ME AND THE TRIPOD
Anyone who’s been following my work for a while probably knows that I almost never use a tripod. By that I mean that about 90% of the time I shoot handheld. But then there’s the remaining 10% of photos — long daytime or nighttime exposures, focus-stacked macros, moments of waiting for an action shot such as birds feeding their chicks, or birds flying through a specific spot. About five years ago, I discovered what I considered an almost perfect solution: the Peak Design Travel Tripod. I currently own both the carbon and the aluminum versions.
Peak Design Pro Tripod Lite a OM-1 II + OM 50-200mm/2.8 IS
(2020) PEAK DESIGN TRAVEL TRIPOD
There’s very little about the PD Travel Tripod that I don’t like — but if I had to highlight three things, they’d be the ball head mechanism, compactness, and build quality. What I like less? Not much, really, but I’d mention maximum height, lack of a panoramic mode, and price. After five years and countless journeys around the world with the PD Travel Tripod, I can’t recall a single situation where it didn’t deliver the photo I wanted. Thanks to the exceptional stabilization of my OM-1 II, I can shoot sharp images at virtually any shutter speed. Sure, there are moments when I’d appreciate a bit more height or stability (especially when using my OM 150–400mm telephoto; with wide-angles or macro that’s irrelevant), but I always make it work. Overall, the concept suits me perfectly, and switching to a different type of head would feel like a step backward. As I said earlier, we’re talking about maybe 10% of my shooting situations anyway. But this year, Peak Design launched an entirely new line of tripods — the Pro Tripod — and that really got my attention.
(2025) THREE NEW TRIPODS FROM PEAK DESIGN
On June 17, 2025, Peak Design announced a new Kickstarter project: three new tripods under the name PRO TRIPOD (Pro Lite, Pro, and Pro Tall). Seriously, check it out — their campaigns are always fun to follow. The initial goal was $100,000 USD. The campaign ran for about two months and ended up raising $4,566,475 USD! So, production was secured — and the tripods can now be seen in person. At the time of writing, they’re not yet officially on sale, but they are already on display in the official Peak Design store in Prague. Here’s what’s immediately noticeable:
1/ The core concept remains — the legs are again flattened, which keeps the tripod incredibly compact when folded.
2/ All three new tripods have four leg sections (the Travel has five).
3/ The head looks similar, but it’s beefier and clearly improved.
4/ When fully extended, the tripods are significantly taller than the Travel.
Thanks to cooperation with Peak Design Czech Republic, I not only got to see the new models in their store, but I was also able to borrow one for my upcoming trip to Brazil. I was genuinely excited about this opportunity — real-world use in the field tells you far more than any amount of “experience” from YouTube videos. I chose the Pro Tripod Lite — the smallest of the new lineup, yet still compact and tall enough. So, what did I find in practice?
Peak Design Pro Tripod Lite a OM-1 II + OM 50-200mm/2.8 IS
FIELD EXPERIENCE FROM BRAZIL
In the following section, I’ll share my observations and comparisons with my beloved Travel Tripod Carbon (TTC). The new Pro Tripod Lite (PTL) will serve as its counterpart.
Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Brazil, Peak Design Pro Tripod Lite a OM-1 II + OM 50-200mm/2.8 IS
SIZE
Folded, the PTL measures 48.8 cm (TTC is 39.1 cm), so yes, it’s larger. But here’s something interesting: when I first held the TTC years ago, it felt rather heavy for its size (1.3 kg), while the PTL, though larger, actually felt quite light (1.7 kg). When fully extended, the weight distribution is excellent and both feel feather-light. The PTL gives a noticeably more stable impression. That’s largely due to its simplified leg system, requiring only three locks to extend fully. These locks have been improved — easier to loosen, more space between them, and overall faster setup. The height without extending the center column is 133 cm (TTC 130 cm). Fully extended, with a noticeably sturdier yet still compact column design, it reaches 162.5 cm. That’s exactly why I picked it for testing. With my OM 50-200mm f/2.8 IS mounted by the tripod collar, the viewfinder sits right at eye level — a clear comfort upgrade from the TTC’s 152 cm. The other two Pro Tripods are even taller (Pro 168 cm / Pro Tall 197 cm!), but of course at the cost of compactness and added weight. For my type of shooting, the Pro Lite version strikes the best balance of size and weight in the new lineup.
HEAD
I’ve always appreciated the built-in head philosophy of the TTC. Some people complain that it can’t tilt in every direction. True — I noticed that, too, during testing. But since I always use an L-plate on my camera or lenses with a tripod collar, I’ve never found it limiting in practice. The handling is superb. What I did miss, though, was a panoramic mode — and the need to slightly raise the center column just to level the horizon. The Pro Tripod addresses all this with a completely redesigned head that takes things a step further in every respect. Locking the quick-release plate now automatically engages the clamping mechanism — and if the camera is level, it’s already tight enough. Of course, you can fine-tune the tension further. On the TTC, the locking lever requires almost a half-turn; on the PTL, it’s a matter of millimeters — one or two notches on the scale. Tightening and loosening the ball head is now smoother, more precise, and effortless — you can adjust it with two fingers. A brand-new addition is independent horizontal panning (finally!) — perfect for panoramas. It also solves the TTC’s limitation where, after tilting the camera sideways, you couldn’t freely angle it up or down. Now, there are no restrictions, even for those who don’t use an L-plate. Another improvement I really appreciate: the head now provides leveling adjustment even without extending the center column. So no need to lift it just to align the horizon. The head is simply excellent — preserving the original concept but improving it in virtually every way.
ACCESSORY – VIDEO HEAD
The improved head design, combined with the new panning feature, inspired a very clever accessory. Peak Design now offers an optional video head with a telescopic handle (Tilt Mod). It attaches to the existing head via an integrated plate — instantly elevating the tripod’s versatility. As expected from Peak Design, even the transport solution is brilliant — the accessory folds neatly and takes up almost no space. Personally, I probably won’t use it, but for those who shoot more video and don’t want to carry a separate video head, it’s an ingenious option.
Tilt Mod – optional accessory, video head
MY IMPRESSIONS
During the trip, I repeatedly used the Peak Design Pro Tripod Lite for photographing tanagers, hummingbirds, and toucans, as well as my main support for bat photography. Handling it was as delightful as with the Travel Tripod — only simpler and more refined in nearly every aspect. The tripod is taller, more stable, the center column sturdier, the head smarter, and the controls smoother. If I had to name one shortcoming, it would be the lack of a quicker way to shorten the center column for low-angle shooting. You currently need a tool (neatly hidden inside the column tube), but a quick-release or snap-on system would be a welcome future tweak. Overall, the Pro Tripod Lite is an outstanding piece of equipment — intuitive, confidence-inspiring, and hard to give back. Until now, the PD Travel Tripod had been enough for me. It handled everything I needed, and I adapted to its limits. But my hands-on experience with the Pro Tripod Lite was so positive that it’s hard to stop thinking about owning one. Having both — TTC + PTL — and choosing depending on the trip would be ideal. It’s worth noting that the price (USD 799–999, depending on version) reflects the superb build quality and lifetime warranty, and it’s certainly not among the cheaper options. For me, this will be a real test of restraint — and deep down I suspect I’ll eventually lose, because this tripod left me with only the best impressions. So we’ll see. Either way, if you’re considering a new tripod, the Peak Design Pro Tripod series is definitely worth trying. And my sincere thanks go to Peak Design Czech Republic for letting me test this beauty in the field — and for planting that little seed in my head that refuses to go away.
A selection of images where the Peak Design Pro Tripod Lite made waiting for the perfect moment in Brazil much easier













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