Platypod Delta Review: Assembling the Ultimate Mini Travel Tripod System

Disclaimer: This article is not sponsored or influenced by any third party. Products recommended here have been personally purchased by the author using their own funds. The views and opinions expressed are entirely the author’s own. Wherever applicable, efforts have been made to present objective evaluations, including both advantages and disadvantages, as well as suggesting more cost-effective alternatives for consideration.

TL;DR

I have spent a lot of time (like really way too much to be healthy) researching and pondering over the available options so you do not have to. If you want the ultimate portable tripod-like solution, I would recommend the following setup.

Recommended:

• Platypod Delta;
• Leica Ball Head 18, long (14112) in black (rated at 7kg);
• ProMediaGear C40 Arca Swiss quick release clamp with Red Loctite. A smaller, cheaper and potentially better fitting alternative is Leofoto DC-22M Arca Rail Clamp which comes with a tightening screw so might not even require the Locktite;
• Leofoto QS-45 quick release link set for tripods;
• 1/4-20 UNC countersunk head screw to attach Leofoto QS-45 to the Leica ball head;

Optional:

• Leofoto LT-S1 nylon strap for extra security (rated at 5kg);
• Leofoto A200 8" ground spike for stabbing this contraption to the ground.

Platypod but Why?

Anyone who has ever been chased by what Platypod call the "tripod police" will fully appreciate that oftentimes it is not advisable to wield a large full-size tripod in public areas. I have lost the count of the number of times when I have been politely (and sometimes impolitely) kicked out of places trying to take photographs be it with a tripod or a flash. 

During my undergraduate studies, I became an appointed photographer for Imperial College London which gave me an unprecedented access to the entire campus. I was tasked with taking high-resolution 360° panoramas what required a tripod, a pano head and about 10 minutes to take roughly 40 to 60 images per location. I will never forget the feeling when a security guard came to tell me that I cannot be taking pictures in the foyer of the IC Business School only for me to show him an official letter from the marketing department saying that in fact I can. 

Obviously, one rarely has the opportunity to wave an official letter in front of the security. Yet, the possibilities for amazing photographs in usually poorly lit museums, bridges, fountains, public transport, etc., are endless. This is where the Platypod range of products might come in handy. Their mounting plates offer an inconspicuous and highly portable solution to this endless game of cat and mouse with the worldwide security. And those who know me also appreciate that I have been on the hunt for the most portable and best fitting photographic gear for the past 22 years.

Delta It Is Then

Truth to be told, the first Platypod that caught my eye was their Ultra model. It is small, lightweight, highly packable and most importantly it looks nothing like a tripod. Unfortunately, that model is no longer available and has been officially discontinued. Instead, it has been replaced by this new Delta model which I bought through their Kickstarter campaign. Unlike the previous Max and Ultra versions, the Delta comes with built-in deployable spikes that do not get lost easily. The downside is that this is also their first product that actually has three feet and thus can be classed as a tripod. That kind of defeats the point so the jury is still out there whether this will pass the "tripod police" scrutiny. However, I do appreciate that for field work on uneven surfaces the three little spikes make complete sense. Note that there is also the Extreme model with four feet but I personally find it too big and unnecessary for most situations.

Although the name suggests resemblance to the Greek letter delta (Δ), I would argue this product looks more like a bicycle seat. In any case, you get this oddly shaped tripod plate which comes with a 3/8-16 UNC screw (large tripod screw for you and me) apparently made of titanium which cannot be removed. The packaging also includes a Platypod branded carabiner, a red cinch strap with two d-rings and some velcro which I will never use, and a small allen key to tighten the hex screws that hold the spikes together.

The spikes themselves come with black and red hollow plastic tips. The design of those is interesting as they are made of hard plastic (the red part) covered in a rubber-like coating (black part) to provide better grip on slippery surfaces. Only time will tell how  well they stand to abuse but I suspect I will lose them long before they wear out. Luckily, Platypod sells a replacement set which is reasonably priced at $8.95 US.

However, I have to admit that the carabiner I find particularly pointless. I get that the intention is to clip the Delta to say outside of a backpack but in reality I cannot see many people using it that way. All it would do is dangle about and scratch easily. At least the base plate comes with a built-in bottle opener what is a nice touch. The fit and finish is fine and the anodization is acceptable. The little pivot screws that hold the spikes together come with what looks like brass washers to provide spacing between the base plate and the thread housing. Overall, for the price point this is all good and feels solidly built.

Unfortunately, the most disappointing part is the lack of a provided neoprene case for the Delta. The Extreme comes with one but with the Delta you get nothing. For whatever reason I wrongly assumed that the red card in the packaging is an included case but not. Instead, it is just an included pamphlet. If you want a case, you can buy their Multi Accessory Kit for $39 US at which point you might as well buy a cheap neoprene pouch from Amazon instead.

The Best Ball Head to Pair With Your Platypod Delta

Platypod advertise their tripod plates as versatile and easy to pair with any of your existing tripod heads. If you do not have a suitable one, they even offer their own branded ball heads to choose from. I will have to give them full marks for innovation for their Platyball Elite electronic self-levelling inverted ball head as well as their Platyball Ergo manual version of the same thing. However, those are too complicated and expensive, likely quite heavy and pretty much a massive overkill for most users out there.

Platyball Traveler Head

With the release of the Delta, they also announced a new Playtball Traveler head currently listed for $44.95 US. That one is an obvious Chinese OEM product that is being sold under many different names out there and you can read my article on how to find the same photo gear but cheaper to learn more about this topic. In any case, it comes with a 36mm ball diameter and weighs some 300g. I would say it is good that it is offered as an option, but I am pretty sure we can do better than that.

Aoka KB20 Ball Head

As a more compact and better fitting alternative I would recommend the Aoka KB20 ball head. It is normally paired with the super lightweight AOKA CMP163CL carbon fiber tripod but can be purchased separately as well. I particularly appreciate its narrow base, 20mm ball diameter, 5kg load capacity and a weight of only 150g. Price-wise it is not too dissimilar to the Platyball OEM alternatives but I would argue a better fit especially if you are after the ultimate travel-friendly setup. Given that AOKA is also an OEM manufacturer and their ball head can be purchased under different names as well, see my previous article, I am surprised that Platypod did not source pick this head instead.

Leica Ball Head 18

A major problem with all the available heads in combination with the Platypod is their low shooting angle. Given how low to the ground this tripod is, the perspective is going to be quite skewed what is not ideal in most situations. Platypod themselves recognized this problem and that is likely why the also offer the Platypod Handle accessory---effectively a detachable yet extensible centre column. There are many alternatives on the market including carbon fiber versions ranging from 22mm all the way to 48mm in diameter by Leofoto. You can even get a geared one if you prefer. My issue with all of these solutions, however, is that they would require too much assembly in the field and would make the entire setup top heavy and thus imbalanced.

Fortunately, Leica offers a unique Ball Head 18 which comes in two different finishes and two different heights. The taller version (14122) weighs only 250g but provides an additional lift of 130mm from the tripod. It is also incredibly narrow at only 30mm at the base but thanks to the unique grooves on the ball itself, it can hold up to 7kg in any orientation: Very impressive! All of the components are made of machined metal and it feels solid, built like a tank. This particular design has been on the market in various iterations from before the WWII. Looking through the forum posts, many people reported continuous usage for decades without any issues:

I have used one for more than 40 years. This thing will last your whole life. Never seen a broken one. I find the large ball head superior to the small as it works better as a chest pod.

I opted for a black version to match the Platypod color scheme and make it less conspicuous when shooting in public. It does not have a panning base but you can always get an additional Leofoto or Sunwayfoto panning clamp if needed. As someone who spent a lot of time taking 360 panoramas, I would actually recommend an indexed one which allows you to select click stops in various increments. There are simply too many to choose from but a few worth considering would be Leofoto Pan-02 (60mm diameter), Benro DP70 (too large), Novoflex Panning Base (too expensive), Fanotec Indexing Rotator (too weird), Koolehaoda PAN-60 (reasonably priced).

Problems to Overcome Opportunities for Improvement

Obviously, there is nothing like a free lunch and this Leica ball head is no exception.

1. Firstly, there is the price. The Leica ball head 18 is not a cheap item but given it is made in Germany (a Ken Rockwell approved country), feels like it is machined from a single billet of aluminum by mythical fairies in Schwarzwald, and by all accounts will last you your entire lifetime, this seems like a worthy investment.
2. Secondly, the current version comes with a 1/4" mount only. Some of the older versions on eBay come with a 3/8" mount but they are all silver. Since all the Platypods come with a 3/8" screws only, one way around this is to use their Platypod Disc which acts as a converter with a 3/8" bottom thread and 1/4" top screw. It even comes with an embedded bubble level but since they designed it to be Arca compatible (38mm at the very bottom and likely some 45-50mm at the top), it is simply too wide. Thus, once again I am convinced we can do better than this, see the Arca Swiss section below.
3. Finally, this ball head comes with a standard 1/4" screw on top as well. Interestingly though, there is a round leatherette covered disc at the very top which rotates around its axis independently of the thumbwheel-like housing you can see in the pictures. I presume that was designed to prevent unnecessary scratching of the camera's bottom plate when mounting since this disc would rotate together with the camera's body due to friction. In any case, I am too lazy to keep screwing my camera to this tripod head each time I want to use it. Same as before, we can find a better solution further described in the Arca Swiss section below.

Arca Swiss Quick Release Ecosystem

Given that you are reading an article about the ultimate Platypod setup and made it this far without falling asleep, chances are you are fully familiar with the Arca Swiss quick release system. Firstly introduced by ARCA-SWISS (hence the name) in the 1950s, this 38mm single rail system became the de facto standard in the photographic world. I am not going to bore you with military comparisons against Picattiny and NATO rail 15mm designs but it suffices to say that there are ball heads that accept both standards, c.f. Sunwayfoto and Leofoto.

There are countless examples of Arca Swiss compatible quick release clamps that can be mounted to the top of the Leica ball head for convenience which vary in shape, size, quality and fundamentally price.

ProMediaGear C40

After a lot of trial and error I have originally settled on the ProMediaGear C40 Arca-Swiss Compatible Quick Release Clamp. At $59.95 US it is nearly as expensive as the Platypod Delta itself but it also oozes quality---something that cannot be said about the cheaper alternatives. The plate is thin, superbly crafted and a joy to use. The only downside is that although you can order with anti rotation pins, there is no easy way how you could utilize them on the Leica ball head. Thus, to prevent the plate from unscrewing itself over time, I would highly recommend Red Loctite for permanent bonding or Blue Loctite for a temporary one.

Leofoto DC-22M

However, since then I have discovered a non-obvious alternative which is even smaller and potentially better: Leofoto DC-22M Arca-Compatible Rail Connector Clamp. This was originally designed as a rail connector for Leofoto's smallest full-size ball head LH-22. However, it is 30mm wide at the base---same as the Leica Ball head thumbwheel connector---and comes with an anti-rotation screw that can be tightened from the top. Judging from the limited pictures on their website I suspect that it does not have screw threads so I might have to either cut them in or find a suitably sized barrel nut to connect it together. I have already ordered one and will report back on my findings once it arrives.

Quick Link Set

Pretty much every photography enthusiast has heard of Arca Swiss quick release clamps and plates. What is, however, less well known is also their QuickLink system "with a locking ring designed to quickly attach and detach a tripod head from tripod legs". The OG by Arca Swiss is too expensive but also at 70mm too wide for our purposes. Luckily, Leofoto offers a cheaper knock-off alternative in multiple different sizes. I have opted for the smallest Leofoto QS-45 set which, as the name suggests, is 45mm wide and weighs mere 69g. Since this was designed for a 3/8" mounting, you will also need to source a separate 1/4-20 UNC counter-sunk screw to attach the quick link connector to the Leica ball head. But that is a very easy and inexpensive adjustment to make. The benefit of this connector is that the ball head can now be very quickly attached to the Platypod in the field without having to faff around with endlessly screwing and unscrewing the ball head to the Delta for transport. Despite my worries I can happily report that the quick link set provides a truly rock solid connection without any play or wobble whatsoever.

Additional Accessories

There are many accessories that can be added to this assembly. I am going to list a few from Leofoto because they are reasonably priced and do the required job even though this website nor me personally have any association with them. 

• Leofoto LT-S1 nylon strap for extra security (rated at 5kg). Since I am going to be attaching a rather expensive Leica camera to this contraption in all sorts of awkward positions and terrains, it seemed prudent to add a safety strap to prevent the whole thing from falling into the abyss. Fstoppers recommend Impact Safety Cable steel wire but that to me seemed a bit of an overkill. Note that the 1/4" screw on the nylon strap is about 2mm too long so to achieve flush mounting on the Platypod, you will have file it down a bit.
• Leofoto A200 8" ground spike for stabbing this contraption to the ground. I would not recommend taking this in a cabin hand luggage onto a plane but otherwise it should come handy when taking pictures on a beach or any other soft ground. Interestingly, this comes with a soft neoprene pouch which can accommodate an attached ball head as well, though the Leica tall one is way too long to fit.
• Leofoto MC-80 clamp to attach the Platypod to railings or tables. There are many alternatives available at different price points and sizes so I will only mention worthy contenders such as RRS Multi Clamp, AOKA SC96 , Fotopro MS-64, etc.

So What Is It Like to Use?

In short it is awesome. The whole assembly with all the bits and bobs attached weighs only 573g what makes this still significantly lighter than any travel tripod I own. So far, I have used it for still life photography in my studio (my wife likes to think of it as our kitchen) to get flash head closer to small subjects. Unlike traditional table top tripods, this occupies very little space. And the ability to attach a tripod head with a single twist thanks to the quick link system is a genuine game changer. The entire contraption is very well balanced, does not feel top heavy and can hold over 1kg in camera gear without me getting worried. 

On flat surfaces, my preference is for the Delta to sit flush on the bottom but I can fully believe that the little spikes will come handy outdoors and on any uneven terrain. Though, I cannot imagine me being bothered to painstakingly screw those little spikes in and out to adjust their length. They will be either fully deployed or not because to get the camera level, it is far easier to do so using the ball head instead.

The obvious problem that not many people seem to talk about in connection with any of the Platypods is their extremely low shooting angle which means one cannot look through the camera viewfinder to compose the frame. Thus, a camera with a flip-out screen or a mobile remote app is a must.

I have also bought Edelkrone FlexTILT Max which provides the added benefit of being able to reach much higher once fully extended. The downside is that for a camera over half a kilo, those joints really need to be tightened down one by one using a supplied allen key. Plus it does not have any spikes and provides only 1/4" male and female screws. All of that combined with a baseline weight of 469g without any Arca clamp simply makes the FlexTILT rather impractical in any outdoorsy situation. 

All in all, I will be bringing Platypod Delta with me to long hikes and most photography adventures since you can always find some log, railing or a ledge to put it onto. It will definitely replace any big and heavy tripod that takes ages to both extend and pack away.

Not Always Cheaper Alternatives

There are of course many alternatives to consider due to their potentially different functional aspects as well as price. I am pretty sure there is many more but below is a small selection of some of the most comparable alternatives out there.

Desmond FPOD-1

Desmond FPOD-1 comes with a thumbwheel at the bottom and removable hard plastic feet with rubber tips for better grip. It is quite heavy at around 350g and seems to be more suitable for a table top use only. At least one Amazon reviewer mentioned it is quite narrow and thus tends to tip to the side though I do not believe it can be any better or worse than the Platypod Delta in this regard. It is definitely cheaper though at less then $15 US from B&H or £20 from Amazon UK.

DECADE Mini Tripod Base

The DECADE tripod base looks more like a competitor to the original Platypod Max which was equally discontinued. Most people seem to have liked the built-in handles but reviews on Amazon report that the provided screws would not stay put.

Transformers Camera Bracket

This was released before the Delta, likely as a direct competitor to the previously discontinued Ultra. The four deployable feet seem to be inspired by the Platypod Extreme, although at this point it is difficult to discern who copied what from whom. It is difficult for me to comment on the build quality as I have not handled one myself but functionality-wise, it seems to be able to deliver the same results. Judging by the pictures, the provided screw is 1/4" with a 3/8" adapter on top. The design is rather questionable but I am 100% convinced my kids would love it. You can buy it on Aliexpress, eBay, Amazon and many other similar places for between £15 to £30.

SZRIG Multifunction Flat Tripod Plate

This is the closest I managed to get to a Platypod Ultra alternative since that model is no longer in production. Thus, naturally, I bought it with my own money. On the first glance it looks viable, however, there are several inherent design flaws making it only useful after some serious amount of DIY. 

Firstly, the supplied tripod screw sticks out at the bottom, so as supplied, it cannot sit flush on a table. There are some pre-drilled counter-sunk 1/4" holes already but those are in wrong places. Thus, one solution would be to get an adapter screw just like the one below. However, the 3/8" portion of that is 7mm tall while the plate is only 5mm thick so if you want to use it flush, you will have to file it down by 2mm.

Then there are the supplied "feet" which are simple M5 hex bolts without any spikes and are meant to be held together with the supplied wing nuts. Instead, you would be better off recutting those holes to 1/4" thread because then you buy some off-the-shelf spikes which can be found very cheaply in various lengths, with rubber feet covers, and even scalloped for rock crawling. Good lucking using a suitable tap and die set. I hope you now appreciate why I concluded that Platypod Delta is a better option.

Flyboat Flat Tripod Base

Flyboat is a direct knock-off competitor to the original Platypod Max. This one comes with a bubble level, two magnetic strips, built-in 3/8" screw, a cinch strap and a draw string case. However, design-wise I would say that this has now been fully superseded by Platypod Extreme, at least for those people who are looking for a much larger base plate.

Edelkrone FlexTILT Max

Just like the Delta, I have bought this with my own money. And even though the Edelkrone Max Z-head can reach far higher than any other solution in this article, due to the need to tighten the individual joints with a supplied allen key (plus its heavy weight), it is mostly only usable in a studio setting. One situation where I found it particularly useful was placing a CCTV camera onto a window ledge above the parapet giving me the necessary height to obtain an unobstructed view of my garden. You can buy this together with its siblings from the Edelkrone website directly.

Edelkrone StandONE v2

Yet another innovative solution from Edelktrone, the StandONE is a folding quadpod which apparently relies on precise CNC machining and friction to make away with individual knobs for tightening. The v2 version is now drilled out to save on weight but at 482g without a ball head I still find it too heavy for lightweight travel setup. If the price of $189 US is too much, there is also the Fotoworx Camera Spider for less than half the price.

Leica tabletop tripod

Since I bought a Leica ball head, it makes sense to at least consider the Leica tabletop tripod (14100) as a viable option. It pairs well with the ball head due to its matching 30mm profile and although it folds nicely for travel, it is still rather large for limited spaces. You will also notice from the photos that it has an orange peel like finish which contrasts the smooth finish of the ball head. Functionally it does not matter but these kinds of differences seriously trigger a hidden OCD in me. Furthermore, because it has three very obvious legs, I am pretty convinced the tripod police would find it offending.

Leofoto MT-04

Just like the Leica tabletop tripod, the Leofoto MT-04 is undeniably a tripod and thus might be unsuitable for most public spaces. However, it is more versatile because the legs can be individually positioned and bent to shape. Leofoto offers also smaller versions MT-03, MT-02 and MT-01 with some uncanny resemblance to RRS TFA-01 pocket tripod.

Cam Caddie Ultra Flat Low Angle Cheese Plate

Effectively just a standard video cheese plate that can serve the same purpose as Platypod Max and Flyboat. You can purchase this on Amazon for some $39 US but given what it is, I do not believe it is worth it. For far less money you can build something equivalent and I would recommend cheese plates by CAMVATE as a good starting point. Notice that none of these come with a build-in tripod screw so you will have to endure the same issues trying to make it sit flush like the SZRIG plate above.

Wall Mount Fixed Base

Wall Mount Fixed Base and Magnetic Suction Cup Base offer an incredibly cheap but effective alternative to bulkier cheese plates. You can even get a rubber disc with a tripod mount hole and strong adhesive on the bottom. They will do the same job especially for propping up lights for studio-based still life or macro photography, although for heavier camera gear it will never be as stable as the other options.

SMALLRIG Quick Release Plate

A honorable mention has to go to SMALLRIG for their Arca-compatible base plate with four foldable feet. I would not mount this directly to the camera but rather attached a ball head to it. The added advantage is that you can mount it onto an Arca-compatible tripod with ease. You can buy this version as well as a larger version on Amazon. There  is also a fixed alternative by Niceyrig but the logic behind that one escapes me to be honest.