Leofoto’s MT-04 Mini tripod: Best among tabletop tripods?

When even a compact tripod is too large, photographers don’t have many options for supporting their gear outside of a tabletop tripod. In that narrow market, the offering may seem gimmicky or cheap. In contrast, Leofoto’s MT-04 brings its CNC-machined aluminum build quality and feature-rich ball head to the smallest overall tripod package I’ve tried.

In this review, I will test Leofoto’s MT-04 PackageWhich combines the MT-04 legs with the LH-30 ballhead. have legs too automatically availableHowever finding a matching ball head for size would be so difficult that I wouldn’t recommend it (even though the 3/8″-16 mounting screw above the legs allows any standard head to be used).

I have some other tabletop tripods, like Manfrotto’s PixieBut these are actually best suited for holding compact cameras, phones or small fill lights rather than full-blown camera setups. In contrast, the MT-04 supports loads up to 11 pounds, while the LH-30 is capable of lifting up to 33 pounds.

In addition to the advantage of pure weight capacity, the MT-04 Combo differs from other mini tripods with its leg design, plate compatibility and use of materials.

Starting with the legs, the MT-04 uses an interesting folding design. The first “tier” of the legs is a comparatively thick U-shaped piece of 6061 aluminum, which has been machined and anodized. In hand, it feels reassuringly sturdy. The legs end in a round, hard rubber bumper, which helps prevent scratches on surfaces and provides some grip in the “spider” mode I’ll cover later.

Positioned at this first level, the tripod feels incredibly sturdy for its size. I’m also confident using smaller telephoto lenses on this setup (though keep an eye on your center of gravity to avoid tipping). As you extend the legs, you fold the internal sections, increasing the height of the tripod plate (except the head) from 5.7 inches/145 mm, to 8.8 inches/225 mm, and finally to 11.4 inches/290 mm.

At full extension, these end sections are quite thin but still solid aluminum. The wider spread results in the tripod feeling more stable in terms of lateral movement and tip resistance, although it can make it more sensitive to high-frequency vibrations.

The legs require a strong level of pressure to open and close, and it feels good right out of the box. This being a friction-based mechanism, I could see these loosening up with significant use, but since Leofoto used screws instead of rivets, it wouldn’t be difficult to tighten them back down (or change the drag in either direction). Only one Allen key will be required.

If you’re looking for a tabletop tripod for applications like product or macro photography, head down is arguably more important than height. Here, the MT-04 also offers the ideal “regular tripod” experience with machined angle stops for three different points. Using the silver button on the top of each leg, you can choose between 35, 55, and 85 degrees, each with a solid click to indicate activation. At the lowest angle, the tripod head plate is less than an inch off the surface, providing a really solid base. The middle detent ends about 3.8 inches above the surface and seems like a great compromise between avoiding the table in your foreground and maintaining excellent stability.

For the ultimate trick, the MT-04 has a “Spider Mode” where the individual leg parts can be rotated around objects like railings, halfway between a regular solid-legged tripod and a flexible tripod like the GorillaPod. Bridges the gap of. This is an interesting way to fixate on something like the railing or glass tourist wall that has become very common. It also seems like it would bother a lot less people in terms of safety than propping up a full-sized tripod in an area with no tripod. However, with the feet gripped by friction, I would be cautious with some of the setups in the Leofoto demo, and I certainly wouldn’t walk away from my kit while shooting.

For macro photographers or videographers, the legs themselves come with 1/4″-20 threaded accessory holes. Using a magic arm, you can add lights, a microphone, or even a monitor, allowing These legs become usable as a pro-grade selfie stick. These holes extend to the first two parts of the legs and also contribute to the weight reduction, with the legs weighing only 1.4 pounds/630 grams. Would Is.

The Paired LH-30 Ball Head is a simple ball head that is well made. Unlike many smaller ball heads, it can be paired with lenses like the 70-200mm due to its 33-pound payload. A large, well-machined knob controls the locking tension, while another smaller knob enables panning 360 degrees. The base has laser-engraved marks to keep track of panning, while a single drop-notch enables shooting at extreme angles or vertical compositions without the L-plate. The clamping plate area accepts Arca-Swiss plates and supporting anti-slide screws, while the included plate has a thumbscrew and rubber anti-rotation strips. It also has a small leveling bubble.

Overall, the combo works perfectly even on heavier combos like a 24-70mm f/2.8 or 70-200mm lens, while still being small enough to fit into a lens slot in a backpack, especially if you plan on using head and Let’s separate the legs. The spider-leg design is an interesting approach to the mini-tripod trilemma of height, flexibility, and stability. This provides far more stability than the plastic and ball-joints of a GorillaPod or plastic tripod, while still having more flexibility than one piece leg Some others were seen on micro-tripods. My only real complaint is relatively minor: the tripod doesn’t have a grub/set screw to retain the tripod head in place, which can be addressed via some blue Loctite if you don’t mind moving the head around frequently.

what i liked

1. high build quality:CNC-machined 6061 aluminum provides durability and premium feel.
2. high load capacity: The legs support up to 11 pounds, and the LH-30 ball head supports up to 33 pounds, making it suitable for full-frame cameras with telephoto lenses.
3. compact and lightweight:Weighs only 1.4 pounds/630 grams and is small enough to fit into a backpack lens slot.
4. flexible leg design,
   • Folding legs offer height options (5.7 inches to 11.4 inches).
   • “Spider Mode” allows the legs to grab onto objects like railings, adding versatility.
5. multiple leg angle: Three angle stops (35°, 55° and 85°) for various shooting scenarios including low-to-the-ground photography.
6. mounting accessories: Multiple 1/4″-20 threaded holes for adding lights, microphones or monitors.
7. Ball Head Features,
   • Supports heavier lenses like 70-200mm.
   • Arca-Swiss compatibility with anti-slide screws.
   • A drop-notch for 360° panning and vertical compositions.
   • A leveling bubble is included for precise setup.
8. Stability:Wide leg spread and strong material provide excellent lateral stability.
9. great value: At $135 (marked down), it’s priced competitively compared to similar premium tabletop tripods.
10. user serviceability:Screws allow the friction legs to be tightened or adjusted, increasing the lifespan of the tripod.

what i didn’t like

1. thin extended legs: The parts of the last foot are thinner, potentially making them more sensitive to vibration.
2. no head retention screw: Lacks a grub/set screw to securely lock the ball head, requiring additional measures such as Loctite when frequently changing heads.
3. friction-based foot mechanism: May loosen over time with significant use, although it is adjustable.
4. limited rail or object hold: In “Spider Mode”, friction-only leg retention may limit stability on some objects, requiring caution with heavy setups.
5. high price range: While offering excellent value, this is on the higher end of the mini tripod, which won’t appeal to ordinary users.

At the time of writing, The MT-04 combo was marked at around $135Although it’s on the higher end of a tabletop or mini tripod, it’s so far ahead of many of those models in terms of payload and build quality that they can’t really be cross-shopped. Instead, I would suggest comparing to a tabletop tripod made specifically for mirrorless or DSLR cameras RRS Pocket Pod at $150 just for the feet, or Robus RCTT-200Compared to those models, I think the MT-04 Combo is a very strong value, offering some innovative features and excellent usability with full-size cameras and lenses.