Introduction & Specifications
Contents
Camera equipment isn’t known for being particularly lightweight. While the mirrorless revolution and smaller sensor formats have helped bring down the weight of cameras, simple physics has prevented tripods from becoming much lighter. Vuepoint has not managed to break the laws of physics with their new line of ultralight tripods, but they have pushed the boundaries of what is possible to create the lightest possible set of tripods that will still hold a camera at a reasonable height. This hasn’t been done without compromise though as we will see over the course of this review. The Vuepoint Max certainly isn’t the stiffest tripod I have tested, nor the one with the most robust build quality, but it is by far the lightest at this height and nothing else even comes close. If weight has been keeping you from using a tripod, but still want the long exposure flexibility that a support provides, this may be the tripod for you.
The Vuepoint Max and Vuepoint Mid share much of the same design and execution, so much of these two reviews are identical. The major differences will be found on the test results and head choice pages.
This tripod was loaned to me for review purposes by Vuepoint Tripods prior to their Kickstarter campaign. I was not paid by any party to write this review, and the opinions are entirely my own.
| Name | Vuepoint Max |
| Class | Travel |
| Yaw Stiffness | 128.6 +/- 0.6 Nm/rad |
| Yaw Damping | 0.27 +/- 0.027 Js/rad |
| Pitch Stiffness | 435.9 +/- 2.5 Nm/rad |
| Pitch Damping | 0.411 +/- 0.041 Js/rad |
| Retail Price | $200 |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (0.408 kgs) |
| Manufacturer weight rating | 10 lbs |
| Maximum Height | 50.5 in (128.3 cm) |
| Minimum Height | 17.0 in (43.2 cm) |
| Center Column | No |
| Base Diameter | 1.1 in (2.8 cm) |
| Folded Length | 19.3 in (49.0 cm) |
| Folded Circumference | 7.1 in (18.0 cm) |
| Folded Volume | 77.0 cu. in. (1.3 liters) |
| Leg Material | Carbon Fiber |
| Leg Sections | 4 |
| Primary Leg Angle | 28.0 deg |
| Leg Locks | Friction |
| Top Tube Diameter | 21.4 mm |
| Second Tube Diameter | 19.2 mm |
| Third Tube Diameter | 17.2 mm |
| Fourth Tube Diameter | 15.2 mm |
| Exchangeable Feet | No |
| Foot Type | Rubber |
| Bottom Hook | Yes |
The test results are included here as I consider them to be part of the tripod’s specification. For full discussion of the stiffness and damping, see the test results page of the review.
The lack of weight on the Vuepoint is clearly the outstanding specification. The next lightest tripod that I have tested anywhere close to the height of the Vuepoint weighs more than twice as much. This is going to open up the world of camera supports to people who have completely written off carrying a tripod. Speaking of the height though, 50.5″ is actually quite tall for a travel tripod and puts the camera at a very comfortable height for most users. While it won’t necessarily place the viewfinder at eye level, it will minimize the amount of hunching over necessary, or simply make viewing the rear LCD easier.
The opening angle of 28 degrees is unusually wide for a tripod. I have generally found greater stability in tripods with wider opening angles, so this is a welcome feature. It also helps the tripod be less prone to tipping over in the wind, which is a greater concern here than in most cases due to the height and lack of weight.