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Varavon Baby T3 Mini Tripod

The Varavon Baby T3 Mini Tripod is short, but that small stature comes with its virtues as a travel tripod.

Varavon Baby T3 Tripod Label

Categories: Reviews, Travel Tripods

Last updated about 7 months ago // Originally published about 5 years ago

The Varavon Baby T3 tripod is a lot shorter than most of the travel tripods I’ve reviewed so far. In fact, even fully extended, it’s barely going to get to knee level, let alone eye level. It’s more of a tabletop tripod, really, but that doesn’t mean that it’s only good for the studio.

Its short stature has its virtues as a travel tripod. It means that the whole package is small–easy to pack and each to lug around. It also means that the package remains very sturdy throughout its range, with the center of gravity close to the ground. Fully extended, it’s much more rigid than more traditional travel tripods fully extended.

It does, of course, also mean that you’ll have to get creative about angles and perspectives. You might need to find a ledge nearby, or you might need to incorporate a low perspective into the composition. Because there’s no way you’re going to be shooting over the top of very much at all without some help.

Varavon Baby T3 Tripod with DSLR

Legs

The Varavon Baby T3 is rated for a maximum payload of 17.6 pounds, and even fully extended, it remains remarkably solid, with none of the noticeable flexing you get in the legs of many other lightweight tripods. One thing to bear in mind, though, is that in its regular tripod stance, the base area isn’t very large, so you won’t want to be putting heavy, long lenses on this–or at least not ones that aren’t well balanced. The tipping point is going to be much closer in. One way around this is to splay the legs wide, although it means you’re going to be shooting next to the ground.

The legs are in three sections. The locking mechanisms are rotating locks. They work smoothly and lock tight.

Varavon Baby T3 Tripod Extension Locking Mechanism

Varavon Baby T3 Tripod Folded

At the top of the legs are step locks that let you lock the legs in place at various angles ranging from a typical tripod stance to splayed wide to be nearly flat with the ground.

Varavon Baby T3 Tripod Ratchet Locking Mechanism

Varavon Baby T3 Tripod Top of Legs

The rubber feet screw off, so you can replace them with spikes or whatever other base contraption you whip up in the workshop.

Head

The head is a simple ball head style. It’s fused to the legs with no way to remove it and replace it with your own. The locking mechanism is a single lever knob on the side, and it’s flimsier than I’d like. On top of the plate is a spirit level.

Varavon Baby T3 Tripod Ball Head Locking Lever

You can actually remove the plate, although it’s not clear what purpose that serves. You’re probably not going to be able to switch it out for a third-party quick-release plate because of the ridged attachment system they’ve used. So any plate with a traditional flat surface isn’t going to get a secure grip.

Varavon Baby T3 Tripod Plate

Tech Specs

Weight: 1.8 lbs / 820 g
Folded Length: 10.8 inches / 27.5 cm
Maximum Extended Height: 17.3 inches / 44 cm
Minimum Height Off the Ground: 3.5 inches / 9cm
Maximum Payload: 17.6 lbs / 8 kg
Made Of: Aluminum Alloy
Made In: China

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
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

Wrap Up

The package is small and light. And it feels remarkably substantial despite its size–not flimsy at all. Some tabletop tripods are scaled-down in strength as well as the height and can end up quite flimsy. This one is more like a sawn-off version of a regular tripod, and it benefits from that extra sturdiness.

Assuming its short stature is a virtue in your eyes, my biggest complaint about this tripod is the head. The ball head is only so-so at best. You can’t remove it to replace it with something better. And while it’s possible to add a quick-release plate, it’s still a somewhat cobbled-together solution because you’re piling one plate on top of another.

It’s a shame, because if Varavon were to put out a model that’s legs-only on which you add your own tripod head, it would make for a very attractive option for me. And if they did that as well as made it out of carbon, they’d be on to a real winner.

But if you’re not planning on using quick release plates and are looking for something very small to pack and are willing to be creative about shooting perspectives, this is an interesting option to consider adding to your pack.

Available At

It’s available from B&H Photo and Amazon.

By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on June 5, 2020

Categories: Reviews, Travel Tripods

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News & Deals

With the holidays fast approaching, there’s some great deals on photography gear and services available. I’ve put together a roundup of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 Photography Deals. It’s a running list as new deals are announced, so be sure to check back.

Canon announces new EOS Rebel T8i DSLR. Canon has announced their new T8i DSLR. 24MP APS-C cropped CMOS sensor, 4K24 video, and updated image processing and detection systems. It’s available for preorder from B&H Photo.

New Firmware for the Ricoh GR III. Ricoh has release firmware v1.31 for the GR III. Release notes are: “Corrected — When shooting with the multiple exposure, in rare cases the live view may not display correctly. Improved stability for general performance.” You can download it here.

New Canon 1D X Mark III Pro DSLR Announced. Canon has announced their new flagship model of pro DSLR, the 1D X Mark III. They’re sticking with a 20.1MP CMOS sensor, but it’s a new and improved version and boasts an incredible native ISO range of ISO 100 to ISO 102400 and an extended range that goes up to a jaw-dropping ISO 819200. With revamped autofocus, a new image processor, and all sorts of other bells and whistles, it’s no wonder that Canon is billing it as “The Ultimate EOS.”

New Manfrotto Pro Rugged Memory Cards. Manfrotto, an Italian probably best known for their tripods and studio accessories, has launched a new Pro Rugged range of high-end SD, microSD, and CompactFlash cards. While they don’t have a huge selection of sizes and speeds, the cards are aiming for very fast cards that can put up with rugged demands. For instance, they claim that their V90 rated SD cards can withstand three times the force (20kg / 45 lbs) of a regular SD card. I’ve ordered some to run through my speed tests.

New Sony Alpha a7 firmware released. A firmware update for the Sony a7R IV now lets you control external Sony flashes from the camera’s own menu system. Up to 15 flashes in five groups can be controlled via the camera. It also applies to the a7R III and a7 III.

Comments

  1. Steve says

    October 23, 2016 at 12:11 am

    How do you remove the plate? I’d love to get a quick release on mine.

    Reply

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