There was a time when we wouldn’t have put much stock in a lightweight tripod, especially one with 5 leg sections. But with the use of carbon-fiber technology, the picture has changed. Carbon fiber brings us vibration-dampening tripods nearly on a par with wood tripods. What’s more, carbon fiber is much more user-friendly than metal under extreme temperatures. And, owing to its lighter weight, carbon fiber is more practical than either wood or metal when it comes to travel photography. Also, carbon fiber tripods support heavier loads, compared with metal tripods of the same or similar size and design.

That brings us to the Sirui T-025X carbon fiber tripod. I can’t say enough good things about this little wonder. Does it have its limitations? Well, let’s see…

The Sirui T-025X: An Overview
The Sirui (pronounced Soo-ray) T-025X is an 8-layer carbon fiber support. The more layers, the stronger the tripod. Most carbon fiber tripods feature 6- or 8-layer construction.

This is a folding pod. That means that the legs fold back on themselves to shorten the overall length, making it easier to stow in luggage, should the need arise. It also means that the ball-and-socket head (ballhead)—in this case, the C-10X that’s included—is compact enough to fit this profile.

Interestingly, when I travel with the T-025X attached to a photo backpack, I find I need to either extend the leg sections or lower the legs to a normal position so that the pod has enough length to properly fit the tripod bracing on a backpack.

The T-025X features variable leg angles, by way of spring-loaded leg release mechanisms. This is what allows you to fold the legs back on themselves for storage. To use, you press on the mechanism while pushing the leg inward a drop to release, and while continuing to hold down the release mechanism, pull the leg outward. If you release the mechanism at some point along the way, the leg will lock in one of the detented positions. Aside from collapsing the tripod by this means, you’d use this to set the tripod on uneven ground (with one or two legs raised higher) or spread the legs out to further stabilize the pod.

The Sirui T-025X: A Closer Look
Hand warmers cover the topmost section on two of the legs. While your hands won’t freeze to the legs, the legs still get cold in winter. Plus this keeps oils from your hands off the legs and further protects them from bumps and bruises when the tripod is fully collapsed. Some tripods use hand warmers on only one leg; others feature them on all three. It’s a cost and design issue.

Once you unfold the legs, the first thing you’ll notice is that the 8” center column is already extended. Actually, it’s not—it’s simply there. Twist the knurled knob at the top to truly extend it further, although I don’t really recommend doing that in order to ensure stability.

This center column can be unscrewed, and the tripod head can then be screwed onto the spider (the area where the legs come together). This will give you even greater stability, but an uncomfortably shorter tripod, unless you’re seated. I find, when standing, I have to stoop or scooch down to use this tripod even with the center column in place (but not extended), but it’s a price I’m willing to pay in exchange for its compactness and light weight.

You can also use the T-025X as a tabletop tripod by returning all legs to their shortest length and splaying out the legs. Remove the center column, detach the ballhead, then reattach the head directly onto the leg assembly, so the camera is closer to ground level.

It’s All in the Legs…
The legs feature twist locks. A half turn twist to the left and the leg section is unlocked. You can actually unlock all the leg sections at once, if your hand is large enough to cover the four twist locks (and likewise lock them in place, once the legs are returned to their original positions).

The leg sections extend smoothly in one motion. Don’t jerk them out, though. Be sure to lock (twist to the right) each leg section firmly, but don’t overtighten. Once all legs are locked in place, stand the tripod on firm ground and press downward on each leg to ensure each section is secured.

...And the Head
The head is an integral part of any tripod. One wouldn’t think much of the tiny C-10X ballhead that comes with this tripod by looking at it, or hefting it. Like the leg assembly, the head is a pleasant surprise. Provided you don’t overburden it with a physically long, heavy lens, this head will do the job nicely. The load capacity doesn’t take into consideration torque forces that act to induce vibration.

The head features an Arca-style quick release (QR). The QR plate is small but does the trick. There is a security pin on the head to prevent inadvertent sliding off of the camera when mounted, but don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security. First make sure the plate is properly seated and secure by locking it in place with the knurled knob. Release the knob to remove the camera.

The main knob serves double duty, controlling drag (friction) and locking/releasing the movement for up/down, side-to-side, and angular placement—achieving this movement very smoothly. Panoramic movement via a separate knob is also silky smooth. For utmost stability, ensure that the lens protrudes over a forward-facing leg.

To further stabilize the tripod in windy conditions, you can hang a weight down from the center. Instead of a hook, Sirui chose to use a closed metal ring and carabiner (included) from which to hang a weight—a small bag or water bottle, for instance. The added weight, combined with the camera rig and head, should not exceed the total allowable load stipulated for the tripod.

In Use
When using the Sirui T-025X, I kept to such combinations as the Nikon D610 and Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 lens and the D300 with Tokina 50-135mm f/2.8 (the latter attached to the head via the tripod mount on the lens) so as not to overburden the head. The T-025X with C-10X ballhead had no trouble delivering sharp results from 2-second exposures of Buckingham Fountain taken with my Nikon D610 and Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 lens at 48mm. Further tests back home showed the tripod could support a Nikon D300 with Tokina 50-135mm f/2.8 lens at 135mm (202mm, 35mm equivalent) for up to 20 seconds (not tested beyond this point). A 10-sec. self-timer was used for the test shots at home; self-timer settings were variable for the fountain, shooting a sequence of exposures to capture the light show at different points.

How Does It Add Up?
Quite brilliantly, as our friends across the pond are wont to say. As I pointed out, there was one hitch when attaching to my backpack, but once that was resolved, I was on my way to Chicago’s Michigan Avenue, Cloud Gate (“The Bean”), and Buckingham Fountain.

Despite the tripod’s light weight, I can’t say I didn’t feel the added weight on my back. After all, anything that extends outside the boundaries of the backpack itself will exert some outward force, but it was minimal, not interfering with my comfort in the least.

The T-025X is a breeze to set up and break down (collapse and fold up). This tripod does best on solid ground, since it lacks spikes. Spikes prevent a tripod from sliding around on dirt and gravel, as well as uneven mounds, hilly areas, and embankments.

Most important perhaps, it’s really a no-brainer to use. You don’t need to have any experience with a tripod to use it successfully the first time out. Nothing could be simpler, or more effective in this weight class.

However, you are paying a premium for carbon fiber. If you’re willing to pay the price, then you’ll have a tripod at your beck and call wherever you go. Stick it in a suitcase en route to your destination and slap it to the back (or side) of your photo backpack when heading out to shoot. It might not be the ultimate backpacker’s tripod (for want of spikes), but it will capture the grandeur of any landscape or waterfall. What’s more, the quick operation and small footprint (when set up) lends this tripod nicely to any tour group setting, where you may be granted only a few minutes to take pictures, and in any tourist mecca, where you’ll often find yourself  among throngs of people or crowded into small spaces.

Pros:
Compact and lightweight; easy and fast setup/breakdown.

Cons:
Short height for many of us means you have to bend down to view through the camera’s viewfinder when standing; head lacks spirit levels.

Best Use: landscape photography; also works as tabletop tripod.

Worst Use: wildlife photography with long, heavy lenses.

Where can I get more info?
www.argraph.com

Manufacturer:
Sirui

Distributor:
Argraph Corp.
www.argraph.com
111 Asia Place
Carlstadt, NJ 07072
[email protected]
Phone: 201 939-7722
Fax: 201 939-7782

How much is it?
B&H & Adorama: $239.95 (incl. ballhead)

Does It Reach pixelPERFEXION? (100 pixels is best):
Sirui T-025X Carbon Fiber Tripod with C-10X Ballhead: 95 pixels—a pleasure to use; literally doesn’t let you down.

Technical Specifications/Sirui T-025X Tripod:
Composition: Carbon fiber
Type: Folding
No. leg sections: 5
Variable-angle legs: Yes (3 positions via spring-loaded detents + folded back)
Max. leg diameter: 22mm
Min. leg diameter: 10mm
Min. height: 4.1”/10.5 cm
Max. height: 48.6”/121.3 cm
Max. height w/ctr. col. ext.: 54.5”/139.1 cm
Folded height: 12.2”/31.0 cm
Weight: 1.7 lb/0.8 kg
Max. load: 13.2 lb/6 kg

Technical Specifications/Sirui C-10X head (included):
Type: Ball & socket head (ballhead)
Height: 3.3”/8.5 cm
Weight: 0.5 lb/0.22 kg
Max. load*: 28.7 lb/13 kg
QR plate included: Yes (TY-C10)
*Base the max. load on the value given for the tripod, namely 13.2 lb, which is what the legs will support.

Review by Jack Neubart. 
©Jack Neubart. All rights reserved.

Fairly compact, reasonably priced, 4-leg-section, carbon fiber camera support.

As tripods go, this one ain’t bad. In fact, I’d say the 3Pod P4CFH is a very reasonable choice. Especially when you consider the inviting price tag for a carbon fiber pod: $229.95, after a $70 instant rebate. Most carbon fiber tripods easily cost $100 to several hundred more. Granted, those pricier pods do come with a more recognizable brand name and reputation, but sometimes the lesser-known names can surprise you. And, when you consider that the ballhead is included and that this pod converts to a monopod, that makes this a sweet deal—at least on the face of it.

Flat-Folding

What do we mean by “flat-folding”? When the legs on the P4CFH are collapsed to their original position, they lie flat, one next to the other—two-dimensional, in a sense. That works really nicely when attaching the pod to a photo backpack. It also makes it easier to stow the closed pod in a suitcase, since it won’t crowd out other essentials.

The 4-Section Legs


The twist (knurled collar) leg locks work fine. A quick twist to release and lock. As with many other tripods of this ilk, simply grab all four collars on each leg in turn, then twist, and each leg section is released. 

You can take the legs apart—something that should only be done when a leg section is damaged. Be careful when unscrewing the leg sections, as two plastic pieces come loose. These have to be properly fitted and aligned to allow the leg to be re-attached and work smoothly. If you feel the least resistance in sliding the leg up, you did it wrong. That said, I don’t see leg sections listed as an option. Which means, damage a leg, and you may have to replace the entire tripod, unless you can send it in for repairs. That’s one of the benefits of buying a brand-name tripod from a company that specializes. They can supply the replacement parts.

There are 3 preset leg locking positions. Pull out the catch/lever (easier said than done—don’t even try it with gloves on) and pull the leg out. Regrettably, the stops are not ratcheted or spring-loaded so they don’t just lock in position. The best method is to pull the leg out all the way, then push and hold the lever with your thumb until it engages at the required leg angle at you collapse the leg.

I should also add that the spider has both a spirit level and a compass. The compass is pretty much useless, from a practical standpoint. I never used the spirit level, finding it impractical, instead relying on the camera for assistance.

The Ever-Present Center Column

You have to attach the center column before use and detach when traveling. It’s not recessed, as with most tripods. You have to screw it onto the spider (or shoulder, or hip, if you will, where the legs attach) and it just stays up there, extending the height of the pod by about 7.5 inches. This center column extends up further, but the height of the tripod with the column as is was good enough, so thankfully, I never had to extend and test the limits of the column—and you shouldn’t have to. If the tripod is not a convenient height as is, then maybe you should look elsewhere. Once the column is attached I leave it in place, until time to break down and fully collapse the tripod for the trip home, or between waypoints. For short hops from point to point, it’s just easier to let it be. When attaching to a backpack, definitely remove the column.

But here’s where it gets interesting. You don’t need the center column, if you can deal with the height of the leg assembly on its own. Simply mount the head onto the spider, after first removing the ballhead mount (a collar of sorts) and handstrap.

Caution: Make sure you remember to add the ballhead mount and handstrap between column and head. Otherwise you may find that the screw goes into the column so tightly after securing the head that you’ll need a wrench to loosen it. It can happen—and did.

Converting to a Monopod

The instructions tell you to simply attach the ballhead to the leg that you just unscrewed. Easy to tell which leg it is—the only one with the leg warmer. What the instructions fail to mention is that, should you desire to also attach the center column with ballhead attached, you first need to add the 3/8” screw (included). This then lets you attach the center column to the leg. The topmost screw, by the way, is 3/8-1/4” reversible, should you opt to use another head. No adapter bushing is included. These bushings are optionally available for a few bucks. (You’ll also find a hex, or Allen, wrench, included for tightening the legs. Haven’t needed it, but the legs should not need it under normal use.)

One more thing: make sure to attach the handstrap and bullhead mount, to avoid the problem noted earlier.

H2 Ballhead

It’s heavy, hence woefully unsuited to the monopod, but it does fit nicely on the leg assembly of the tripod. And it works smoothly. There is a bit of give when tightening the head in place, but nothing that you can’t easily work around by very slightly elevating the camera angle first. Granted, this does make ultra-precise positioning somewhat questionable, but for the price I can live with it. Other than this, I hadn’t noticed any drift once the head is locked in place.

There’s no separate drag (friction) control and for many of us, that’s not a problem. You can control drag to match the load on the head simply by first tightening the main knob until there's the proper amount of resistance to match the load on top (not all the way), setting camera angle, then locking in the position. 

The only down side, where the head is concerned, actually resides with the tripod. It lacks a set screw to lock the head in place and prevent it from coming loose. In use, it didn’t appear to be a problem, but there’s always that possibility. 


Caution: never walk around with the tripod draped over your shoulder when the camera is attached. The camera or ballhead may come loose and take a dive.

Quick-Release Camera Plate

The Arca-Swiss-style quick-release (QR) plate is large enough for the average-size DSLR and even for use with a tripod collar on a lens, provided it’s not an overly long lens. I tested with a Nikon D300 and a Tokina 50-135mm zoom, which has a built-in collar, and Nikon 18-200mm, as well as with a D600 and Tamron 70-300mm (the last two lenses without collar).

The QR camera plate features two security pins to keep it from sliding off the head. However, to seat the plate, you first have to fully open the locking knob and unscrew to remove. Many heads simply let you slide the plate in place with the use of a safety catch, which is also engaged when removing the head—thereby speeding up and simplifying the process even further. The plate has rubberized elements to grip the camera. They seem to do the trick.

The one deficiency on the plate is the camera screw. It uses a very uncomfortable and what appears to be rather flimsy handle and entirely lacks a coin slot as an alternative means for securing the plate to the bottom of the camera. Fortunately, this can be replaced with the QR plate of your choice.  However, you will likely lose that safety pin feature, meaning that you have to be extra careful when seating the camera/plate onto the head so they don’t slide off.

Evaluation

The 3Pod P4CFH carbon fiber tripod is a good value overall. Some minor quirks, but I was happy to use it. Hard to say how long this support will last, but on the surface, this tripod appears to be well constructed. That is, provided you don’t have to replace any of the leg sections. There is even a hook from which to hang a ballast, for added stability in the wind. However, you can’t reverse the column for ground-hugging close-ups. While the tripod overall is fully functional, the best part appears to be the H2 ballhead. In fact, the pod appears to be outmatched by the head. Although I’d replace the quick-release plate at some point.

Perhaps most relevant is my 10-second test. Using the self-timer (to allow vibrations to subside from contact with the camera) on the D300 with 18-200mm VR lens at 200mm (300mm full-frame equivalent) (VR disengaged), the pod held steady both without the center column and with the center column attached (but not extended). (Note: 10 seconds was a practical limit, given available-light conditions and practical f-stop selection, without stopping down too far and incurring a reduction in sharpness owing to diffraction.)

Closing Comments

Carbon fiber tripods are pricey. This one is not. You can either save your pennies until you can afford a brand-name pod, or get something you can use right now. Will this tripod last and last and last? Hard to say, but for the time I had it, it didn’t look like it would fall apart any time soon. And the well designed padded carrying case is a nice added touch.

You may be wondering if there’s any practical benefit to a 4-section over a 5-section pod. The more leg sections, the more compact the tripod. In reviewing a range of 4- and 5-section tripods, I found no practical difference, provided they were carbon fiber. In metal, with rare exception, I’d avoid a 5-section support. Three-section tripods are best in the studio, although some may argue this point.

So, all in all, I'd say the 3Pod P4CFH is worth a shot.


Manufacturer's Selected Specifications

Tripod material  CNC forged carbon fiber

Max. load capacity  28.6 lb

Max. height (column extended)  65.5"

Max. height (w/o column)  50”

Min. height  13"

Column  Screw-on, 2 sections (not split)

Folded length  18"

Leg sections  4

Leg locks  Twist

Weight  5.75 lb

Where can I get more info?

http://www.adorama.com/FP3PP4CFH.html

Where can I get it?

Adorama or www.adorama.com

How much is it? $229.95 (includes $70 instant rebate)