MeFOTO Globetrotter tripod kit

It is time to talk about what I am using and why.  The curtain raises, revealing the first ever piece of gear reviewed by Odd Angle Photography to be…

The MeFOTO Globetrotter Travel Tripod Kit!

First of all, no photographer I have ever met has been COMPLETELY satisfied with a single tripod.  But I must say, the MeFOTO Globetrotter comes pretty close to perfect for me.  Though other tripods may be better suited for specific tasks, the Globetrotter is now my designated work horse.

The Globetrotter is the largest of the MeFOTO travel tripods.  Its smaller counterparts are the “Backpacker” and the “Road Trip”. Even as the “largest” of the series, the Globetrotter packs down to just 16 inches long and 4.5 inches at its widest diameter… that fits into the second largest compartment of my school backpack.  The Globetrotter accomplishes this by allowing the legs to fold 180 degrees and fold over the extended center column, protecting the ballhead.  Pretty slick.

Two versions and two color schemes are available for this model.  The aluminum version weighs 4.6 lbs and costs $209, while the carbon-fiber Globetrotter shaves 0.9 lbs off for the premium price of $369.  Frankly, $160 is not worth a 0.9 lb weight reduction to me, but if you are an ounce-pincher, $369 is still an excellent price when you consider that many other comparable tripods cost the same but don’t include a ball-head.

Despite its compact and lightweight nature, this is a seriously stable tripod and offers a recessed weight-stabilizing hook on the center column for added stability if needed (but I haven’t found a need to yet in up to 15mph winds).  Speaking of center columns, the Globetrotter’s center column and 4-segment tripod legs extend to a maximum height of 62.4 inches.  Standing at a towering 5’7” tall, I have not even needed to extend the last segment of the legs to comfortably use this tripod.  But, if I did, I would not find this to be an impedance in quickly setting up because the tripod legs are controlled with twist-locks.

One of the most innovative features of this tripod is its ability to easily convert to a monopod using no extra parts.  One of the tripod legs (the one with the foam handle) unscrews from its joint and is screwed into the center column to replace the stabilizing hook (which can be stored on the joint where the tripod leg was located).  Having two pieces of equipment in one slick design combined with its incredible packability really sends this thing off the charts in terms of efficiency and practicality.

The only area that this product falls short in is the ball head.  Though advertised as being able to support 26.4 lbs, I have found that at this weight there is some gentle sliding and shifting unless you “hulk-out” on the tension knobs and tighten them more than any mortal should be expected to.  Even still, it is a nice compact design that does pretty ok at managing heavy loads.  Regarding knobs, there are too many.  This ballhead would really have benefited from having a lever for the Arca-Swiss style mount, rather than a knob.  And then there are three other nobs to cover what I perceive to be 2 functions: (1) keep the panoramic head from rotating and (2) keep the ball stationary.  It is somewhat difficult to make a lot of adjustments while looking through the viewfinder of my camera because of all of the knobs that must be turned to loosen or tighten things on the ballhead.  And finally, why bother making a panoramic ballhead with only the one bubble level located on the mounting bracket?  I can’t imagine that it is an incredibly complicated process to add a bubble-level to the base of the ballhead so as to enable the user to pan and actually follow the horizon.  In my mind this was a pretty major oversight, but perhaps I am unique in that the ground is not always perfectly level when I want to shoot a panorama. I still manage to shoot panoramas, I just can’t use the panoramic feature of the ballhead to do it, which sort of defeats the purpose.  Instead I have to fumble with the nobs every time I move to a new frame.  Fortunately, ballheads can be replaced.  But doing so takes a big chunk out of the value of this kit.  I would have rather paid $350 for an aluminum tripod + better ballhead and have the tripod kit to end all tripod kits.

Despite what my previous paragraph (rant) may lead you to believe, when all is said and done, I am very happy with this tripod and would buy it all over again if given the option.  Good job MeFOTO (but give me a better ballhead next time).

Check out the MeFOTO website here... http://www.mefoto.com/products/globetrotter.aspx

Synthesis:

Crazy-efficient, yet solid, design, smooth-functioning mechanics, and priced to sell, but the ballhead leaves you wanting.

Pros:

Good weight

Incredibly compact

Solid Stability

Smooth movement

Cons:

No bubble level for the base (big con)

Too many knobs on ballhead (slightly irritating)

Legs are sticky on occasion (very small con)