SmallRig Camera Tripod 71 Foldable Aluminum Tripod Monopod 360 Ball Head Detachable Payload 33lb Adjustable Height from 16

The Smallrig tripod, 71inch. This is a first impression review. I just unboxed it, and after tinkering with it for a little while, I decided to snap some photos and share. It comes with a carry bag which I’ll never use. When I’m out in the woods or wherever taking pictures, I don’t bother with a carry bag for my tripod. I prefer to either carry it myself in my hand or strap it to my canvas bag. Overall, the tripod seems very well-made. It’s aluminum, but not like the lightweight one that I already have. All the attachment points are very heavy and secure. I absolutely love the way the camera and phone attachment plate mounts to the top of the tripod. It’s very well machined and the tooling is superb. I also like how the attachment plate has a slot for a screwdriver or coin but also a half moon piece that folds out for easy turning. The legs fold out differently than on my old tripod. It’s just something I’ll have to get used to. The legs lock in a few different positions, which is especially helpful over difficult terrain when shooting outdoors. Again, this is just my first impression but the collar up top seems very well made. I love the ball mount. It pivots smoothly. One of my favorite parts of this is also the cell phone mount. Rather than a spring loaded thing, you simply loosen up a mount knob and tighten it around the phone. It’s so much more secure than the spring loaded junk I’ve experienced. Kudos to small rig as they give you an extra mount plate. This is fantastic. I can have two separate cameras with the plates attached and simply swap out in an instant. Also an added bonus is one extra rubber foot in case you lose one, but also there are Spike type feet for the bottom. This is really terrific. I shoot a lot in the woods and I think these will really help keep the tripod steady. It comes with a few hex keys for tightening the different screws throughout. I already have a full set on a photographers tool, but it’s nice that they supply them. Here’s the one thing I feel is not the best. On one of the legs there’s a very nice padded coating that’s meant for hand Carry. While this is a nice addition, the legs do not lock in the closed position. This means when you go to lift the tripod, the leg will just separate from the center. See Photo. To remedy this I used one of my gear straps and it works fine. This does not stop me from giving the tripod a five star review, but it would have been nice for them to include something to keep the tripod legs together in the closed position. Or, even better, design it to lock itself closed. Like I said it’s not a dealbreaker on this tripod, but as of right now it is my one critique. As I stated earlier, this is just my first impression review. Next, I will do a second review with the tripod in the field to see how it performs. This is a far better product than my cheap one and considering I got this at a reduced price for prime day I’m satisfied so far. Be back with more photos and an in the field review. Cheers! Read more

The value is unbelievable. $60 ('sale price')for a tripod with this much functionality and sturdiness is superb. Build quality is good where it matters - like the tripod legs and metal components. Other items have a cheaper plastic feel, like the knobs that adjust the ball head. I love the cleverness of the three 1/4-20 connections built into screws where the legs fold. What a great surprise for me to uncover. For the price, SmallRig has clearly prioritized putting money into the right areas. One con is that as delivered, the ball head did not have smooth range of motion. It would get stuck while moving or rotating it instead of having a fluid motion. This worried me a lot, as that's one of the most important factors of a good ball head tripod. I moved it through all positions to troubleshoot and found extra material on the very bottom of the ball, it looked like dried superglue :/. I was able to scrape off ~2/3s of the material and the ball head started moving much better. I would have returned it if this quality issue persisted. Read more

The media could not be loaded. SmallRig VT-20 vs VT-20 Pro – Quick Comparison Both of these are excellent quality ball heads from SmallRig, and honestly you can’t go wrong with either one. The build feels solid, the movement is smooth, and they both handle a phone or small camera really well. The main difference comes down to adjustability: VT-20 Pro (V220) – Has a wider range of adjustment and is much quicker and easier to fine-tune. If you’re moving between angles often, the Pro just feels better and faster to work with. VT-20 – Slightly more robust, simpler design with fewer adjustment options. It also includes a helpful bag hook, which is a nice touch for stabilizing a tripod outdoors. If I had to pick one, I’d choose the VT-20 Pro, mainly because the adjustability is smoother, easier, and gives you more flexibility when setting up shots. Both are great, but the Pro simply makes the whole process quicker. Read more

Great tripod for the price. Well built and easy to use. The only issue I had was setting up my webcam for the first time but ultimately it all worked out. Read more

Great quality, durable, light weight and portable, affordable. Everything I was looking for on a travel tripod. It also has a good fluid pan Read more

The SmallRig 71” Foldable Aluminum Tripod is excellent. It’s very sturdy, lightweight, and easy to fold and carry. The height is great for photos and videos, and it feels well made. Definitely a solid choice! Read more

Light, compact and full featured. Feels solid and it's really easy to use. Good price too. Read more

I am using for both taking photos with my iPhone and using my telescope viewer. It has two base attachment so I can swap quickly. One thing to be aware of: I was adjusting it in the dark while taking aurora photos (or attempting to) and it came apart. I tried to put together on the dark but one piece was not able to go back on. Strangely enough, the post had come off during the initial breakdown which I had not noticed in the dark. I had to remove the top, remove the attaching post and put the collar on, then replace the post before screwing the top piece back on. (This will make sense if you are fighting with this problem) Now I am using it with pleasure, easy adjustments, smooth turning. Read more