I recently took out the K&F Concept Carbon Fibre Lightweight Tripod for a spin. I thank them again for this collaboration. If you are interested in getting the product for yourself after reading this:
Click HERE to go directly to K&F Concept and get a 10% discount with promo code: ESKF10 (valid until 31/12/2021).
or
Click HERE to go to K&F Concept's Amazon page.
Who are K&F Concept?
K&F Concept (short for Kent and Faith) are a one-stop refined photography solution provider. Founded in 2011, they specialise in design, research and marketing of photographic and video equipment ranging from camera tripods, lens filters, camera bags, surveillance camera and other must have accessories for your photographic needs.
Packaging
The only plastic within the packaging was the plastic bag around the tripod and the sandwich bag style packet for the manual and allen/hex keys. I am not entirely sure that the plastic bag is necessary considering it comes in the carrying bag. The tripod comes in a sleek black box and stylish carrying bag.
What's in the box?
In the box, you will find a smart compact and well built carrying bag which will protect your tripod well and is pretty convenient and comfortable to carry on hikes.
The Tripod
First impressions, the product's quality is first-rate. The tripod is light (2.2lbs/1kg) due to being built from 22mm diameter carbon fibre. The beauty of this material is that it maintains a strong stability whilst remaining lightweight.
At its' smallest, the tripod has a height of 18.1"/46cm and at its' tallest, the tripod is 60.2"/153cm. The amount of customisation in terms of angles in height is fantastic. There are many moving parts so when you initially begin using the tripod it takes a little bit of getting used to.
Monopod
One of the tripod's legs is detachable and can be used as a monopod if you so desire. A monopod can be quite useful for getting a steady shot when you are on the go and don't have the time to set up a tripod. Monopod's are a great option for sports photographers. For me this feature is particularly useful for low light settings as my Canon 80D is quite heavy and hard to get sharp shots.
I found rejoining the monopod back to a tripod a little difficult the three times I have used it. The central axis was difficult to reinsert into the rest of the tripod due to a plastic washer that kept coming out which I struggled to reinsert. Maybe I just need to get used to it or I'm doing something wrong.
Metal Spiral Locking
Each leg of the tripod comes fitted with a metal spiral locking system which is great for locking in your desired height or angle. I initially wasn't sure how strong and reliable they would be but I was pleasantly surprised with durability. For a quicker set up, you can twist the three spiral locks at the same time to release all the levels of the legs.
1/4" Screw Head and Fluid Head
I didn't have the chance to test out the compatibility of the 1/4" screw head on different cameras but the set up time was extremely impressive and the fluid head (which helps you achieve a straight shot/horizon) is incredibly quick and easy. This can't be said for some other tripods.
25mm Ball head
The ball head of the tripod is made of durable metal built to withstand whatever you need it to do. With 360 degrees of movement, the compositions are endless whether it be panoramas, horizontal or vertical shooting. I initially thought the ball head was a bit loose but it turns out I just needed to tighten the allen/hex key screw just above the ball head. I recommend keeping the allen key set that comes with the tripod in your camera bag or carrying bag.
Loading Capacity
The tripod has a loading capacity of up to 17.6lbs/8kg's making it ideal for any indoor and outdoor photography. Unfortunately I don't have a lens to truly test its capabilities but I will take K&F's word for it.
Adjustment Buckles
The tripod legs can be adjusted and locked to three different levels which helps with stabilisation on varying ground and inclines. I found the set up time pretty quick and balancing the tripod with the fluid head easy.
Lowest Angle Shooting
The tripod can be inverted due to its' central axis to achieve low angle shooting and macro shooting. I find this feature is particularly useful for my product photography. Again, set up for this was easy if you have a flip screen on your camera as you need to set up your camera on the 1/4 head upside down if your lens doesn't have a mounting ring.
Backpack Storage
If carrying the tripod in its carrying bag is not for you and your camera bag has a pouch or straps on the side, the tripod fits well in most camera bags. The lightweight nature of the tripod ensures that you aren't being weighed down on those long hikes.
Conclusion
After a few days of use, I am very impressed with the BA225 tripod from K&F. Great build quality and loads of set up options for all your needs as a photographer. It will definitely be my go to tripod for my future photography endeavours.
Click HERE to go directly to K&F Concept and get a 10% discount with promo code: ESKF10 (valid until 31/12/2021).
or
Click HERE to go to K&F Concept's Amazon page.