ZoMei z818c tripod vs. MeFoto Globetrotter

Interested to know if anyone has used this tripod by ZoMei http://www.amazon.com ...=8-1&keywords=zomei+z818c

I was considering also the MeFoto globetrotter, http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …es_travel_tripo​d_kit.html but I like that the ZoMei is carbon fiber, legs are 3 sections, and 86% of the ratings for the ZoMei z818C are 5 star.


Just curious.

Though I have no experience with the ZoMei, it looks very similar in design to the MeFoto. The Globetrotter also has a carbon fiber variant and offers decent stability in the field. While they have their design differences, I think a question you'll need to ask yourself is what features are important that you are looking for in a tripod? With this guidance, the forum community will be able to provide a better answer your inquiry.

not to throw another spanner in the works but how about the 3LT range?

I bought the Zomei 818C tripod and I have been very pleased with it. Fit, finish and build quality are excellent. The padded bag it comes in is really well made and they even provide a velvet sock to cover the head when packed. I would not hesitate to buy another one if needed.

To answer MaxImage's post -- tripod would be used mainly for wildlife and nite shots. Gear is Canon 6D with one of the following: Sigma 100-300 f/4, Canon 70-300L or Sigma 24-105.

Hope this helps!

For wildlife and night shots either tripod should work. For argument's sake the following discussion involves the carbon fiber versions of both tripods. The max height on the two are very similar, with only about ½ inch separating the them--7/10ths to be exact--with the ZoMei version being the taller of the two. The max load also favors the ZoMei's 33 lb capacity vs the MeFoto's 26.4 lbs. However, I'm not sure if increased load translates to increased stability.

IMHO, as previously mentioned having had no experience with the ZoMei, I initially purchased a CF Globetrotter for travel purposes as I didn't want to take my Gitzos on overseas trips for security reasons, and I wouldn't care as much if a "cheaper" (read: less expensive but comparable in stability for run and gun/quick setup and take down shots) tripod got damaged or severely dirty (placed in streams, in mud, etc, with no immediate cleanup). At the time, ZoMei wasn't around and after going back and forth between the Roadtrip and the Globetrotter, I settled on the latter. Why? because I wanted a familiar design to the Gitzo, with the twist lock legs, CF for weight, and the increased robustness of larger diameter legs (to carry roughly 9 pounds worth of camera) vs the Roadtrip; which I was hoping would also translate into comparable stability to a Gitzo. The icing on the cake was a ball head similar in both design and operation to an Arca-Swiss, that would also accept Arca-Swiss style plates. After trialing the Globetrotter at home prior to travel, it was all that I had hoped for. The twist locks were smooth, the head worked great, the stability was acceptable and it was light enough, lighter even than a Gitzo Series 2 + head setup to pick up and go when travelling. Especially when travelling in a group or with other people that don't necessarily have the patience to wait while you setup and take down your equipment for transport.

After a few trips with the Globetrotter though, here's the reality: I sucked it up and purchased a Gitzo Series 2 traveler, GT2540T. [As a side note: I had a few different Gitzos in a wide range of sizes (for different purposes, in a shared collection that included a Series 1 traveler) at my disposal prior to purchasing the Globetrotter. This is merely to give situational background and to illustrate product familiarity and by no means to boast, as again, the collection was shared.] Sadly for my usage, the Globetrotter's list of shortcomings were longer than its strengths. It's strengths: stable enough for night shots and long exposure, lightweight for hauling long distances on foot, great stability in the included ballhead, compact in size as it too folds inverted, and included a nice carrying case for a bit of incognito effect when travelling (as opposed to just strapping the bare tripod to your camera bag). It's shortcomings: the twist locks were smooth, but required many more turns to let the legs down, which made it significantly more time consuming to setup/collapse while walking; while the stability was acceptable, it did wobble when the legs were fully extended and didn't give me the same peace of mind that the Gitzos do, even with a 25 lb bag being used as a counterweight. Gitzo really has something going in it's G-lock technology. Matter of factly, I truly tried to minimize the amount I used the last/most skinny leg section as a result, opting instead to raise the center column for a little extra reach when the situation warranted. The overall size and weight was still acceptable to me, and physically, there isn't much of a size difference between the GT2540T and the Globetrotter. Weight-wise, the Series 2 traveler does weigh more, but is much more robust in stability, leg diameter and build quality.

So is this a lesson of 'you get what you pay for'? Absolutely. At approximately one-third the price of a Gitzo traveler, and less than half the price of a comparable regular Gitzo (plus the cost of a ball head), the MeFoto was a good compromise between cost, features and stability. And it still is. But in the end, I wasn't satisfied with the amount of stability it offered compared to what I had already been accustomed to. Did my pictures suffer because of it? Not significantly, but the time it takes to stabilize the tripod for run and gun shooting during travel was too much. And to have to replicate that process each and every time I want to bracket shots, or do long exposure detracts from the travel experience itself.

With so much talk of Gitzos, what does this have to do with ZoMei vs MeFoto? The physical pictures of the ZoMei's size looks to be more on par with the physical size of the MeFoto Roadtrip rather than the Globetrotter, so if portability is an issue, the z818c/Roadtrip will be much easier to tote around than the Globetrotter. However, the decreased size of the ZoMei might prove to be less stable than the Globetrotter should you need full extension (sans center column) of the tripod. So for the night shots, especially if you plan to do bracketed shots and then composite them in Photoshop, the extra stability might go a long way in making better pictures. If budget is a concern, then by all means, go with what you can afford, even if it means the need to upgrade later as funds allow. Technique is just as, if not more important than the tools. If you read these, or any photography forum for that matter, there'll often be posts on tripods about buying one and done. Because in the long run it'll cost you less to buy one good tripod vs a few inferior ones, only to purchase the good one last. In the above case, that was definitely true but everyone should also live within their means. In your case, a more economical tripod may allow you to purchase other components necessary to use the tripod (i.e camera/lens plates, remote shutter), while keeping in mind that should your wildlife passion grow as your technique grows, you might be inclined to purchase longer, more expensive lenses. If this were the case, would you be willing to invest in another tripod if/when that time comes? Or would you rather buy one tripod that you can use for a very long time and that can accommodate most lenses you thrown on it? Just some food for thought.

Do some research on the specs of both the ZoMei and the MeFoto, always keeping in mind that specs don't always translate into increased stability. I didn't have the luxury of trying out different models, but if you do, you should give the two models a whirl. Only this way will you be able to experience what works and what doesn't work for your particular situation, and even then what works may not work the way you want it to in actual practice.

I'm curious about your final choice of tripod was and how you rate it for your needs. Can you provide some information to someone now in your former shoes? Thanks!

I too was looking for a Travel Tripod to take to Europe five years ago for a trip to Paris and Dublin. As my local shop just took in a big order from MeFOTO we decided to put it through the test.
It would need to hold a Gripped 5D Mark III with a 70-200 f/2.8 L IS Mark II or 100-400 L IS at 400mm.
I figured we would start at the top. Globetrotter CF.
Small, light and compact in its own carry case. Nice.
Opened the unit up attached the camera with lens in place. A little push on the top and this tripod did what it is supposed to do, in a nice small light format......SOLD!
Since then it has been back to Europe a dozen times plus domestic travel still supporting as strong on the first day.
Does it replace my go to work horse tripods I work with here? No.
Does it allow me to travel oversees with a tripod stuffed in the suitcase or carried on and I can carry for extended periods of time, it certainly does.
As far as the other tripod listed above goes, I have not seen one or heard of it before. However the track record for my Globetrotter CF would certainly make me recommend the MeFOTO Globetrotter CF.

Might want to give this a look, too:

https://www.amazon.com …sc=0&ref_=lv_ov​_lig_dp_it

Since I just purchased a Gitzo tripod for home base use, I have this on my wishlist should the need arise for travel purposes. Seems as good as Gitzo except the high equivalent price tag.

Thanks, guys. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge. I had received the Zomei 818c and it's a pretty good tripod-good build quality & features. It just seemed a little flimsy to me. I'll be hiking in to shoot long exposures and bracketed shots and didn't want to risk soft images. I just received the LS-284c and am stoked! Nice and sturdy, looks like a RRS, quality wise, has a great ballhead, etc. I am jazzed! I've gotta call Amazon and invoke their liberal return policy. I think you'll be happy with it, Sys!

tsamarin wrote in post #18592723
Thanks, guys. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge. I had received the Zomei 818c and it's a pretty good tripod-good build quality & features. It just seemed a little flimsy to me. I'll be hiking in to shoot long exposures and bracketed shots and didn't want to risk soft images. I just received the LS-284c and am stoked! Nice and sturdy, looks like a RRS, quality wise, has a great ballhead, etc. I am jazzed! I've gotta call Amazon and invoke their liberal return policy. I think you'll be happy with it, Sys!

Hmmm... so you ordered the LS-284c even before my suggestion?

Yes, just got it today. It was recommended by Pete in this post: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1492886. It really is nice!

^ Yes here it is in action in the Berkshires yesterday. The LS-284C is a RRS TFC-14 copy that has replaced a Benro traveler that I've used for 8 years. So far so good, the hardware is CNC machined 7075 aluminum and the carbon fiber is 10X Toray. It's pretty solid for my equipment which is light in weight.