Neewer Portable Desktop Mini Tripod - Aluminum Alloy 20 inches/50 Centimeters with 360 Degree Ball Head, 1/4 inch Quick Shoe Plate for DSLR Camera Video Camcorder, Load up to 11 pounds/5 kilograms

If you like your reviews brief, stop reading now! I know how picky photographers are and how precious we are with our gear, so I want to give a full rundown of what I shoot, why I chose this product and why I like it. For full disclosure, I mainly shoot with a Sony A7RIII with some G-Master and Zeiss glass (not vlogging with a smartphone!), so I wouldn't risk that standard of gear on ANY tripod if I had doubts over its safety and construction. So with that in mind... I do a lot of table-top product photography for my own business and a full size tripod can't get low or close enough, so a mini tripod became essential. I looked at the usual candidates from Gorillapod (the 3K) and Manfotto (the Pixi Evo) but neither of those extend high enough for slightly raised shots. I kept seeing good reviews of these re-badged generic brand Chinese tripods by Neewer, Zomei etc but A) I'm wary of budget unbranded products and B) I take online reviews with a fistful of salt (people only tend to write them when they're angry...) When this went on offer as a lightning deal, and given Amazon's flawless return policy, it was silly not to give one a try. It arrived in a tiny box, just wrapped in a plastic bag with an allen key and instruction manual. Certainly no frills. Let's get the few negatives out of the way first: - The lack of any carry bag is a real shame. Other brand's versions of the exact same tripod (and other Neewer ones I've seen) are sold with a nylon bag so I'm disappointed this came without. - I'm personally not a big fan of twist-lock legs and these are no different. The twisting action feels fiddly and when these legs are extended they have a different, less premium design to the rest of the tripod and they look a little bit cheap. They are however sturdy, feel solid and reliable and that's the most important thing so my complaint is superficial and subjective. - It isn't particularly 'quick' release as you have to screw and unscrew the knob to hold or release the camera. Not an issue for me but those using it 'on the go' might want to use a different ball head. The positives: - Straight out of the box this thing immediately feels solid and weighty. Oddly Amazon asks you to give a rating for how light a tripod is, like that's ALWAYS a requirement. Sure, it would be a lot lighter if it was all plastic, but is that better for a tripod of this size? Not for me. - The entire thing is made from aluminium (even the knobs) and finished with what feels like a hard-wearing anodised finish to the legs, collar, centre column and ball. There are no rough edges, corners or poorly finished areas or components. - A spirit level on the top is always handy. - The quick release plate is nice quality and low profile - I was nervous about the ball head but it's extremely stable and smooth with the anodised ball in a nylon-lined socket, tightened with a metal twisting thumb knob. I don't think I'll be upgrading it. - The collar has a nice knurled finish and only requires a quarter turn to loosen it for adjusting the column. - The rubber feet are plenty soft enough to prevent slipping on most surfaces, even a glass table. - As with most tripods, the legs fold all the way up into a space-saving position and make this thing almost pocket size. - For my purposes, a mirrorless camera with a heavy quality prime lens, it never feels unstable. - The legs have 5 small sections, which mean the tripod is specifically adjustable in small increments which is quite rare in such a small tripod. - Finally, a feature I never see mentioned even in reviews; There is a screw-in plate with threaded mount hole in the bottom of the centre column (as for a weighted hook or for turning the column upside down for super-close macro shots). There is also a standard width mounting hole in the side of the main body of the tripod, perfect for attaching an extendable arm for a flash, LED light etc. Such a brilliant and versatile feature on a mini tripod. I won't keep rambling but the biggest compliment I can pay this little tripod is that it doesn't feel inferior to my far more expensive gear in neither construction, fit, nor finish and I trust it to hold thousands of pounds worth of camera. For a product of this price (especially on sale), it's almost flawless and it doesn't have many rivals. I rarely write reviews this long or detailed but when an item has such a positive effect on my shooting process and is so superior to more 'premium branded' products at such a great price, I feel it deserves huge credit. The manufacturer actually listened to what people want! If, like me, you need a mini tripod for ANY purpose... Stop looking and buy this. In fact, buy 2. Happy shooting!

If tripods could win medals for effort and charm, the Neewer Portable Desktop Mini Tripod would be standing tall on the podium, hoisting its 360-degree ball head in triumph. Let’s just say, I’ve met a lot of tripods in my time—some wobbly, some stubborn, some that seem to have a vendetta against symmetry. But this one? This one is the steadfast and surprisingly sassy sidekick my camera never knew it needed. First off, the construction: aluminum alloy, baby! Nothing says “I’m here for the long haul” like a tripod that’s both featherweight and sturdy enough to double as a defensive tool in a pinch (although, for legal reasons, let’s stick to photography). At just 20 inches (or 50 centimeters for all the metric-lovers in the house), this little marvel fits on my desk, in my backpack, or atop the pile of other forgotten gadgets with ease. Now, let’s talk about the 360-degree ball head. This thing swivels with the grace of a ballerina and the precision of a Swiss watch. Want a dramatic low-angle shot of your snoozing cat? Done. Need a perfect overhead video for your latest culinary masterpiece/failure? No problem. The Quick Shoe Plate (1/4 inch) means popping my camera on and off is faster than my morning caffeine fix—and trust me, that’s saying something. But here’s the kicker: this mini tripod can hold up to 11 pounds (that’s 5 kilograms for the scientifically inclined). Eleven pounds! I could probably balance my lunch on this thing while filming, and it wouldn’t break a sweat. My DSLR feels as secure as a pampered pooch in a luxury carrier. I’m convinced that if I ever lose power, I could use this tripod as a makeshift dumbbell and actually get a workout. Oh, and did I mention the price? Purchased from Amazon, it arrived at my door faster than I could say “add to cart,” and for the value, it’s an absolute steal. Setting it up was so easy, I barely had time to sip my coffee before I was already snapping away. In conclusion, the Neewer Portable Desktop Mini Tripod is everything I hoped for: reliable, easy to use, and charmingly compact. It’s the unsung hero of my desk setup, the silent supporter of my artistic ambitions, and the only tripod to ever make me laugh out loud while writing a review. If you want a tiny titan of a tripod that can handle almost anything (except maybe your existential dread), this is the one. Five stars, two thumbs up, and one happy photographer!

Excellent, small tripod, couldn't believe how sturdy it is

This is an excellent mini-tripod - extremely solid construction and yet remaining compact, light and easy to operate. All the catches and locking screws operate smoothly and the height is easily adjusted over a wide range. The quick release plate works well and as stated, is ARCA compatible. A possible downside is that no carrying bag is supplied. Unless you need the extra height of a midi-, or full-sized, tripod I can highly recommend this product. Neewer produce some really high quality photographic products at very reasonable prices.

After some research on competing tripods from major photography gear brands, I bought this one because it looked sturdy and quite flexible. I was not disappointed. I use it almost every day to fit a portable projector or to fit a camera. I love the ball head, it's quite precise and smooth and locks well in place. I don't use very big lenses so not sure how far it can be pushed. It's not a quick release plate but for what I do it works fine and it has a level. It's got foam on the legs and really compares very well with my very big and expensive Gitzo tripod. Overall very impressed given the cheaper price than the competitors

This is a great mini tripod. Very sturdy and very well made. I really recommend this product.

Rather cute and nicely fills the gap between inverting my large tripod's centre column and laying on the floor. Very strong though beware as it is so compact it is not the most stable due to small footprint.

I bought it for my Spotting scope and used it during my holidays. It is quite compact and easy to carry in your back back. Material is quite sturdy and robust. Love it.

conforme à mes attentes. Pratique pour la photo macro botanique de terrain avec mon bridge. facile à caser ds le sac à dos.

Nice tripod and good for small dslr upto 2-3kg with small lens. Easy to carry and does the job that i was looking for. Bought it for nikon z50 and does the job of handling it properly. Ball head is nice. Overall a quality product.

Good stuff. Great price

I bought this little tripod to use with a new shooting chronograph that utilizes Doppler radar to determine how fast a projectile is moving. Since I'm restricted to shooting on an indoor range, I needed to mount the chronograph unit just behind and to the side of the firearm and about 4 inches below the muzzle. Shooting from a standing position, the Neweer tripod allows me to set it up on the shooting bench and position the chronograph exactly where I need it to be. I'm especially impressed with the apparent materials and build quality of the tripod. The tripod seems to be assembled very well and does not have a lot of "play" between moving parts. Once adjusted and set up, it's very sturdy. The included quick release mount with 1/4" screw is a nice bonus, as some tripods require that this piece be purchased separately. There is a leveling bubble included on the mount, as well, and I'm able to level up the tripod, mount the chronograph and get shooting in just a couple of minutes. Legs are sturdy and are easily adjustable. The rubber feet are twisted counterclockwise to allow the legs to telescope out in sections by pulling on them. On my particular tripod, these were very tight and I initially had to exert a respectable amount of force to get them to pull out. They've loosened up a bit with use, but they're still pretty tight. A sign of quality, I'm assuming. The tripod arrives in a small cardboard box, but I found on Amazon a set of 6 drawstring nylon bags that were exactly the right size and hold the tripod perfectly, allowing me to carry the tripod in my range bag, which affords it some protection and provides a convenient way to transport it. If you need a small tripod, this is the juice right here.