In this article, I review the FLM CP30-M5 II hybrid tripod. It's the best tripod I've used, and here's why.
Two years ago, I shared my last tripod purchase with you, the Leofoto Mr. Q LQ-365. It's a large tripod I specifically bought for my travels worldwide. For some of the cities I photographed, I required an extended height of more than 160 cm to photograph above some railings.
I also shared my ten requirements for the perfect tripod. I'll quickly list them again before we explore how many the FLM CP30-M5 hybrid fulfills: a tripod must be stable, allow for photography at eye level and close to the ground, have a folded length smaller than 50 cm, weigh less than 2 kg including a ball head, be easy to disassemble for cleaning, have twist locks, be sealed against water entering the legs, have an optional center column, and not cost a fortune.
Here, the center column requirement is the least important for me. While it can be helpful for height adjustments during videography and provide additional height, I seldom need it. For more than 90% of the photos I take, a tripod height of 150 cm is sufficient. With a ball head and camera on top, it allows me to photograph at eye level.
What's much more important is weight. Especially during my hikes in the Alps, the weight of the Mr. Q, which is more than 2 kg, often became a burden. While its thick legs provide excellent stability, such thickness is not required for typical camera setups.
FLM CP30-M5 II Hybrid
The FLM tripod, which I got as a loaner from FLM Canada, has many features I also appreciate from the Mr. Q, but it is much more compact and lightweight. I've tested it for several months, putting it through its paces, and not once did I wish for my larger tripod. On the contrary, I noticed even more how important a lower weight is for me.
The CP30-M5 II is a carbon fiber tripod weighing 1.35 kg without a ball head. With my 445 g ball head, the setup remains well below 2 kg. A big question I answer in the feature video is if it's still stable. Some travel tripods available today are lighter than the FLM tripod. But that reduced weight comes at the cost of stability.
During my tests, I found that the FLM tripod does not make this compromise. I used it in windy conditions, set it up in a river, and took photos over an extended period for time blending. It performed perfectly during all of those photo shoots.
But what about its maximum height, a requirement that most other lightweight tripods don't fulfill? The FLM tripod has a maximum height of 150 cm. It uses five leg sections to achieve this height while retaining a folded length of only 46 cm. It puts it at a similar height as my Mr. Q without a center column—the setup I used the most in the last two years.
The build quality is excellent. Everything about this tripod feels high-quality, and the legs slide in and out smoothly. The legs will also lock into place at three different angles, allowing for a setup only centimeters above the ground.
The 59mm mounting plate uses a thin cork layer to achieve good dampening of vibrations. On two sides, you'll find 1/4'' mountain points, which you can use to screw in accessories like, for example, an umbrella holder. FLM even found space for a bubble level, something I missed a lot on my Leofoto tripod.
In addition to the rubber feet, spikes are also included and can be screwed in when needed, for example, when setting up on soft soil.
FLM Canada also provides a lifetime manufacturer's warranty, which is very generous and shows their trust in the used materials and manufacturing.
What I Like
The premium build quality with a good maximum height while still maintaining a low weight makes this tripod a great package. There is much to appreciate about it, as I mentioned earlier. But there are two quite underrated features I want to highlight. The integrated bubble level is essential if you want to photograph panoramas. It allows you to level the FLM tripod without an additional level head.
I also have to mention the large rubber feet. At first, they looked a bit strange on such a small tripod. However, they improve stability by providing better friction between the tripod and the ground than smaller feet would. They are one of the reasons I never had problems when taking photos over an extended time: the first and the last images always aligned very well. This is a requirement for time blending.
What Could Be Improved
There's not much to improve with this tripod. However, there are two requirements I want to touch on. First, it comes without an optional center column like the Mr. Q. Having a center column is good for video recording because it makes small height adjustments during setup easy while keeping the tripod level. It can also provide an extended height for the few use cases where it's required.
Thankfully, you can purchase screw-on center columns for less than $30. And not having an integrated center column is actually an advantage. You get more stability if the mounting plate doesn't have a hole to accommodate a center column. And screwing on a center column on top of the plate instead of using some other mechanism should give you a more stable setup.
The other requirement only a few tripods fulfill is that of sealed locks. It's a nice feature to have that can help with photography at the coast, as it keeps salt water out of the legs. I have no idea how well available solutions work, as I haven't yet tested such a tripod. I also don't know if it would compromise my requirement of easy disassembly. If it didn't, it would make the CP30-M5 II even better.
Conclusion
Because of its maximum height and stability, the FLM CP30-M5 II is not just a travel tripod, although it can easily compete in that realm. Its hybrid nature makes it a great all-rounder that doesn't get in the way. Not only is it light and compact enough to barely notice it when carrying it around, but it’s also stable enough to hold heavy gear like long telephoto lenses. For me, it's close to perfect.
It costs $530, which I consider a fair price for the quality and lifetime warranty you get. You'll find travel tripods that cost more but still don't fulfill the most important tripod requirements. And the cheaper ones don't even get half of my requirements right most of the time.
