight, or forget it's there light, but it's light enough to be able to carry around all day strapped to a comfortable camera bag. Weighing in at just 3.3 lbs, it's about as light of a travel tripod built of aluminum I could expect.
Completely folded, this tripod is about 17 inches long. Plenty of "collapsability" to be able to pack it on the side of your bag without it sticking up in the air.
This tripod feels really well built for being a sub $100 travel tripod. When you hold it, it feels and looks substantial. Not heavy, just very tight tolerances, and generally aesthetically pleasing. The anodizing on the aluminum lock-outs and ball head are a really nice touch. It is rated to hold 22lbs/10kg. I'm certain it will hold that easily, if not more. The rubber grips are all implemented nicely with zero movement between the rubber grip and the lock out it turns.
So, the absolute most important factor for me in a tripod, is obviously the stability. While this tripod will extend to almost 69 inches/175 cm, it's most stable when the center support is at the mid to low setting, and only the top three leg extensions are out. It's absolutely rock solid at it's med high, to mid level settings. When everything is extended to full height, a strong wind would absolutely introduce some movement.
Leg lock outs are as expected. They lock out firmly and confidently when unfolding. When extending the legs, the rubber twist locks are easily tightened and I have zero doubt about their ability to stay put.
The 28mm ball head is surrounded by what looks like a teflon sleeve offering smooth camera movements. The head also pans buttery smooth like a geared or fluid head would. The Arca-Swiss mount is a great option and seems to be the new standard in quick mounts. The Arca base also has a spirit level which is handy if your camera doesn't have in-camera level indication.
One leg is designed to be used as a monopod. I don't use that feature, but it's nice to have and easy to transition. Under center post is a bag or weight hook. This can be removed revealing a 3/8 female mount. Great for mounting a second ball head for quick camera position swaps. My only gripe would be that the feet are not replaceable. They are shallow spiked rubber feet that are not interchangeable. They work fine for light duty use.
All in all, I am very happy with this tripod purchase. At $90, I'm not sure you could get a better photo tri-pod for general use photography. It's lightweight, stable, and looks great. Just buy this tripod already, you won't be disappointed.
26/07/2023
All is great with exception to the description of monopod. The description states : "【Detachable Monopod】 It can be turned into a lightweight monopod or walking stick alone to make your photography more diverse. " To go along with this, the picture of the product shows the Monopod, Tripod folded, and Tripod open. The picture is deceiving as it shows the monopod alone along side the fully attached tripod. The description does not state that one of the tripod legs is to be removed to make the monopod. By seeing the pictures and reading the description, I thought the center column would be removed and used as the monopod. Thereby being a quicker change from Tripod to Monopod back to Tripod when needed.
19/07/2023
Very sturdy perfect for my A6600 though it’s a little bit of a hassle if you just want to convert the tripod to monopod.
13/07/2023
Excelente producto, original, confiable, versátil y muy portátil. Entrega rápida, recomendado
30/06/2023
The tripod works really well and is very sturdy. I use it constantly for shoots but the one thing that stresses me out is the top. I wish they provided a couple of them because that just makes too much sense for how small and it is. Otherwise, it's great.
27/06/2023
As others have written, the tripod itself is a bit better than average but the ball head CANNOT support the stated 22 lbs, not even half that. Realized that one night doing some astro work. Overall disappointed.
16/06/2023
Years ago, not knowing what I was looking for, I purchased the Albott 70 inch tripod . It was a good entry-level tripod that is quite traditional with it's pan-and-tilt head and quick release lock. As I started to build out my video and photo equipment (I'm still a total novice), I've found that I needed a tripod that was more compact and sturdy.
This K&F Concept TM2515M1 tripod is certainly not professional level, but it is a good travel tripod. With a ball joint, and a screw-lock plate, I found that it is more versatile than the Albott tripod. With the orange highlights, it is also much better looking.
I've included a few pictures comparing the two tripods. As you can see, with the K&F tripod, I do not compromise on any of the features of the other tripod while gaining a more compact and sturdy frame. The build quality of the K&F is great. All parts are metal and the tripod legs are tightly screwed, giving it a very secure feel.
From the pictures, you can see that compared to the traditional tripod, the head is smaller and easier to pack away, without that long handle to get in the way. The maximum height is comparable to my old tripod, but when packed away, the K&F is much smaller. The carrying case is also more rugged. It has a heavy-grade nylon and the zipper is nice and big. What I'm losing compared to the traditional tripod is the monopod height but I'm not a tall guy, so I would never use the mono fully extended anyway.
The K&F has the upside-down feature that is common among tripods of this kind. It allows one to shoot videos and pictures from a much lower angle without risking the safety of the camera. I can imagine a low-to-the-ground timelapse on the bank of a river looking at boats on the river.
Form really follows function on this one. The orange highlights accentuate all the joint locations and the all round design gives this tripod just a sleek look overall.
I'm quite satisfied with my purchase and the sub-100 dollar price that was exactly what I was looking for.
This K&F Concept TM2515M1 tripod is certainly not professional level, but it is a good travel tripod. With a ball joint, and a screw-lock plate, I found that it is more versatile than the Albott tripod. With the orange highlights, it is also much better looking.
I've included a few pictures comparing the two tripods. As you can see, with the K&F tripod, I do not compromise on any of the features of the other tripod while gaining a more compact and sturdy frame. The build quality of the K&F is great. All parts are metal and the tripod legs are tightly screwed, giving it a very secure feel.
From the pictures, you can see that compared to the traditional tripod, the head is smaller and easier to pack away, without that long handle to get in the way. The maximum height is comparable to my old tripod, but when packed away, the K&F is much smaller. The carrying case is also more rugged. It has a heavy-grade nylon and the zipper is nice and big. What I'm losing compared to the traditional tripod is the monopod height but I'm not a tall guy, so I would never use the mono fully extended anyway.
The K&F has the upside-down feature that is common among tripods of this kind. It allows one to shoot videos and pictures from a much lower angle without risking the safety of the camera. I can imagine a low-to-the-ground timelapse on the bank of a river looking at boats on the river.
Form really follows function on this one. The orange highlights accentuate all the joint locations and the all round design gives this tripod just a sleek look overall.
I'm quite satisfied with my purchase and the sub-100 dollar price that was exactly what I was looking for.
29/03/2023