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From left to proper: Journey Tripod (aluminum), Professional Lite, Professional, Professional Tall |
Photographs: Mitchell Clark
Peak Design is revisiting tripods in a giant method, constructing on the success of its Journey Tripod from 2019. This time round, it is launching three new tripods in what it calls the Professional line. There’s the Professional Lite, which is the smallest and most packable but in addition the shortest, the usual Professional and the Professional Tall, which has a whopping 197cm (6.5′) max peak.
They’re heavier than the Journey Tripod and never as packable. Nevertheless, the corporate says they’re extra secure and provide extra options for video shooters, all whereas nonetheless being extra compact and light-weight than extra conventional pro-level tripods.
A redesigned head
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The Professional Tripod’s ball head (left) vs the Journey Tripod’s ball head (proper). |
When you’ve used Peak Design’s Journey Tripod, the brand new Professional Ball head will appear acquainted… but totally different. By default, it accepts the identical sq. plates the corporate makes use of for many of its photograph merchandise, although it is suitable with normal Arca plates, too.
Nevertheless, the mounting and locking mechanism has been fully reworked. Somewhat than having to slip within the plate then manually lock it in, the Professional tripods have a lever that you simply push to at least one facet, which cocks a spring mechanism. You then push the plate down onto the pinnacle, and the lock clicks into place routinely, securing your digicam to the tripod. There is not any alternative to overlook and depart it unlocked (one thing I’ve sadly achieved a number of instances with my Journey Tripod, although I have been fortunate sufficient that it is by no means resulted in a dropped digicam).
You possibly can then use the lever to cinch your digicam even tighter onto the tripod or to take away it it. Peak Design has additionally added a lock change that may stop you from pushing the lever to the discharge place.
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The Professional Ball Head’s automated locking characteristic may be backed up by a lock change. |
One final bit in regards to the lever: it is also the place the bubble degree lives. That will not appear to be a giant deal except you are aware of the Journey Tripod’s degree, which is basically inconceivable to see when you will have a digicam mounted, drastically lowering its usefulness. That is not the case with the Professional tripods.
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One other element about this tripod: there isn’t any scarcity of “PD” branding. |
The pinnacle additionally has a fluid panning mechanism, which you’ll lock and unlock with a sturdy-feeling knob, letting you swivel the digicam facet to facet, with none vertical motion. This not solely helps you to get smoother pans when capturing video but in addition offers you a good quantity of adjustability, even when the middle column is not prolonged in any respect or when you will have the ball head locked within the top-down capturing place*. In contrast to the Journey Tripod, the ball head does not totally slot into with the legs in its lowest place, so you may nonetheless transfer it a bit with out elevating the middle column.
* – Regardless of the enhancements, tripods aren’t actually the most effective instrument for this. Nevertheless, I am glad that this expertise is at the least a bit higher than with the unique Journey Tripod as a result of typically, it’s a must to do what it’s a must to do in case your job is reviewing gear.
New sticks
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From left to proper, at their most heights: Journey Tripod (aluminium), Professional Lite, Professional, Professional Tall |
The Professional Lite, Professional and Professional Tall all characteristic the identical ball head however are set aside by their legs. Nevertheless, they nonetheless share a standard design that is seen a number of updates from the Journey Tripod: there are 4 sections as an alternative of 5, and the locks that maintain them closed are a good bit burlier, making them simpler to open and shut. The corporate says they have been “reengineered for smoother, quicker, and stronger operation” and that they are additionally simpler to take aside when you have to clear them.
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The brand new, beefier levers are an instance of how the Professional tripods do not carry over the portability-over-all ethos of the Journey Tripod. |
The middle hub has additionally been up to date; the half is now machined somewhat than solid, and the legs may be locked into three positions as an alternative of than two. The buttons to regulate the angle are flush with the remainder of the leg except you are in one of many locked positions; then, they pop up so you may press them and go to the following detent. Peak Design says that is to maintain them from catching on something.
As its title implies, the Lite is the smallest and lightest of the Professional tripods, with a most peak of 162.5cm (64″). That makes it simpler to pack, but in addition comes at the price of a little bit of carrying capability; it will probably solely deal with a 15.9kg (35lb) load, whereas the Professional and the Professional Tall can take 18.1kg (40lb). These tripods have max heights of 168.4cm (66.3″) and 197.4cm (77.7″), respectively.
Unique Journey Tripod (carbon fiber) | Professional Lite | Professional | Professional Tall | |
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Min. peak | 14 cm (5.5”) | 15.8cm (6.2″) | 15.9cm (6.3″) | 17.3cm (6.8″) |
Max. peak | 152.4 cm (60″) | 162.5cm (64.0″) | 168.4cm (66.3″) | 197.4cm (77.7″) |
Packed size | 39.4 cm (15.5”) | 48.8cm (19.2″) | 50.1cm (19.7″) | 58.1cm (22.9″) |
Max. load | 9.1 kg (20 lbs) | 15.9kg (35lb) | 18.1kg (40lb) | 18.1kg (40lb) |
Weight | 1.3 kg (2.8 lbs) | 1.7kg (3.7lb) | 1.9kg (4.2lb) | 2.0kg (4.5lb) |
The Professional tripods all have legs product of carbon fiber. In contrast to with the Journey Tripod, there’s at the moment no choice to get a model made out of aluminum for much less cash, although in some methods, that is sensible: a part of what units the Professional line aside is its stability, and Peak Design says the carbon fiber Journey Tripod is 20% extra secure than the aluminum model.
Just like the Journey Tripod, the Professional tripods include a hex key instrument that can be utilized to mount the plate onto your digicam and to fully disassemble the tripod if want be. Nevertheless, it not lives on a clip connected to the tripod leg, the place it may be knocked off and misplaced comparatively simply; as an alternative, it is saved within the heart column, the place the usual Journey Tripod used to incorporate a cellphone mount. (You will must buy that individually if you need it for the Professional tripod.)
Equipment
The Professional tripods are launching alongside three equipment: a leveling base that allows you to use the legs with a special video head, gimbal, or different piece of grip that attaches through an ordinary 3/8″-16 thread, spiked ft* for once you’re capturing on much less secure floor and what Peak Design is looking the “Tilt Mod.”
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The Tilt Mod, with its removable deal with totally prolonged. You may also regulate the deal with’s angle as properly. |
The Tilt Mod is basically one other head which you can connect to the Professional tripod’s current head so as to add a lockable fluid tilting mechanism and an adjustable deal with for higher management. Mixed with the ball head’s built-in fluid panning, it offers you the power to document easy pitch and yaw actions that might be tough or inconceivable to drag off with an ordinary ball head.
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The Tilt Mod in its journey configuration. |
The Tilt Mod can be fairly compact once you’re not utilizing it. The deal with screws onto the pinnacle and is collapsable, and it magnetically attaches to the facet of the pinnacle, leaving you with a bundle that is not a ton greater than a quick full-frame prime lens. It comes with a carrying case, which you may in all probability wish to maintain available; the magnets do an okay job of conserving the deal with on the pinnacle, however it will be comparatively straightforward to by accident knock it off.
Whereas the leveling base, spiked ft, and Tilt Mod are offered individually, Peak Design has additionally upgraded the carrying sleeve that comes with the tripods so as to add extra padding, weatherproof cloth and adjustability to the carrying strap.
* – there are two variations of the spiked ft: one for the Professional Lite, and one for the Professional/Professional Tall
Impressions
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Peak Design loaned us a pre-production set of the Professional Tripods, which I used to be desperate to attempt since I have been a heavy Journey Tripod person for years. After capturing just a few movies utilizing them, I am fairly impressed; the Journey Tripod has by no means been all that nice for video if you wish to transcend a static shot (and if that is all you are doing, it is fairly overkill).
The Professional Tripods change that, particularly you probably have the Tilt Mod; the fluid system is splendidly easy, and comparatively adjustable, although it isn’t essentially the most granular one I’ve ever felt on this class of tripod. I could not all the time get it to supply as a lot resistance as I needed with out fully locking it, however for many makes use of it must be completely tremendous.
Nevertheless, it is value noting {that a} Tripod and Tilt mod is a very costly bundle. We’ll cowl how a lot in a second, however you may get some very nice tripods for a similar amount of cash (although we’re speaking Manfrotto, not Sachtler). Would they slot in a backpack or an ordinary rolling suitcase? Most likely not, and, like with the Journey Tripod, that is one of many methods Peak Design is setting itself aside from the gang. The Professional tripods aren’t as small because the Journey, positive, however I took a visit whereas testing them and was nonetheless glad to throw the Lite in a carry-on within the off-chance I bumped into one thing value filming or photographing.
Peak Design is actually good at making issues appear cool
They’re additionally simply modern merchandise; Peak Design is actually good at making issues appear cool, and the Professional tripods are not any exception. All of the controls really feel stable and well-considered, and the spring-locking mechanism solves an actual downside I’ve had with the Journey Tripod. (It may also be used to launch one of many tripod plates within the air if there isn’t any digicam connected to it to weigh it down, in order that’s a whole lot of enjoyable.)
As for whether or not all that makes a product “Professional” or definitely worth the asking value, that’ll rely quite a bit on you. I personally do not assume I am going to be capable of justify placing down that sort of cash for it, particularly on condition that I already personal a Journey Tripod, however I believe there will be lots of people who will. However talking of value, let’s get to that, we could?
Pricing and Availability
The tripods might be out there at retail someday in November 2025. The Professional Lite will retail for $799, with the Professional and Professional Tall going for $899 and $999, respectively. The tilting head will value $149, with the leveling base coming in at $129, and the spiked ft costing $49.
As ordinary, Peak Design can be launching a Kickstarter marketing campaign for the tripods on June seventeenth. Because it did with its curler bag, US-based backers have a selection: they’ll go for the usual choice, which affords a 23% low cost on the Lite and a 27% low cost on the Professional and Professional Tall fashions, however these will not ship till a lot later; the corporate estimates round February 2026.
Nevertheless, there’s additionally an “Early Hen” choice, which knocks it all the way down to a 9% low cost, however with the upside that you will get your tripod a lot sooner; the corporate estimates fulfilling these orders by October. Whereas backing a Kickstarter all the time comes with dangers, Peak Design has a superb monitor document of delivering; this might be its fifteenth marketing campaign utilizing the crowdfunding platform.
Disclaimer: Keep in mind to do your analysis with any crowdfunding undertaking. DPReview does its greatest to share solely the initiatives that look respectable and are available from dependable creators, however as with all crowdfunded marketing campaign, there’s all the time the danger of the services or products by no means coming to fruition.
Press Launch:
Peak Design Collaborates with Jimmy Chin to Set up New Benchmark in Tripod Design
Engineered with out compromise, the Professional Tripod affords unequalled performance and portability
San Francisco, CA (June 17, 2025) –Peak Design, a worldwide chief in digicam equipment and on a regular basis carry, has as soon as once more disrupted the tripod market with its newest category-defining launch: The Professional Tripod. Engineered from the bottom as much as elegantly assist the workflow of pioneering journey photographer and filmmaker Jimmy Chin, the Professional Tripod units a brand new normal in professional-grade portability, energy and thoughtfully designed performance for customers throughout the inventive spectrum.
Peak Design first revolutionized the tripod class in 2019 with the award-winning Journey Tripod–a reexamination of conventional leg and heart column structure that delivered unprecedented spatial effectivity. Professional Tripod’s basis is rooted on this transformative design however constructed with intentional upgrades to ship a completely improved person expertise throughout its three out there sizes (Professional Lite / Professional / Professional Tall). That includes a totally CNC machined hub, flanged heart column, and elevated leg diameter and size, Professional Tripod achieves twice the soundness (40lb capability vs. 20lb) and as much as a 30% larger deployment peak (197.4cm on the Professional Tall mannequin) as its groundbreaking predecessor. But much like the Journey Tripod, the Professional Tripod maintains a backpack pleasant weight and measurement, making it essentially the most moveable professional tripod available on the market.
Among the many most notable refinements to Peak Design’s meticulously redesigned Professional Ball Head is the addition of fluid panning. Mixed with Tilt Mod–a brilliantly designed, packable accent that converts the Professional Ball Head right into a fluid pan and tilt head (offered individually)–customers can immediately seize pro-level video and get rid of the necessity to carry a devoted video tripod or secondary video head. Along with panning, Professional Ball head helps 15 levels of adjustment when Professional Tripod’s heart column is totally stowed and includes a new ARCA suitable quick-lock for a satisfyingly safe, and easy digicam connection. No different ball head available on the market comes near delivering this degree of performance and intuitive management.
Behind Professional Tripod is a useful design partnership between Peak Design and famend adventure-photographer and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, Jimmy Chin. Chin’s need to check numerous Professional Tripod prototypes on the planet’s harshest climates performed an instrumental position in influencing every characteristic included into the Professional Tripod.
“Peak Design has been an essential a part of the gear I take advantage of to assist my shoots through the years,” famous Chin. “Collaborating on the Professional Tripod solely enhanced my curiosity of their design ethos, and I’m extremely excited to assist deliver to life a instrument that may additional the inventive workflows of numerous photographers and filmmakers.”.
Chatting with the partnership, Peak Design Founder & CEO, Peter Dering commented, “Jimmy made no bones about what he desired in an expedition-quality tripod.” He continued, “We knew if we might fulfill Jimmy’s want record we’d land on a tripod that meets the wants of virtually each photographer and videographer on the planet. The Professional Tripod marks an enormous milestone for Peak Design and we couldn’t be extra proud.”
At an MSRP of $799.95 for Professional Tripod Lite, $899.95 for Professional Tripod, and $999.95 for Professional Tripod Tall, Peak Design affords distinctive worth inside the premium tripod class. Nevertheless, upon its June seventeenth launch on Kickstarter, clients have a limited-time alternative to pre-purchase Professional Tripod as much as a 27% low cost off the ultimate MSRP.