Disclosure
Both the T1 Plus and the Sherpa Max tripods were kindly provided to me by Fotopro. The company does not claim to review this article prior to its’ release and everything that follows is a totally honest review. So let’s get into it.
Intro
In the process of finding the best landscape tripod, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. As every user is different and has different needs, this will inevitably lead to different product choices. However some tripod characteristics are greatly appreciated by most users, such as stability and low tripod weight. But the problem is that these are not complementary but rather contradictory. The heavier the tripod, the more stable it will be and the lighter the tripod the less stable it will be.
So finding the best solution, is a balancing act on how much weight is too much for you and how stable do you want your tripod to be. So I chose the Fotopro T1 Plus and the Sherpa Max as 2 landscape tripods that share some common characteristics, but also have distinct differences and might be more suitable for different users. Having used both of the extensively, I can at least comment on what works and what not, for me personally, according to my workflow and shooting style and maybe you can at least take something out of it.
Do you even need a tripod for landscape photography?
This is another age old question in the photography universe that has divided photographers and while some swear by the use of it, others don’t. But let’s be clear, if you are all about capturing a scene in the highest quality possible, editing your shots and treating them like masterpieces and not like snapshots and generally making a living from your art, you are probably already using a tripod. Especially if you are trying to capture sunrises and sunsets, then a tripod is a must for making it happen. Also if you are planning to make composite shots in your editing suite with the captured shots, then the tripod is again a necessary piece of gear. Lastly a tripod allows to meticulously place your camera to an exact spot in space that makes sense for the shot, after you have explored the area around you. That might include the preferred foreground, midground and background, exclude any unwanted objects/subjects, adjust the height of the camera, generally complement the shot as much as possible and allow for repeatable shots over the course of time. That consistency and repeatability is something that is not mentioned enough, but it can be a very important factor in regards to each individual photographer’s workflow.
This is not to say that no landscape shots can be captured handheld, but occasional nice landscape shots can rarely compare to well thought tripod shots, in my experience. Not having a tripod makes a lot of sense, if you value mobility and light load highly, and that’s a fine way of working too if that pleases you. Mostly those with hard feelings for tripods are more interested in wandering or hiking and taking pictures during that process is a bonus. Generally speaking, if photography is not your primary activity that gets you outdoors, then you probably won’t carry a tripod with you in the first place.
Similarities and differences
Broadly speaking and although not identical, both tripods have large diameter 4 section legs with spikes and fairly large ballheads. They both are made of high quality 3K carbon fiber material, they both use the twist locking mechanism for their tripod legs and the construction quality is equally exceptional. They both feature the same expansion holes on their bodies, so you will get the same functionality in this area. Both ballheads use Arca-Swiss plates and offer the innovative dual panorama feature. In terms of height the T1 Plus with the carbon fiber T-Bar center column, would match the height of the Sherpa Max, so if that is a concern for you, don’t worry as there is a tailor made solution for tall users. Lastly although not exactly a tripod spec, the listing prices are pretty close for both tripod, but more on that later.
When it comes to differences, the 2 tripods differentiate in some of their characteristics and some of them is a numbers game. All values below are mentioned to the T1 Plus first and to the Sherpa Max second. As mentioned above, both ballheads are fairly large, but the one is 44mm while the other is 36mm. Also the max leg tube diameters of each is 32mm vs 28mm. I would compare the weight and height 2 distinct configurations. The one without a center column would be 1,94kg and 1491mm vs 1,65kg and 1530mm (the T1 Plus with the T-Basic column and the Sherpa Max with the lower part of the center column removed). The other configuration, with the center columns installed, would be 2,07kg and 1791mm vs 1,715kg and 1750mm (the T1 Plus equipped with the T-Bar center column and the Sherpa max with its full length center column). The difference when it comes to their load bearing ability is 20kg vs 12 kg and their folded length is 636mm (with the T-Bar installed) vs 510mm. For your convenience all values mentioned above, might be easier to be read in a table form, so here they are.
|
T1 Plus |
Sherpa Max |
|
|
Ballhead diameter |
44mm |
36mm |
|
Maximum leg tube diameter |
32mm |
28mm |
|
Weight (no center column) |
1,94kg (T-Basic installed) |
1,65kg (short center column) |
|
Weight (with center column) |
2,07kg (T-Bar installed) |
1,715kg (full center column) |
|
Height (no center column) |
1491mm (T-Basic installed) |
1530mm (short center column) |
|
Height (with center column) |
1791mm (T-Bar installed) |
1750mm (full center column) |
|
Maximum load |
20kg |
12kg |
|
Folded length |
636mm (T-Bar installed) |
510mm |
After all those numbers let’s move to other physical differences, like the spikes on their feet. The T1 Plus features the plum style feet versus the traditional spikes of the Sherpa Max. There is also a difference in the locking mechanism of the angle of the legs, with the T1 Plus having a manual release mechanism, while the Sherpa Max has a spring loaded one. Let’s not forget that the T1 Plus has the ability to change the center column accessories while there is no such interchangeability to the Sherpa Max. The Sherpa Max has the unique ability to remove on of the legs and use it as a monopod, while the T1 Plus is not designed that way. On the TH-1M ballhead, you will find a screw plate release with an added push button safety, while on the Sherpa Max that feature is missing. Lastly when it comes to price I mentioned earlier, the T1 Plus is offered from 369$ to 389$ depending on the configuration. The Sherpa Max although listed at 349$, it is currently on discount at just 279$.
Athough I briefly mentioned some of the similarities and differences of the 2 tripods, make sure you read both detailed reviews on the T1 Plus and Sherpa Max, in order to get a better idea of each tripod in case you are interested in either of them as your next landscape tripod.
In use
At this point let me say that it’s another thing to read specs on paper and it’s another thing to actually use a product. So in this chapter I will describe things that cannot be measured in numbers. As I have written in the past, I do not have a problem carrying a bit heavier tripod, for having better pictures taken home. All I really aim for is stability, without meaning that I would opt for a 5kg tripod. As my type of work involves a lot of hiking and overnight camping, I do try to save some weight as long as this act doesn’t compromise the efficiency and trustworthiness of my gear. Luckily both the T1 Plus and the Sherpa Max are not only lightweight but super reliable also.
As mentioned above the T1 Plus comes in many different configurations that are mentioned in detail in the T1 Plus in depth review. I own the T-Track and the T-Stand accessories and I will compare it with the Sherpa Max using the T-Track, as it will allow me to have a hook and a not a center column. While the Sherpa Max has a center column, it is a 2-part one, so I will remove the lower part but still be able to have the weight hook. Those 2 setups are not identical, as the T-Track allows for tilting adjustments. If I owned the T-Bar carbon fiber center column for the T1 Plus, then we could have been talking about identical tripod setups.
When it comes to the load bearing ability of the tripods, both of them provide more that enough for my lightweight setups. Even when I have used a camera rigged up in a cage with accessories on the Sherpa Max, there has been no problem. Also using it with heavier full frame camera and glass there has been no issue. I suppose it would be well over the scope of use of those types of tripods to use cinema cameras, but this would be a case that I suppose it might be challenging for them.
I have been fortunate enough to have used the Sherpa Max in some very windy situations and have a very clear picture of its capabilities. A short video demonstrating this can be seen below. You have to remember that when you are outdoors, the elements dictate the way you have to use your equipment not the other way round. If it is windy and I want to get my shots, I will have to take action and adjust the tripod, by retracting the center column, adding weight to the tripod hook and even lowering it if I have to. By taking actions in order to make the tripod more wind resistant, you will manage to get sharp shots in very challenging conditions. If you don’t get them, it will most likely be due to poor decision making and it won’t be the tripod to blame.
When it comes to size and weight, although these are 2 different things, they are also intertwined. The folded size itself has rarely been a problem for me, as when folded it is meant to be transported or stored. I had never a problem neither when storing it, nor when transporting it in a vehicle. The limited times I have carried it in hand I didn’t walk long distances, but when strapped on my backpack I have walked for miles with it. The folded length has been great for that because on larger backpacks you need the extra length in order for it to be secured on the outside of the pack. I exclusively use trekking backpacks for my field trips and the side compression straps make the trick. Most medium to large backpacks have 2 straps on each side and thus the tripod can be secured nicely. If it was a short tripod it would be secured only to one strap, resulting to a hanging load, which is far from ideal when walking long distances. The weight has not been a problem even for multiday hikes and the 300gr difference between the T1 Plus and the Sherpa max, is not that big of a deal when the overall load is about 18kg. Being about 2% of the overall weight it is not a major deciding factor on which one of the 2 to bring along.
Although I was initially spoiled with the extended height of the Sherpa Max, I would say that as time passed, I had the tendency to extend the center column less and less times. At first I was placing the camera exactly at eye level, which is not bad of course. But little by little I transitioned to a lower height as it becomes clear that it does result to sharper shots and also because it is not unbearable to shoot with the camera a bit lower. Micro jitters exist, even if we are not able to see or sense them. With that previous experience with the Sherpa Max, I opted for the T-Track and the T-Stand accessories for the T1 Plus. Being 180cm (5” 11′) I can comfortably shoot without hurting my back in level ground. In special occasions like shooting downhill, the lower height doesn’t become a problem for me personally, as I mostly shoot sitting down anyway.
For getting those shots close to the ground, I mostly change the angle of the tripod feet. That way I do not mess up the overall legs length, I just lower the camera, but in a couple of seconds I can have the same exact height setup as before. For getting really low, with the Sherpa Max, I have to unscrew the lower part of the center column, but it is not much of a trouble. With the T1 Plus it is a bit easier to lower the camera especially with the T-Stand accessory, as you just release it and convert it to a tripod. Although I occasionally shoot the flora of the outdoors, this is not my most used case scenario, but rather getting the camera low for adding more foreground in my images. If those types of shots is not your distinct shooting style that you are always going for, you will be equally satisfied with either tripod.
Having spikes on the tripod feet is essential when shooting outdoors. Especially when you cannot be sure of either the surface material you will come along or the weather conditions. These could vary from gravel and boulders all the way to snow and ice, throughout dry and wet seasons. The Sherpa Max sports the traditional pointy spikes that most shooters are familiar with and they work great. The T1 Plus being a premium tripod member of the Fotopro Pantour family, sports the uniquely designed plum feet. These instead of having one point of contact with the ground, they have multiple, that perform even better than the spikes. If you think about it, a single point of contact, has to have adequate stiction in order to stay in its place. If all three spikes do, then it is great, but in case it is placed on a boulder with a slight incline, the spike could potentially slip if placed poorly. So in those cases when the ground is uneven, it is a trial and error process that takes a bit time to make sure that the tripod is securely deployed. With the plum feet, usually there are more points of contact and that helps to distribute the weight forces on the vertical, sagittal and frontal axes. In other words they makes easier the process of placing the tripod on the ground and gives you more confidence that it is secured with the first try.
There are 2 expansion holes on either tripod. I use them whenever I want to capture the camera on the tripod in video, add a light for flora shots, mount a sound recorder etc. The Sherpa Max has both threaded expansion holes on its body and they work great with the addition of magic arms, in order to place the qdded accessories exactly when I want them to be. The configuration of the T1 Plus is a bit different though, having the one hole on the body and the other one on the ballhead. I have used them in the same fashion as with the Sherpa Max, but in this case I could capture the camera I was using while shooting panoramas, with the camera in the frame throughout the process. Although I was panning my DSLM camera to shoot multiple frames, the action camera mounted, was constantly following that panning motion. This is something I didn’t know I wanted, until Fotopro generously offered me.
Having used the Sherpa Max, I had nothing but great experience with the FPS-62QS ballhead. It provided a strong grip and my camera was held firmly in place, something that could be noticed especially with longer lenses. There is no micro movement whatsoever, so I already had no complaints. Even having used heavier cameras on it, it didn’t fall short. The larger TH-1M of the T1-Plus exceeds the performance of the FPS-62QS obviously, but I don’t have a way to test it, as it would require a ridiculously large and heavy setup, which is something I do not own. Also the TH-1M has a locking feature on the plate release. On the Sherpa Max this is not a feature available, but I also had never had a problem with a loose camera. In that sense, this locking feature is nice to have, as another measure of minimizing the risk of damaging your equipment and for that I am grateful.
I do use the panorama feature of the ballhead and I use it a lot. Either the standard panorama or the dual panorama feature, depending on the time constraints. As stitching multiple images together will allow for a larger file to work with in post, whenever the conditions and the subject allows for it, I go for it. So instead of capturing a large vista with a wide angle lens, I deliberately choose to narrow my field of view down and put a little more effort for a larger resolution file and a more detailed image. Both tripods work identical when shooting panos, so there is no inconsistency whenever I use them side by side, something that always allowed me to have a stress free experience during my shoots.
I have heavily invested in monopod shooting in the past, mostly to prove myself if this is something that fits my workflow or not. So I can definitely conclude that my type of work cannot really benefit from using a monopod. As I cannot have my camera in the same place in order to take identical shots to use for exposure blending in the editing suite, it is not something that I can justify shooting with. In those cases, I absolutely need a tripod and there is no substitute for it. The nice thing is though, that for those who use a monopod along a tripod, the Sherpa Max integrates the former into the latter and that’s invaluable. So in that case you don’t have to bring along 2 pieces of gear for your shoots. I do value mobility, don’t get me wrong, but the way I see it, the essence of mobility is to move and use the camera in hand. The monopod for my landscape work feels like carrying a tripod anyway, despite the fact that I have to carry it on my backpack or at hand. I find that mostly wildlife photographers can benefit from monopod use and or at least a photographer that occasionally shoots wildlife.
Who is this for
After extensively using the Fotopro T1 Plus and the Sherpa Max, I can tell that both of them have excellent construction quality, they are reliable and fit my workflow perfectly. They both can handle my lightweight camera setup easily and the one I will choose comes down to a few different case scenarios. If I want to shoot video along photos, I will carry the T1 Plus as the T-Track saves me a tone of time thanks to its tilting ability. Also if I am heading outdoors, knowing the weather will be severely challenging, I will still choose the T1 Plus due to the heavier weight and larger legs diameter. On the contrary, if I want to go lighter on the overall weight on my back, I would choose the Sherpa Max, as I will get all the stability. Lastly in case of multiday field trips I would also choose the Sherpa Max in order to save a bit of weight and not wear myself down along the way.
So for other users I would recommend the Sherpa Max to anyone who wants a tripod that does it all and weighs less than 2kg. Also to anyone that primarily or exclusively shoots photos and doesn’t have a heavy camera setup or uses long lenses consistently. The T1 Plus is for sure more versatile due to the multiple configurations it can be bought and in case you don’t only shoot traditional landscapes photos, but also video or macro you will benefit from those configurations. Also it might be necessary for photographers with heavier camera setups. Medium format cameras, large aperture lenses, telephoto lenses and video setups, weigh more and will be better off with the larger TH-1M ballhead. The T-Track will serve better the video shooters and the T-Bar will fit taller shooters in order to avoid hunching their backs. Lastly the T-Stand will provide low shots without adjusting the tripod itself. All in all, the T1 Plus can be tailored towards the needs of each individual professional landscape shooter, as the Sherpa Max is a more traditional tripod, designed to serve most landscape photographers in most shooting scenarios.
Conclusion
Comparing the Fotopro T1 Plus with the Sherpa Max was a very interesting experience. Both of them are great and will satisfy landscape photographer no matter how demanding their needs are. Although similar, they do have differences that make each one of them, a better choice for different types of users. That’s a very important lesson to take away. What works for me, might not work for you and vice versa, so take whatever you read or watch online with a grain of salt.
Like any other piece of equipment, you will need to use a tripod thoroughly first and then conclude if it fits you and if it does, good for you. If not the search continues for the one that does. Remember though not to obsess over one or the other, as at the end of the day, tripods are just tools that are designed to make our life easier and the shooting experience more efficient. Thankfully towards that goal, Fotopro is an invaluable ally with its extensive product range.
For getting familiar with all of Fotopro’s products you can visit fotoprogear.com which is the official online shop with worldwide delivery. Take into consideration that currently the Sherpa Max and the other members of the Sherpa family are on sale with 20% discount. If you think it might be a good fit for your style of shooting you should check it out. Also you can get an additional 10% off, with my personal DDTEN discount code at checkout which is applicable to all products throughout the online store. For more ease you can click the affiliate links below and you will be transferred directly to each tripod’s respective webpage.