MeFoto GlobeTrotter Travel Tripod – Hands-on Review

MeFOTO’s GlobeTrotter is the largest in MeFOTO’s family of tripods and is designed to hold larger DSLR bodies. It comes in carbon fiber and aluminum versions. I tested the carbon fiber version.

It’s a compact travel tripod with the legs extending in five sections. It folds down to an impressive minimum length of 16.1 inches and weighs 3.7 lbs with a maximum load capacity of 26.5 lbs. MeFOTO claims that it will hold up to a 70-200 f/4 lens steady, but that of course depends a lot on conditions.

I was pleasantly surprised with my first impressions. It feels solid and well-made. I’ve not used MeFOTO products before, and the price point suggests cheap. But this is an excellent example of where cheap is not the same as inexpensive. It feels solid.

Legs

The locking mechanism employs twist locks with rubberized grips. They don’t feel as refined as some of the more expensive competitors like the Gitzos, but they do what they’re supposed to do. The shafts of the legs are carbon fiber, with the joints aluminum. One leg has foam padding (very handy when it’s very cold). In general, these types of locking mechanisms do pretty well at keeping dirt and dust out that might interfere with the lock, but they’re not perfect.

When folding the legs out, the legs move freely with an appropriate amount of resistance. I found the locking mechanism to be a bit unusual. Rather than a spring-loaded lock when the leg angle gets to the locking point, you have to manually push the lock in. To unlock, you pull it out again. It seems to work well enough, although I prefer the spring-loaded version used on the Gitzos. When you’re focusing on the scene you’re shooting rather than the tripod itself (or it’s just dark), it would be fairly easy to not push the lock in far enough to actually lock. The lock is also stiff enough that it’s not as easy as it could be to unlock and fold a leg with one hand. But it’s a relatively minor issue and is presumably one of the areas that explain the lower price bracket.

There are two options for choosing an angle to lock the legs at. One is a pretty standard angle of about 30 degrees or so. But the other is a much larger angle (eyeballing it, I’d say it’s around 60 degrees or so) that creates a much wider stance. If you’re shooting low to the ground, it’s an very good option for adding extra stability thanks to the broader base.

And if it’s important that you get even lower to the ground–for shooting wildflowers, for example, or just getting a low perspective for a landscape–you can buy a separate short column as an accessory that allows you replace the standard center column that brings the minimum operating height down to 13 inches off the ground. Available here

The feet screw out to extend up to an extra half inch or come out completely if you want to replace the standard rubber feet with steel spikes (included).

There’s also a center-column hook that you can use to hang weights or bags to add some stability, particularly in breezy conditions.

Head

The kit comes with the MeFOTO Q2 ballhead, which uses an Arca-Swiss style quick release plate (a quick release plate is included). The head also has a built-in bubble level, although if you’re using the bubble level, you’ll need to align it before you slide the camera in because the camera will obscure the level when it’s on the head.

The locking mechanisms use pretty standard rotary dials. There are three dials–one for lateral rotation and two for locking the ball. It’s probably one more dial than is really necessary, but the extra dial does give you slightly more fine-tuning control.

Rubberized grips on the dials are a nice touch. The lateral rotation is smooth and locks tight. The ballhead itself is not the smoothst I’ve seen, but it works well enough and locks tight.

As a Monopod

One of the legs has foam cushioning. That leg unscrews from the main hinges. You then unscrew the weight hook from the center column, and the center column will slide out. You then screw the leg directly into the center column to create a monopod.

It’s a very handy feature, although it’s not necessarily a replacement if you rely on a compact travel monopod, simply because when used as a monopod, it’s still fairly tall with a minimum length a shade under 30 inches. That’s not going to fit in a bag easily while assembled. You also end up with the slightly odd situation of the foam grip being well below the camera, which is not the ideal place for it in use.

But it is nevertheless a clever design that creates a feature that is well worth factoring in when you’re deciding which tripod to buy.

Carbon Fiber vs Aluminum

The MeFOTO GlobeTrotter comes in two flavors: carbon fiber and aluminum. I used the carbon fiber. The difference comes down mainly to weight and price. The carbon version weights 3.7 lbs, whereas the aluminum version comes in at 4.6 lbs. But you pay a premium for losing that 0.9 of a pound: $209 for the aluminum version compared to $369 for the carbon fiber version. Carbon tripods also tend to be stiffer, with the aluminum naturally having a bit more flex in it.

Case

It comes with a very good sling-style case that is sturdy enough that I would feel comfortable checking it in as checked luggage on a flight if I really had to (though, having had tripods damaged in checked luggage before, I try not to do it unless there’s no choice). The case fits snuggly and is convenient for carrying around. There are no external pockets, and you can’t really fit anything substantial in there in addition to the tripod (like a lightweight pano head, for example). While it’s not as nicely made as something like the Really Right Stuff tripod bags, it’s hard to quibble with it when it’s already included.

Options

Color Trims

This is the first tripods I’ve seen that comes with a large variety of color trims: blue, red, green, titanium, and black. The colors apply to the hinges, the head, and aluminum rings of the locking mechanisms. It’s a bit of a gimmick, but I can also see some practical uses for distinguishing your tripod from others quickly if you’re traveling with a group of photographers or if you have multiple tripods set up differently.

Wrap-Up

Color me impressed. There are some finer points that are less refined than on some of the more established (and more expensive) tripods like the Gitzo travel tripod series. But the MeFOTO GlobeTrotter performs well and has some really nice touches such as the included travel case and ability to convert to a monopod.

But the killer feature is its price point, which at about 1/3 of some of its direct competitors. That’s hard to argue with and makes it hard to find fault with this tripod. Only time will tell whether its leg extension locks last as long without loosening or a cheaper quality carbon fiber weakens more quickly. But the reality is that you can still buy another two replacements and still come out at about the same price as some of its more refined competitors.

Specs

Model Number: MeFOTO C2350Q2T
Max Height Monopod: 66.9 inches (170 cm)
Max Height Tripod: 64.2 inches (163 cm)
Min length folded: 16.1 inches (41 cm)
Weight: 3.7 lbs (1.7 kg)
Max Load: 26.5 lbs (12 kg)
Warranty: 5 years (3 years when you buy + 2 years when you register)
Instruction Manual
Travel Case Included?: Yes
Options: Aluminum & Carbon / color trims
Made in China

Price & Availability

Check the current price and availability at:

• B&H Photo
• Amazon

Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2023-03-29 at 11:19. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.