When I first received the box with my Feisol Tournament Tripod and CB-50D head, it was unbelievably light. I almost wondered if they forgot something in the shipment. When I opened the box I found a very nice looking carbon fiber tripod and ballhead, but how would this super light combo perform in the field? In this review, I will be going over my personal experience with the Feisol system and compare it to my Manfrotto setup that I have been using for several years.
Table of Contents
Feisol Tournament CT-3442 Specifications
General Specifications:
- Load Capacity: 22 lb (10 kg)
- Head Attachment Fitting: 3/8″
- Maximum Height: 5.33″ (141 cm)
- Minimum Height: 7.10″ (18 cm)
- Folded Length: 18.90″ (48 cm)
- Weight: 2.49 lb (1.13 kg)
- Center Column: Optional
Leg Specifications:
- Material: Carbon fiber
- Leg Stages/Sections: 3
- Leg Lock Type: Twist lock
- Independent Leg Spread: Yes, preset angles of 25, 50, and 75 degrees
- Spiked/Retractable Feet: Optional
You might be worried that a super light tripod wouldn’t be stable enough. Don’t worry, the Tournament tripod is rated for 22 lbs (10 kg). The heaviest combo I have tested it with is a D800 with a 70-200mm f/2.8G lens and it performed very well. While it isn’t the cheapest system in the world, coming in at $169 for the head and $388 for the legs, it is a high quality system that is an incredible performer in the field.
One of my favorite things about this tripod is that it doesn’t have a center column. I can get the tripod as low as I want. Occasionally, this does pose a problem when I want the camera to be two inches higher and I have to adjust the legs instead of just raising a center column. I would much rather get my tripod low to the ground than have this convenience. Also, if you want a center column, Feisol does offer a kit – they also have a bowl and leveling base kit. It is easy to adjust the angle of the legs with just your thumb. The tripod legs will also rotate full 180 degrees over the ballhead to save space when you have a head attached.
My only complaint so far has been that the leg locks were a little stiff when I first got the tripod, but after using it for a few weeks, they are working great.
Feisol CB-50D Ballhead
The CB-50D ballhead has been incredibly stable. It is rated for up to 41 lbs (19 kg) and it is even lighter than my old Manfrotto B-Series RNB-2 head that was only rated for 17 lbs (7.7 kg). The biggest plus for me is that there is no sag when I tighten up the head. With my old head, I always had to aim a little high to compensate for it always sagging a little. The head offers a large knob for tightening the ball with adjustable friction. It also has a knob for panning, with degree markings for helping with shooting panoramas.
Feisol CB-50D Ballhead Specifications
- Load Capacity: 41 lbs (19 kg)
- Ball Sphere Diameter: 1.97″ (50 mm)
- Quick Release: Yes, Arca-Swiss compatible QR system
- Separate Panning Lock: Yes
- Tripod Mount Thread Size: 3/8″
- Height: 4.25″ (10.8 cm)
- Base Diameter: 2.8″ (70 mm)
- Weight: 1.26 lb (571 g)
I got the carbon fiber version of the head. Is there any performance benefit? Not really, it is slightly lighter. But most of all, it just looks cool. I have virtually no complaints about the ball head. It is solid and easy to use.
There are a few things I am still getting used to since I am coming from a Manfrotto system. I’m still getting used to the Arca Swiss quick release plate and using twist locks versus the flip locks of my Manfrotto. Not that either of those are good or bad to me, I think it is more a matter of personal preference and I’m still adjusting to it after shooting with my Manfrotto system for over two years.
Sample Images
Here are some sample images that I have captured with the Feisol Tournament Tripod and CB-50D Ballhead:
Summary
Overall, I love the Feisol system, especially when I am hiking in to a location. The ability to get the tripod very low quickly is key for me when I’m shooting landscapes. The tripod and head together weigh 3.8 lbs for a very stable system. I’m also looking forward to getting the Feisol video head with the leveling base and bowl kit for the tripod. It seems like a really great idea to switch between a flat base and a bowl on the tripod. Eventually, I would love to have one tripod dedicated to video and one for stills, but right now I have other budget considerations.
Advantages
- Super lightweight
- Stable
- No center column
- No sag when you tighten the ball head
Disadvantages
- Leg locks were a little stiff at first
Where to Buy
You can purchase Feisol products directly from Feisol’s website.
Chris Mabey is an outdoor photographer and filmmaker based in Utah. His love of the outdoors and passion for photography have led him to spend many days hiking through the dim morning hours with a backpack full of photography gear to get the perfect shot. He specializes in telling the stories of outdoor places and brands through still images, video, time lapses and aerial shots. He spent much of 2013 working on a conservation photography project called The Best Idea We Ever Had. In this project Chris will showed how budget cuts are affecting the national parks and why the national parks are worth protecting. This project was featured on ABC 4 Television, Public News Service Radio and on many websites such as Grind TV, The Adventure Blog and The National Parks Conservation Association. When not shooting, Chris spends his time outside rock climbing, hiking, training for triathlons or doing any other adventure he can find. Visit his website to see more of his work and his blog to see his latest photography and videography projects.
Feisol Tournament Tripod and CB-50D Ballhead
- Features
- Build Quality
- Handling
- Value
- Size and Weight
- Ease of Use
- Stability
Photography Life Overall Rating
Good review for a great product. I purchased my CT-3472 when it was first released in 2007, and years later got a CT3442. All of my support and portability needs are easily met.
I do have one comment – you state that the load capacity of the CT3X42 is 22lbs, but it is actually much higher at 55 lbs.
Do pictures lie?
Your pic shows model #3442 but you have 3342 legs attached. The BH link and Faisal both show the 3342 as three section and the 3442 is a four section on Feisal Web site.
I have this exact set up (Tripod and Ballhead) and have added the long centre column. the first Ball head they sent me was faulty but was replaced without drama. The replacement is perfect. The low weight and compact pack dimensions make transportation easy and the strength of the system support my D810 and pro weight glass easily. Highly recommended.
Tripod suggestions requested:
I have a Nikon D750 and the large lens that I use is a Nikon 200-500 F5.6 zoom with a Nikon 2x Tele-converter resulting in 400mm-1000mm zoom. I will shoot wildlife, landscapes, night sky (moon and stars), and some sports. I want a tripod that will be very solid with consideration for speed of use and setup and easy to carry without giving up stability. The total weight of this equipment is 8 lbs. Although price is always considered, I do not want to own three or four tripods before I find the one that works for me since that would probably cost more in the long run. What tripod and head combination would you recommend to me.
Thanks…
Hi Chris
I am looking at tripods with a view to upgrading later this year and Feisol was one option I was considering so it’s great to hear your positive review of them.
Are you still using the tripod?
Euan
I need a tripod like this but have a heavier kit (7.5 lbs) and need to follow birds in high and low flight, often. Is it good for panning and up and down?
You probably want some type of gimbal head but the legs are definitely good enough for you.
I have the same setup: a Feisol CT3442-tripod and a CB50D-balhead (aluminium, not carbon). I also have the center column, leveler base and horizontal adapter kit. Changing between the various configurations is easy and fast.
My main gripe is with the tripod: the texture of the rubber of the locking mechanisme of the legs hurt my hands after a short while. I don’t know why that is.
Also the sections of the legs – I have an older model – can twist while unlocking, so you have to use more force on that rubber locking ring… The newer version has non-rotating legs. I tried to exchange the legs of my model for the non-rotating kind, but it was too expensive.
Lastly, the legs would ‘dangle’ from the base. The legs have three positions, but they only prevent the legs from going up, not down. You can tighten the screws, but mine kepte coming loose again after a few times of use. Customer service recommended the use of Locktite 243 on the locking screws and that solved the problem for me.
Chris,
Nice review however you mentioned the tripod is a 3 section model. iirc that would be a Feisol CT-3342 and the 4 section is the model you reviewed.
Thanks for the review of the Feisol system and the feedback on the head is really promising. I was a little concerned with going Feisol being they are less expensive and not all that well known (maybe a small marketing budget to help keep prices low?)
Since I am 6’1″ and I also like to travel super light, I have been looking at the CT-3441T. It is a 4 section unit with a center column, but the center column can be replaced with a short version for low shots.
I was considering the CB-40D or the CB-50D, but leaning towards the 40 for weight. I probably need to try and find one in person to handle first… I’m hoping it’s strong enough for my needs.
I have a D600 and my heaviest lenses are the 70-200 f4 and the 16-35 f4. My current tripod is the Manfrotto BeFree. It has been doing fine for me except for the lowish height and last time I was 4′ deep in a river it started vibrating which was a pretty big problem to get my shot. Ended up the VR on the lens seemed to help, but it was disconcerting, which is what is motivating me to find a better solution. Also, the fact I am getting more serious and in need of a more serious tool.
The CT-3441T seems to have really good height adjust-ability and with the CB-40 I get panning capability. And the fact it’s only 0.5 lbs heavier than my current setup for a reasonable price is encouraging. I will probably swap out the top plate for a proper lever Arca Swiss compatible QR. Even RRS doesn’t have a setup that has that much height adjustability and portability.
Would be awesome if you could try the CT-3441T too, but I’ll probably buy soon before I take a trip to Oregon as I plan to be in the water a lot.
I am actually 6’1″ and the height is just perfect for me.
Just a short observation….
If you dislike the turn screw knob type of release on the Arca Swiss plates (so slow), you might want to have a look at Really Right Stuff’s quick release plate and clamp combination. Not only is the lever release extremely fast for mounting/dismounting lenses but the base plate stays attached to the tripod head so you don’t have to contend with screwing your ball head on and off (with the ever present risk of it rotating and unscrewing itself and loosening at the most inopportune moment)
The clamp stays on your tripod head all the time, and the plate stays on your camera all the time. You will need to purchase a separate quick-release plate for each camera or collared telephoto lens that you want to mount in the quick-release clamp on your tripod head
The quick-release clamp incorporates an open-ended channel with compressing side jaws that grip the quick-release plate. This makes the combination highly flexible in that the clamp will accept different length plates according to the size of the lens and the plate can be slid forward or backward to achieve neutral balance when using long lenses on a gimbal.
RRS gear is pricey – but you know you are worth it!