DJI RS 4: two-minute review

The RS 4 is the latest in line of handheld gimbals to demonstrate why DJI is the biggest name in this market. Gimbals can be a nuisance to use, taking too long to set up and being given to outbursts of freakish behavior in polite company, which is why many videographers try to avoid using them whenever possible.

DJI, however, has recognised and acknowledged this common perception, and has continuously worked to iron out the many niggles the plague gimbal users, and the RS 4 is its next step is the process of making the operator-gimbal encounter stress-free. DJI had gone quite a long way on that journey with the Ronin RS 3, but this new model brings a host of changes that make life a quite a bit better.

One thing that all videographers will appreciate immediately is the Teflon coating on the arms of the gimbal. Along with the micro-adjustment knob on the camera mounting that was introduced in the RS 3, this makes balancing and rebalancing the gimbal much easier. The Teflon surfaces enable users to make tiny shifts of the axis mounting points with less effort, instead of having to put lots of pressure on the arms to overcome inertia, only to find the shift has gone too far. Thanks to the large locking clasps on the arms, what might seem a minor change actually makes a big difference, and I had the gimbal balanced with my camera very quickly. I also was quite happy to add extras to the camera after balancing, as I knew it wouldn’t be a huge drama to rebalance the system. 

On the subject of balancing, the RS 4 has a longer tilt-axis arm than its predecessor, which makes it possible to add more accessories to the camera without running out of arm to balance it all. The arm is 8.5mm longer than the arm on the RS 3, which is enough to allow the user to add microphones on top of the camera and/or a pile of filters on the front of the lens. In total the Ronin RS 4 can carry up to 6.6lbs / 3kg, which is the same as the capacity of the RS 3, but the new arm means that weight doesn’t necessarily have to be placed right around the center of gravity of the camera.

The other big difference in this model compared to the previous one is the way you can shoot vertical video. With the RS 3, you needed to set Portrait mode in the PTF settings, but with the RS 4 you just unclip the camera mounting plate and stick it on the other way. The camera mount has two connection points – a regular one on the end and one underneath – and a quick-release button. You simply unlock the plate, release it, and reattach it using the connection point underneath so that the camera is held in the vertical position. It’s very quick to do, the camera doesn’t need rebalancing, and you have the full range of follow modes available, as well as the movements you can create via the joystick. It feels like a much more satisfactory solution. 

Another important upgrade is the introduction of a 4th-generation stabilization algorithm that not only improves stabilization in horizontal orientation when things are bumpy, such as when you’re running, but which is also better optimized for vertical shooting.

If you go for the RS 4 combo kit you’ll get the lens control motor in the box. The Focus Pro Motor can be used to turn zoom rings as well as focus rings on your lens, and can be controlled either via the joystick for zooming or the front dial for focusing. This new version of the motor is 30% faster than the previous model, but still offers users the chance to adjust its speed, torque and direction via the menu. 

As before, the gimbal’s control buttons and dials can be used to control certain elements of compatible cameras, so you can stop/start recording, take a photo, and adjust some exposure settings. Depending on the model of camera, these things can be achieved wirelessly via Bluetooth or via a USB connection to the body of the gimbal. 

The DJI Ronin RS 4 is not entirely without its complexities, but so long as you dedicate the time and effort to familiarize yourself with its workings it will reward you will good faithful service. In the past I’ve often felt I was working harder than the gimbal I was using, but in the case of the Ronin RS 4 that balance is switched – the gimbal is definitely putting in a good shift and working hard to make the life of the operator a lot easier. 

Of course footage is smooth when walking with the head in the standard position, but anyone can do that. What counts here is that you can throw the camera around, take it high and drop it low, and the motors can cope – even when you’ve added a load of extras to the lens or the hotshoe. 

Fast walking and running scenes are also very well compensated for, but it is the Ronin’s ability to make all the same right moves in vertical mode, with a 10-second adjustment, that marks it out for me.

DJI RS 4 price and availability

The DJI RS 4 is available now standalone for a pricy $549 / £469 and includes the gimbal, battery grip, USB-C cable, lens-fastening support, extended grip (plastic), quick-release plate, multi-camera control cable and screw kit. The Combo kit costs $719 / £619 and adds Focus Pro Motor, Focus Pro Motor Rod Mount kit, Focus Gear Strip, additional Multi-camera control cable, briefcase handle and carrying case. 

If you have a weightier camera and lens combo then you'll need the RS 4 Pro instead, which is available for $869 / £749 (standalone, with a metal extended grip rather than plastic) or $1,099 / £949 in the Combo kit. 

In addition, the DJI Focus Pro system can add superb manual focus assist tools including a LiDAR powered autofocus system for manual focus lenses. The All-In-One Combo costs $1,849 / £1,449 although items such as the Focus Pro LiDAR / Focus Pro Motor can be purchased separately. More details on the DJI website.

Should I buy the DJI RS 4?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the DJI RS 4

I used this gimbal with the Panasonic Lumix S5 ll and the Lumix GH6, and fitted both cameras with a variety of big and small lenses, including some heavier manual-focus anamorphic lenses, to see how it performed in a range of situations. And I found that it performed very well – it’s easy to adjust when you’re changing lenses and cameras, and when adding extras on top.

I’ve used a lot of gimbals, and find that I often want to revert to my shoulder-mount rig because it’s less hassle to operate, but this model has me convinced that the right gimbal can offer similar stability and ease of use.

I’ve been working as a photography journalist for 28 years. I experienced the advent of handheld stabilization devices as they were conceived, and I’ve followed them closely as they’ve evolved, and become smaller, stronger and very much better. 

First reviewed April 2024

Manfrotto Element MII Aluminium: two-minute review

Coming in at the cheaper end of travel tripods, the Manfrotto Element MII Aluminium is a budget option that does exactly what it’s designed for with a no-frills approach. I can appreciate that this may make the MII sound a little lacklustre but in all honesty, for the modest sum of just $155 / £109 / AU$259 at the time of writing, it’s undeniably great value for money that makes it an attractive travel tripod for beginners and those on a budget.

Not everyone has a huge budget for photographic accessories after buying expensive cameras and lenses. Not to mention, for many photographers, a small and fairly lightweight travel tripod that provides standard camera support is more than enough, making additional features superfluous. The great thing about the MII is that you get a basic and inexpensive tripod from a well-respected manufacturer.

The MII is undoubtedly well-made and can’t be faulted in this respect, although being a budget model it’s not made to the same standards as more expensive travel tripods. However, a sensible quality / value balance has been struck. As the name suggests, the MII is made of aluminum, which is a heavier material than carbon fiber so despite its compact size it weighs 3.4lbs / 1.55kg.

Its weight is mid-range for travel tripods, so it’s not a dealbreakingly heavy and fairly light considering it’s an aluminum tripod. Plus, the slightly more expensive carbon fiber version only weighs 7oz / 200g less. 

Adding further metaphorical weight behind the MII, it’s fairly compact when folded at 16.5 / 42cm with an impressive maximum height of 63in / 160cm with the center column extended, and a minimum height of 17in / 43cm.

You can also shoot at lower levels than this by removing the screw-in bung / hook at the bottom of the center column and inserting it into the legs upside down. The center column hook is an extremely useful accessory, particularly with lighter travel tripods, because it allows you to hang your kit bag from the hook to increase stability when required, such as in windy conditions where the tripod may otherwise get blown over.

The maximum payload of 17.6lbs / 8kg comfortably supports a camera and a 70-200mm lens. You wouldn’t want to push too far beyond a camera and lens combo like this because the ball head can slip with heavier set-ups. 

Looking at the design of the MII, it’s fairly basic with just two leg angles available using twist lock mechanisms unique to Manfrotto at the top of the four section legs. Otherwise, there's no particular additional features or functionality to speak of

Simplicity may sound like a negative and, of course, additional features are always welcome in any tripod to increase its effectiveness in a wider range of scenarios. But simplicity when combined with the effectiveness of support in a compact and lightweight travel tripod can be a huge positive. The MII is quick and easy to use, and this ultimately comes down to the simplicity of the design and features.

The MII can’t be faulted in the support it provides in a lightweight package, and it packs down small for transportation which is exactly what most people want in a travel tripod. There is a small amount of flex in the legs when at their full extension, but the M11 maintains adequate stability and depending on your preference, it’s available with red, blue or black graphics on the legs.

Moving on to the ball head – this is a small and lightweight option that fits the overall size of the tripod perfectly, but it can be swapped if you need to use a different type of tripod head for any reason. The overall design of the head is simple with just the pan control and a main knob for adjusting the ball mechanism.

The ball head isn’t as robust as the heads that come with more expensive travel tripods and can’t support as much weight. In its favor, it uses the popular Arca Swiss-style plate compatible with L brackets – impressive for such a budget model – while some other Manfrotto tripods use a less versatile Manfrotto 200PL Quick Release Plate that can't be easily used with an L bracket.

Overall, the Manfrotto Element MII Aluminium is a great travel tripod at the budget/beginner end of the market and is well-made for the low price. It’s never going to be as effective as more expensive alternatives, but its simple design and functionality is sufficient for lighter camera and lens combinations – fulfilling its fundamental task admirably.

Should I buy the Manfrotto Element MII Aluminium?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Manfrotto Element MII Aluminium

The Manfrotto Element MII Aluminium was tested over a period of time using several different camera and lens combinations to test how the tripod stood up to standard use in travel-oriented scenarios. Cameras used included a premium compact, an APS-C mirrorless camera and a full-frame mirrorless camera. The tripod was also carried around with other photographic kit in my f-stop backpack to evaluate performance over longer shoots such as landscapes.

With nearly 30 years of photographic experience and 15 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve been covering photographic accessories such as tripods for many years. As a professional photographer, I frequently use a range of accessories to enhance my photography and bring my real experience of using these to reviews where I can consider how effective photographic accessories are from both a professional and an enthusiast point of view.

First reviewed March 2024

Gomatic McKinnon Camera Pack 35L: two-minute review

If you need a high-quality bag that can be worn comfortably and can hold lots of modern camera gear, clothes, a large laptop plus everyday essentials, then Gomatic believes it has the answer – the Gomatic McKinnon camera pack 35L. 

Combining forces with YouTube influencer Peter McKinnon, Gomatic (under the site Nomatic , in the US) has created a large camera pack that presents plenty of neat design features such as magnetic clasps and an expandable compartment, plus it's compatible with a host of accessories to further increase its versatility. 

This is a luxury camera bag designed for travel. If you're after a large day bag purely for camera gear for a long shoot and / or large telephoto lenses, offering quick access to gear, then look elsewhere. But if you need space for weekend supplies as much as you do camera gear, then this could be the bag for you – if you can afford it. 

Gomatic makes high-end camera bags – certainly, if price is anything to go by – and the McKinnon range, which also includes a 25L pack( $299 / £309), will set you back $399 / £369 for the 35L camera pack. However, to get the most out of what Gomatic calls a "travel system", you'll also want some of the optional accessories – which also cost a fair sum. 

For this review, for example, the 35L camera pack arrived with the Camera Tech Organizer ($70 / £52). While the McKinnon Cube pack 21L ($130 / £109) wasn't supplied, it looks like an excellent addition. It's a neat, collapsible day bag with lower compartment for a camera and lens that can slot inside the 35L camera pack for you to use once you're out and about on location, assuming you don't want to lug the 35L camera pack with all your gear and clothes on day trips. 

To offer an idea of how the cost of such a camera pack with accessories can stack up, although not available any more, the Gomatic McKinnon 35L Ultimate Travel Camera Bundle Pack that included numerous accessories cost twice the price of the 35L pack on review! 

I used the camera pack as my main carry-on luggage during a week-long trip overseas. It's slimline, tucking nicely into the body and I experienced no issues stowing it in the overhead compartment on a plane.

For the trip, I used the main compartment for two mirrorless cameras, three lenses –one of which was a 70-200mm – plus a ring light and all the necessary chargers and accessories, making use of the Tech Organizer, slotted in between the durable dividers.

Note that the Gomatic bag's slim form factor and interior design restricts the size of camera gear it will hold. For example, while this is unlikely an option for sports photographers with large DSLRs and monster telephoto lenses, those with compact mirrorless cameras such as the Sony A7IV, lenses and consumer drones such as the DJI Mini 4 Pro should be just fine.

The velcro fastening of the dividers is secure, and feels as though it will remain so even after prolonged use. After one month and numerous configurations, going on various shoots, commuting and travelling, they appear as strong as they were on day one. You'll need to spend a while configuring the dividers. For one trip I needed to pack an awkward-sized ring light; an unusual setup of horizontal dividers did the trick, protecting the ring light during transit.

There's a side access pocket straight to your main camera, which works fine, even if the velcro divider sticks to it – that feels like ill-fitting design. Indeed, the design leans more towards opening the camera compartment in full when the bag is off your back and lying flat on a surface. 

I've not used it, but I prefer the look of the Camera Pack 25L in the same McKinnon range. It has a separate top-loading pocket into which you can put a camera and open separately without exposing the bag's entire contents.

I don't feel like this 35L version is designed for regularly taking out and stowing away gear, or perhaps it just takes a little getting used to. Nevertheless, on more than one occasion I was caught out moving the bag with the main zip compartment open – fortunately, no camera gear was damaged falling out.

The bag is listed as accepting 16-inch laptops, but my 17-inch MacBook Pro slotted snuggly into the compartment that sits nearest to your back. On the front end is an expandable main pocket designed for clothes, with a strap to hold them in place, and once expanded the capacity increases to a generous 42L. I'd say you could cram a few days worth of clothes in there.

Then there's all the features you'd expect from a high-end camera bag: comfortable back padding and adjustable shoulder straps, a removable waist-support strap, a pouch that can hold a water bottle or tripod, that neatly stows away using a magnetic clasp – clever. There's also an internal magnetic pocket for valuables such as keys, a wallet or passport.

I particularly love the top padded handle plus additional slimline handles on the top corners of the bag's exterior, which make lifting the fully loaded bag up to your shoulders as easy as can be. And with a rigid underside, you can confidently stand the bag upright on the ground without it toppling over.

In terms of quality, I have no complaints. The pack has a slick-looking and durable weather-resistant exterior, while all zips are weather-resistant and glide easily, too. All the materials are superb and I'd expect to comfortably carry a heavy load with this bag for years to come.

It' isn't the best camera bag for gear-minded pros, nor those who want quick access to gear; but for camera enthusiasts wanting one bag for a long weekender, you'll struggle to find better, even if the price is high.

For alternatives, check out our best camera bags guide.

Should I buy the Gomatic McKinnon Camera Pack 35L?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Gomatic McKinnon Camera Pack 35L

• One month of regular use
• International travel
• Multiple purposes including travel, commuting and photoshoots

I had the Gomatic McKinnon Camera Pack 35L for over a month, during which time it was my primary camera bag. It was my carry-on bag for overseas travel, my commuter bag, plus a bag for shoots. 

I've regularly switched up the gear stowed inside and the internal divider configurations, packing various mirrorless cameras, accessories, lighting and more, as well as everyday essentials.

First reviewed March 2024

Two-minute review

Travel tripods typically follow a fairly standardized set of features, with simplicity, size and weight at the forefront of designers’ minds. The Vanguard VEO 3T+ 234CB travel tripod bucks this trend with a feature that’s much more common in larger full-size tripods – an articulating center column. This undoubtedly makes the tripod stand out from the crowd, but it also carries a compromise or two if this is a feature you need.

Having an articulating center column is far from a negative. It’s a huge positive, because of the versatility it provides for macro photographers and anyone who often shoots subjects in awkward positions, and incorporating it into a travel tripod could be a masterstroke from Vanguard, because you’ll struggle to find another travel tripod like it.

In the past few years or so Vanguard has been innovating with its tripods, and the huge leap in functionality and build quality can't be ignored. The VEO 3T+ 234CB continues this trend, and is essentially a smaller and lighter version of the VEO 3+ 263CB. It’s still a bit of a beast for a travel tripod though – weighing in at 4.4lbs / 1.98kg it's one of the heavier travel models available. The tripod kit costs $330 / £320 / AU$500, making it a mid-range option price-wise.

The 234CB offers a maximum height of 57.5 inches / 146cm, with a minimum height of ground level thanks to the articulating center column. The maximum height is average for a travel tripod, and will be sufficient in many cases, while the folded length is slightly longer than average at 18.1 inches / 46cm. That may sound long, and combined with the weight could suggest that the 234CB is heavy to carry; but in practice neither spec is an issue, unless you’re looking for an ultra-lightweight travel tripod.

Aside from the obvious advantages of the articulating center column, a feature that’s unique to Vanguard tripods is that the 234CB comes with a VEO+ MA1 Multi-Mount Adaptor. This slides onto the end of the center column, and can accommodate a tripod head or be used to mount accessories such as video monitors, phones, tablets or lighting. It’s a simple yet clever feature that can be extremely useful, and if you need more than one you can purchase additional Multi-Mount Adaptors separately. There’s also a hook that can be screwed into the bottom of the center column, for hanging a photography bag when required to increase stability.

The build quality of the 234CB can’t be faulted, and the twisting leg locks come apart easily for cleaning, which is essential after shooting at the coast, where sand and salt water will damage tripods unless cleaned off. This is a feature that's sometimes overlooked, but it’s especially useful for landscape photographers, who typically need to clean their tripod often to maintain smooth operation and to increase the lifespan of the legs.

The four-section carbon fiber legs are sturdy, and while there’s a small amount of flex at full extension this doesn’t affect stability. Plus, one of the legs can be unscrewed for use as a monopod, which is another handy feature alongside the leg locks and articulating centre column. The kit also comes with spiked feet, which can be swapped with the rubber feet when required.

In operation, I found the 234CB to be smooth and reliable, and the articulating centre column, despite the additional weight it undoubtedly brings, is both useful and surprising for a travel tripod; it adds an extra level of versatility for photographers, thanks to the ability to position the camera practically at ground level – perfect for macro photography.

Like most travel tripods, the 234CB comes with a fairly simple ball head, but the VEO BH-110S Arca Compatible Dual Axis Ball Head does have one advantage over the competition, and that’s the panning mechanisms at the top and the bottom of the head. Being able to pan the top of the head just below where the tripod plate sits is useful, as once the camera is level it can be rotated to adjust composition and remain level. Having the panning mechanism at the bottom of tripod heads is useful, but this doesn’t guarantee that the camera will remain level when rotated unless the legs are 100% level.

If the weight of the 234CB is something that doesn’t bother you, and you feel you'll benefit from all of the other features including the articulating center column, then it’s a great option worth consideration. It’s easily one of the more versatile travel tripods available except for the maximum height. It provides a user experience akin to that of a full-size tripod, and it comes with a well-made carry bag with handles and a shoulder strap, so you can either use this or attach the tripod directly to your backpack.

Should I buy the Vanguard VEO 3T+ 234CB travel tripod? 

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Vanguard VEO 3T+ 234CB

The Vanguard VEO 3T+ 234CB was tested over a period of time using several different camera and lens combinations to test how the tripod stood up to standard use in travel-oriented scenarios. Cameras used included a premium compact, an APS-C mirrorless camera, and a full-frame mirrorless camera. The tripod was also carried around with other photographic kit in my f-stop backpack to evaluate performance over longer shoots such as landscapes.

With nearly 30 years of photographic experience and 15 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve been writing about tripods and other photographic accessories for many years. As a professional photographer, I frequently use a range of accessories to enhance my photography and bring my working experience of using these to reviews, gauging how effective particular accessories are from both a professional and an enthusiast point of view.

First reviewed February 2024

Two-minute review

Gitzo tripods need no introduction as a premium option, and the Gitzo tripod Traveler series 1 (4 sections) being reviewed here is a travel tripod made for professional use thanks to its excellent build quality, tall height and light weight. This is one of those tripods that doesn’t look remarkable in any way, but as soon as you use it the smoothness of operation alongside the quality materials used identify it as a high-end travel tripod.

With this in mind and before we get into the specifics, the Traveler series 1 is expensive at $680 / £539 / AU$1,154.95. But this is a tripod that could easily last a lifetime thanks to the build quality and the availability of spare parts if something needs to be replaced. Spare part availability isn’t unusual in the tripod world, but when you’re paying this much money for a small tripod it’s reassuring to know that you can replace parts as and when required.

Despite the high price, this tripod doesn’t include a carry bag or case which some photographers may miss. It’s not a major downside because in reality, many photographers simply attach their tripods to a backpack while walking or carry them in their hand, and the Gitzo does include a well-made shoulder strap which is extremely useful.

Gitzo tripods and heads have some, well, utilitarian naming conventions and the official name of the Gitzo tripod kit Traveler, series 1, 4 sections is the GK1545T-82TQD which is a Traveler tripod/head kit that includes the GT1545T Tripod and the GH1382TQD Center Ball Head. I’ve only outlined these names to make it easier to find the kit we’re looking at here because retailers title the kit differently based on their own naming styles.

The Gitzo Traveler Kit is incredibly well made and oozes quality alongside providing stable support up to 64.4in / 163.5cm with the center column extended. This provides a maximum working height comparable to some full-size tripods, which is impressive for a travel tripod that’s just 16.7in / 42.5cm long when folded with a weight of 3.19lbs / 1.45kg. 

The minimum height is 12.8in / 32.4cm, although you can get lower with the short plastic center column that’s included with the legs splayed out flat, or by inserting the standard center column into the legs upside down.

Going with four section rigid carbon fiber legs rather than five sections improves overall stability. This, of course, results in a slightly longer folded length, but the positive trade-off here is the additional stability fewer leg sections naturally provide because this means that the sections have a larger diameter. 

The maximum payload is 22lbs / 10kg, so the tripod can support a wide range of camera and lens combinations although Gitzo does recommend that 200mm is the maximum focal length that should be used with the tripod and head.

You could undoubtedly go beyond this given the maximum payload, but travel tripod heads are typically smaller than those designed for full-size tripods. So, even when they can accommodate longer focal length lenses, it’s often not going to provide the most reliable shooting experience. 

The head itself, like the legs, is exceptionally well made. There’s no friction control for the ball mechanism, but the main locking control provides this depending on how loose it is and a pan lock controls the stiff yet smooth panning movement.

It's a simple ball head, but it does everything you need and does it smoothly. The plate used is also Arca Swiss compatible so you can use plates from other tripod heads and L brackets. The head can also be tilted over 90 degrees for portrait format shooting with one notch that allows this. This is ultimately a head where the adage ‘less is more’ is at play, but it does what it does well and can’t be faulted for this.

Twist locks for the legs and control knobs on the ball head and the centre column feature a rubberized grip that is comfortable to use, effective and doesn’t require too much twisting to lock and unlock. This doesn’t sound like much, but when you’re adjusting a tripod, speed and comfort can make a huge difference over a long day of shooting.

It feels almost strange to enjoy using a tripod – camera supports are hardly glamorous, they simply need to hold a camera securely. However, the level of quality and the smooth and positive level of operation afforded by the Gitzo make it a premium option worth considering if your budget stretches that far. 

It may be is expensive, but it’s far from being one of the most expensive options available. Believe it or not, there are tripods available that cost upwards of $1000 / £1000 so in this context, the Gitzo is arguably well-priced.

 Should I buy the Gitzo tripod kit Traveler series 1? 

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Gitzo tripod kit Traveler series 1

The Gitzo tripod Traveler series 1 was tested over a period of time using several different camera and lens combinations to test how the tripod stood up to standard use in travel-oriented scenarios. Cameras used included a premium compact, an APS-C mirrorless camera and a full-frame mirrorless camera. The tripod was also carried around with other photographic kit in my f-stop backpack to evaluate performance over longer shoots such as landscapes.

With nearly 30 years of photographic experience and 15 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve been covering photographic accessories such as tripods for many years. As a professional photographer, I frequently use a range of accessories to enhance my photography and bring my working experience of using these to reviews where I can consider how effective photographic accessories are from both a professional and an enthusiast point of view.

First reviewed March 2024

Two-minute review

The 3 Legged Thing Punks Brian 2.0 is a stylish and highly versatile travel tripod with more tricks up its sleeve than a room full of magicians – and one of the most impressive features is the competitive price it comes in at considering what it has to offer.

The Punks Brian 2.0 costs $300 / £250 / AU$633. It's part of 3 Legged Thing’s colorful punks range, and to that end it's available with orange, blue or black accents on the tripod head and the twist lock on the center column and legs, bucking the arguably dull visual trend of tripod design that sees most color schemes dominated by black or grey.

This carbon fiber tripod is an impressive transformer when it comes to growth, going from a folded length of 16.5-inches / 42cm to a maximum height of 73.2 inches / 1.86m with the center column extended. This is taller than many full-size tripods, and even more impressively it's achieved with a weight of just 3.70lbs / 1.68kg.

So, unless you need a heavier tripod for specific shooting situations, the Punks Brian could realistically function as your main tripod, despite falling within the travel tripod category.

All three five-section legs are detachable, and together with the Vanz ‘footwear’, which are 4.4-inch / 11.2cm stainless steel legs with rubber ends that can be removed to reveal spikes (these are available separately), they enable the Punks Brian to be transformed into a tabletop or ultra low-level tripod. Another feature of the removable legs is that they can be used as a monopod with the included AirHed Neo 2.0 ball head attached at the top of the leg, or with the center column attached to the top of the leg for additional height up to 75.1 inches / 191cm.

This level of versatility is welcome in a travel tripod, as when traveling it’s not uncommon for photographers to have to reduce their kit to the bare minimum. So, having a tripod that can be used in three different ways – standard, tabletop and monopod – and which offers a generous maximum height ensures that you can cover all the bases with one lightweight and compact package. As mentioned, you have to purchase the Vanz footwear for tabletop use separately, and they’re not cheap for what they are but, the overall cost of the Punks Brian and Vanz remains lower than many competing travel tripods.

The tripod legs are made of carbon fiber, and while they flex a little more than the legs of more expensive tripods, stability isn’t an issue. In use, I found the leg twist-locks to be quick and comfortable to use thanks to the rubber grip strips that are also found on the two-section center column. Build quality overall is excellent, and the orange accents of the Punks Brian I reviewed are eye-catching.

While its competitive price makes it accessible to enthusiasts and even beginners, the Punks Brian is a travel tripod that could easily cater to the needs of working professionals, thanks to its overall build quality, features and sturdy legs with 30lb / 14kg maximum payload. The latter means you can confidently attach even large telephoto lenses because the included AirHed Neo 2.0 has an even greater maximum payload of 40lbs / 18kg, which is impressive given the compact size of the ball head. There's no real camera and lens combination that exceeds the tripod kit's maximum payload. 

The AirHed Neo 2.0 is a simple ball head that’s colored to match the tripod legs depending on which color option you choose. It may be compact, but it’s made of aircraft-grade magnesium alloy and stainless steel, so it’s as tough as it is eye-catching. 

Operation is smooth and reliable, with one knob for adjusting the ball mechanism and another for the pan mechanism, and while the knobs don’t feature rubber grips, the machined metal grips work perfectly and look pretty smart, too. There’s also an accessory mounting point and a metal loop at the bottom of the center column for attaching the included carabiner tool, from which you can hang a camera bag to improve stability when needed.

The plate used is also the Arca Swiss design, so it’s compatible with 3 Legged Thing and third-party L brackets. There's also a notch within the ball head to allow for portrait-format shooting, so an L bracket isn’t essential for this, although they are much better for portrait-format shooting than a ball head on its own.

Finding a tripod of this quality for such a competitive price is a rarity in the tripod world. The Punks Brian can comfortably compete against tripods that are twice the price and still come out as an incredibly enticing option. So, if you’re looking for a travel tripod that looks good and performs well, with some impressive features on offer, the Punks Brian is certainly an option to consider.

 Should I buy the 3 Legged Thing Punks Brian 2.0 ? 

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the 3 Legged Thing Punks Brian 2.0

I tested the 3 Legged Thing Punks Brian 2.0 using several different camera and lens combinations, to see how the tripod stood up to standard use in travel-oriented scenarios. Cameras used included a premium compact, an APS-C mirrorless camera, and a full-frame mirrorless model. I carried the tripod around with other photographic kit in my f-stop backpack to evaluate performance over longer landscape shoots.

I have almost 30 years of photographic experience, with 15 years working as a photography journalist, and I’ve been testing and writing about tripods and other accessories for many years. As a professional photographer I regularly use a range of accessories, and bring my working experience to reviews, enabling me to gauge how effective particular accessories are from both a professional and an enthusiast point of view.

First reviewed March 2024

Two-minute review

For some photographers, the most lightweight travel tripods are the only option when it comes to traveling, and the Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod is one of the lighter and more compact options available. At just 2.75lbs / 1.25kg and with a folded length of 16.1in / 41cm, it’s an extremely portable travel tripod that you can comfortably carry over long periods, barely noticing it's there.

The Befree Advanced costs $319 / £279 / AU$555 which is an attractive price for such a compact and lightweight tripod when compared to some alternatives, but you can get a much more fully featured tripod, if slightly heavier, for a similar price or less, such as the 3LT Brian 2.0 Travel Tripod. 

Going heavier is arguably worthwhile for the additional functionality. For example, the 3LT offering has a built-in monopod and a taller maximum height. However, if weight is your main concern, you’ll struggle to find a better Befree Advanced alternative at this price, and you can find deals on it for less than the list price mentioned above (see below).

Weight versus features is a typical quandary when buying a travel tripod; you often have to make concessions in one area to be able to take advantage of the benefits in another. In this case, I can’t get away from the cost versus features aspect of the tripod – you can get so much more for your money with competitor models.

The Befree Advanced is advertised as a tripod for advanced hobbyists and has a maximum height of 59in / 150cm alongside a maximum payload of 19.8lbs / 9kg, and packs down to 16.1in / 41cm. However, the Befree Advanced provides adequate support for professionals because the fairly narrow four section legs are surprisingly rigid.

In terms of design and build quality, you can’t fault the Befree Advanced because it looks, feels and performs much more smoothly than Manfrotto’s budget travel tripods, so there’s an immediately obvious advancement here. The leg twist locks are better made and operate more positively, while the compact ball head locks much more firmly with no slippage which is exactly what you’d hope for at this price point.

The 494 aluminium center ball head is robust, with great control knobs despite its compact size and light weight. However, it's something of an oddity. While it uses the Manfrotto 200PL-PRO plate which is RC2 and Arca-swiss compatible, the ball head isn’t compatible with L brackets for quickly and easily allowing photographers to switch between portrait and landscape format shooting while enjoying full movement of the ball head.

This begs the question, why even bother with a plate like this because it’s full of promise yet fails to deliver? Not to mention, it could be confusing when looking at the specs because if you use an L bracket, the natural assumption would be that it’s compatible with the tripod head. Of course, this won’t be of concern to many photographers who don’t use L brackets, but it’s something you need to know before considering the Befree Advanced.

In use, the Befree Advanced is quick and easy to set up, and with the exception of the of the leg lock buttons that unlock the leg angles and feel a little cheap for the price of the tripod, nothing else can be criticized in terms of quality. There’s also an accessory mount for screwing in accessory arms to hold lighting, tablets and anything else you need to support close to the camera, and if you need to shoot closer to the ground than 16.1in / 41cm minimum, the center column can be inserted into the legs upside down.

Beyond this, the Befree Advanced is a standard travel tripod with no other bells or whistles; it does what it says on the tin and it does it well; it’s undoubtedly a tripod for those who only require simple features. The accessory mount is nice to have and useful if you need it, while the average maximum height of 59in / 150cm is ideal for travel, landscape and city shooting despite not being the greatest maximum height available.

The Befree Advanced is an attractive travel tripod despite its overall simplicity and the Arca Swiss tripod plate quirk it suffers from. It’s certainly not a perfect package, but where it excels is in its compact size and light weight. Plus, in some cases, equally lightweight options are shorter and not quite as sturdy. In a nutshell, if you need a decent lightweight travel tripod, this remains an option worth considering despite one or two shortcomings.

Should I buy the Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod? 

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod

The Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod was tested over a period of time using several different camera and lens combinations to test how the tripod stood up to standard use in travel-oriented scenarios. Cameras used included a premium compact, an APS-C mirrorless camera and a full-frame mirrorless camera. The tripod was also carried around with other photographic kit in my f-stop backpack to evaluate performance over longer shoots such as landscapes.

With nearly 30 years of photographic experience and 15 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve been covering photographic accessories such as tripods for many years. As a professional photographer I frequently use a range of accessories to enhance my photography and bring my working experience of using these to reviews where I can consider how effective photographic accessories are from both a professional and enthusiast point of view.

First reviewed February 2024

Editor's Note

• Original review date: June 2019
• Still available new, and still unique
• Launch price: $599 / £559 / AU$1,170
• Official price now: $599 / £559 / AU$1,170 (carbon fiber)

Update: February 2024. We first looked at the Peak Design Travel tripod during a hands-on review in 2019, and many years later there's still no design quite like it, which is a little surprising given how considered and successful the design concept has been delivered to create a super-compact tripod for your travels and one of the best travel tripods period. It remains available from retailers with a largely similar list price that goes all the way back to launch. 

Two-minute review

A tripod’s a tripod – three legs and a head to secure a camera – pretty simple really. So how do you improve on a tried and tested design? The Peak Design Travel Tripod undoubtedly follows this fundamental construction, but four years of research and development has delivered a unique travel tripod as well as being incredibly compact and lightweight; its folded footprint when compared to similar-sized travel tripods, is about half in terms of diameter.

The Peak Design’s legs fold in neatly thanks to their shape, which drastically reduces the profile of the tripod when folded making the diameter similar to that of a can of soda; it may not sound exciting, but it’s impressive and makes the Peak Design a highly portable travel tripod if you’re willing to pay the premium price the tripod commands.

The Peak Design Travel Tripod is available in two flavors with the carbon fibre leg option costing $600 / £560 / AU$1170, and the aluminum alternative coming in at a slightly more modest $380 / £350 / AU$670. But that’s still a high price for an aluminum travel tripod. To be fair, it certainly isn’t cheap, but the overall design is what you’re paying for and as well as looking pretty smart and, indeed unique, the Peak Design provides impressive stability despite the legs being made up of five sections.

Cost aside, the main difference between the carbon fibre and aluminum options is weight. The former comes in at just 2.81lbs / 1.27kg, while the latter is slightly heavier at 3.44lbs / 1.56kg. The aluminum model is still lightweight despite the legs being made of heavier material, so this remains an option worth considering if you can’t afford the carbon fiber version. All other aspects of the tripods are the same, including the folded length of 15.4in / 39.1cm with a 3.1in / 7.9cm diameter.

With such a lightweight and compact folded size, you may be thinking that this tripod is short and flimsy, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. These were my initial expectations, but I was hugely impressed with the overall sturdiness and the ability to shoot low to the ground with the center column inserted upside down into the legs or as high as 60in / 152.4cm with the center column fully extended. The center column also offers a hook for adding weight and there’s an integrated phone mount that stows away in the bottom of the center column above the bag hook for adding weight to the tripod to increase stability when required.

This is a tripod that’s intended for professional use and offers a maximum payload of 20lbs / 9.1kg, so it can handle a wide variety of camera and lens combinations. With this, you could get away with using some long telephoto lenses for wildlife photography, and the head can support the weight, but the design of the head wouldn’t provide the most efficient and comfortable shooting experience for this type of photography. Plus, the head isn’t interchangeable so you couldn’t swap it out for a gimbal head instead.

Ultimately, this is no big deal because it’s clearly not a tripod that’s designed for this type of photography, but something to bear in mind if this would be an intended use. The head itself is low profile, which helps to reduce the overall bulkiness of the tripod and employs a novel design that takes getting used to if you’ve only experienced what you might call standard tripod heads in the past.

The head itself fulfils the clear desire to create something that’s compact and in keeping with the overall design of the tripod, but being a fixed head means that you have to be 100% sure that it’s something that you can get on with. What makes it different is that despite being a ball head, is that it provides two locking/adjustment rings; one for the ball mechanism and another for the tripod plate. Once you get used to which is which and you’ve used them a few times they do become intuitive, but they are undoubtedly a break from the norm.

The tripod plate uses the Arca Swiss design so it’s compatible with L brackets, which is great. And even if you don’t use an L bracket, the head and plate can be set vertically to the side for portrait format shooting with the notches of the socket providing additional stability. This is a clever design that mirrors that of the tripod as a whole.

When it comes to operation, the Peak Design is quick and easy to set up. And when I say quick, I really do mean quick because it simply needs to be extended rather than unfolded and then extended like many travel tripods. The leg locks are the older style clip locks rather than twist locks, but with the unique leg shape that facilitates the compact folding of the tripod, this is clearly the only option. It certainly doesn’t impact usability and these can be easily dismantled for cleaning and maintenance which is always useful.

Should I buy the Peak Design Travel Tripod?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Peak Design Travel Tripod

The Peak Design Travel Tripod was tested over a period of time using several different camera and lens combinations to test how the tripod stood up to standard use in travel-oriented scenarios. Cameras used included a premium compact, an APS-C mirrorless camera and a full-frame mirrorless camera. The tripod was also carried around with other photographic kit in my 'f-stop' brand backpack to evaluate performance over longer shoots such as landscapes.

With nearly 30 years of photographic experience and 15 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve been covering photographic accessories such as tripods for many years. As a professional photographer I frequently use a range of accessories to enhance my photography and bring my working experience of using these to reviews where I can consider how effective photographic accessories are from both a professional and enthusiast point of view.

First reviewed February 2024

Two-minute review

The Pivo Max is a motorized head that can intelligently track subject movement, when paired to Pivo's free iOS / Android app. Put simply, it's like having your own camera operator, and could be the handiest smartphone accessory you ever purchase, particularly if you're a solo content creator. 

It's incredibly easy to get started with the Pivo Max app, and establish a connection between an Apple or Android device and the motorized head. Once a connection is active, the app recognizes a variety of subjects – both human and animal – and follow a subject's movement, keeping them in the selected portion of the frame. 

Most people use a smartphone to shoot content now, and many such people work alone, and the Pivo Max is going to be hugely useful if you want to bring life and extra production value to content, rather than relying on a static, locked-off shot.

Set-up is simple – after optionally attaching the head to a tripod or other support to achieve the required height (the head can also simply be placed on a table or other surface), you slot your smartphone or tablet into the removable holder on the top, screw it firmly in place, open the app and away you go. Your phone will reliably track your movement, with options for human face or body tracking, plus dog or horse tracking – a peculiar mix of subjects for sure.

What's more, there's an 'Auto Zoom' option – if you move further away from the camera, it can zoom in to maintain a similar composition, and zoom out again should you move closer to the camera once more.

You can also select one of three vertical zones – left, middle or right (see below) – in which the app can place the tracked subject. I suspect most people will select the middle portion of the frame, but I can also see a use for leaving space either side of yourself, for example when showcasing products by your side, or for leaving space in your shot to walk into when out and about, especially in scenic surroundings.

Tracking speed can be adjusted for slow and steady movements, through to keeping up with quick movement, and the motor can indeed be smooth or snappy – whichever you need. A timer gives you a three-second countdown to get ready for a take, and there are photo, video, meet and webcam modes to choose between. 

The Pivo Max comes with a remote, too, so it's easy to adjust app settings from  distance – you don't have to initiate recording on the device's screen itself. However, if you're using a separate camera like a DSLR or mirrorless, you'll need to start recording directly on the camera itself.

Yes, you can mount a small camera such as an entry-level DSLR or mirrorless model, and use that instead of your phone, although you'll still need the app active to obtain the Pivo Max's functions, so you'll need to source a coldshoe mount to mount your phone on top of the camera (included in Pivo's pricier kits).

I only used the Pivo Max with a smartphone – and I expect the overwhelming majority of users will do the same – but it's nice to know that I could use it with one of my 'proper' cameras; it has a max payload of 2kg.

The device itself is compact, and lightweight at around 350g. It's well built, though I wouldn't want to expose it to inclement weather. Pivo says battery life is a generous 10-12 hours.

Naturally, I've wanted to test the Pivo Max app's effectiveness, trying a range of scenarios and subjects. Starting with a solo talking-head shot, I made subtle movements left and right, towards and away from the camera, and tracking is silky smooth, though the zoom is a little jerky. Crank up the tracking speed to 'turbo' and the motorized head will swiftly respond to quick sideways movements, doing an admirable job of keeping up. 

If you make quick movements when the tracking speed is set to slow / normal, the Pivo Max will lag behind. Conversely, set it to quick when making slow movements and it's more likely to be jerky. You're not always going to know your speed of movement, and for such scenarios an intelligent adaptive auto tracking speed would be great, as opposed to having to manually input the tracking speed (I generally kept the speed on the quicker side). 

As such, an element of planning is required before you hit record, to select the appropriate tracking speed for the anticipated speed of movement. However, the Pivo Max has an extra trick or two up its sleeve.

It's possible to create a path with a start and finish point, much like Waypoints for drones, and then to initiate that tracking movement. There's also predictive follow, although it wasn't immediately clear to me what additional benefit this function offered.

I've also tried to confuse the app by including multiple faces in the frame, and by covering my own face as the primary tracked subject – the app will then lock onto another face in the frame and make them the tracked subject instead. So long as a subject maintains line of sight with the camera, tracking is very reliable. 

If the tracked subject changes, the first tracked subject can move back into the middle of the shot and it'll lock onto them again. Tracking is in theory more reliable than an actual human camera operator, who may or may not be able to predict or keep up with your movement (or maintain concentration). 

Yes, the Pivo Max can be more effective that a human camera operator. A caveat is that the motorized head can only do panning movements (a full 360 degrees – you can literally run circles around it) but not tilt, which is a little limiting if the subject is positioned close to the camera. A pricier and heavier gimbal would offer this extra range of motion, but these devices are way more complicated to set up than the Pivo Max. While it lacks a full range of movement, I have full confidence in the abilities of the Pivo Max for panning shots.

You're using the Pivo Max app to control the camera when shooting with a phone, and the options are more limited than most smartphone's camera functions. You can select exposure for your subject, or uncheck that option for the app to select brightness based on the entire frame. Basic self-timer modes are included, but otherwise, this is a point-and-shoot kind of experience. 

Naturally, it's easier to compose your shot using your phone's selfie camera, but if I wanted to use the better-quality front-facing camera I would happily rely on the Pivo Max's tracking capabilities, without needing to see the shot in real time on my phone's screen. 

Two areas for improvement would, as mentioned, be a tilt motion in addition to panning, and an auto tracking speed option. Otherwise, this is a super-useful accessory, and practically speaking, the zoom function somewhat makes up for the lack of tilt motion.

Overall, I can easily see an audience for the Pivo Max. It's a tad on the pricey side for what you're getting, but the value it can add to video production for solo content creators, together with its tiny form factor and quick setup, will allow many to justify the outlay. 

Pivo Max: price and release date

The Pivo Max is available now and costs $269.99 / £259.99 / AU$434.99. You'll need to buy a support separately, and Pivo sells an Essential kit for $369.99 / £354.99 / AU$594.99 that includes a tripod, although the Pivo Max can be mounted on any tripod or stand with standard 1/4-inch thread. I used a basic light stand for my testing. If you'd like to mount a camera, as well as a smartphone or tablet, you'll also need to pick up a phone-to-camera coldshoe adapter (included in the the Essential kit as well as the Starter kit that costs $299.99 / £284.99 / AU$484.99 that also contains a travel case and smart mount).

Should I buy the Pivo Max?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Pivo Max

I had the Pivo Max on test for a lengthy period, and I used the motorized head mainly for solo talking-to-camera videos indoors, recording onto an Android smartphone. I've tried the various in-app settings, making adjustments to the tracking speed and subject detection options, and tested the various shooting modes. 

First reviewed December 2023