German photo accessory manufacturer FLM is launching a new travel tripod on indiegogo. The CP-Travel will be made of ten layers of carbon fiber and will be able to support up to 10kg/22lb of gear. When fully collapsed, the tripod will fit in a carry-on suitcase, with a maximum height of 142cm/55.9in when completely extended.
The CP-Travel offers interchangeable rubber and spiked feet, using a revamped changing system that the company calls more secure and better able to dampen vibrations. Seeking funding to send the CP-Travel tripod into production, FLM is offering early bird discounts to its first backers. The company anticipates a final $635 MSRP when it becomes available in October.
I think your GK1555T is the current version of the same model. It looks very similar to mine, but not identical. For more information on this Traveler, go to the manufacturer's page: https://www.manfrotto.us/gitzo-tripod-kit-traveler-series-1-5-sections (and compare with Adorama's info on the FLM CP-Travel).
I just wanted to let everyone here know that we are fully funded, 104% at this moment. A big thank you to all who contributed, participated, asked questions, and even to those who weren't as supportive; we aim to prove all the doubters wrong come October. Tripods are still for sale at the special low price until 100 units are sold, so you can still get one if you haven't yet. Thank you!
if you need a tripod, this is cheap stuff for the quality you get. unless you are really brutal their stuff is built to be passed on to your kids and grandkids.
It is a shame that these days, most folks just don't make purchasing decisions with such generational longevity in mind. Everyone lives in the here-and-now, and wishes for dirt-cheap prices on quality equipment.
Obviously, I am just as guilty as the next guy in this regard. Both of my grandfathers' old film SLRs are sitting on a shelf right here next to me, in perfectly good working order, and yet on the shelf just below sits my tenth Nikon DSLR in ~12 years. And, below these shelves also sits a box full of 15+ broken flashes, most of them cheap Chinese knock-offs.
I've learned my lesson with tripods, though. Of all the gear in photography worth appreciating as a prized possession, I guess I've chosen legs and ballheads. Not that I don't have a closet fully of tripod skeletons, but I have at least come to grips with the reality of tripod longevity, and I've vowed never to waste money on cheap junk again.
You might as well say that all DSLRs look the same.
FLM design and manufacture their tripods at their own factory in Germany. It takes real engineering to design the strongest joints, optimum geometries, and best materials choices to maximize performance, reliability, and maintainability.
Someone else further down here called FLM an "obscure" company - a ridiculous statement, as they are popular and highly regarded in Europe for many years, and they have been steadily growing in the North American marketplace for the past several years.
Golly, the AmazonBasics 52" carbon fiber travel tripod is less than $80....hmmm....
The odd thing is that Amazon's house brand goods have been very credible and the tripod in question appears to be a relabeled version $200+ Sirui, albeit with the weight rating reduced from 13.2lbs to a more credible "suggested" 8lbs.
I think we've reached the point where expensive, but obscure, German branded tripods aren't of any great interest. You might as well buy Chinese and let Amazon figure out which Chinese tripods will have low rates of complaints and returns. I'd trust Amazon. A German something-or-other? Blah.
Oben tripods are also a good bet. It looks like B&H is cherry picking the entire Benro line-up for their house brand. Again, I'd trust B&H to sort out the most desirable models of Chinese tripods.
Yeah, and it will break on you in 6 months or less, if you're a serious outdoor / travel photographer.
BTW, many, many different tripods brands these days look the same; I would hesitate to call any one brand a "version of" another. These are ALL versions of Gitzo / Slik, if you really want to go back all the way.
(I've taken apart over a dozen tripods, and their internals are all nearly identical. In fact this FLM tripod is the first I've ever heard of that has a new internal shim design, and that says a lot.)
Either way, do yourself a huge favor and don't buy an Amazon Basics tripod. Your trust in Amazon to pick the "right" tripod for you merely based on its bottom line is going to backfire on you when you're in the middle of nowhere and your legs start jamming, falling apart, or your ballhead / center column starts getting jiggly. Trust me, I've tried them all, and broken them all.
Mattthew, you made some fine points! I too, wouldn't trust ANY photography gear on an $80 tripod! This FLM "CP26 Travel Tripod", is on the opposite end of the Quality spectrum! It has super-strong 10x Carbon Fiber legs (26 lb load capacity!) with well-made twist locks, and a robust ball head that has several unique features that I've not seen in my 35 years of photography using tripods...For example, the "Pan" function permits butter-smooth normal panning, but in addition, adds a 15-degree ratchet function that is fantastic for us landscape/panorama photographers! There is also a "Tilt" knob that locks the ball head so that only one vertical/up/down plane is available. And finally, there is a "lock" function that locks the ball head from panning/turning, so that it can easily be unscrewed and/or mounted solidly. The kit comes with very well-made screw-on metal spikes, and folds up to a compact 15.5" for travel. Highly recommended for travel (or in studio)!! Thanks.
I've been into photography for at least long enough to know when CF first started being used widely in legs, so the "10x / 8x / 6x / 4x or whatever doesn't mean much to me at all. It seemed like the megapixel race, to be honest.
However, everything else you said sounds very interesting, and you had me at "well-made twist locks"... I'd love to review an FLM tripod someday. My friend has one already, though, and the general opinion thus far is still mixed, for a number of reasons. I'll have to get my hands on one of my own I guess.
HI Matthew. Well, having about 35 years in photography using dozens of tripods over the years, I can confidently state that I've never used one with the build quality, rigidity, handling of Legs and Ball Head features, and precision construction of this FLM CP26 Travel Tripod. (And I've used products from Gitzo, Manfrotto, Slik, Giottos, Oben, MEFOTO, Smith Victor, etc.) That's why I'm confused about your "general opinion is still mixed..." comment above. What exactly have you heard about this tripod, or FLM products in general? Thank you sir. Regards, Steve
I've held the FLM and used it a bit myself, and my friend has used it extensively for almost a year, but not quite.
To be brief- it does feel strong, and appears to be standing up to the long-term durability test thus far, however it still lacks that highest level of "feels indestructible" that a Gitzo, RRS, or (some, not all) Slik & Manfrotto tripods have. It's hard to describe, and maybe it's just that they've made such a large-ish and strong tripod so impressively lightweight. Either way, I'm still holding my breath for a leg lock to start jamming, or slipping, somewhere between 12 and 24 months.
I'd love to take someone's word for it, especially with 35 years experience under their belt, but unfortunately I have also heard from people with roughly that much experience, who bought a MeFoto and were perfectly happy with it too.
Rest assured, I do have high hopes, and more confidence than I've had in most other tripods, so that's saying something already.
4.) There are all kinds of tripods. If you're just a casual traveler who needs slow shutter speeds once in a while, a dinky tripod is great. Not everybody needs to lug around a 5 lb boat anchor.
However, the market is already saturated with half-decent tripods in this category. Most of them are in the $200-300 range.
Unfortunately, many of these are indeed crap. (Oben, Benro, Mefoto, Sirui, Fotopro, Giottos, yes I have broken ALL of these!)
Still, there are a couple decent "generics" that have transcended their knock-off roots to become a decent brand.
Personally? My favorite is the true original- SLIK. They've been around for as long as Bogen/Manfrotto and Gitzo. If you need something ultralight, or a boat-anchor, they've got great options.. All of them are great quality, too, and have collectively given me the least trouble in my years as an outdoor photographer and gear reviewer / torture-tester. (And my tripod death toll is up to at least a dozen, at this point.)
Matthew, So, if I understand you correctly, you haven’t actually heard specific issues regarding the FLM tripod, but rather, it’s your “feeing” about a “lack of indestructibility”, and because of that, you’re “holding your breath” over a potential leg lock malfunction? What about the newly designed one-piece shims, or the dearth of reported issues with FLM products? FYI, I was impressed with my 35 year-old Gitzo Studio Tripod when I was using a 4x5 View Camera, as it was robust, heavy, and never failed! But, it’s not suited for hiking with a Mirrorless kit. I’ve read reports of leg issues even with Gitzo, RRS, and Feisol. Anything “man-made” can fail. Conversely, I agree; other brands like MEFOTO have products that work too. However, IMHO, this FLM tripod is simply in another class in terms of engineering, precision, and the unique features of the ball head previously described. Good luck with whichever tripod you decide on!
Yes, but that "feeling" is coming from the feeling I had with at least a dozen other tripods that eventually DID fall apart, many in catastrophic ways. So I can't ignore it until I've reach the ~24 month mark with something new.
I heard about the ingenious one-piece shims from Ari, and I'm definitely hopeful. I also really like the idea of no-rubber leg locks, but that's only one of the pieces of the puzzle to a "perfect" long life.
It sounds like I might permanently own an FLM one day. I'm a tripod aficionado, for sure, and I've already collected a few for various purposes. I think every serious landscape photographer ought to own 2-3 different tripods, ranging from ultra-light to heavy-duty. I hope the FLM product line grows; it's a shame that the CP26-L3S is gone, because that one seems much closer to my own needs than the one that was announced in this news article. (At 70"+ and 2.6lbs versus 55"+ and 2.9 lbs, ...I'd go with the older one if I could find it on eBay...)
1.) 2.8 lbs is not all that light, if it only goes to 55". Though I suppose the sub-2 lb tripods out there usually only support ~10 lbs... (AKA, do a worse job of stabilizing the same ~5 lb kit in a light breeze)
2.) 5-section legs are a real pain to set up, and a compromise in strength and longevity. The anti-rotation design that these tripods all use, namely the cheap plastic shims, are a major cause of break-down. So I'm very curious to see how this "uni-shim" design holds up to long-term abuse. (And if spares are conveniently available!)
3.) Even if they do use super high-quality anti-rotation shims, (Gitzo, RRS) I'm still a bit shocked by the MSRP. Unless I am mistaken about the quality and FLM is trying to be the next RRS. Hey, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Though I'd never pay that much for a 5-section tripod, personally. Personally, I'm happy with my 1.9 lb Slik 614CF Pro that goes to 61". Even though it was discontinued many years ago, you can still find them.
Yes, some heft is necessary to make a better tripod, and one that can support 22 pounds adequately. As for the shims, I've never seen any break, rather, they end up lost because people have a tendency to unscrew the leg locks too far. The leg section falls out and a shim or two tumbles over the cliff, or into the rapids. The new shim is a "unibody" with a positive locking mechanism, so even shaking the leg section vigorously won't dislodge the shim. We have replacement parts for all of our products, both current and discontinued. When we offer a 10-year warranty on everything we make, we're not blowing hot air, we stand by our warranty. Thanks!
Hi Ari, Unfortunately having reviewed almost every single brand on the market, I've lost count of the mangled shims I've seen. Mainly caused by folks locking and un-locking legs out of order. (Locking a lower leg section while an upper leg lock is still loose is a recipe for jamming.)
I've only ever lost one leg lock shim, ever, and that was while field-cleaning a tripod, breaking it down entirely. (18 shims and 18 tensioners sitting out at once!)
Anyways, thats why my personal favorite tripod is an older model that was discontinued years ago, which had free-spinning leg locks. (No anti-rotation ribs or shims) While I'm sure most folks would see that as a step backward, I found it to be delightful simplification of the issue that has haunted me most.
A 10-yr warranty does indeed mean business, though. And that must surely be what people are paying for. Considering the "disposability" of the cheaper options which come from Asia and have little or zero service / warranty options.
Hi Matthew, The mangled shims likely mean poor quality; I've never seen a broken or otherwise unusable FLM shim, but people do call and ask for replacements for lost shims. I then repeat my mantra: "never over-tighten or over-loosens anything." I too have some gear that's a bit outdated, but still good-quality (I shoot 8x10 after all!), and I see no reason to replace it until it's beyond repair. If you're ever interested in reviewing any FLM product, just contact me through flmcanada.com and I'll set you up. Thanks.
i have the (now discontinued) FLM CP26-L3S. i'd like to weigh in that FLM legs - i tried multiple tripods - are the only ones that are so perfectly manufactured that you can open all sections together with one twist and the legs will fall out by themselves. a little turn with two fingers and the each lock is tight again. unmatched precision.
if they managed to keep that, then the 5 sections are not so cumbersome as one might think. e.g. i always found Gitzo's et al way to sticky, hand-burning and overall stubborn, so i was really glad that i stumbled upon FLM.
"3.) Even if they do use super high-quality anti-rotation shims, (Gitzo, RRS) I'm still a bit shocked by the MSRP. Unless I am mistaken about the quality and FLM is trying to be the next RRS."
Have you seen RRS' pricing on their version of a travel tripod? Even at MSRP FLM are much lower cost, and the introductory pricing is an even better deal! This is a more compact tripod, so in a slightly different class, but FLM have not just made a more compact version of their CP26 tripod series, they have employed new engineering and materials to make this tripod the "best in class". And many FLM customers who have experience with many other brands consider them to be in the top class along with your cited Gitzo and RRS.
Hence, the reason I caveated with "...unless I am mistaken about the quality and FLM is trying to be the next RRS."
If the FLM leg shims are as long-living as they claim to be, then it is indeed a feat of engineering, and a rather affordable introductory price.
I guess it was a bit of a contradiction though, to first say "even if the shims are high quality I'm still shocked by the MSRP..."
I guess what I mean is, decent shims alone wouldn't make a tripod worth $600+. The entire tripod would need to be absolutely top-notch quality for me to say the price is justified. Which it very well may be; FLM is one of the very few brands that I have not yet gotten my hands on. I suppose I'll have to remedy that eventually.
Investing in a lighter tripod for travel may seem like a good idea however for someone like myself who shoots landscape where it's mostly windy I prefer a tripod that is heavy and sits firmly on the ground. Now concerning this tripod. Looking at it's flawed design IMHO and the poor presentation of this video I sincerely doubt photographers will be impressed with it's use.
Look, while I have no problem to understand and agree that a travel tripod has its limitations and is not the universal solution for everyone, I also think that some other statements in your post are just a little "off topic", to phrase it very carefully. A flawed design in your opinion? Mind to explain? The poor presentation? Yes, the presentation is for sure not on the same "professional" level as you may be used from other companies or expect. But at least I don't care as it is about the product, not the presentation! Your final conclusion, quite interesting! Question: Have you ever used FLM legs or another product from FLM? Let me phrase it that way: It is quite easy and comfortable to make such populist statements. But for a lot of people who know FLM products, or the company, you simply disqualify yourself as a "reasonable" opinion in this topic. But as long as you live in your own business to this level of "professionalism" you expect from others everything is fine...!
Yes, I'm responsible for the very low production values of our videos, but I make no apologies. :) I'd rather get the information out there effectively. Some great products have not-so-great promotional material, while some bad products have great videos, so I'm not too worried about presentation as long as the product is top-notch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeX1HXmrcRk
Crowley213 do your research on the complaints other users have noted concerning FLM legs. You certainly don't need me for that. Now since you've taken up the mantle to defend this product and cite "professionalism" maybe you should seriously consider if you're introducing a product to someone unfamiliar with FLM "quality" then I hardly think they would be impressed with such a "low production value" video. Have a nice day.
If there were complaints, I'd be the first to hear about them. I haven't heard much, other than specific minor problems that were quickly resolved. I've taken back about 12 FLM tripods in 3½ years at this job, the return rate is exceedingly low for tripods as well as for ball heads.
And this despite the relentless airing of FLM videos with shoddy production values and of questionable taste.
You need only search this website to find excellent reviews for FLM heads, tripods and tabletop tripods. More good reviews are easy to find using Google.
@scottcraig Thanks a lot, it was indeed a beautiful day down here in Mexico! You don't like FLM legs / products? No problem for me! Different people, different opinions. Nevertheless I dare to step up to defend a product latest at the moment when criticism is stated in a form as you do in here, means no substantial facts but just populist phrases! I asked for an explanation regarding "flawed design"... zero feedback! I asked if you ever have used FLM products... zero feedback. Now you refer to complaints of other users, again without any backup... and I am quite sure asking you for examples there will be again zero feedback. By the way, asking Google I also got zero feedback regarding the stated complaints of other users! No, hereby I do not want to state that FLM products are flawless and perfect, there is no such product at all. But there is a slight difference between your statement and what is called reality! Have also a nice day and happy shootings!😉
12 tripods in 3.5 years (I'm guessing it is for sales within NA). Regardless, that number is quite amazing. Ive seen nothing but good reviews of FLM tripods. 10 yrs warranty ought to tell yo something about the quality. Most likely I'll be getting an FLM later this year.
For others, Ari is a great guy to buy from. I haven't bought from him anything yet. But he sells regularly on APUG, LFF, and other usual forums. In every place he has very very good feedback without exception. So if Ari tells you something you can trust him with your money.
Why thank you, Ashfaque, that's very kind of you to say. Yes, I'm quoting for returns in NA. I can tell you that having the 10-year warranty means that I never have to make excuses for the FLM gear I represent. The odd defective piece is replaced rather than fixed in most cases.
PART 2: My last remark - a design and concept mistake that unfortunately all manufacturers do - goes to the base plate only one screw which dis-levels the ballhead from the base plate as soon as you slightly firm it. When is someone going to offer a 3 screw design?! :) As I'm talking about common mistakes / design&concept flaws, I also still don't understand why tripods manufacturers don't do a 6 step angle leg tripod which would permit using it in the (3) reverse positions without having to reverse the center column; unblocking the angle switch/stopper could also be easily done by one simple axle design, which again if cleverly thought could work for both right and left handed users... :)
...Quite honestly when I look at the tripod market it seems their product line was designed by amateurs, unfortunately! :(
There are quite a few tripod makers that use three separate screws to lock down a ballhead. Even a couple of the knock-off brands do this, I know FotoPro does.
PART 1: Will never buy a 5 section tripod, even for travel - 4 is an acceptable compromise and if you don't need length above 1,40m (at base plate level), even 3 will make it perfectly compact in reversed transport position; don't forget the ballhead will add about 8,5 to 10 cm and the camera with plate another 10 (cm), minimum, so you end up with an about 1,60m eye-level/viewfinder height... The 5 section solution also makes it difficult/cumbersome to open all the sections with one hand (1/2 turn) twist and you have to close 3 to 6 more sections when compared to their 4/3 tripod siblings. Regarding the 10 layers of carbon, the truth is that it can't improve a lot the last 12mm leg section (in this case), which is too narrow for clamming good stability...
Indeed, my Slik Pro 614CF fits inside a checked bag, (though not a carry-on suitcase, however I have carried it on with a backpack plenty of times) ...and it goes to 61" and has 3-lock legs. Unfortunately it was discontinued many years ago LOL.
I'm an unabashed FLM fan. I also have many other brands of tripods and monopods, including many Gitzos and Manfrottos, in addition to my large FLM. In travel tripods I own a Gitzo, Giottos Vitruvian, and a BeFree, in addition to tripods that extend up to 8-feet tall that could handle a bazooka! None of those other travel tripods is capable of full-time use. The specs alone of the proposed FLM CP-Travel indicate this will be no mere spindly Gitzo with its 6x CF and a tiny 10mm smallest leg, but it will be a very stable and strong tripod in travel-tripod form (only). FLM is beginning to emerge as a major high-end tripod, and I learned one of their next offerings (probably not crowd-funded) will be a heavy duty item, with 10x CF. So regardless of opinions about this CP-Travel, one must regard this release as the attempt to fill out the range of tripod offerings. To date FLM has issued tripods with 26mm and 30mm largest legs only, so the Travel is new territory for FLM and travel tripods.
Bperrey, As a landscape and product photographer whose main concern is image sharpness and detail, I can state that the FLM CP26 Travel Tripod is without question, the best made, most robust, solidly built, best engineered tripod I have ever used! The 26lb load capacity means that it can handle my Fujifilm X-System kit (as well as any DSLR/lens combo) with ease, not to mention the unique features of the ball head, i.e., a 15 degree Pan function knob that enables precise 15 degree click stopped panning for precise panoramic stitching, and a single-axis knob that enables only one axis movement when needed. It's a supremely high-quality product that I highly recommend, for both travel and studio work. Thank you sir. Regards, Steve
The problem I always have with travel tripods is they seem to not be far enough ahead of standard carbon tripods. My Carbon (vs this) Tripod is 1.66 Kg (1.28), 172cm (142cm) max height and 61cm (39) closed. This leaves most aluminium travel tripods only with a closed height advantage and even this carbon one has a pretty teeny weight advantage. I could live with the lower max. height, more sections and a bit less stability if I got a good weight saving (down to 900g say), but I've yet to see one that grabs me. (Yes, a carbon full-size tripod is expensive, but compare to buying this and a full-size good quality aluminium tripod.)
Search Ebay or Google for the Slik Pro 624CF. (NOT to be confused with the newer, also discontinued 624 CFL model, with lever-lock legs.)
It weighs 822g, but only gets to ~110cm. It's also nearly impossible to find, but if you set an alert on Ebay, one might pop up. It is the most lightweight tripod I know of that has decent durability and strength.
If you want 164cm, and are OK with 860g, search Ebay for the Slik 614CF instead. This is my personal favorite for backpacking and lightweight travel. Unfortunately, to most folks dismay this older (ancient, really) tripod does not even have anti-rotation legs, however I personally consider this a benefit because twist-lock anti-rotation legs are what always seem to cause trouble first.
Thank you very much for those suggestions, I'll take a look. When I currently want a small tripod I do have a Gorillapod Focus, which is 29cm high and 499g (plus came with a nice Arca-Swiss ball-head). P.S. the twist-lock anti-rotation legs on my GT2540LLVL (used in the comparison above) are going fine so far :-)
For $800, Gitzo had better use high-grade plastic in their leg lock shims! I've had slightly better luck with some makes than others, but completely eliminating the problem by getting the Slik 614 CF was so tempting, I couldn't resist.
To me, a tripod is like a car. Most folks don't care about cars at all, and only need to get from point A to point B. Only a few folks actually need a heavy-duty vehicle that can do a serious job.
However other folks are actually into cars, and appreciate the exotic ones. Owning A Gitzo or RRS tripod (Markins head?) is like owning a Ferrari, or a Rolex.
Personally, I'm only mildly interested in cars, but very interested in tripods. The best analogy I can think of is this: if I were filthy rich and wanted a Ferrari, would I buy a shiny modern one for $200K? No, I'd buy a Magnum P.I. Ferrari, a 308 GTS. ($20-30K in fixer-upper condition). I guess that's why I hunted down a Slik tripod model that had already been discontinued for years.
Alternately, if I ever wanted to "make a statement" by owning the status symbol that is a Gitzo, I'd do the same thing- I'd go on Ebay and buy a Galen Rowell classic, a 1228 Mountaineer. If you're lucky you can find one for $300 or so in decent condition. But so far the desire to be near a friendly service center has outweighed my interest in bragging / prestige. (Slik's headquarters are a 10 min drive from my house, and they stock parts for discontinued tripods)
I really didn't buy Gitzo to make a statement and actually no-one's ever commented on it... (BTW it was that or a Manfrotto and G had a trade-in deal where I could get most of the difference back in return for a cheapo Cullmann tripod I bought, IIRC, for 25 quid when I was 18.) I'm quite interested in cars and watches, but again for me rather than to show them off. Also the 308GTS was a bit of a dog... ;-) P.S. The Canon 8-15mm is the best FF fisheye, by a mile...
Good point. Some folks like to show off, while others don't care about status symbols yet they do appreciate treating themselves to something nice. That's me. Call it being a tripod aficionado?
And, while a fixer-upper / project car indeed, I'd still rather have Magnum PI's red 308GTS than the white Miami Vice Testarossa.
(308GTS) They go wrong all the time, the visibility is naff, they aren't that fast (my little Citroen accelerates as quickly and it has way too long a first gear), they are a real pain for long journeys (uncomfortable, noisy). If I had to have a Ferrari I'd have the new (better to drive) version of the California, in a fairly subdued colour (dark blue with brown leather maybe). Of course my house would be broken into, the keys stolen and the car gone within three months... Oh and I saw the Gitzo as "better" rather than "nicer", if you appreciate the difference. (I will confess I partly bought it as a friend had just bought the Alu version of the Manfrotto tripod I was planning to buy in Carbon, so not wanting to be seen to be instantly one-upping him I shopped elsewhere, although only due to the big discount available.)
This might compare with a Gitzo Traveller ($950+), or it might compare to a MeFoto Roadtrip Carbon ($350~). It's hard to tell without having it your hands. "About half way between the two" as per the MSRP of $635 doesn't seem completely unreasonable.
The problem I have with 4-5 section tripods in this price bracket is you end up paying a awful lot of money for a design that is inherently much less stable (as well as way more fiddly to use) than a set of (often substantially cheaper) 3 section legs. If you say "well, I don't need stability anyway I am more interested in compact design" then there is little reason to buy such a fancy tripod in the first place. It's a bit of a catch-22.
Yes, or it might be worse than all the other 5-section, 10x-carbon-fibre, German-designed-and-built, hand-assembled, 10-year-warranty tripods on the market. :)
Richard, sorry if I seemed flip in my previous reply. Your point is well-taken. Compromises are built into every tripod, there's not one that is perfect for all situations, circumstances - and budgets. But we didn't make this tripod in order to simply get into the travel tripod market (we've already been in it for several years, see our CP26-S4S tripod); we felt we had something more to offer than simply a portable lightweight tripod. We made it as strong as the design permits, beefed up the leg joints, tweaked the apex design, and added some good useful features along the way. We think it's much more than just another compact tripod.
I tend to agree Richard. I'm not a pro and I travel a lot and try to only pack carry-on. I've gone with the $149 MeFoto Backpacker as its the smallest and lightest non-mini tripod had found at the time. Do I wish it had a taller reach? Sure. But I more dream about a lighter/smaller one that can extended to over 4 feet.
But the quality of the MeFoto isn't there at all, but I could buy one every year for 4 years and still match a $650 price. For me, compactness and weight are more important than the lack of stability that any/all ultra-lightweight 5 section tripods would have to deal with. So while someone will tell me that this tripod can hold more weight and is more stable than my cheap Chinese knock-off, I keep coming back to the decision that it a tripod like this one isn't going to be 4.5 times as stable.
When I'm not air traveling, I have a completely different tripod altogether.
The problem is, again, if you don't actually need the super-compact 12.6" compact length, there are better options out there that weigh less, or about the same, are stronger and taller, and far, far more durable.
While Gitzo and RRS cost a fortune, Slik is another one of the true originals in this market and they have some pretty decent options, especially if you consider the older discontinued models. See my other posts, I'm sure my love of Slik is getting a bit annoying here.)
10kg ? No way, maybe fully retracted, but not fully extended. The last leg extension is 12mm. Thats less than my small finger. Good luck using a 600mm f4 lens and a heavy DSLR on that thing, fully extended.
I don't know about that? Carbon fiber is pretty ridged stuff, although the locking mechanism would probably be the weak point so you could be right in your guess!
I tested the prototype with all of my cameras, the heaviest one is a Toyo 8x10 field camera that, with lens, weighs 7.5 kg. The tripod supported that camera very well, even when pointed down or fully extended, so I have no doubt that whichever DSLR/lens combo you throw at it, the tripod will both please and surprise you.
No way. I have handled similiar travel tripods from Benro, Sirui, Mefoto, Manfrotto. This would be the first in the world handling 10kg of load, safely and stable.
I am familiar with both the Gitzo and the MePhoto CF (carbon fiber) tripods which you cite, and the new FLM CP-TRAVEL is more the competitor to the Gitzo.
Based on my experience with FLM ball heads, and on FLM's reputation, I am confident that FLM have put a lot of research and engineering into mitigating many of the problems which seem to plague lesser compact tripods.
My current travel tripod is a 5-section Sirui ($280) which I consider to be a notch above the MePhoto, but which is too short and wobbly for my purposes. It is, however, very compact when folded and fits into my carry-on bag when I fly.
In comparison to my Sirui, the FLM has a more substantial apex design, uses advanced 10x CF tubing, has longer leg locks (more overlap of leg sections to improve leg joint stability), and FLM's column is removable -- all of which should contribute to a more stable tripod which still fits nicely into my carry-on bag but stands about 5 inches taller than the Siriu.
Sorry about my reply above this one -- I meant to reply to Richard Murdey's post above the one by p5freak... my iPad is misbehaving and the system would not let me edit anymore!
For almost every photographer, it's not so much an issue of the maximum weight that can be held, (I doubt more than 1-5% of the commenters here even own a setup that goes to 10kg) ...it is more an issue of how stable a platform this tripod can be with an average, 1-3kg setup, in a light wind, or in other types of slightly iffy conditions.
In this regard, in my opinion, 5-section tripod legs are indeed still a noticeable compromise compared to a 4-section or 3-section tripod, however that hasn't stopped Gitzo from making their Systematic tripods, one which even has 6-section legs!) Of course those Gitzos support 55 lbs and weigh ~6 lbs, but hey, that still gives this FLM a fighting chance at living up to its claims.
Like I said though, for most of us it's all about overall rigidity and stability, not just sheer support capacity.
I have an FLM 32b ball head. A three-knobber, it's a fiddly thing to adjust and certainly leaves a great deal to be desired. Best of luck to anyone spending >$600 on one of their tripods. Who knows, people will buy anything in this market.
Yes, a lot of times it's "a fiddly" thing to handle a product you don't know a lot about...! By the way, the CB-32F ball head only has two knobs plus the friction ring. Only from the CB-38F(TR) upwards the FLM ball heads have three or four knobs plus the friction ring. No offense, but potentially it is your knowledge about FLM products that leaves a great deal to be desired... not their products.
"the CB-32F ball head only has two knobs plus the friction ring"
What I and SeeRoy call a "three-knobber", as compared to a "one-knobber" single twist lock design of e.g. the Foba Superball M-1 and similar from Slik or Manfrotto. Not all three knob heads are equally easy to adjust. The size, shape and position of said knobs being critical.
I also own the FLM CB-32F ball head, and find it to be a very well designed and performing piece of equipment. I wonder if you are using the proper procedure to set up the minimum friction knob? This is the head which I use now on my travel tripod, as I was so impressed with the similar way that my CB-48FTR ball head sets up, and I have not been disappointed. I find the CB-32F easy to set up, smooth to operate, and very solid when locking down; it's the head I'll most be using on my new CP-TRAVEL tripod.
Nice. If your idea of a nice carbon tripod is a Chinese knock-off, the price will seem unimaginable. But if you're comparing to a really good tripod like Gitzo or RRS, this FLM looks quite reasonable. And unlike your camera, you don't replace your tripod every other year.
Gitzo has the worst customer service of any tripod brand. Good luck contacting anyone in their service team. On the other hand Sirui (Chinese brand) does actually bother to reply to customers. I know this from experience.
My carbon fiber Sirui T-1205X cost me about US$200 in 2011 in Hong Kong, and it looks really the same. 1,1 kg weight with ball head, 10 kg advertised load (practical is about 7 kg, though), fits in carry-on without supplied bag. I smell very sleepy log somewhere here. FLM should be a bit sturdier, but I have little doubt that it will be produced somewhere aroung Guangzhou/Shenzhen/Guilin...
FLM states very clear in the their campaign description (if someone "bothers" to read) that all the parts are manufactured and assembled in Germany, except the CF tubes. And the last time I was in their little town called Emmendingen I didn't see any neighborhoods called Guangzhou, Shenzen or Guilin but Freiburg, Karlsruhe or Strassbourg!😎 Finally, Sirui legs do definitely not look the same than FLM legs and they play in quite a different league. But if they fulfill your expectations and requirements that's fine and all that counts.
It's CF tubes that give up in Chinese tripods, not screws. Anyway, tri-fold price difference here justifies really everything, not to mention that Chinese are improving constantly and the same model today is produced up to higher standards than five years ago. I'd gladly go with FLM and Gitzo, if bosses and customers had a little more understanding what do pictures really cost, but since it isn't to happen, Sirui does well... And, yes, old heavy Manfrottos for critical jobs.
I have a great Gitzo Traveller, so I'm not in the market, but I will tell anyone that FLM hardware is first rate. I have one of their Center Ball Heads and it is rock solid. They are high quality hardware. My Gitzo/PhotoClam travel leg/head cost me about $700. Their head legs combo for $575 is very reasonable, and I'm guessing the FLM will match it in quality. If I didn't have one already I'd be ordering one
You could have pushed the envelope and tell us $575 was way too cheap, and at 10 times the price, it still would be a steal. In this case, we could take your word for it. To be believed, it's fundamental to stay within the limits of the credible.
That's cheap for what it is. Even at the retail price that's $200 more. You want expensive, check out Really Right Stuff. I have a tripod and ballhead from them that cost me $1,700. And it's worth every penny. But now that I'm going MFT, and getting rid of my Nikons, I don't need that massive beast any more.
"I have a tripod and ballhead from them that cost me $1,700. And it's worth every penny. " I guess if someone produces something similar at $2500 it'll be even better.
Another DPReview piece of product advertising masquerading as a news story, this time with "Comments" from distributor "AriFLM". And not a single product feature that you can't find in other, less expensive competitors.
It's called a "Press Release" which is how much of the world disseminates information and announcements to relevant and/or interested parties. And many of the features are exclusive to this tripod, even within the FLM line.
Reading your comment about "product advertising" remembers me of a nice German phrase: "Wenn zwei das Gleiche tun, ist es noch lange nicht dasselbe"... right? http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/56612834
By the way, would be really interesting to know which "other, less expensive products" have exactly the same features as the new FLM travel tripod. Even I owe already FLM setups I am always interested in such information as for me it's about the solution, not the brand.
You know, crazy conspiracy theories work in reverse too. DPReview is wholly owned by Amazon.com, so they are often accused of cheerleading all kinds of cameras so that everybody clicks the Amazon link to go buy them.
But this tripod is not available on Amazon. This tripod is not even on the market yet, it is only being pre-sold through IndieGoGo which as far as I know has no connection to Amazon. I tried searching for "FLM tripod" on Amazon, and nothing came up.
What would motivate Amazon to allow DPReview to push a product that Amazon cannot sell? Based on this, Occam's Razor suggests you are wrong, and that this is probably not paid advertising.
(How can any photo site provide any photo news without reporting new product announcements? Do you think the most virtuous photo site is the one you can never go to read about the latest releases, because it might be accused of advertising? How useful is that?)
1kg in weight and 29cm folded - that's something that's really meant for travel. It can hold up 3 kg only, but that's enough for modern travel gear - I use it with a D600 + 24mm pc-e or 24-70 2.8.
This FLM tripod seems nice and strong, but it's pretty expensive and big. I live in Berlin an don't know the brand. I'll definitely look into it.
It all depends on how high you need it. That Velbon is really what is usually called a "mini" or "tabletop" model. This FLM extends to 1.4 m (what might be called "mid size", though I'd be a bit wary about using it fully extended.)
If you want a sturdy tabletop model I recommend the Manfrotto 209, 492 combo. It's enough for a night shot &c just so long as you don't need height.
There's gotta be a typo there, that Velbon has only two leg sections and a double-jointed center column. Considering its compact size is 11", even with the legs straight up and down like a monopod there's no way it could get past 40-something inches.
If you want ultra-lightweight and ultra-compact, try the Slik Sprint Mini II. While only barely sturdy enough for a full-sized DSLR, it's more than enough for a small mirrorless setup.
Oh wow, it's got radio/TV antenna style joints hidden within the single leg lock. No thanks! You can even see the flex in the video, just when opening / closing it, let alone with a camera on it or in a minor wind.
I've been using it around the world for architecture shots for two years and it has never failed me. Yes, I've tried using it once in the desert in very high wind at night and it vibrates when fully extended. Definitely not as sturdy as my big heavy Manfrotto, but we are talking travel tripods here. If you travel with a roller case anything can be a travel tripod. But I like to fit everything in a shoulder bag or small backpack. Including the tripod. With a little care it's very reliable and easy to use. Your tv antenna comment is hilarious.
I just wanted to add that we've now sold out all the tripods priced at $425 (thank you!), but I've made another 26 tripods available for the same price of $425. Just wanted to extend the fun :) As before, this includes the tripod, strap, tool kit and 10-year warranty. Thanks!
Yes, we'll be updating all of our tripods in the next 12 months with 10x CF, the new leg shims, and the new leg lock resistance feature. Thank you for your compliment, I also use only 3- or 4-section tripods, but if I'm traveling, and space and weight are an issue, I'll be happy to have this tripod with me.
A general question about tripods in carry on luggage,... Is there ever an issue with such sharp metal spikes by the zelous secuity guards when checking in?
I've heard of this happening in some US airports, but not anywhere else. I think the issue is with spikes that are fixed to tripod legs (i.e., can't be removed). The spikes here are removable and are stored in the strap's pouch when not in use.
Never had and have no trouble with spiked monopod neither in carry-on nor with Vladimir Putin's personal security (I photograph this person from quite close distances several times a year), and the last is probably more zealous than even brain-munching security people on Berlin-Schönefeld and St. Petersburg Pulkovo airports.
Impossible. And also that would not only be a huge breach of ethics, but a lot of problems for photographers and cameramen all over the world. Anyway, you don't even make any sharp movements or sounds apart from your shutter clicking... muffled sneeze is tolerated, but only muffled. When I dropped a lens hood on a carpet once, I had two security guys behind me instantly, and that was in about 20 meters from Putin.
I tested the prototype with a heavier 4x5 monorail (9.3 pounds), in addition to a DSLR and Pentax 67, and in all cases the tripod performed like a champ. Steadiness was never an issue, and it can hold its promised 22 pound load capacity.
Plastic shims are the standard everywhere, and using a different material would raise costs unnecessarily. We've improved on the traditional shim by replacing the two-pieces with one piece; it's much harder to lose should you accidentally unscrew your tripod leg too much, and very easy to put back on.
FLM hasn't offered that feature, and several others, because anything that will compromise stability is a non-starter. Lots of tripod makers offer that feature, and it's a handy one, to be sure, but we've always steered towards making the steadiest, most reliable tripods possible.
I swear companies are just going on an slapping a label on these generic tripods: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RWYMHQW/ There's dozens of them for around $100 on Amazon. Not seeing much a difference especially with that $600 MSRP.
Not really. I have gone through a couple of Chinese tripods and ball heads. They aren't very good quality at all. This is far far better ! But $635 better ? I don't know if I am willing to spend that much on a tripod.
But for sure not going down the cheap route again. Tripods are things that last and I I feel its worth spending for a good quality one to last for decades.
If you don't know the reason your comment is just plain wrong, I guess there's no hope to convince you that paying more money actually gets you something in return in terms of build quality, handling, and reliability. Those cheap tripods for $100 aren't worth using. In fact, they're likely so poorly built you'll stick them in a closet and never use them again once you find out they didn't hold your camera steady, or the knob got stuck because of poor manufacturing.
You get what you pay for - when you buy quality, respected, brands.
I ordered one of theses tripods. My carbon FLM Tripod weighs 1.8 kg and is good for bird watching with a Zeiss spotting scope and for long teles. It is rock solid. So the new one will weigh 0.5 kg less and will be good enough for hiking with the spotting scope, etc. FLM builds ball heads and tripods as good as Gitzo. No, better than Gitzo.
Since this tripod hasn't hit the market. I would like to make a suggestion. This FLM Tripod is being marketed as a "travel" tripod. My suggestion is this: Make this tripod into a "3 in 1 Tripod". In it's present configuration it's a travel tripod. But if FLM adds a set of longer sections which the user can configure this tripod into an almost "full size tripod. Think about it, just by swapping out the 4 other sections for 2 longer sections then you have a more stable platform and a taller tripod. And lastly, as with other tripods, the center column could be turned into a monopod...........just my .02¢.
Some good ideas in there, thank you. I'll just point out that the CP-Travel was created to provide portability and strength in a small package. By adding extra leg sections or longer centre posts, we'd be moving away from those ideals. The designers also wanted to keep accessories to a minimum, because there's nothing worse than fiddling with your gear when your most important objective is to set up and make a great photograph. The only extra pieces are the spiked feet and tool kit, all of which can be carried in the strap, which is included with every CP-Travel tripod. We see it as a good sign when photographers don't have to think about their tripod while working.
Why would FLM want to do so? Products as you describe it are already available, especially in the low and mid priced market sector.
Based on my personal experience, as I already owe(d) two FLM setups, this is not the market FLM is targeting. What you get from FLM are high quality products with (sometimes) specific features that have their price. Are these products "better" than "can do it all" and / or lower priced products? That's a question everybody has to answer for himself. My personal answer is a clear yes!
TBH at the MSRP of around $600 it would be a hard sell. Even with it's Teutonic engineering. The tripod market is already saturated. My suggestion was to have a differentiator. That being the interchangeable leg sections. And sell it as a separate piece. Although it could be bundled with the Travel tripod at a slight discount. But if if purchased separately, the price would be slightly higher. Like I mentioned, if you're traveling. Just use the travel tripod 'as is". But when you're not travelling or just want a longer tripod, then you could just switch out the leg sections. And with the way FLM has engineered the leg locks it seems like it would be simple task. Again, this is just a suggestion. As I have a Mefoto Globetrotter CF tripod and sometimes I wish I could switch out the shorter sections for longer ones. Just my .02¢................
Actual store prices may end up being lower than MSRP, but consider that this is a high-precision German-made tripod, and it carries a 10-year warranty. It's better than having to buy several tripods in that span of time. Buy well, buy once. If you haven't heard much about FLM, we're a small family-run company, and we don't do much advertising. I'd encourage anyone to look up some of our ball head or tripod reviews, both here on DPR and elsewhere. Thanks!
$635 MSRP seems too much for such a puny Tripod. With Five-Section legs, I doubt it is stiff enough. I have a Class III tripod with Two-Section legs, stiff enough to dampen vibration and strong enough to support 40 pound load.
In my opinion, a $120 eight-layered Carbon Fiber or an Aluminum tripod is more than sufficient for portability.
Looks good, but what does it do that a Manfrotto Befree doesn't do for 1/2 the price (1/3 the price for the aluminium version) I frankly don't trust that it will stabilise a heavy payload like a DSRL with 70-200 f2.8 zoom. It may be stable but probably won't eliminate vibration.
Nothing eliminates vibration, all we can do is minimize it. We've built a tripod using 10 layers of CF with precisely moulded joints that not only carries a sizeable load but remains steady under all conditions. I've been testing the prototype with DSLRs all the way up to 4x5 monorails and it's performed impressively. I wouldn't hesitate to put any of my gear on it. Two minor but interesting features: 1. the leg locks tell you when to stop loosening, to prevent a leg section from falling off and losing your leg shims (the pieces that make the section work smoothly). Those leg shims are now one piece instead of two, and they click onto the leg positively, preventing loss and greatly simplifying replacement.
Befree doesn't even come close! Manfroto stuff is considerably heavy compared to FLM comparable products. I shopped and tested everything before I bought FLM's beefy CP-30-L4S. I could not be happier! It actually turned out taller than I needed and still folded up small. Their products ROCK! I tested its stability inside with a 5 second exposure with my camera bag swinging from the center column bottom hook and had zero vibration in the shot! I got absolutlely the best customer service from Ari! Yes he may be a sales distributor but he tells the truth and is a straight shooter!
You can ask any questions about FLM tripods right here. My name is Ari, I'm the distributor for FLM for the USA and Canada. There's also quite a few threads here on DPR about FLM tripods and ball heads, a search will turn those up quickly. Thank you.
Yes..I have the CP26-M3S tripod with FLM CB-38FTR ballhead and QRP-50 Quick release system. I simply love the system. Just came back from Namibia and the tripod and ball head performed flawlessly. As such, I have placed an order for the travel tripod because I love the quality for the FLM tripod system I have - just want something lighter and smaller for travel packing. I am going to move my ball head and quick release system between tripods but at some point I might indulge and get a second ball head for the travel system. I recommend without hesitation.
I am one of the first users of a CP30-L3 - I waited for it several weeks in the ramp up of the production. In frequent use since years with our spotting scope and also with the E-M1 + 4/300mm + 1.4x-Teleconverter. No vibrations even with wind (in stormy weather I use my Berlebach), smooth twistlocks, very good quality. Made in Germany and with a very good service (I called them in the fab). You can't get better carbon tripods. No I ordered the small one for hiking tours.
After using Gitzo tripods for many years I was disappointed when a part broke and I couldn't source a replacement. Some research turned up FLM tripods. I'd used one of their early ball heads so expected a quality product. In short the tripod is exceptional: superb build quality, very smooth leg extension, versatile foot/spike system. I've not tried an RRS tripod but the FLM is a step up from Gitzo and it's hard to imagine a better made and functional tripod. The latest ball heads are top quality too and I swapped out my Markins for the FLM equivalent.
FLM are a great company with top-notch products at a fair price.
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