Ulanzi Zero F38 Quick Release Travel Tripod Review

I bought the Ulanzi Zero F38 travel tripod about a year and a half ago when I had to replace my previously broken one. At this point, I had already planned on going to Tokyo and Berlin and I wanted to bring a travel tripod that would be lightweight and portable.


In this blog, I’ll be reviewing my experience using this tripod and whether or not I think it’s a worthy investment for any photographers or videographers.

 
Ulanzi travel triopd at the beach in Santa Monica at sunset
 
 

Tripod Specifications (FROM Ulanzi Website)

The Ulanzi Zero F38 Quick Release Travel Tripod is made of carbon fiber and aluminum. It goes as low as 180mm (7 in.) and has a maximum height of 1590mm (62.9 in). The tripod has a net weight of 1.1kg (approximately 2.4 lbs), has a center column load capacity of 18kg and a ball head load capacity of 6kg.

I’m a fan of the sleek design and feel of the carbon fiber of the travel tripod. I was also really impressed with how light it was when fully folded up. As a street photographer in Los Angeles, I don’t often use a tripod. However, when I went to Tokyo and Berlin, I never left the hotel without it. Knowing I would only be in each city for a short amount of time, I wanted to capture as many photos and videos as possible.

The Ulanzi travel tripod was light enough to put in my Mosiso Camera Backpack and walk around the two cities for hours without feeling overwhelmed by the weight of carrying equipment beyond my camera bodies and lenses.

 
Sensoji Temple in Asakusa glowing with a long exposure photography shot in Tokyo, Japan
 
 

A Great Tripod for Self-Portraits and Video

 

During the Tokyo and Berlin trip, I used the Ulanzi tripod along with the Aodelan transmitter and receiver to take self-portraits with the Sony a7R III (paired with my 35mm & 85mm Sigma prime lenses) and film the trip on my Sony a7S III camera body and Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G-Master lens with a filter attached.

Despite the Ulanzi travel tripod being incredibly lightweight, it was able to support these camera setups throughout the trip.

Just a heads up, you’ll want to take advantage of the hook on the center column of the tripod to weigh it down. During my Tokyo trip, the wind started to pick up one day and my tripod fell over the Sony a7S III and G-Master lens attached to it. The tripod, camera body, and lens survived. The Polarizer filter attached to the lens did not.

White boat sailing across river in Berlin Germany

Screenshot taken from the Sony A7S III which was attached to the Ulanzi travel tripod.

Self-portrait taken with the help of the Ulanzi travel tripod, taken on the Sony a7R III.

 
 

Long Exposures for Travel Photography

Before using a tripod, I would place my camera on a surface and set a timer in order to get a long exposure shot that I wanted, or I would prop my camera on a surface like a camera bag and have it facing a certain angle, and then press the timer.

While this is a trick that can work (and that I occasionally still do), it’s definitely not as reliable as having a sturdy tripod, which can give you more freedom in the long exposure photos you’re trying to capture. When it comes to travel photography, long exposure shots are especially useful when taking photos at night or if you want to freeze the motion in water.

 
Glowing blue bridge with arches above still water photographed on Ulanzi tripod in Tokyo, Japan
 
 
 

OVERVIEW & FINAL WORDS

At the time of writing this, the Ulanzi Zero F38 Travel Tripod is priced at $299.99. This was one of the more expensive brands I came across when looking for a new tripod. While you might find other tripods that are a lot cheaper, be sure to check out all of the specifications that each tripod offers and how much of a payload you’ll need to support whichever camera you’ll be using.

I think if you are a travel photographer (or someone who plans to carry a tripod around for long periods of time), then I would definitely recommend the Ulanzi travel tripod. It might not be the cheapest option, but I think its compact size makes up for the price and is one of the biggest reasons why I chose to go with it, rather than choosing a cheaper but bulkier tripod.

Thanks for reading and until next time.

Feel free to explore my website further:

camera gear, videoBrian Brownlos angeles photograhper, sony alpha, los angeles, lighting, tokyo, japan, berlin, color grading, s-log3, sony a7s iii, picture profile, cinematographyComment