Peak Design Pro Tripod Lite

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.

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

A selection of images where the Peak Design Pro Tripod Lite made waiting for the perfect moment in Brazil much easier

Petr Bambousek

OM SYSTEM AMBASSADOR | I am a professional wildlife photographer who over the past 20 years undertook more than 40 photo expeditions to tropical rainforests across the world. You may have seen my photos in various exhibitions, on the Internet and many Czech and foreign magazines and books. A number of my photographs were awarded at local and overseas competitions such as the Czech Press Photo, Nature's Best Photography, Bird Photographer of the Year, Sony World Photography Awards, Big Picture Awards, Nactus Awards or the most acclaimed one - the Wildlife Photographer of the Year. At this particular competition, my photographs were not only in the Final but also, one of my finalist images became a central promotional piece of the whole 2015 WPY travelling exhibition. If you enjoy my work, don’t forget to visit my Photogallery and connect to my Facebook profile.