for me, the main problem is the F38 base plate. there are two rubber strips and they fall off easily resulting in scratches in the camera. I'd prefer their previous model head which can take arca swiss compatible plates but Ulanzi couldn't send a replacement for the head and instead suggested using a video head with an extra center column. legs are lightweight and compact but with five sections and the last two sections at 15, and 12 they become super thin. is not standing situations with light wind.
Mark, thanks for excellent views of these. I love comparison videos, because it give more circumspect look. What sticks in my mind most here is that the Peak Design has “less jiggle” with center post. Cheers sir! 🙏🏽
I think I gotta go with the regular ulanzi f22 just for compatibility sake. Wish the designed a click in mounting system for regular arca Swiss plates.
I used to be a Peak Design fan. I like rewarding ingenious designs, for a fair amount. But their prices are decided by a Smuag the Dragon, and whether the designs will be compatible from one year to the next is a crapshoot. For that price, the tripod should be steady as a rock, and it looks far from it.
Call me cheap but IMHO Peak Design products are WAYYYY... overpriced for what you get. I own Gitzo, Manfrotto and Ulanzi legs. I've had the Gitzo's for 15 years and whilst they are fabulous the prices today are at questionable value levels.
I love f38. and f22 for that matter. The only problem with f22 is that the top handle doesn´t hold the 3 kg of my rig. But I digress. I have this 3kg rig with a f38 top plate under, that goes onto the f38 bottom plate on my current tripod. The only problem is that my rig is long from unstable with the f38 top plate under it! I looked into using a kessler kwik stand under the rig, but then I need the corresponding kwik v2 receiver. Apart from using the kwik stand (which is arca swiss) on the PD tripod, do you see any stability solution that can match my favourite, which is the Ulanzi tripod?
The ball head clamp on my Ulanzi is not strong enough to hold my gimbal on it now - I can't see a way to tighten it with the allen key unfortunately. I think the Peak Design ball head clamp might be the better design here.
Hi Mark, I have a question about the load capacity. You mentioned that the Ulanzi tripod only supports 6kg, but the website says it can support up to 18kg, which is a significant difference. I bought the tripod, but I haven't received it yet. Is there a difference? Did I buy the same one you have in the video? Thank you in advance
The ballhead supports 6kg (which is enough for almost any camera and lens combo. The 18kg they mean is total for the centre column - 6kg on the ballhead and then another 12kg of weight attached to the hook on the center column to keep it steady.
I got the the Ulanzi F38 and the Ulanzi U-190 Mini Fluid Head for $300 in a sale that you told me about. So it's your fault, yes you are the blame that I got this great deal on a wonderful tripod. Thank you, however for quick shooting I am using the IFOOTAGE 71" Aluminum Monopod, Cobra 3 A180F to plop down, get the shot and keep moving without all the tripod setup. When I need something more steady the F38 is the way to go.
Thanks Mark, do you ever struggle with the F38 plate screws getting loose? I’m not as manly as you, but the F38 plates twist on the base of my camera sometimes. Any ideas?
just tighten it with a coin or straight edge a bit tighter. don’t be afraid to tighten it well. if you’ve tightened the f38 plate well, it won’t come loose easily. of course, if you twist the camera too hard on the tripod, you can loosen it. But once the plate is tightened well, it will be sturdy
Thanks for the amazing video as always Mark. You are a godsend to the photo and video realm. I just bought the 75mm 1.2 Viltrox per your recommendations. I am so stoked! ❤
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis ugh can’t wait. I am literally waiting on the 23mm, the 75mm and the Sigma 30mm to ship right now currently shooting with a kit lens. Talk about a crisis! 😹
Would be perfect if you could so a review on the fotopro x-aircross 3 aswell. I think these three are the best options for travel tripods at the moment.
I am currently testing a few Fotopro tripods including the X-Aircross 3 Lite which has disappointing leg stability and is being returned. The Fotopro X-AIRFLY Max, however, might be a permanent addition to my tripod lineup. It doesn't pack down quite as short as the PD or Ulanzi (4 leg sections vs 5) but the legs are sturdier than the PD and the Fotopro has a very robust inverted panning ball head.
I wish peak design would add the pan feature to their head! I just bought the ulanzi f-38 tri-pod and I wanted to buy the peak design but I wanted the ability to pan, and for how much peak design is asking for their tri pod you should get the pan function like 99.9 percent of all other heads. Cost me 254 us for extra column and f-38 quick release base and plate. My set up is under 7 lbs, with lil dougie's cousin wilbur hosting a sigma 16mm 1.4 sony as well. I follow you Mark for all my camera needs. Thanks so much for your product thoughts and insight!
I have had the peak design for approximately 3 years and as a result of my experience with mirrorless and DSLR I have found the peak design flimsy when upright and it has fallen over quite a few times. The base of the legs are minimal. There are sturdier tripods around nowadays
the f38 is a specific quick release system and while the plate is compatible with other arca swiss tripods, you can’t just close any arac Swiss plate into the the f38 tripod. the f39 tripod only takes an f38 plate
thanks for this comprehensive review, and for bringing up the sustainable and ethical production of PeakDesign- that is one of the main things that sold me on buying their products when I bought my first tripod from them, and now my camera bag as well :)
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis I've been really happy with all the products I've bought from them. They cost more, but I'd rather pay more for something and know that the workers are well paid and that the company is working to limit its carbon footprint as much as they can. Those are the main reasons I'd take the Peak Design over the Ulanzi every time. Your arguments make sense the other way, everything except the workers' conditions and environmental focus. And those tip the scale for me very hard :)
The hex key holder on the Peak Design is dumb. Just as you demonstrated in the video, it's way too easy to knock out the key. Also, mine fell out (unbeknownst to me) when the tripod was strapped to my bag and I was riding my bike. Bye bye hex keys. Wouldn't be the end of the world if the camera plates had a notch to use a coin or something else flat, but, alas...
Same thing happened to me. Strapped the PD to my back and took it out for its first journey, and when I got back I noticed the Allen key had been lost. Wrote to PD to tell them about it and got a reply to say that they'd look into the design. We shall see.
Can you please clarify something. I have seen the tripod marketed as the Ulanzi as well as Colman. Are they one and the same product or are they different? They have the same spec and have the same model number.
it is a collaboration project between Ulanzi and Coman. its actually written right on the tripod. if you check the images on the website. So as long as you see Ulanzi and Coman on the tripod keg, it’s the one I have in the video here
One has a quick release plate that only fits the f38 system (I love it), the Zero Y has a regular arca series plate. You twist it to tighten the plate in like other tripods. More versatile - but not quick release
That's really cool. I was looking at both. How do you compare it to your vlog stick MT34? Do you think I could use the MT34 to take pictures with a a6700 and 11mm to 56mm lens (≈ 250g)? I'm going to go travel for a while and I don't want to take more than one tripod. I want one I can do vlogging with but also landscape photography
The Mr-34 will only be a few inches off the ground, maybe a foot - so as long as you don’t mind low to the ground shots - or out it up on a ledge - it’ll be fine.
Ulanzi F38’s biggest weakness is the F38 part. Because it does not accept Arca Swiss baseplates on cameras. Big miss since Arca Swiss is the industry standard. So I had to swap it out with another head- which defeats the budget argument for it.
They’re both great. But the ulanzi is more functional. I would say the Peak Design is a bit more rugged, so if your tripod takes a lot of abuse, the Peak Design might do better in that category
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis Thats fair I guess but it seems theres more points in favor of the ulanzi. Most notably value. To me its clearly the better value for the money.
If I bought one of these tripods, I couldn't afford to travel until next year! They are both expensive, Mark, which is fine if photography is earning an income, but not on the menu for this hobby photographer. Great presentation, as always.
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis I have a K&F Concept Tripod for outdoor stuff - it was a very close call between it and a similar spec smallrig... But the smallrig was out of stock at the time!
Just got the Ulanzi. It is pretty nice, but the center column is total garbage. Does not slide up or down easily, has play in it so it rocks back and forth. Does not slide up and down smooth or easily.
Sounds a little like a Ulanzni Advertisement, but I like your videos. And FYI twice I wrote to peak design and twice I got only a we will get back to you we are busy. So Im definitely not happy with peak design.
ha - I always feel like I sound like an ad for ulanzi, but it’s because they make my favourite tripods and quick release system. I use their stuff literally everyday. I really like the peak design, but honestly, even if they were the same price, the ulanzi is much more functional for me. My peak design does not get used much lately
I use both, but I find Ulanzi stuff more useful. I mentioned Peak Design is better for the environment, customer service, workers, sturdier when extended, higher payload, takes other Arca Swiss plates. The Ulanzi is overall a more functional tripod for a lower price - so I have to say that if I think it's true. But of course you may not have the same work flow as me
