MINI TEST
Benro BK10
£24/$31
http://www.benroeu.com
enro’s ultra-portable BK10 mini tripod
weighs only 300g and is a mere 19cm
long when folded; yet, thanks to a
seven-section telescopic centre
column, it can extend to give a 91cm-high shooting
platform. Fold the tripod legs together, but
keep the centre column outstretched, and
you’ve also got a comfortable selfie stick
that’s pretty useful for vlogging.
Use the BK10 as a tripod, though, and the
combination of short legs and that towering
central column makes things very top-heavy with
a camera on-board, and the 1kg load rating seems
optimistic. Realistically, you’ll need to stick to an
action camera, a compact camera, or a camera
phone for this tabletop tripod to be in its element.
Benro includes a GoPro mount, as well as a
basic clamp to hold a phone, both attaching to the
tripod’s tiny plastic ball head. What’s more, you
also get a Bluetooth remote that clips to one
tripod leg when not in use. We found this gadget
worked flawlessly as a remote shutter release
when paired with our test camera phone.
PROS Versatile multifunction design;
handy remote shutter release
CONS Micro ball head makes the BK10
only suitable for small cameras
Verdict^4
Manfrotto Pixi Evo
£35/$35
http://www.manfrotto.comanfrotto’s Pixi mini tripods have been
with us for several years, but this Evo
version steps things up with
extendable two-section legs. These
can lock into six different extension points using a
push-button release on each leg. At full stretch,
there’s some flex when you mount a heavier DSLR,
but Manfrotto’s 2.5kg load rating is reasonable.
Keep the legs retracted to their shortest setting
and the Evo feels more stout, but this reduces the
shooting height from 19cm to 15.5cm. If you want
to sink lower, the legs have a secondary angle
setting selected using a simple but effective
switch on the side of the ball head. This lets the
head down to around 10cm off the deck.
The ball head itself is of a usefully large size
for a mini-tripod, and it clamps securely. It can
also tilt through 90 degrees into portrait
orientation, and a convenient wheel locks
the 1/4in thread to your camera, so
you don’t need to rotate the whole tripod.
Factor in the keen pricing, and this basic
but well-made support is a smart buy.PROS Light and slim when folded; useful
and precise leg extension; reliable ball headCONS Doesn’t stretch as tall as some rivals;
not especially rigid with legs at full extensionVerdict 4.5
Velbon EX-Macro X- acro
£40/$25
http://www.velbon.bizs tabletop tripods go, the EX-Macro is
somewhat bloated, measuring 28cm
long and requiring a 9cm-diameter
slot in your kit bag. It’s also on the
heavier side at 560g, but the EX-Macro is closer to
a full-size tripod in design than a typical tabletop
tripod. The legs have three sections and lock using
conventional lever clamps, while the centre
column has 6cm of height adjustment. Maximum
shooting height is a versatile 56cm, and the legs
can support up to 2.5kg of payload, although
Velbon recommends 1.5kg as a safer bet.
It’s a surprisingly conservative load rating given
the tripod’s substantial size – but the problem is
the unashamedly plastic construction. The three-
way pan-and-tilt head feels quite cheap, and the
tiny plastic quick-release plate is especially nasty,
causing a heavier DSLR to wobble much more than
we’d like. It’s a pity given the head’s separate
pan-and-tilt adjustment, which should be
ideal for delicate macro compositions. The head is
definitely the weak link in the setup – and it
unfortunately cannot be replaced.PROS Works well with small, light cameras;
bargain price; versatile leg length and spreadCONS Bulky when folded; cheap plastic head
is frustratingly wobbly when used with a DSLRVerdict 3.5
Tabletop tripods
Need an ultra-compact camera support that’ll fit
in your kit bag? Try a tabletop tripod for size
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