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Home → Reviews → Camera Gear Accessories

Platypod Pro and Max Review – A Tripod Alternative

By Elizabeth 25 Comments
Last Updated On November 4, 2016

I have been looking for a small portable alternative to carting my tripod around with me for quite some time now. There have been many occasions when I’ve been out photographing and could have used the support that a tripod provides, but could not be bothered to lug my tripod with me. I have tried using a variety of small tabletop tripods. None of them were strong enough to support a DSLR and heavy lens. Beanbags are cumbersome to carry around as well. This past summer I stumbled upon a Kickstarter campaign for Platypod Pro Max, and I was intrigued. Could this possibly be the answer to my search?

So What is a Platypod?

Platypod Pro Max ($99.00 from B&H or Adorama) and its little brother Platypod Pro ($49.95 from B&H and Adorama) are a great way to provide stability to your camera. But most importantly, they are extremely compact and easy to throw in a camera bag. Unlike typical tripods, the Platypods consist of a small metal base that you attach a ball head to, instead of legs. They are made from lightweight aircraft quality aluminum.

Platypod-1
Platypod Pro Max with a Nikon D500 attached and Platypod Pro with a Fuji X100T
Platypod-2
Max and his little brother, Pro

So before I go any further, I want to let you know that I purchased both Platypod Pro Max (Max from now on) and Platypod Pro (Pro) with my own money during their Kickstarter campaign. Platypod did not provide me with any kind of compensation for this review. So with my disclaimer out of the way, let’s take a closer look at Platypod Pro and Max.

The Pro is the smaller model and works well with mirrorless cameras and DSLRs with small to medium sized lenses. It measures 3×5”, is 4mm thick, and weighs just 3 ounces. Platypod Pro can be used with ball heads smaller than 4”. I used a Sirui G-10KX and I could easily access all the knobs on the head. However, if you have a ball head with knobs or screws close to its base, you may find that they interfere with the ¼”-20 bolt near the front of the plate. This bolt can be used to attach speed lights or other accessories to the Pro.

Platypod-3
Platypod Pro with Sirui G-10KX ball head
Platypod-4
Platypod Pro
Platypod-5
Platypod Pro

The Pro model can be purchased as a kit, which gives you a few extras. Firstly you get a nylon case. The case is compact and fits the plate by itself. However, with a couple of origami-like moves, it transforms into a box that will hold a small ball head as well. In addition, the kit comes with three screws that have a sharp tip on one end and rubberized feet on the other. They can be threaded into the plate to help stabilize and level it. The kit also comes with a 1/4” to 3/8” female spigot adapter.

Deluxe+Kit+Full_15A0090-min
Platypod Pro Deluxe Kit

Max is the newest model and is substantially larger than the Pro. As such, it is capable of supporting large DSLRs with much heavier lenses. Max measures 5.25×7.75” and is 5mm thick. Weighing in at 13oz, it is substantially heavier than its baby brother, but still easily portable. I have a Sirui K-40X ball head, which is a large ball head, and it felt very balanced on Max.

Platypod-6
Platypod Max with a Sirui K-40X ball head
Platypod-7
Platypod Max with a Nikon D500+80-400 f/4.5-5.6 lens attached

Max ships with four two-inch long ¼”-20 spikes. Like the Pro’s spikes, these also have a rubber tip at one end and sharp points at the other. The spikes come in a neat little storage box that clips onto the top of the plate. A great feature to help prevent losing them. The spikes work well to ensure that the rig doesn’t slip. The rubber ends won’t mar delicate surfaces, like the hood of your car. Since they are adjustable, they also allow you to level Max on uneven surfaces. Max also has a pair of slots. The slots allow you to strap Max to a vertical pole or post using a belt.

Platypod-9
Max with a Nikon D500+70-200 f/2.8 lens
Platypod-8
Max with a Nikon D500+70-200 f/2.8 lens

So What Did I Think?

I particularly like how convenient it is to throw a Platypod into my camera bag. They hardly take up any room. When I’m shooting with my Fuji X100T or Nikon D500+kit lens (16-80 f/2.8-4 lens), I have the Pro in my bag. And if I’m using heavier lenses, I throw Max in instead.

The Platypods really shine when you need to shoot longer exposures from a low angle. In places where space is limited and it is hard to splay out the legs of a full sized tripod, the Platypods come to the rescue. With a ball head mounted to either one, it is very easy to adjust the camera angle, as opposed to simply setting your camera on the ground.

Platypod-10
For this low angle image taken with my Fuji X100T and Platypod Pro, it would have been very hard to use a tripod without having its legs stepped on!

At night or for selfies, I can usually find an elevated surface to place my Platypod on. However, Platypods do not have anywhere near the flexibility that a tripod does. I sometimes find it frustrating when the object I want to prop the Platypod on isn’t in the right location. A tripod is easy to move a few feet to the left or right. However, moving a large boulder or mailbox is a little harder!

_DSF3692
To get this shot I placed my Platypod Pro on an electrical box near the intersection. It allowed me to get a 1s exposure without taking up a large footprint on the sidewalk, as would be the case had I used a full sized tripod.

When you can’t find a horizontal surface to place your Platypod on, it is handy to be able to strap it to a something vertical. However, this can be a bit fiddly to do. It takes a bit of time to get the rig safely attached and adjusted properly. I found it much easier to configure the Pro model vertically than it did to strap Max to a post. With heavy gear, you want to make sure Max is not going to slip. Because I don’t usually wear a belt, I did not find it convenient to set Max vertically. On the other hand, it is easy to keep a handful of lightweight cable ties in my bag. The ties are a great way to attach the Pro model to vertical objects.

Platypod-12
Pro with a Nikon D500+16-80 f/2.8-4 lens. Cable ties threaded through the holes work well to attach the rig to a tree.

Another benefit to using Platypods is that they can be taken to locations where tripods would be difficult to bring, or are not allowed at all. With your camera and ball head attached to a Platypod, it is easy to balance the rig on a railing, aim the camera in any direction and take the shot.

Conclusion

Platypods are lightweight and compact. They are rugged, very well made and will last a lifetime. They fit easily into a camera bag. As a piece of camera gear, they are relatively inexpensive. When was the last time you purchased a piece of kit for under $100?

They will not replace your tripod, but in a pinch, they are a great substitute.

Platypod Pro and Max are the best alternatives I have found to carrying a traditional tripod with me.  They have allowed me to get shots that I would not have been able to capture without a tripod. They are an indispensable piece of kit and have earned a permanent home in my camera bag.

Platypod Pro and Max
  • Features
  • Build Quality
  • Handling
  • Value
  • Size and Weight
  • Ease of Use
  • Stability

Photography Life Overall Rating

5
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Filed Under: Camera Gear Accessories Tagged With: Ballhead, Gear Reviews, Product Reviews, Tripods

About Elizabeth

Elizabeth grew up in Vancouver, on the beautiful West Coast of Canada. In 2012 she relocated to Houston Texas for two years and then moved to Gautier, Mississippi in July of 2014 for another three years. Now back in Vancouver, Elizabeth runs photography workshops and teaches many aspects of photography. Her areas of interest are widespread and include street, wildlife, nature, architecture, macro and long exposures. She is particularly passionate about black and white images. You can see more of her work on her website at www.photographybyelizabethgray.com or on Instagram at photosbyelizabethgray

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25 Comments
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Mr. T
Mr. T
August 11, 2020 3:30 am

Hi guys !
I was thinking of buying one, but I ended up with this instead;
www.siruiusa.com/index…#038;id=69
Ballhead included ;-).

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Reply
BGeorge Day
BGeorge Day
July 17, 2017 12:45 am

$30: Desmond Table Top Pod for Tripod Ball Head 3/8″ Stud Mini Low Photo Support FPOD-1

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Reply
George Tyrebyter
George Tyrebyter
March 26, 2017 6:08 pm

So the deal is 1 6″ x 6″ piece of aluminum and 4 screws for $49? Is this a joke? You can get a Slik min, an entire device, for $29. This is ridiculously priced. It is simple enough that I can make my own, which I am going to do. These guys are trying to scam people into paying large money for a small device. The ROI on this about 5000% – the pieces cost about $3, the machining similarly cheap.

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Reply
Andrew
Andrew
Reply to  George Tyrebyter
April 28, 2017 3:23 pm

No, the 6″ x 6″ piece of aluminum and 4 screws is $99. It’s the 5″ x 3″ piece of aluminum with 3 screws that’s $49. :) I wonder if someone has made a pattern for a 3d printer…

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Kresimir Delac
Kresimir Delac
January 20, 2017 12:21 pm

Hi there, I have a Nikon D5300 and some lenses that would easily be supported with a pro (not max). My only doubt is my 105mm Macro lens which is quite heavy. Would you suggest going for a Max or I am going to be ok with just a pro? Did you try it with a 105mm lens perhaps? Thank you kindly for your reply.

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Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Author
Reply to  Kresimir Delac
January 24, 2017 3:40 pm

Hi Kresimir,

Yes, I have the 105 Macro, and I agree it is a fairly heavy lens. If you have a good ball head, and you are working on level ground, you can probably use the pro. However, to give you more flexibility and piece of mind, I would use Max. In addition, you may find your ball head is too big for the pro.

I use my Max+large ball head whenever I shoot with my DSLR, regardless of which lens I am using. I use the pro + small ball head with my Fuji X100T and X-T2.

Thanks for your question and hopefully that helps!

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Wayne Rogge
Wayne Rogge
December 14, 2016 11:51 am

Thanks for this review….what a great little item to carry. I ordered one. By the way, I also pack a small bean bag (actually DIY full of rice) that has been a life saver on more than one occasion.

W>

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Dominique_R
Dominique_R
November 9, 2016 5:50 am

Not for me. Too restrictive in terms of what it can sit on. I wouldn’t trust those screws to hold steady with 3 kilos of camera and lens on top of the plate, and the belt-around-the-tree-trunk is a joke: have to find a reasonably vertical tree, with a trunk size that fits, hope your belt holes fit, etc., etc.

I’ll stick to my Rollei mini-tripod as an alternative to the good ole Gitzo.

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steve roberts
steve roberts
November 8, 2016 6:21 am

I have looked at getting one of these types of plates and had a hard time justifying the $100. so, i made my own. I went to the metal shop and to Lowe’s and made my plate for $12. Nothing to it.

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urodoc45
urodoc45
Reply to  steve roberts
November 8, 2016 10:24 am

could you please share the ‘recipe’ and a screenshot.
Thank you.

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Reply
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Author
Reply to  steve roberts
November 8, 2016 5:48 pm

That is great Steve! For someone that is handy, your solution sounds like a great DIY project. Just curious, how did you attach the mounting bolt? Did you drill a hole, or mount it some other way? I’m sure some of our readers would love to see your design.

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Mohd Naqiuddin Ismail
Mohd Naqiuddin Ismail
November 7, 2016 8:06 pm

How is it Platypod Max compared to Joby GorillaPod Focus in term of usability?

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Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Author
Reply to  Mohd Naqiuddin Ismail
November 8, 2016 5:44 pm

Hi Mohd, I haven’t used that particular model of GorillaPod. It has a capacity of 11lbs, which is substantially less than either Platypod (Pro 90lb, Max 300lb). It is the same price as Max too. I had trouble with my GorillaPod holding steady, it seemed to creep quite a bit. I also found the legs very hard to adjust. Once they are flexed, they seem to kink. If I was not going to go for a Platypod, I would probably try something like the Feisol Mini Tripod TT-15 Mark 2 that Vincent mentioned above.

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Vincent Yu
Vincent Yu
November 7, 2016 7:17 pm

Yes, you can get a Carbon Fiber mini tripod for $79. I have the Feisol Mini Tripod TT-15 Mark 2. It is super light weight(6.4 oz) and is a good companion to your regular tripod. With your favorite ball head mounted on top, this tripod is just amazing stable.
I use it mostly on Macro shots with flowers and nature because it can go as low as 2.1″. It was very stable with my Nikon D750 + 90 mm Macro lens and the setup was quick and easy. Check it out.

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Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Author
Reply to  Vincent Yu
November 8, 2016 5:34 pm

Thanks Vincent, that sounds like a comparable alternative. Although it doesn’t support quite as much weight, it falls between the two platypods price wise. Thanks for the suggestion.

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kers
kers
November 7, 2016 6:03 am

Thank you for the review;
Also think it is a bit expensive and i would prefer instead to use a good lightweight head (like the smallest Really Right stuff head)
I think it is something to make yourself.
Still thinking to make something out of balsa wood+ some metal parts.
If you put some paint over it is very strong.
Already made a light weight 4x 5inch camera with it.

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Reply
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Author
Reply to  kers
November 8, 2016 5:30 pm

Thanks for you comment Kers. I’m not sure how I would feel about supporting my D500+any heavy lens with balsa wood and paint! However, I’m sure there are some DIY alternatives that would work well and be less expensive.

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Reply

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