A Hybrid Tripod Built for Diverse Needs: Tilta VT05 Travel Tripod Review

by Nicco Valenzuela September 26, 2024 0 Comments

If you shoot both photo and video, you’re probably used to having a different kind of tripod for each separate workflow. However, this new tripod from Tilta just might make things easier when you’re shooting on the go.

Mastering your craft is an undeniable must for photographers. However, one is also very likely to come across projects that will require going out of one’s comfort zone or usual scope. Very realistically, in the era of digital content, being able to produce videos alongside your photographs can be a huge advantage in being a solution provider for your clients or even your own business. However, the technical requirements of such work may be a little different from what you’re equipped for. This carbon fiber tripod from Tilta, while designed with videographers in mind, just might be a viable solution for photographers as well.

The Tilta VT05 Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod

The Tilta VT05 is a combination of 4-section carbon fiber tripod legs and a feature-packed hybrid fluid video head designed to offer multiple modes of use and portable carrying. When fully collapsed, the tripod and head come in at 23.23 inches (59 cm) and shorten to 21 inches when standing with all sections collapsed. When all legs are fully extended with the center column down, it stands at 52 inches (132.2 cm), and when the center column is expanded, it reaches 63 inches (160 cm) with the head included in the measurement.

One versatile function of this tripod is that, by default, it comes with a long center column, but when there is a need for low-angle shooting, the majority of the length of the center column can be removed by simply rotating the distal end clockwise. Once the rod has been screwed out, the remaining 20% is used to secure the head onto the central joint of the tripod. Once the leg angles have been widened through the angle locks on the joints, the setup can reach as low as 9 inches (23 cm) of working height from the ground to the base of the camera. While some travel tripods can offer lower minimum heights, it is understandable that the fluid head and leveling bowl take up much of this measurement. Nonetheless, the quick detachment of the center column and the ability to go this low is a convenient feature altogether.

As a first impression, the Tilta VT05 felt heavier than most other travel tripods that we’ve tested, but at the same time, it also felt generally more robust and, not to mention, durable. The main tubes of the legs are 25 mm thick, while the smallest and most distal section is 16 mm thick. This range overall gives the tripod better stability and a generally robust appearance. It weighs 2 kg in total, 1.4 kg on the legs and 600 grams for the fluid head, and the payload justifies that, as the legs can carry up to 10 kg (22 lbs), while the fluid head can comfortably hold and maintain smooth motion for up to 5 kg (11 lbs) of camera gear.

Details and Features

Each of the 4 sections is controlled by aluminum alloy locking levers that curve to follow the contour of the rod. While this shape is not entirely a new thing, it was remarkable to see that the locks were given quite a bit of thickness, which makes them easier to pull on. On the main joints are similarly thick angle locks that can be pulled using the tabs on the sides. These angle locks allow for opening the leg angles to 25, 55, and 82 degrees for more flexible shooting.

In between each of the leg joints are 1/4” screw threads with a pair of slots for locking pins. This allows mounting additional accessories onto the tripod for even better efficiency. Since the main port is a 1/4” screw thread, which is the most universal for camera accessories, pretty much anything can be mounted onto the tripod. However, of course, these ports were made to be used with friction arms for mounting other tools such as field monitors, external batteries, audio gear, etc.

Perhaps one of the more significant features would be the ability to shorten the center column into a shorter base for low-angle shooting. While there are many other tripods that have made this possible, most of what we’ve seen requires the use of tools that may or may not be conveniently stowed within the tripod’s structure. The Tilta VT05’s design took the simplest and most straightforward approach, which is to simply make the center column screw out. The thread was made palpably longer, perhaps to lessen the chances of unintentional removal, which in my opinion, is enough of a safety measure.

Above the central joint is a larger curved lever lock that controls the locking of the center column. Right above that is a large twist lock that controls the friction of a leveling bowl, making proper leveling much easier. Right above the leveling bowl is a small knob that unlocks the head for 360-degree panning.

On one side of the fluid head is a friction control knob that finely regulates the amount of resistance of the head against forward and backward tilt. While it doesn’t have clicks or stops for the friction, it is pretty easy to control for regulating fluid movement. On the other side is a visibly short pan arm with a knob that allows repositioning of the angle of the arm or allows the user to remove it entirely when not needed. The rubber-coated grip of the pan arm can also be slightly turned counterclockwise to unlock and extend the arm, giving it an extra 40% of length.

On the top platform of the fluid head is an Arca-Swiss-type compatible quick-release clamp. Since the use of Arca-Swiss plates is more diverse than the larger Manfrotto 501PL format plates that are more commonly used for larger video camera setups, the quick-release clamp platform was given the ability to turn 90 degrees when unlocked through a button on the side. This simple yet crucial movement allows users to comfortably use the tripod with regular base plates, rotating camera mounts, L-brackets, and even camera cages with Arca-Swiss-type mounting.

While the tripod head follows the shape of a fluid head, the combination of the controls and ranges of motion of parts actually allows the tripod to also function well for photography. Tripod heads, regardless of whether for photo or video, need to have pan, tilt, and yaw. While ball heads have been a more common standard for photos, the same motion can be achieved using the combination of the tilt control and the angle switch on the top platform. If vertical tilt is needed, the lens should be aligned with the vertical axis of the head, and if horizontal tilt is required, the lens should be perpendicular to the vertical axis. Altogether, this makes the fluid head able to function like a traditional 3-way head with or without the removable pan arm.

Application and User Experience

It was initially the build quality of this tripod that stood out. Travel tripods come in different shapes and sizes, but not all of them provide significant stability and instead compromise build for the sake of making them compact. This tripod seems to have been built with stability as a top-of-mind concern.

Second was the overall feel of the small details. The build of the locking levers gives smooth operability, and so was the experience with the knobs. The combination of the different leg angles and the removable center column makes the tripod significantly versatile for shooting heights and camera angles. Add to that the ease of use of the leveling bowl, and the user can swiftly change positions and skip having to go back and forth with the leg heights to achieve a leveled shot.

The angle switch on the mounting platform seems like a sign that whoever put together the features of the tripod was not just following a template for tripod parts but actually had the users and the user experience in mind. That, and the abundance of accessory ports on the tripod, seem to be aligned with the brand’s (Tilta, a manufacturer of camera cages and rig tools) identity and attention to detail.

The Tilta VT05 is functionally one of the most well-thought-out tripods we’ve seen. Though slightly heavier, it also ensures stability better than most other travel tripods around. Even though it is primarily a video tripod, the combination of features makes it versatile for different use cases and certainly can double as a tool for photography as well.