Cheaper AND Lighter - Ulanzi Zero F38 Tripod Review

In classic Ulanzi fashion, they've come out with a highly competitive photography product. In not so classic fashion, and for the first time, it's a High End product: a carbon fibre travel tripod, at less than half the price of their direct competition, the carbon fibre Peak Design Travel Tripod. So how does it hold up? Well, I wanted to be sure, so I took this out in the field for days and weeks to make sure it really got put through its paces. Let's find out how it went!
If you want to pick one up:
Ulanzi-Coman Zero F38 (with small quick release plate):
Amazon US: amzn.to/3FgMvae (not always available here)
Ulanzi: www.ulanzi.com/products/ulanz...
Aliexpress: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DEH...
Ulanzi-Coman Zero Y (with an Arca Swiss head):
Amazon CA: amzn.to/3AVld6o
Ulanzi: www.ulanzi.com/products/ulanz...
Aliexpress: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Ddz...
The super cheap Neewer Carbon Fiber Tripod, which has somehow lasted me for 6 years:
Amazon US: amzn.to/3VjV4ql
Amazon CA: amzn.to/3UjxI2G
Manfrotto BeFree Advanced Carbon:
Amazon US: amzn.to/3VFoGOx
Amazon CA: amzn.to/3AY2h7e
Adorama: adorama.rfvk.net/zaEWjm
My merch store: www.wesperryphotography.com/c...
A few of my favourite things:
www.amazon.com/shop/influence...
Shot on a Sony a7iv in 4K30 10-bit 4:2:2 Slog 3
Camera Canada kit: shrsl.com/3c0b6
Camera Canada Body Only: shrsl.com/3eq87
Amazon US: amzn.to/3G8yB7T
Adorama: adorama.rfvk.net/P0AyAq
With the 35 1.4 GM:
Amazon US: amzn.to/3oV0SqM
Amazon CA: amzn.to/3hTYvTG
Adorama: adorama.rfvk.net/jWR50v
Camera Canada: shrsl.com/2zrug
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/ wesperryphoto
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www.WesPerryPhotography.com/
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Thanks for stopping by!
*Disclosure: This product was provided to me by Ulanzi for my honest review. Additionally, I am a member of Amazon, Camera Canada, Adorama and Pergear affiliate/associate programs, and anything that you purchase by clicking on/through my links could result in me getting a commission. That being said, I greatly appreciate you doing so, as it helps to fund this channel's operations, as well as feed my family.

Пікірлер: 54

  • @victormultanen1981
    @victormultanen1981 Жыл бұрын

    Very intersting Ulanzi tripod review. Thank you for sharing.

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for stopping by!

  • @markwildphotography
    @markwildphotography Жыл бұрын

    Lost me at ‘this into this’ lol I use Spider Pro stuff too, great content as usual mate ✌🏻

  • @dpulte
    @dpulte Жыл бұрын

    Great video - I got some info here (arca swiss compatibility) that I wasn't getting elsewhere!

  • @joshhasan649
    @joshhasan649 Жыл бұрын

    Have you disassembled the Ulanzi tripod for cleaning yet? I can’t work out how to separate the leg segments to clean it after using it at the beach. The Ulanzi doesn’t come apart as easy for deep cleaning as my Three Legged Thing tripod which uses twist lock instead of clamp lock.

  • @muleyg
    @muleyg Жыл бұрын

    When the tripod head is removed, does the center column have a 3/8" or 1/4" screw mount?

  • @donkurts1805
    @donkurts1805 Жыл бұрын

    I have the Ulanzi F38 tripod. The quick release plate on top of the ball head will not turn, even with the set screw totally open-end or loosened. Any suggestions?

  • @gagneprodronephotography4351
    @gagneprodronephotography4351 Жыл бұрын

    Pretty nice, I decided to go with the cheaper mt 56 ombra So far I’m impressed with ulanzi’s quality

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah this kinda came out of nowhere given their past products were all pretty basic.

  • @brokentissuebox
    @brokentissuebox Жыл бұрын

    can you use a peak design quick release that came with the backpack camera clip?

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    I don’t have one, but it’s supposed to be compatible with any Arca Swiss mount, so as long as you’re using the Y variant of this tripod it should work just fine.

  • @rezberry.x
    @rezberry.x Жыл бұрын

    I love this tripod but the thing holding me back is that I am not sure if it can hold my 3kg setup equipment on the ball head. Can share me some experience?

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    What does this setup consist of?

  • @razvanmarianvlasceanu3719
    @razvanmarianvlasceanu3719 Жыл бұрын

    I bought the f38 version (around 350usd ) along with some other items. When I was about to use it for the second time I noticed that one small knob controlling the panning of the head is gone. I contacted customer support with the intention of getting a replacement knob and they stated that in order to get a replacement knob I need to place another order (for anything else). Basically they are constraining me to place another order if I want to have a fully functional tripod. They stated that the item I need is to small to be sent because it can get list while shipping. Also the camera plate of the tripod gets loose from the camera very easily if you hang it to the shoulder strap.Dropped my camera but I was very very lucky as the terrain was deep sand

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    What part of the knob came off?? Like the screw holding it in, the whole shaft, or did it snap off? I’m not sure what you mean by the camera plate coming off from hanging … how are you hanging it by the plate? Oh is this their quick release system? I can certainly see how that could be the case, as the rubber padding on the plate is too thick, and it doesn’t get tight enough against the camera base (and you can’t tighten it enough with the given screw/bolt! (As mentioned in the video)). If I was doing that, I’d probably shave the rubber down a little so the contact can be harder against the camera. I’m really not the fan of their f38 system. I really wish I had the y-arca Swiss system. I asked to buy just the head, and even worse than your experience, they say they can’t sell it separately and I would have to buy and ENTIRE TRIPOD to go arca Swiss. UGH

  • @razvanmarianvlasceanu3719

    @razvanmarianvlasceanu3719

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WesPerry the ball head has 2 knobs (i don t know the exact term for them) one is for quick release and the one is for enabling/disabling the panning of the head. The one used for panning is the one that I am missing. I bought from them also a plate that you can attach to a shoulder strap and use the tripod mount to attach or detach the camera from the strap, while using this setup the plate gets lose from the gravity and eventually it totally unscrews

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    I generally use Spider Pro Holster plates, which never come loose. And they’re arca Swiss based, hence one of the many reasons I’d rather have the Y variant lol

  • @razvanmarianvlasceanu3719

    @razvanmarianvlasceanu3719

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WesPerry I am pretty new in this domain and I am just finding out things. I ll definitely be looking for something else as all the gear is so expensive and it would be a shame to damage it from something like this

  • @razvanmarianvlasceanu3719

    @razvanmarianvlasceanu3719

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WesPerry I placed an order yesterday for a cheap light in order to get the knob and today they issued a refund while stating the order will still arrive to my place. Guess we have to wait and see what I get

  • @user-kc3fi6tc6h
    @user-kc3fi6tc6h Жыл бұрын

    just bought one. barely 2 weeks. The centre column is shaky! because it comes in 2 parts,. there is a centre joint so it shakes!! not good! Can Ulanzi support, I am in Singapore

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    I talked about this in the video! You need to use the included wrench to tighten the inner bolt that holds the two parts of the centre column together. After I retightened mine, it never became loose again. It seems like they don’t tighten it enough from the factory.

  • @Lucaemar
    @Lucaemar Жыл бұрын

    Really curious how the Ulanzi and PeakDesign tripod seem to have *the exact same* features all around.... I would love a real world comparison between the two - reading the speclist it does indeed appear that the Ulanzi is much better value - and I expect it to be better value in the real world too, thats just too much of a price difference, but what I would really like to know, is if there's anything the PD one does better, that even begins to justify the difference in price.

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    There are some videos comparing the two directly, and I can’t see the Peak ever clearly comes out on top. It looks cooler, and is a little bit more compact in circumference when stowed… I think that’s about it?

  • @Lucaemar

    @Lucaemar

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WesPerry at first I just found a couple videos that had one of the two and compared the other one based on spec sheet, but just earlier today I also found some reviews that had both. Seems pretty clear cut the Ulanzi is better, even though I'm a big PD fan and a little annoyed they would rip off all the main features like that 😄 but Ulanzi has improved a number of things + with that price difference... Can't be mad 🤷

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    Peak spent a Lot of money custom molding those shaped legs. A LOT. But it was only marginally helpful, in the end. A cylinder will always be the most efficient structural design in this application, simply from a physics standpoint.

  • @Lucaemar

    @Lucaemar

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WesPerry that makes sense, a shame really. Suppose the only benefit the Peak might at this point have, is that its just a tad slimmer, so would go into side pockets of backpacks easier, but thats far from enough reason to choose the PD one :D If only all these fancy tripods werent "carbon fibre" coloured Id have an easier time making the switch from my current 3LT

  • @nnalujim7848
    @nnalujim7848 Жыл бұрын

    Are the legs clamps aluminum or plastic?

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    Aluminum

  • @BostonHooligan08
    @BostonHooligan08 Жыл бұрын

    Why did Amazon stop selling it?

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    Interesting, I hadn't noticed that! It's still available on Amazon Canada, Aliexpress, and the Ulanzi website, so I'd have to guess it's just a stock issue perhaps?

  • @horyukinen
    @horyukinen Жыл бұрын

    3:05 why do you need a bald head? xD

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    👀

  • @horyukinen

    @horyukinen

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WesPerry hahahaha I had to man! I'm sorry!

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    😏

  • @JEREMY-vf1ej
    @JEREMY-vf1ej Жыл бұрын

    The arca swiss plate does NOT work with this tripod head. Which is a real shame!

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah, that’s my main issue with it. Would much rather use the arca Swiss international version of the tripod.

  • @JEREMY-vf1ej

    @JEREMY-vf1ej

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WesPerry The Zero-Y tripod is competible with Arca Swiss. But that tripod has disappeared from all major US retailers. It seems like Ulanzi has teamed up with Falcam to make a huge push on the proprietary F38 QR system. Bad news for consumers.

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    I spoke with them about it. It’s based on their own market research that North American consumers would rather have the quick release, and international consumers would rather have arca Swiss. I would obviously much rather have the option. Perhaps it actually has to do with patent licensing, though. Not sure if I buy the explanation.

  • @JEREMY-vf1ej

    @JEREMY-vf1ej

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WesPerry whoever did that market research for North America needs to be fired. lol

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    😏 I didn’t say it…

  • @iransirijillo
    @iransirijillo Жыл бұрын

    In the first 5 minutes i learned all the reasons why this isn’t a good tripod

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    Anything specifically?

  • @iransirijillo

    @iransirijillo

    Жыл бұрын

    That ball head looks horrible, the “special” plate, already a no go. The fact that it gets loose and you need to tighten, the stripping of the crapy plate. Now, i understand there’s an Arca compatible head but you can only buy the F38 on amazon. Overall it seems worse than the already full of compromises peak design. As of yesterday you could buy some rock solid legs from FLM, CP-26ii(travel size) $313 US dollars and just about any $80 ballhead is better than the ulanzi.

  • @iransirijillo

    @iransirijillo

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WesPerry thanks for the video though, your godox light videos are great

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah, the non arca head is a no go for me as well. And I’ve been pestering them to sell me the arca ball head separately but they won’t. So that’s a shame. The loose shaft Is annoying, but this was after a Lot of usage. And since the tool is included right inside the device itself, it’s not ultimately a huge issue. If that wasn’t the case, could also be a deal breaker.

  • @iransirijillo

    @iransirijillo

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WesPerry wow, they won’t sell you the ballhead even though you’re reviewing their tripod? That says a lot. Back to the loose ball head, guaranteed it’s something you will have adjust on a regular basis. It’s a hard pass for me. I can only wonder what goes through their heads when they come up with a head non arcaswiss compatible, “ hey, let’s make a tripod no photography will want to buy” Yes, you may sell a few to those that don’t know what arcaswiss means but once they lose their tiny plates they will never use the tripod again.

  • @hasanagera
    @hasanagera Жыл бұрын

    I wish it was much cheaper like $80-100.

  • @WesPerry

    @WesPerry

    Жыл бұрын

    That would be significantly less than even the cheapest carbon fibre tripods on the market! I could possibly see them being able to do this for close to that if it was all aluminum perhaps...