Even more compact with the same stability is hardly possible: This set of the table tripod MT-03 and the ball head MBH-19 weighs together only 251 g! Its complete packing size - tripod with screwed-on ball head - is a short 192 mm. There is room for it even in smaller photo bags. Freedom, flexibility and creativity are hardly limited by this "spider leg" mini tripod. The first technical requirement for this is, first of all, the manufacturing method generally used at Leofoto. As with all Leofoto aluminum products, only heavy-duty aircraft-grade aluminum is used, CNC-milled to extreme precision. 15 kg load capacity (with the camera mounted directly on the ¼" screw) is the result of high-quality material and precise manufacturing methods. 162 g of weight is distributed over 143 mm of closed length. Without the ball head, the working height is 180 mm maximum and 30 mm minimum.
The MBH-19 ball head offers a load capacity of only 2 kg. But the main thing with this set is that it is small, light and extremely convenient in its handling. After all, anyone who travels with this set will rarely (want to) have a heavy camera with them. However, if you do want to be able to use the power of the MT-03 mini tripod, which can withstand 15 kg, there are plenty of stronger Leofoto ball heads that are suitable for this purpose. If you accept that they will make the combination with this uncomplicated mini tripod significantly heavier and bulkier.
But a special feature of the Leofoto MT-03 mini tripod is its spider-like legs. No, it has neither six nor eight legs, but - as befits a good tripod - three. They are hinged and at this point each leg can be angled individually and, if necessary, differently from the other legs. For this purpose, sliders allow predefined spread angles of 35°, 55° or 85°. If the MT-03 is set up with the leg hinges angled in this way, the comparison with spider legs really comes to mind. There's no question that this type of set-up creates a particularly stable stand and allows the MT-03 mini tripod to be positioned appropriately for the subject even in tricky situations.
The upper segments of all three legs are provided with a row of holes. The thought behind this was neither appearance nor weight saving. Rather, accessories such as "magic arms" and others can be adapted here. You can find them in the Leofoto accessories section.
Both components of this set also match each other well visually, as they are made almost entirely of black anodized aircraft aluminum. The MBH-19 ball head, which has a diameter of 19 mm with a height of 49, is very small and extremely lightweight at 89 g, but it is still a rock-solid Leofoto product. That's because it's made from exceptionally high-quality aircraft-grade aluminum just like every other aluminum part Leofoto manufactures. And it is just as precisely CNC-milled. The lowest working height of the set (with the ball head attached) is just 79 mm, and the maximum height is 229 mm. It makes sense to always leave the ball head on the tripod. This hardly takes up any space in the photo bag, but increases the readiness for use of the set. The MBH-19 can be easily steered into the desired position (even with a 360° turn). Its camera screw has the standard ¼" dimension.
Leofoto Mini Tripods - super compact, but with big strengths
Here are the runts among Leofoto's numerous photo tripods. But that doesn't make them weaklings, on the contrary. Depending on the model, they could shoulder 15, 25 or even 50 kg almost effortlessly. There are many reasons to use a mini tripod. It is no coincidence that such short-legged tripods are also called table tripods. There is no need for long legs, because tables or any other raised surface can replace them. But these super-compact tripods also prove to be extremely useful and practical on many other photographic occasions. This is because the Leofoto mini tripods are by no means dependent on level ground (tables, etc.). The terrain can also be bumpy. You can also position such a mini tripod very well on a humpy boulder, for example. This makes Leofoto mini tripods interesting for those photographers who do not want to be without a tripod under any circumstances, but at the same time want to keep the entire equipment absolutely compact. Such a small and - even including the Leofoto ball head! - Even including the Leofoto ball head!" hardly takes up any space in the photo bag.
If you want to be as inconspicuous as possible in nature and wildlife photography, the small size of the mini tripods alone helps to ensure that the camera remains as unnoticed as possible. Want to be even more inconspicuous? No problem, one of the Leofoto mini tripods is not only available in "natural", i.e. bare aluminum, but also optionally in a light wood look or even in camouflage colors. And another of these mini tripods doesn't have six or eight legs like spiders, but its three legs can be angled individually and differently, so that they do sometimes look like spider legs. This is for very practical reasons, as it allows for finer positioning and stabilization of this mini tripod.
When aluminum is used, Leofoto uses only high-strength aircraft-grade aluminum, always precision CNC-machined. In the case of the mini tripods, this applies to both the legs and the head plate of each model - and if available as a set - also to the corresponding Leofoto ball heads.
