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Review of the Kirk TT-1 Mini Table Top Tripod

The Kirk TT-1 is an unusually solid table-top tripod rated for loads up to 100 pounds. And yet it's small and lightweight, easily fitting in a camera bag's pocket.

Kirk TT-1 Mini Table Top Tripod

Categories: Reviews, Travel Tripods
Tags: Kirk, Travel Photography
Last updated about 2 years ago // Originally published about 3 years ago

This is another review in my ongoing series on travel tripods. I'm including a small selection of table-top tripods as well. Most table-top tripods are lightweight and pretty flimsy. But there are a few that are much sturdier and are suitable for even larger DSLRs and mirrorless camera and lens combinations, and it's those that I'm focusing on.

The Kirk TT-1 is one of them. It's not very big and fits easily in a camera bag pocket, but it punches well above its weight in terms of load bearing capability. It's very solidly built, which you can feel the moment you pick it up.

Kirk TT-1 Mini Table Top Tripod

In terms of size, it looks pretty much like the kind of small, lightweight portable tripod you might use for a cell-phone, a GoPro, or other very small and lightweight camera.

But the Kirk TT-1 stands out because of its strength. It's incredibly sturdy for its size and is rated to support loads up to 100 lb (45kg). There aren't any frills--there isn't even any branding on it--and the whole thing is made of aluminum and stainless steel, with each of the legs a single piece of metal without joins, so there really aren't any weak points for things to go wrong.

Its legs are slightly staggered, so that when you rotate them around and line them up they close up into a compact shape that fits easily in a camera bag's pocket. It folds and unfolds very quickly and weighs only 9 oz (255 g). It doesn't extend, so it has a constant height of 4.4" (11 cm).

Kirk TT-1 Mini Table Top Tripod

There's a large knob at the bottom that locks (or loosens) the rotation of the legs, acting basically like a friction clamp on the legs to hold them in place.

Kirk TT-1 Mini Table Top Tripod

On the top is a standard 1/4"-20 stud.

Kirk TT-1 Mini Table Top Tripod

The maximum stability is when the center of gravity of the load is directly over the center column. But in practice that often isn't a practical option. When fully rotated and evenly spaced, the legs cover an area with a diameter of around 10 inches. That's a factor if you're using longer lenses or trying to control the center of gravity. If you shift the center of gravity out over one of the legs you can use small- and medium-sized DSLR lenses, but the larger the lens the more careful you're going to have to be in balancing the center of gravity. I'm confident using it with a large-ish DSLR like a Nikon D810 and a small lens, but am more hesitant with larger lenses. But I have tried it on a flat, stable surface like a table with a Nikon D810 and Nikon 80-400mm, mounting with the lens's collar mount, and it worked fine. Adding a the extra height of a head is also a consideration in balancing the center of gravity.

Its feet are small rubber buttons. They offer some grip, but because they only offer a small surface area, it's not as much as I'd prefer when using heavier loads.

Kirk TT-1 Mini Table Top Tripod

Adding a Tripod Head

You can, of course, attach a camera directly onto the tripod screw. But that's not going to give you any flexibility for angling the shot since it's in a fixed position.

To get more flexibility, you can add a small tripod head. But ideally it should be a small one in the mini ball-head categroy. The base on which it sits isn't very wide, so a larger head with a broad base isn't going to get a lot of grip.

The tripod has an embedded 1/4"-20 stud but doesn't come with 3/8"-16 thread adapter, so you'll need to pick one of those up separately if that's what your head attaches with.

Kirk TT-1 Mini Table Top Tripod

You can also attach a quick release plate directly, although that won't add any directional flexibility--just the convenience of attaching and detaching quickly.

What's in the Box

This one doesn't actually come in a box at all. In keeping with the no-frills approach, it's simply shrink-wrapped against a sheet of Kirk Enterprises-branded cardboard. There are no accessories, cases, or even instruction manuals--just the tripod itself.

Kirk TT-1 Mini Table Top Tripod

Specs

Height: 4.44" (11.3 cm)
Load Capacity: 100 lb (45 kg)
Thread Size: 1/4"-20
Weight: 9 oz (255 g)
Made in: United States

Quibbles

Overall, it's simple, rock-solid, and reliable. Kirk gear tends to be unusually well built, and the TT-1 is no exception. There's really not much to go wrong, and I have no complaints with the core functionality. But there are a couple of minor things where I can see some room for improvement.

One is that the base where you attach the camera or a tripod head would be broader and give more grip and stability. It's big enough to take a mini ballhead, bud most of the mini ballheads don't approach anywhere near the load-bearing limit of these legs, and the larger heads that can carry larger loads don't get as good a grip on the legs as they could.

The other is that the feel would be broader and give better grip on uneven or slick surfaces (like stone walls, etc). The existing rubber button feet aren't bad, but they don't offer as much surface-area contact as they could. Of course, the benefit of the slim feet it currently has comes when you fold it up and they don't overlap.

Compared To

 Gitzo Traveler Kit (Series 2)Gitzo GT1542TMeFOTO GlobetrotterManfrotto BeFreeInduro Grand Turismo CGT114Sirui T-2205XBenro GoTravel 2Benro C1682TV1 Travel Angel II3 Legged Thing Leo3 Legged Thing Brian3 Legged Thing Rick3 Legged Thing RogerOben CT-3581Sirui T-1024XLVaravon Baby T3Kirk MiniMeFOTO Globetrotter Air
Gitzo Traveler2Gitzo GT1542T Travel Tripodmefoto globetrottermanfrotto befreeinduro-grand-turismo-tripod
Sirui T2205X
benro_gc269tb2_gotravel_carbon_fiber_1146453benro travel angel tripod3-legged-thing-leo3 legged thing brian3 Legged Thing Rick3 legged thing rogeroben_ct_3581_be_126t_5_section_foldable_carbon_1398723641000_864571
Sirui T-1024XL travel tripod
Varavon Baby T3 Product Shot
Kirk TT-1 Mini Table Top Tripod
MeFOTO Globetrotter Air Tripod
ReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReviewReview
Model No.GK2580TQDGT1542TC2350Q2TMKBFRC4-BHCGT114T-2205XGC269TB2C1682TV13LLEOKITE3BRIAN3PKRICKE3ROGERBLCT-3581SUT1204XLBABY T3TT-1GTAIRBLK
Made ofCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiberAlloyCarbon fiberCarbon fiberAluminumAluminum/Stainless SteelAluminum Alloy
Leg Sections44544554 (also version with 5)555554315
Folded length16.9 in
43 cm
16.7 in
42.5 cm
16.1 in
41 cm
15.8 in
40 cm
17.3 in
44 cm
14.6 in
37 cm
16.5 in
42 cm
17.7 in
45 cm
13.75 in
34.8 cm
15.75 in
40 cm
12.6 in
32 cm
15.75 in
40 cm
16.9 in
42.9 cm
18.3 in
46.5 cm
10.8 in
27.5 cm
4.4 in
11.3 cm
16.7 in
42.5 cm
Weight4.19 lb
1.9 kg
2.2 lb
1 kg
3.7 lb
1.7 kg
2.4 lb
1.1 kg
3.5 lb
1.6 kg
2.6 lb
1.2 kg
4.1 lb
1.9 kg
3.5 lb
1.6 kg
3.2 lb
1.45 kg
4.1 lb
1.9 kg
2.7 lb
1.2 kg
4.5 lb
2 kg
3.9 lb
1.7 kg
2.2 lb
1 kg
1.8 lb
820 g
9 oz
255 g
3.2 lb
1.4 kg
Max height60.6 in
154 cm
58.7 in
149 cm
64.2 in
163 cm
56.7 in
144 cm
62.6 in
159 cm
56.9 in
145 cm
64.6 in
164 cm
63 in
160 cm
51.5 in
131 cm
76.4 in
194 cm
56.7 in
144 cm
68.6 in
174 cm
67.9 in
172.5 cm
63 in
160 cm
17.3 in
44 cm
4.4 in
11.3 cm
68.1 in
173 cm
Max load15.4 lb
7 kg
17.6 lb
8 kg
26.5 lb
12 kg
8.8 lb
4 kg
32 lb
14.5 kg
26.5 lb
12 kg
30.9 lb
14 kg
30.8 lb
14 kg
< 66 lb
< 30 kg
< 66 lb
< 29.9 kg
< 44 lb
< 20 kg
< 66 lb
< 29.9 kg
26.4 lb
12 kg
26.5 lb
12 kg
17.6 lb
8 kg
100 lb
45 kg
17.6 lb
8 kg
Available w/Head?YesNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes (not removable)NoYes (not removable)
Monopod?NoNoYesNoNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNoNo
List Price$1,099$750$399$350$490$415
$525$419$349.99$499$249$369
$349
$370
$150
$120
$225

Conclusion

If you're after an unusually sturdy tabletop tripod, this is well worth a try. It's simpler and smaller than something like the Varabon Baby T3 Mini Tripod but offers outsized stability. Another option that's very similar is Leica's Tabletop Tripod.

It's most useful when paired with a small ballhead, but you'll need to pick that up separately (and potentially a thread adapter as well). It's not well-suited to shooting on uneven surfaces and longer lenses might destabilize it, but in the right conditions it can be a very handy and reliable go-anywhere piece of kit.

Available From

The Kirk TT-1 Mini Table Top Tripod is available from B&H Photo with a manufacturer's list price of $119.95.

Categories: Reviews, Travel Tripods
Tags: Kirk, Travel Photography
Originally published about 3 years ago
Last updated about 2 years ago

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News & Deals

Some recent news and deals that have caught my eye.

New gear announcements: Nikon 24-70mm ƒ/2.8 for Z mirrorless system; Fujifilm X-T30 APS-C mirrorless camera; Canon EOS RP full-frame mirrorless camera. Nikon has announced a new 24-70mm ƒ/2.8 for their new full-frame mirrorless ecosystem. It’s priced at $2,2297 and available for pre-order now. Canon has announced a new entry-level full-frame mirrorless camera with a 26.2MP sensor and 4K video for a very competitive $1299 (body only) or $2200 with a 24-105mm lens. It’s available for pre-order now, with expected availability at the end of February.. And Fujifilm is releasing a stripped-down version of the X-T3 in a smaller and lighter package, which they’re calling the X-T30, priced at $899 (body only). Preorders for it open at noon on February 15 at B&H Photo.

$1400 off the LaCie 2TB Bolt 3 Thunderbolt 3 External SSD. With this special blowout deal, B&H has $1400 off the superfast external SSD drive with dual Thunderbolt 3 ports. It brings it down to a very attractive $599. Find it here.

$200 off the Nikon D850. For the first time the D850 is on sale, with $200 off at B&H, bringing it down to $3096.95 for the body. Includes SanDisk 64GB Extreme Pro SD card, a shoulder bag, and free expedited shipping. Find the deal here.

$100 off HERO7 Black or Fusion with new TradeUp deal. GoPro has launched a new trade up deal for the HERO7 Black and Fusion cameras where you get $100 by trading in any old GoPro or digital camera in any condition, whether it’s working or not. There are very few restrictions: the original retail price of the camera was at least $99.99 and the delivery has to be in the US. GoPro even covers the cost of shipping your old camera in as well as 2-day shipping with the new camera. The deal is only available on GoPro.com–you can find it here.

New Olympus OM-D E-M1X Rugged and Fast Micro Four Thirds Pro Camera. Olympus has announced their new OM-D E-M1X, a Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera that is weather sealed and fast, making it a very attractive option for wildlife, sports, and adventure travel photography. It’s not small–it has a built-in vertical grip that also gives extra battery space–but it looks like it’ll stand up well to the rigors of adventuring with a rugged body. It has a 20MP Micro Four Thirds sensor, Olympus’s latest image processing engine, built-in sensor stabilization, and a nifty-sounding autofocus system that recognizes more than faces. It looks like just the ticket for my next trip to Antarctica; stay tuned for my hands-on review. The body is $3000, and it’s available for preorder now at B&H Photo with expected availability on Feburary 25.

Sony a6400 Mirrorless Camera. Sony has announced the new Alpha a6400 mirrorless camera. It has a 24.2MP APS-C sensor and a raft new of new upgrades over the a6300 while still keeping the same form factor and general approach. There are three options: body only ($898), with a 16-50mm lens ($998), or with a 18-135mm lens ($1298). Now available for preorder at B&H Photo.

1TB SD cards are hitting the market. After some corporate tumult in recent years, Lexar is signaling its revival by launching the first consumer 1TB SD card. It’s rated for V30 and is in its long-standing 633x Lexar Professional range. You can pre-order from B&H for $399.99.

Nikon D750 body for $1297. Presumably clearing out stock to make way for a new model, the Nikon D750 is heavily discounted at $700 off, down to $1297. Also includes a spare battery, shoulder bag, and memory card. You can find it here.

FujiFilm X-T2 and X-T3 savings. There are some great savings to be had on the X-T2 and X-T3 at the moment. There are various bundles with different savings amounts, but as some examples, you can get the X-T2 body with hand grip kit for $1208 (which is $500 off), the X-T2+18-55mm lens kit for $1608 ($400 off), and $100 off the X-T3 body.

New firmware for FujiFilm X-T3. FujiFilm has released v.2.00 of the firmware for the X-T3. It adds some new video features, including: “the ability to record 4K HDR video in Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) format, bringing it up-to-date with the latest HDR technology. In addition, the X-T3 will be able to record Film Simulation and F-log footage simultaneously, and videographers will be able to record more than 4GB of footage in one shot. Further upgrades include the display of color temperature (kelvin) on the EVF and LCD, along with support for slower DCI 4K and 4K shutter speeds of 29.97p, 25p, 24p, and 23.98p.” You can find the new firmware here.

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Photos of a village in western Spain by Juan Manuel Castro Prieto. The New York Times Lens section features some beautiful large-format images by Juan Manuel Castro Prieto from his decades-long project to capture his ancestral village of Cespedosa in western Spain. You can see them here.

DJI Osmo Pocket Gimbal announced. This tiny, stabilized, 4K camera has some really interesting features, especially compared to something like the new GoPro HERO7 Black. Both shoot 4K60 stabilized footage, but while the HERO7 Black relies on electronic stabilization (which does, admittedly, work well in this case), the DJI uses a real gimbal that comes in the form of a built-in handle grip. The DJI offers higher bitrates of up to 100 Mb/s (compared to a max of 78Mb/s on the GoPro), and has various tracking modes. For stills, it can shoot both JPG and RAW (DNG) and also has time-lapse, motionlapse, nightshot, and panoramic modes. They’re priced at $349 and available now at B&H Photo. And stay tuned for my hands-on review.

Google Images now displaying Copyright and Credit status. When it’s available in IPTC. They’ve been doing something like this for large images for a while, but they’ve tweaked the system again.

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Ricoh GRIII in development. Ricoh’s GR series cameras have something of a cult following as small, high-quality cameras with a lot of options for control–a no-frills compact without some of the bells and whistles that can become distractions. I routinely put a GRII in my pack when I’m traveling. They’ve now finally (!) announced the new version, the GRIII. There’s much that sounds like it will share quite a lot of specs with the older model–an APS-C sized CMOS sensor, magnesium alloy body, a 28mm (equivalent) ƒ/2.8 lens. But the new model will have a redesigned lens, new sensor, and new imaging engine. It’s scheduled to be launched in early 2019.

New Nikon 500mm ƒ/5.6E VR lens. Smaller and lighter. Sports and wildlife photographers will appreciate the smaller size and lighter weight of this new super-telephoto prime from Nikon. The magic ingredient that allows for the smaller footprint is apparently that it uses a “Phase Fresnel element.” It’s designed for FX format, has an aperture range of ƒ/5.6 to ƒ/32, weighs a bit over 3 pounds, and has built-in VR. It’s available for pre-order here for $3600.

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Comments

  1. Dave says

    July 26, 2016 at 1:03 pm

    I've got a Minolta version of this, must be 30 years old and still going strong :)

    Reply

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About Me

I take photos. I travel. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between.

You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit.

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