AOKA 15 75 0 99 lbs Mini Carbon Fiber Tripod Compact Pocket Travel Tabletop Tripod for Mobile Phones

This is really a fantastic tiny little tripod. I'm not sure whether it's better than the competition because it's the only tiny desktop tripod of its type that I own. The only other stable one I own is the Manfrotto one that is also solid, but doesn't have height adjustment. To help keep the tripod narrow, the center extender is actually detached, which normally would seem like a problem, but the include bag has a special pocket for that extender, which works great. There's also a screw in carabiner for helping to lower the center of gravity with some extra weight and improve stability. However, with it installed, you can't close the legs. Another item to just leave in the bag. The device is not stable with a mirrorless camera if a heavy lens is attached. So if using an f2.8 24-70 or 16-35, or f4 or f2.8 70-200, this little tripod is not really trustworthy. But if using a mirrorless camera with a lightweight lens, like a cheaper prime lens, or very light zoom (e.g. Sony's new FE 28-60 lens), this tripod is very stable. It comes with a smart phone mount. It also comes with the attachment for connecting regular cameras, so you could bring this tripod with you on a variety of trips (business, travel, backpacking) and it should serve just fine as a dual purpose. I also own larger travel tripods, which are excellent and can hold greater weight (DLSRs and mirrorless with heavy lenses), but even the lightest ones are about 3.5-4lbs. This little tripod, by itself, is so light you could throw it in a backpack and never even know it's there. Some other little characteristics that I found interesting. - the tripod leg locks are not spring-loaded. you have to pull them outwards, rotate the leg to the next lock point, and push the locking tab back in. Not a big deal, and feel like a solid mechanism. - one of the bolt/hinges has inner screw lines that you can attach something to. If you attached a cold shoe mounting bracket (like the ones that Smallrig sells), you could attach a monitor to a mirrorless, though that would make it unstable. You could also attach a light. My guess is that attach a shotgun mic is the main purpose for it. Though, it would have been nice if Vanmoss included a cold shoe mount from the get go. - The included ballhead mount uses a quicklock lever (really just a quarter turn screw tightener), but so far it has proven very stable. You have to unscrew the ballhead mount to attach the extender just a side note). All in all, this is an excellent little tripod with multiple uses, a lot more versatile than the desktop tripods that don't have height adjustments. Highly recommend it. Read more

I don’t often write reviews about my photo gear. For reference, I own Manfrotto and my goto table tripod has always been a sturdy Velbon (well made but heavy) so when I saw this, the size is what first caught my attention. I was biased to think this would be a cheaply made piece—it is not. The carbon legs are comparable to those of my Manfrottos, although they make little to reduce overall weight given the amount of well machined aluminum parts, but it it still much lighter than my Velbon. The craftmanship on this is superb: very well made precision parts. The ball head is no exception, being about 3/4 the size of every other one I own—the numbers are small but so well printed they are easy to read and the panning action is smooth. there is a dovetail plate with a clamp (and a useless bubble leve) but the greatest thing about this is how small it packs—definitely a day-hike keeper. The center height extension is a screw-on type and can be left behind to shed weight. The all mount can also be removed for the weight purist. The locking system in the legs is not spring loaded but is still very solid. The twist locks are all machined aluminum and work well—there seem to be guides too as the legs don’t rotate: they extend on a same axis as if on a rail or groove. Overall a solid, well built piece and extremely packable. Read more

This is pretty cool. Its extremely light which is attractive because i want a seated glassing tripod that minimizes pack weight. This is tall enough to use a spotter or binos from a seated position, but its small so the legs go inside your legs as opposed to a tricer or higher quality one with legs long enough that you sit inside the tripod legs. If you’re looking for an affordable option to get you through the season until you want to spring for the fancy one, i recommend. This is strong enough to hold a 20x60x85 vortex spotter and packs down to around 8x4 inch cylinder at like 1lb. Read more

This is actually very impressive quality. Packed with features. Feels very high end. Not quite as light as I was hoping for the size, but given the quality it's worth the extra bit of weight. Way nicer than I was expecting! Read more

This tripod exceeds my expectations. I am so happy with it because it is very light and very compact, which is important to me, because I’m not that strong, and I want to be able to carry it with me when hiking. The latches that are released to move the legs of the tripod are easy for me to operate, unlike my previous tripod, and it truly is able to sit all the way down on the ground. I also like that the knobs for the head are not real small. Little knobs are not easy for an older woman like me, so I’m real happy at how easy I can loosen the head to adjust it. The quality of everything seems quite high. I’m feeling a little spoiled. But I have needed this for a long time. I don’t have a need or plans for using the extension, I will be fine using it with just the basic configuration. I have another tripod for when I need more height and or more steadiness. I don’t typically need that when I am hiking. Read more