K&F Concept MS05 Tripod Review

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Technical Details

Dimensions

‎20.8 cm x 5.8 cm x 3.9 cm

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Weight

208g

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Main Materials

Aluminium Alloy

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Max Height

15.6cm

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Max Weight

20kg

Unsure which Tripod is right for you?

Best for Packability

Purchase a Ulanzi MT-14

Read the review

Best for Professionals

Purchase a K&F Carbon Fibre Tripod

Read the review

Best for Tabletops

Purchase a K&F MS05 Tripod

Read the review

I love a tripod, they are such a versatile accessory, and they are essential to every photographer. I always try to take with me on every photoshoot I can, and I never leave on a trip without one in some form.

Although I have a big main tripod (the K&F Concept Carbon Fibre Tripod), this isn’t always appropriate to bring. So mini-travel tripods have become my go-to. Their lack of height can be overcome if you decide to get creative. Finding props to raise them up or even use the closeness to the ground to make a subject seem taller.

Taking it out of the packaging it looks like a great little tripod. It’s small and robust, and I’d be confident it can support its 20kg weight claim. I like the metal material, it still keeps the tripod lightweight but it gives more confidence than plastic. It’s a similar size to the Ulanzi MT-14 at max height, but doesn’t pack down as small.

The model I am testing is the largest, with a maximum height of 15.6cm. There is a slightly smaller version which has a maximum height of 10.5. That’s a pretty tiny height but these are designed for tabletops. If you take into account the height of the camera when propping it on some rocks or on a tabletop then it’s a lot more usable, of course, this is reliant on there being a flat surface nearby.

Setting up is really easy, and requires no adjusting at all. Just pull the legs apart and push back together. If you want to get the camera even lower there are small clips you just push up and it allows you to get as low as 5.6cm from the ground, letting you get a low shot with a bit of protection.

Because of its metal construction, this mini-tripod can easily support up to 20kg. Perfect if you are using a big heavy lens for wildlife photography. This maximum weight the tripods can support is the same regardless of which version you buy, the 20cm or the 13cm. I think that’s pretty impressive given the size and how quickly the camera body weight and the lenses can stack up, especially when shooting subjects from further away.

I didn’t realise this when I purchased the MS05 tripod but it does come packed with a few additional accessories. Included in the box is a phone mount and a Bluetooth remote shutter. The shutter paired really quickly and easily but my camera, the Sony A6000, is too old to support a Bluetooth remote. 

As a table-top tripod, the MS05 is great, but for a a little bit more bulk and the same amount of money I think you can get something a lot more practical. They may not be metal, but you can get a tripod that extends. Which would be more suitable if you use your phone to shoot. Of course, there are compromises and trade-offs with every tripod and no “perfect” one. But for my purposes this tripod is only really useful if you are shooting close to the ground or actually using it on a table-top.

K&F Concept products are really budget-friendly though. So if you are unsure how useful a short tripod will be, or if it will get much use, they are great products to test the waters.