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Let’s face it. So many travel tripods out there share the same features and flaws. This one seems to offer the smartest solution that expands the travel tripod’s usability altogether.
In the last three years or so, so many travel tripods have come out looking almost entirely the same, with the same set of features and limitations. A lot of innovation has been seen in some of them, but it always boils down to a minor detail that makes or breaks the compatibility of the tripod with the user’s workflow.
Travel tripods—not necessarily just for travel use—often bear more expectations. In a much more portable and lightweight form, a good one has to offer a sturdy stance, carry a significant load, and be able to adapt to different requirements the user might have. The point is that a single travel tripod should play multiple roles for a serious photographer. This tripod from Falcam may have just outdone many of the others with a small but important detail.
The Falcam TreeRoot QuickLock Travel Tripod
The Falcam TreeRoot travel tripod—not to be mistaken for the recently announced TreeRoot Pro and Lite versions—was the first of Falcam’s premium travel tripod line. It comes with 4-section carbon fiber legs, with the upper 3/4 forming a near-perfect cylinder with its flattened carbon fiber rods. The bottom 1/4 bulks up slightly because of the three twist locks with rubber grips. At the very end of each of the legs are removable rubber feet that reveal built-in metal spikes for better traction.
When folded, the Falcam TreeRoot is 18.3 inches (47.3 cm) long. With the center column trimmed down and the legs spread wide open, the tripod can go as low as 6.6 inches (16.8 cm) from the ground, including the clearance and the head. When the legs and center column are fully extended, the tripod reaches its maximum height of 61.1 inches (155.2 cm).
The TreeRoot QuickLock travel tripod weighs just 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) and can comfortably hold 11 lbs (5 kg) of camera gear. For context, this payload can hold a full frame mirrorless camera and a standard 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto zoom lens with some allowance for extra accessories.
A Minor Yet Impactful Detail
In the middle of the three legs is a 12.5-inch center column that resembles a triangular beam. On the upper 2/5 of the beam is a unique mechanism that allows the user to trim down the center column and remove the bottom segment to allow for very low angle shooting without using any tools. This makes use of a C-shaped lock that is unlocked by pressing and pulling down the bottom latch. Reattaching the lower segment involves just realigning the beam and latching the two ends back where they were.
Bonus Features
On the central joint of the tripod are three different features on each of the three corners. In one corner is a small knob that controls the lock for the height of the center column. In another corner is a standard 1/4-inch screw thread with ports for locking pins that can be used for attaching friction arms and other accessories to the side of the tripod.
In the other corner is a screwed-on version of Falcam’s F22 mounting plate, secured by two small hex screws. This plate can be used as a quick release mechanism for attaching other F22 accessories by Falcam, such as their friction arms or even handles.
Ball Head
The TreeRoot tripod features an inverted ball head that is fixed to the upper end of the center column and cannot be replaced with other heads. The inverted ball joint is wrapped around by a dome-like surface connected to the upper portion and comes with a single notch for more tilted angles or shooting vertically. Right above that is a curved horizontal lever that serves as the lock for the action of the ball joint. Opposite the lever is a small friction control knob that refines the movement of the ball.
Above the lever is a sliding switch that controls the locking of the mounting platform above. To its right is another knob that controls the 360-degree panning of the top platform, which allows the user to maintain level and alignment while panning. Right above that knob is a bubble level that can be used as a guide for balancing.
The mounting platform on the head is compatible with mounting plates that follow the Arca-Swiss size and format, including Falcam’s modified F38 plate. Whether using an F38 or another Arca-Swiss-compatible plate, the platform allows for swift mounting using the quick lock mechanism that only involves pushing down the plate to lock it in place. Off the bat, it is appreciated that it uses a more universal mounting clamp instead of limiting compatibility to the square F38 plates.
Application and User Experience
Because of the combination of features and capabilities of the Falcam TreeRoot, it offers an all-in-one functional tripod for photographers who are traveling or those who prefer a more portable form of tripod.
While relatively slim and short when folded, it’s definitely not the lightest travel tripod out there—and that’s a good thing. It still offers significant durability even in windy situations, which makes it safer and more reliable. The cylindrical form makes it easier to hold when in transit, and while it does come with a neoprene bag, I personally wish that it came with a better bag with some pockets and a zipper. The combination of the maximum height and the payload capacity makes it usable for full frame camera gear and heavier lenses, which offers no compromise in shooting even in distant outdoor locations.
Output from the cityscape shoot. Sony a7RV and 24-105mm f/4 G on the Falcam TreeRoot.
In reality, most of the features found on this tripod have been seen in some way or form in other travel tripods on the market. Brands like Benro, Peak Design, Leofoto, and a handful of others have released similarly capable tripods. However, what makes the Falcam TreeRoot stand out is the clever center column adjustment mechanism that makes it capable of shooting very low angles with the flick of a switch. Other travel tripods simply cannot go very low, and those that can would require the use of screws to remove part of the center column or even totally replace it. Among all the travel tripods we’ve seen, this is the one that lessens the amount of effort needed to adapt to what the location or the shot dictates.
Shot a 20-second exposure in a very windy situation. Sony a7CR and 16mm f/1.8 G.
Because of the flexibility of use, this tripod can be used for casual shooting when traveling, for landscape photography even in relatively harsh conditions, and for low angles when shooting seascapes with significant foregrounds. Altogether, this might be the current travel tripod to beat in terms of functionality and intelligent design.
What I Liked
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Smooth cylinder form
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Twist locks and smooth telescopic carbon fiber rods
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Arca-Swiss and F38-compatible quick lock head
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Quick center column adjustment and trim
What Can Be Improved
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Head is not replaceable
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Included tripod bag can be made better