ggibson
Well-known member
Right, you mostly have to trade off height/stability for folded size/weight. Sirui has a few models to try to suit everyone's preferences. There are similar carbon models T-1205X, or even taller T-2205X that allow you to adjust the center column but these don't pack quite as small or light as the T-025X. Then there is also the T-024X which is 4-section for stability, and is taller, but folded is 25% longer than the T-025X.Maximum height of the T-025X is really not useful. Though the maximum extendable height is about 147cm with the head, to me, at about 110cm it is reasonably stable. It would take me a while to get used to it. It feels very delicate. I suppose, that is a price one pays for the size and weight compromise.
Mine (here) comes with a 6 year warranty!
By the way, if you take the center column off of the T-025X, do the legs still close properly around the head? I know many say to remove the center column altogether on the T-025X to improve stability.
Another tripod with amazing specs on paper that I came across was the Velbon UT 43D II. It has a different leg lock design that lets it extend quite a bit higher than these other tripod designs while folding down to even smaller than the T-025X (29cm!). Some reviews say the locking and adjustment are a bit fiddly though, and to me it seems slightly less durable for outdoor use. The center column is also always partially extended like the T-025X, and the ball head that comes with it looks huge and not arca-swiss. There aren't nearly as many reviews online about this one, so I'd want to compare the quality in person.