I have been on the lookout for a super lightweight and highly versatile tripod to take with me at a moment’s notice for quick video assessments.
That’s when I discovered this K&F CONCEPT B174A1 Travel Tripod with Bluetooth Remote for Camera Smartphone.
Weighing in at just a little over 1 1/2 pounds, this aluminum and plastic tripod is very well constructed, and folds down to a length of just 17 inches for easy storage in a vehicle or lashed to a backpack. By unlocking the tripod legs, this product can be extended up to 60 inches in length.
The head of the tripod is designed to either use an expandable compression spring clamp (4.3” to 6.8”) to hold your smartphone, or a cold shoe to accommodate a screw-on conventional camera. The 3-way directional axis pan head allows for smooth 360° horizontal rotation and adjustable tilt angles to capture a full field of imagery.
A small but value-added detail is the inclusion of a miniature dot-level to help ensure that your tripod is leveled-out for perfectly framed shots. It’s a small green circular level with an even smaller bead within, and located on the upper surface of where the top portion of the tripod legs attach to the center shaft.
Also Included in the product offering is a camera remote shutter control fob, as well as a nifty soft carrying bag to store the tripod and remote.
A compact, lightweight tripod will inevitably have some trade offs, regardless of how well it is made, and that applies to this product as well. With lightweight tripods, the lack of weight means potentially less stability when shooting in the field. That can be overcome if needed by adding either an aftermarket center-mounted counterweight, or investing in a sand/rock bag to suspend beneath the tripod in a sort of hammock. But for the most part, lightweight compact tripods like this have their place and do quite well for most assignments.
Overall, I have been very impressed with this K&F CONCEPT B174A1 Travel Tripod, and can recommend it to anyone needing a quality- built portable tripod that can perform double-duty for use of smartphones or conventional camera use.