Mack
Mu-43 Hall of Famer
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2018
- Messages
- 3,474
I liked the small Fotopro Sherpa (mini) 2 pound travel tripod so much I bought their larger Sherpa Max version. I needed the additional height up to 68" as I like to flip the camera over into portrait mode so I could gain easier access to the EVF.
Fotopro Sherpa (mini) Travel Tripod.
Fotopro Sherpa Max Travel Tripod.
Both came with padded cases and made for the model's size. The Max also had a belt holster to carry it or to use a pocket on it as a monopod base as both can be made into a monopod by removing one leg and screwing the center column and head onto it. The center column's hook also holds the cellphone holder and a hex wrench for the leg tightening and the head's locking screw on the yoke.
The leg joint collars also have O-rings to keep out dirt and water. Something a certain expensive brand of mine doesn't have (ahem!).
I found the Max's holster a bit awkward as the Max tripod is 3.7 pounds and the length bothered me on my leg, but it really works well for the smaller Sherpa (mini) for that task. Both have a lug on the yoke for a strap if you want to add one (Not included.).
Their Mini tripod worked well with my m43 cameras, but I felt it too light with the Nikon Z9 and their lenses. The Max is better suited as leg spread is wider with it also being taller.
However, with a 7 pound camera setup I did need to really tighten the ball head knob on the Max when flipped to the side. I think their claim of 26.5 pounds is a bit over-board when flipped over as I could see it creep with 7 pounds unless I really tightened the ball head down. The Center Column website, on the tripod loading here thinks most claims are just for marketing. Even Manfrotto would not commit to a actual loading number or how they arrive at it. Maybe using 1/3 or 1/4 the claimed weight load might be more accurate. The Center Column guy thinks the Feisol CB-70D ball head may be the strongest out there having the largest ball diameter, that or maybe the Ries hinged-head shown here if you really need support on the tilt aspect.
Below are what I got using the impact tester on a leg and the oscilloscope and vibration detector onto the Arca-Swiss clamp atop both models. The time interval is one second between the vertical divisions. Image on left is with the center column down and locked. Right image is with it extended to the maximum height.
The Fotopro Sherpa (mini):
The Sherpa Pro Max:
Columns extended, in the right-side of images above, show a longer vibration duration as expected being extended. The taller Max tripod shows a longer duration of vibes, but I see that in a lot of CF tripods that 'chime or ring' from their CF tubes.. Personally, I'd use a long self-timer with them - maybe 12 seconds - for any critical work.
Aside, I did test the Mini for vibration when I first got it. I also tore it down, polished it, and lubed the sliders and twist-locks a bit better. Oddly, the vibration was less after doing so! Could be my lubing the thing and polishing also tightened up the leg clamp ability as it is easier to clamp than it was when stock. I outlined what I did in the carbon fiber tripod maintenance thread here. They work much better with a little TLC.
On the Sherpa Max, I did find a couple of issues that were easily fixed with two O-rings, and both go onto the center column. One is the head needed a bit of cushioning when loosened so when it drops, the yoke and head do not meet with a bang. I put an O=ring on that tube area and stopped that hit. Second spot was where the column unscrews about three inches gown on the top of the column to use the upper portion in the yoke so the entire tripod can be lower to th e ground. That joint can be really tight in time with rotation of the pan head and tightening up that joint. Mine got so tight I forgot it came apart and when I did try to separate it, I couldn't do it even with a strap wrench. I took it to Mr. Muscles, who works at a local tire shop and has about 70 years of larger fingers working on stuff, and he put a bit of grunt into it and got it unscrewed. I put another O-ring in that joint to keep it from bottoming totally out and locking it up.
Fotopro Sherpa (mini) Travel Tripod.
Fotopro Sherpa Max Travel Tripod.
Both came with padded cases and made for the model's size. The Max also had a belt holster to carry it or to use a pocket on it as a monopod base as both can be made into a monopod by removing one leg and screwing the center column and head onto it. The center column's hook also holds the cellphone holder and a hex wrench for the leg tightening and the head's locking screw on the yoke.
The leg joint collars also have O-rings to keep out dirt and water. Something a certain expensive brand of mine doesn't have (ahem!).
I found the Max's holster a bit awkward as the Max tripod is 3.7 pounds and the length bothered me on my leg, but it really works well for the smaller Sherpa (mini) for that task. Both have a lug on the yoke for a strap if you want to add one (Not included.).
Their Mini tripod worked well with my m43 cameras, but I felt it too light with the Nikon Z9 and their lenses. The Max is better suited as leg spread is wider with it also being taller.
However, with a 7 pound camera setup I did need to really tighten the ball head knob on the Max when flipped to the side. I think their claim of 26.5 pounds is a bit over-board when flipped over as I could see it creep with 7 pounds unless I really tightened the ball head down. The Center Column website, on the tripod loading here thinks most claims are just for marketing. Even Manfrotto would not commit to a actual loading number or how they arrive at it. Maybe using 1/3 or 1/4 the claimed weight load might be more accurate. The Center Column guy thinks the Feisol CB-70D ball head may be the strongest out there having the largest ball diameter, that or maybe the Ries hinged-head shown here if you really need support on the tilt aspect.
Below are what I got using the impact tester on a leg and the oscilloscope and vibration detector onto the Arca-Swiss clamp atop both models. The time interval is one second between the vertical divisions. Image on left is with the center column down and locked. Right image is with it extended to the maximum height.
The Fotopro Sherpa (mini):
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
The Sherpa Pro Max:
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Columns extended, in the right-side of images above, show a longer vibration duration as expected being extended. The taller Max tripod shows a longer duration of vibes, but I see that in a lot of CF tripods that 'chime or ring' from their CF tubes.. Personally, I'd use a long self-timer with them - maybe 12 seconds - for any critical work.
Aside, I did test the Mini for vibration when I first got it. I also tore it down, polished it, and lubed the sliders and twist-locks a bit better. Oddly, the vibration was less after doing so! Could be my lubing the thing and polishing also tightened up the leg clamp ability as it is easier to clamp than it was when stock. I outlined what I did in the carbon fiber tripod maintenance thread here. They work much better with a little TLC.
On the Sherpa Max, I did find a couple of issues that were easily fixed with two O-rings, and both go onto the center column. One is the head needed a bit of cushioning when loosened so when it drops, the yoke and head do not meet with a bang. I put an O=ring on that tube area and stopped that hit. Second spot was where the column unscrews about three inches gown on the top of the column to use the upper portion in the yoke so the entire tripod can be lower to th e ground. That joint can be really tight in time with rotation of the pan head and tightening up that joint. Mine got so tight I forgot it came apart and when I did try to separate it, I couldn't do it even with a strap wrench. I took it to Mr. Muscles, who works at a local tire shop and has about 70 years of larger fingers working on stuff, and he put a bit of grunt into it and got it unscrewed. I put another O-ring in that joint to keep it from bottoming totally out and locking it up.
Last edited:
