I stumbled on this, just as it is ending. I’m intrigued, they seem to have looked at the Peak Design, and improved on the concept. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/heipi/most-lightweight-and-compact-3-in-1-travel-tripod This guy rather likes the Heipi https://theslantedlens.com/2022/peak-design-vs-heipi-which-travel-tripod-is-the-best/ -- Larry Colen lrc@red4est.com. sent from Mirkwood

Looks interesting. Dan Matyola *https://tinyurl.com/DJM-Pentax-Gallery <https://tinyurl.com/DJM-Pentax-Gallery>* On Tue, Nov 15, 2022 at 2:09 PM Larry Colen <lrc@red4est.com> wrote: > I stumbled on this, just as it is ending. I’m intrigued, they seem to > have looked at the Peak Design, and improved on the concept. > > > https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/heipi/most-lightweight-and-compact-3-in-1-travel-tripod > > This guy rather likes the Heipi > > https://theslantedlens.com/2022/peak-design-vs-heipi-which-travel-tripod-is-the-best/ > > > -- > Larry Colen > lrc@red4est.com. sent from Mirkwood > > > -- > %(real_name)s Pentax-Discuss Mail List > To unsubscribe send an email to pdml-leave@pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and > follow the directions.

It's interesting, yes. In my opinion, too complicated. That three-part center column means six more points of failure (all the hinges and sliding bits) and potential instability. (Hmm: In wind, that three part center column may indeed seem to have more structural rigidity, but note that it triples the sail area of the column at the top of the tripod… I wonder what that does to stability in heavy wind.) That and the 'traditional' style ball head adds bulk and weight, again at the top of the tripod, never mind seems kinda awkward in use. The spec'ced weight capacity is a bit absurd. First off, I have yet to see ONE vendor's weight spec that actually stood up to failure testing. Secondly, the notion of putting 50 lbs of gear onto a lightweight travel tripod is … um … silly? What, save two pounds on a tripod so I can carry 30 more pounds of gear? I don't understand. My "travel kit" rarely weighs 9 lbs, including the bag I carry it in AND the tripod. Why would I need 50 lbs of carrying capacity? If the Heipi really does have a 50 lb carrying capacity, well, I'd recommend they cut that in half and save 30% on the weight of the tripod and head. If I need a tripod to hold up an anchor, well, I have that set of legs in the back of the closet… I'll winch it out again someday. :) Looking at it objectively, the Heipei is a round-leg tripod with a tricky mini-pod that doubles as a center column. The minipod-column makes it look like the PD Travel Tripod, but it is just a superficial resemblence. Note: I've used and been delighted by the PD Travel Tripod since it was first released. It has not failed me no matter what I wanted to do with it. It fits into my travel rollaway easily, along with its accessories (spikes, tools, alternative column head platform) along with my clothes and other gear. It handles my Hasselblads as easily as my cell phone, or Minox submini, and everything in between for that matter. I can configure it to be a more limited (and extremely sturdy) short tripod for low angle use, and use my standard heads on it with the alternative head column platform if I so choose. And PD has proven to be a very easy company to work with if/when I need a part or accessory … that's why I use their straps, bags, and other paraphenalia too. It's a bit pricier than the Heipei, but it is also a local-to-me company (SF, USA based): I can get to their main store in SF in 45 minutes if I need a part... Lots of choices, lots of compromises. All of them have a reason for their existence. :) G — Old photographer to newbie: "You can spend $800 to get a decent tripod and head. Or you can spend $1500 to get the same decent tripod and head. The difference is that the $1500 one meant buying a couple of crappy $200-300 tripods before you came to your senses and bought the good one." > On Nov 15, 2022, at 12:13 PM, Daniel J. Matyola <danmatyola@gmail.com> wrote: > > Looks interesting. > > On Tue, Nov 15, 2022 at 2:09 PM Larry Colen <lrc@red4est.com> wrote: > >> I stumbled on this, just as it is ending. I’m intrigued, they seem to >> have looked at the Peak Design, and improved on the concept. >> >> >> https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/heipi/most-lightweight-and-compact-3-in-1-travel-tripod >> >> This guy rather likes the Heipi >> >> https://theslantedlens.com/2022/peak-design-vs-heipi-which-travel-tripod-is-the-best/