Okay&F Idea 60″ Carbon Fiber Journey Tripod Assessment

The digital camera world has develop into saturated with third-party gear previously few years, and there’s no exception with tripods. In comparison with extra conventional big-name manufacturers, a few of these third-party tripods are pretty cheap – together with carbon fiber fashions. However how do they carry out? At the moment, I’ll evaluate one in every of them within the hopes of answering that query: the Okay&F Idea 60″ C225C0 Carbon Fiber Journey Tripod.

Introduction and Options

The Okay&F 60″ Journey Tripod is a lean journey tripod that weighs simply 1.01kg and reaches a most top of 1.5m (60″). It additionally folds down very small – see the comparability beneath with the favored Peak Design journey tripod.

Subsequently, it’s not designed to be an entire tripod answer however moderately a light-weight compromise when you need to pack gentle.

The legs on the Okay&F Idea 60″ C225C0 have twist locks. I choose this fashion over flip locks. The angle of the legs will be adjusted and locked with a push-pull button system that works pretty effectively. One of many legs has a foam sleeve that makes it simple to hold the tripod round in colder climate – good contact. As is typical with journey tripods, there are 5 leg sections.

The middle column is a tube that locks (additionally with a twist lock) and has an extra part, which signifies that a major a part of the peak of this tripod comes from the extending middle column. With out the middle column, the tripod’s most top is simply 1.2 meters (47 inches).

One of many legs detaches to type a monopod. You possibly can put the ballhead on it instantly, and it types a monopod that extends just under my chest. Apparently, some folks have had luck attaching the middle column to it as effectively to type a bigger monopod, however I couldn’t get it to work. That mentioned, I did discover one other function of the middle column to work effectively – flipping it the wrong way up on the tripod for low-angle capturing.

Lastly, I just like the orange and black design. Not everybody will care about that, but it surely appears to be like cool.

The Ballhead

Regardless of the low value of $100, the tripod comes with a ballhead. Since photographers work together with their ballhead always, it’s usually prompt to purchase your tripod and head individually as a way to get the optimum model of each. I principally agree.

That mentioned, the ballhead that comes with the Okay&F 60″ isn’t dangerous. It has a easy panoramic locking base with angle measurements, and a single degree that ought to make panoramas simple. It has an Arca-Swiss plate system that’s principally Arca-Swiss suitable – though I discovered that the plate didn’t match into the Arca-Swiss receptacle of my Peak Design Journey Tripod, regardless that different Arca-Swiss plates do.

In fact, it’s simple to take the ballhead off and substitute it with every other head you want. I hooked up my Oben BE-177T with out issues.

Strengths

The Okay&F Journey Tripod’s important power is its gentle weight. You actually can carry it anyplace with you. Thus, if you happen to’re not a heavy tripod person, however you sometimes end up needing a tripod, the Okay&F 60″ is an efficient answer.

It’s additionally actually small. The legs fold backwards over the middle column, and as soon as fully folded, it involves a mere 35cm (13.8″). I appreciated its tiny dimension when carrying a bunch of different gear within the subject.

I additionally discovered this tripod surprisingly sturdy for the worth and dimension. Its tiny nature naturally offers it some flex when totally prolonged, however it’s pretty stable if stored near the bottom. I discovered that extending simply the thickest leg sections was no downside even in windy circumstances.

The ballhead feels decently sturdy as effectively, and the ball locks when tightened sufficiently. Not as a lot as a high-end ballhead, thoughts you, however sufficient that there wasn’t extreme drooping with a medium-weight digital camera. The top comes with a pleasant carrying bag with a small pocket that can be utilized to retailer the included tightening software.

Weaknesses

As some may guess, a $100 tripod goes to have just a few compromises. What are they?

My important ideas go to the middle column. It’s round and locks in place with a twist lock just like the leg locks. Not the best thought, as a result of the lock is so near the legs that it’s very exhausting to get a grip on the lock and tighten it previous a sure level.

Furthermore, if I utilized a mildly sturdy pressure, I might nonetheless spin the column even when “locked”. I by no means had an issue with it within the subject, but it surely may provide you with pause to hold your digital camera the wrong way up on it for low-angle capturing. And it does communicate to normal stability points in opposed circumstances.

I might additionally say that, though the construct high quality of this tripod is nice, a dearer tripod like my Peak Design Journey Tripod is noticeably extra sturdy, particularly in the case of the middle column and general leg flex. I feel that’s only a compromise one has to determine on. In any case, the Okay&F 60″ prices six instances much less.

Additionally, the toes of the Okay&F 60″ are fabricated from a more durable plastic, moderately than softer rubber with grip. I didn’t discover out of doors use to be an issue, however they do slide a little bit on polished flooring.

Who’s it For?

I actually see the Okay&F Idea 60″ Journey Tripod for light-weight and occasional use. It excels at being moved rapidly from place to put whereas not taking over an excessive amount of house. Stability at full top will not be the power of this tripod, however that doesn’t imply it’s a dangerous alternative for all conditions.

For instance, I might positively see myself utilizing this tripod to report out of doors video on longer hikes with my Panasonic G9. A barely much less secure tripod doesn’t concern me for videography, whereas it would for nonetheless images. You would additionally contemplate holding a tripod like this in your automobile to make use of in a pinch, or keep it up a hike the place you’re attempting to save lots of as a lot weight as attainable.

That mentioned, you need to contemplate the burden of your gear. This tripod has a said load capability of 8kg. And though it’s sturdy sufficient to assist an honest quantity of weight to make sure, its tiny dimension and smaller legs makes me assume it might be best suited for hundreds round 1kg (2.2lbs) or much less.

And, like all shorter journey tripods, working with the Okay&F Journey Tripod will likely be a bit much less comfy as a result of it’s most top is 152cm (60″). That’s simply the tradeoff for utilizing such a small tripod, however it’s one thing to remember if you happen to’re tall.

Conclusion

The Okay&F Idea 60″ Journey Tripod is an honest, light-weight tripod suited for many who sometimes want a tripod on their travels with lighter cameras, and who don’t wish to lug round a much bigger tripod. It’s sturdy so long as circumstances don’t develop into too harsh, and is an efficient possibility for the worth.

If you happen to’re on this tripod, you possibly can assist Pictures Life by shopping for it on Amazon:

For many who choose B&H picture, you may get a barely older (however basically the identical) mannequin there.