Induro is one of those companies that had a really slow start, but has worked extremely hard to climb their way to being a household name. My first few experiences with Induro (although brief) were not great. The build quality of their products left a lot to be desired. Oh how things have changed! Today I'm going to give you the rundown on an Induro CT-114 Carbon Fiber Tripod. On a recent job I was working in a studio that had an Induro AT-114 which I used for some catalog shooting. Normally I'm not a tripod user, but certain situations require it. Over 3 days of sitting on my butt behind the camera and this tripod, I really gained an appreciation for it's quality. I decided to investigate further and decided to give one of their Carbon Fiber rigs a go. The CT-114 not only met my expectations, it exceeded them.
The CT114 is remarkably light, weighing in at a svelte 2.8lbs. This model is just over 20inches long when collapsed and right at 59" when fully extended. For being so light it's incredibly sturdy. With the first two sections extended it's rock solid, even without a weight. The "Cross-braced Magnesium alloy spider" does a good job of keeping the legs wiggle free, and even comes with a built in bubble level (very handy).When it is fully extended, the tripod's weight is actually a disadvantage. Putting a tripod head and an 8lbs camera makes this thing incredibly top heavy. The wide stance helps with this, but you really need to hang your bag, or a weight off the spring-loaded hook in the bottom of the center pole. The leg locks are super simplified, not weird springs here, just slide the lock out, position the tripod leg where you want it, then slide the lock in. The leg section locks are supposedly weather resistant, which is a plus I guess, but what I like about them is their super quick half-turn functionality. With one hand, most people can grab all of twist locks on a leg at once, and extend the leg in snap.
One of the odd things about this tripod is the removable feet. While I see the need for versatility, I feel like having to unscrew and replace the rubber feed with the stainless steel ones is a bit inconvenient. Another knock I have is the the amount of flex in the tripod legs when fully extended. The end section of the legs are barely larger in diameter than a Sharpie, and probably the reason this tripod is certified for only 17lbs. The legs flex a bit, when near the maximum capacity, but that is actually when it is the most sturdy.
I think one of my favorite perks of this tripod is the carrying case it comes with. It's a really nice nylon case which is sized perfectly to hold your new tripod with a head. The case also comes with a small toolkit to help you tighten and tweak the workings of the tripod, and of course change out the feet.
Overall, I think this is one of the best tripods I've had the pleasure of using. It's sturdy, but most importantly it's super light weight, which makes for an incredible travel companion. The price as well is not as prohibitive as you might think. B&H has them for just under $350, which is a steal considering a comparable Gitzo 6x is close to $700.
What I liked:
Lightweight
Price
Rock solid at lower heights.
Half-turn leg locks
What could have been better:
You have to manually change the feet with a tool from the bag
Requires additional weight to be super sturdy when fully extended
So in conclusion, I think the Induro CT-114 is an ideal tripod for anyone on the move. The size and weight make it equally useful as a stand as well as its intended purpose of holding up your camera. Quality construction and rock solid stability are a given, but how many awesome tripods come with sexy carrying cases? Just sayin'
Grrrr!!! I just got my mefoto tripod just 3 weeks ago. Don't get me wrong, I love it but at nearly 5lbs, she's a tad fat. :( This isn't that much more and weighs significantly less! haha oh well. Thanks for the review. Keep this stuff coming, this is the kinds of articles I like on fstoppers. Cheers, KCCO.
I love my MeFOTO Carbon Fiber GlobeTrotter...looks like it's a better buy than this one. With all the rebranding, etc., it's sometime hard to know what one's are actually different.
I've not used a MeFOTO tripod, but at the end of the day a tripod is the same basic structure. Visually I think they are quite different, but they functionally do the same thing. Most of us don't get a chance to actually play around with a tripod (in real world situations) before buying. We rely on the word of mouth and reviews to help make a decision. I know I wouldn't have even considered Induro had I not been essentially forced to use one for 3 straight days. If it were a MeFOTO it could have been the GlobeTrotter that I reviewed rather than this guy. I guess the moral to this story is, Try them out if you can. Because if you buy right, it can last you your entire career, and even your children's career.
I have this product and it's a 10/10
Hey Chris,
What kind of head did you put on yours?
I absolutely love Induro tripods. I've been using them for 4 years now. I first got them super cheap while working for a broadcast supply house. After I left for my photowork full time I continued to buy Induro. For THE COST, I would put them up against any Gitzo on the market. Like your review says, there are a couple small cons but they are minimal at best, for me anyway. I don't mind carrying a little extra weight with the aluminum ones too. They are crazy sturdy. Anyway. Induro stuff kicks butt. Love them. My CF Induro mono was stolen recently though, bummer. :-/
Or you can get a Manfrotto 190CX3 for $100 cheaper.
I'm not knocking it (I've always used Manfrotto tripods) but the 190CX3 is rated to 11lbs as opposed to this one at 17lbs.
I used Manfrotto tripods since really starting in photography (as evidenced by the Manfrotto ball head mounted on the Induro), but I must have had bad luck with them because they always needed adjustment, and never really felt sturdy, especially after a year or two of use. Which is probably a contributing factor to why I rarely use a tripod now.
But, Tripods are a personal taste thing. There will never be the "ultimate" tripod because everyone needs something different and has a different budget. They really are one of the few pieces of gear that we should test drive, because if you get a good one, you have it forever.
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I'm hoping this Induro is the last tripod I ever buy, and from what I've found so far, I think it will be.
too bad I can't find one in my country.
yeah, I have the heavy Alloy 8M AT413 Tripod, it's solid like a tank however after more then 6 months of use the middle column turns when everything is completely locked with some effort granted about 5 degrees... so if I don't find a solution for that I will be replacing this tripod with something better that will not start falling apart after few months of use. I also bought the CM34 Carbon 8X CM-Series 4-Section Monopod recently and so far this thing is also like a tank, I am loading a massive amount of gear on it and it is sweet, I hope it doesn't develop a problem as the time goes by, like the tripod.
Thoroughly impressed. Overall weight, and sturdiness v. cost is fantastic. Take out the center column (as with any tripod) for a truly rock steady experience. Was $300. @ BH after $100 instant discount.
This is my go-to tripod when backpacking or even just going out on the trail. Super light, very sturdy, and quick to setup.