Gear Review // Fiesol CT-3332 Tripod // The Lightest (real) Travel Tripod
(So I wrote most of this article about a year ago and never got around to taking photos of the tripod itself and thus posting the review at all, so if you happen to stumble upon it without photos of the actual tripod in the review, I apologize)
Since nobody seems to have a review on this little guy, I thought I’d share my thoughts on the Feisol CT-3332 carbon fiber travel tripod.
Quick spec overview:
Weight: 1.79lbs (810g)
Folded length: 15.75in (40cm)
Maximum height (center column not extended): 38.58in (0.98m)
Maximum height (center column extended): 53.94in (1.37m)
Before picking up this tripod, I had been using a Benro Travel Angel A-169M8, an aluminum 4-section tripod, as my small form factor and lightweight tripod for times where my big and bulky series 3 Gitzo wasn’t appropriate or needed (hikes, short trips). While the Benro had performed admirably to the tasks I’d thrown at it, I wanted something lighter, but not at the expense of stability. Searching high and low, from every tripod manufacturer I could find and think of, I settled on this, a Feisol CT-3332.
Why the Feisol CT-3332? Weight and stability.
This tripod is crazy light. It’s listed at 1.79lbs (810g), making it the one lightest full featured tripods on the market. Paired with the Sunwayfoto XB-28, a small low-profile ballhead, the total tripod weighs only 2.2lbs (1000g), significantly lighter (470g, over a pound) than my previous travel tripod setup and most other travel tripod options on the market. Since weight was a huge factor in my purchase, being able to shed over a pound is impressive.
For reference, Mefoto's travel tripod offerings, the Backpacker, carbon fiber Roadtrip, and carbon fiber Globetrotter weigh 2.6lbs (1200g), 3.1lbs (1400g), and 3.7lbs (1680g) respectively. The Backpacker, while very small folded up and fairly light, the center column is fixed in an extended position which greatly compromises the camera stability. Once you move up to the Roadtrip and Globetrotter, the weight starts to add up pretty quickly.
In regards to stability, the Feisol’s advantage begins at its leg tube diameter. While a 24mm top leg tube diameter isn’t thick by means, many of the travel tripods on the market utilize a 4 or 5 leg section design where the legs gradually get smaller as you extend each leg section and as a result, the final leg sections are usually the thickness of a pencil (ok, more like a Sharpie, but that’s not much better) and that equates to instability.
With my Benro, I nearly never extended the bottom leg section in order to preserve stability while landscape shooting, because if it’s a situation where I’m using a tripod, stability is paramount. The Feisol is only a 3 leg section tripod, which reduces the number of tubes that must be stacked inside one another, allowing the bottom leg section to maintain a sizable diameter at full extension. I so seldomly need the extra height, it would be a waste to purchase a tripod with 4 or 5 leg extensions, just to carry them and keep them tucked in for 95% of my travel tripod shooting.
With landscape shooting, I’m frequently battling wind or moving water and, even with carbon fiber legs (which dampen vibrations better than aluminum), slight instability at the joints and leg sections is something I can’t have if I want sharp images at longer exposures.
Of course, the short fold up size combined with the 3-section legs comes at the cost of maximum shooting height. At only 38.58in with the legs extended, it’s not even remotely a tall tripod. However given my shorter stature (5’7”) and its use primarily as a landscape tripod, the height usually isn’t an issue, since I frequently shoot from a fairly low height. If I do find myself in a situation where I need the height, the 2-section center column adds quite a bit of additional height. Unfortunately doing this makes the unit very top heavy once a camera is mounted on top and stability in tough conditions is kind of out the window.
Panorama of Vestrahorn in Stokksnes, Iceland.
Nikon D850 + Nikon 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G // 7 frame panorama // 24mm, 1/4 sec, f/10, ISO 64
The center column cannot be replaced with a short center column or removed completely (to further reduce weight), per a Feisol representative. I’m sure there’s a way to DIY a solution to remove the center column, but I haven’t looked into it too much. If anyone has any ideas, I’d love to hear them.
So you might be wondering what I’m mounting on this little guy. If I’m trying to keep my weight down, which is often the case when this tripod is in use nowadays, it’s supporting a Fujifilm XT-20 and the 18-55mm f/2.8-4 kit lens, a Samyang 12mm f/2 or the Fujifilm XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8. However, when I first got this tripod, it very frequently supported my Nikon D600 and 18-35G or 24-120 f/4 VR and still to this day supports my D850 and those lenses. I don’t hesitate for a second to put on my D850, however I would draw the line should it need to support anything over 200mm.
The construction on the tripod is great. Excellent fit and finish on all the parts. Leg position locks are springy and strong, snapping nicely into place. The twist leg locks are super smooth and fast and up to this point, reliable. It’s hard to compare the build compared to my Gitzo, since they’re in drastically different weight classes, I’d say the Feisol is as good, if not better, than the Gitzo. After having it for two years, it still performs like new.
Pros:
Light. Insanely light.
Compact. Will easily fit inside a carry-on and inside most backpacks as well.
Stable. Some of the thickest leg diameters in its class. Paired with the carbon fiber, it’s as sturdy as 1kg could be.
Cons:
Short. There’s no way around it. It’s a short tripod. At just over 3ft without the center column and just about 4,5ft fully extended, don’t count on this being an eye level tripod.
A little pricey. At $375, it’s not a budget tripod that’s for sure. But for a true carbon fiber tripod, it’s not too outrageous, and you certainly get what you pay for in the overall quality, fit, and finish of the product.
Overall, I think the Feisol CT-3332 is a fantastic travel tripod as long as you understand its purpose and limitation. It’s short and lightweight. I wouldn’t recommend it as a primary tripod, due to its height limitations, but as a supplement to a taller, more robust tripod, I think it’s a fantastic partner.
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If you have any thoughts, questions, or comments, I’d love to hear them! Leave them in the comments box below.
Other gear mentioned or used:
