Sirui T-005 tripod review

A rather cunning plan comes together well in this off-beat tripod design from Sirui

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Sirui T-005
(Image: © Sirui)

Digital Camera World Verdict

For a compact carbon tripod, this Benro is impeccably finished but comes up short in max operating height - but it offers a lot for the money

Pros

  • +

    Very small when folded away

  • +

    The twist clamps for the five-section legs have slick action

  • +

    Bubble level

  • +

    Allows low shooting height

Cons

  • -

    Maximum height is not that great

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Just when current travel tripods designs were starting to look pretty similar, Sirui bucked the trend with its T-005. Naturally it still has three legs and they swing up dutifully for stowage. However, considering that the maximum operating height is relatively limited in small tripods, Sirui has taken the step of giving the centre column a minimum length that’s no shorter than the height at which the feet wrap around the head. It therefore can’t drop down into the tripod spider, but you can still make it longer, thanks to its two-section extending build. This enables a decent maximum operating height of 141cm, despite the kit having the joint shortest folded height on test, of 32cm.

Specifications

Sirui T-005 travel tripod with B-00 ball head

A bubble level on the tripod spider helps keep it all level, and there is a carabiner is supplied for easily attaching a ballast to the bottom of the center column. (Image credit: Future)

Construction material Aluminum

Alternative material
None

Weight 1.1kg

Folded height 32cm

Max, min operating height  141cm, 8cm (w/o column)

Sections per leg/center column 5/2 sections

Leg section diameters 22, 19, 16, 13, 10mm

Max monopod height
N/A

Load rating 5kg

Ball head Sirui B-00

Quick-release plate
Arca-Swiss type

Head adjustments
Lock, pan

Handling

The ball head has a top 5kg load rating and takes the universal Arca-Swiss type quick release plate (Image credit: Sirui)

Despite the non-adjustable lower section of the center column, the minimum operating height is still low at 36.5cm, with the three-angle legs splayed to their widest angle. If that’s not low enough, you can remove the center column completely and screw the ball head directly to the tripod spider. This enables the shortest regular-orientation shooting height of any tripod in the group, at just 8cm, although the design precludes inverting the column for ground-level shooting. There’s also no facility to use the Sirui as a monopod.

You can’t lower the height of the center column, but it can be raised thanks to an extending inner section. (Image credit: Sirui)

Performance

(Image credit: Future)

Rigidity is pretty good for such an ultra-compact, lightweight tripod. Extension of the five-section legs is smooth and the twist clips require minimal turning to loosen or tighten. Despite the ball head being similarly small, it’s nice and steady and features a panning lock but, typical for heads with a modest load rating, there’s no friction damping adjustment.

See other options in our best budget tripods and best travel tripod guides

Matthew Richards
Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 

His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 

In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.