Today we will be taking a look at one of two newly released travel tripods from IFootage – the IFootage Gazelle TC3B, a fast, Compact, and light Travel Video Tripod with a very affordable price tag.
Intro
Finding the right travel tripod can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. It’s an old technology with countless innovations and many subcategories, with price points ranging from under $100 to over $1000.
I use a combination of ultra-light, tiny tripods such as the PGYTECH Mantispod, as well as heavier video tripods with weighty fluid heads. I also have a carbon fiber Benro Mefoto Roadtrip Pro, which is my go-to tripod for stability versus mobility, but the issue there is it’s a bit bulky, especially if I want to fit it inside a normal day pack.
The IFootage Gazelle TC3B – light, compact, and well-built carbon fiber travel tripod
Concept
I’ve been looking for a tripod that I can take with me on the go with a head that is also sturdy and smooth enough to deliver quality tilt and pan movement, all in a small form factor. The IFootage Gazelle might just be this tripod.
In the Box
The tripod comes inside a carrying case that is made of a sturdy synthetic fabric that gives just a bit of cushion. There’s a basic shoulder strap which should suffice for getting from the car to the shoot. I can’t imagine it needing more protection than this, and I used it almost exclusively for storing the tripod.
Build and Design
The tripod comes with a rather long arca-style camera plate with a one-quarter-inch screw. There’s a small Allen wrench stored above the tilt knob on the head with a built-in magnet, and this can be used to attach the camera plate to the camera.
The handle for tilting and panning is non-detachable and non-expandable. This may disappoint some, but it’s an advantage for me as I’ve lost or broken those kinds of handles on two previous travel tripods. Tilting the head up as far as it will go makes the handle tuck almost between two of the legs so it won’t catch on anything during transportation.
The tilting and panning knobs, as well as the leveling knob, are big enough so larger hands can manage, but the best part about the tilt and pan controls is that they are both on the same side of the head, making it possible to lock down tilt and pan movement with only one hand, an essential for video.
At the top of each leg is a metallic red, sliding buckle or clasp, that makes it easy to adjust the angle of the legs to three positions with one hand, whereas some tripods require both hands. Further down on each leg are the red leg locks, and this is probably the best-engineered part of the tripod. They are easy to open by placing each of four fingers over a group of them and opening or closing a whole leg at once, but while being easy to open and close, the built-in adjustable springs ensure that you aren’t doing all the work and once closed will stay that way. Spring tightness is also adjustable using the included Allen wrench.
Small video head
Features
The pan apparatus of the head is labeled with 0 to 360 degrees, making it suitable for the repeated, overlapping compositions of panoramas. The legs themselves not only feel sturdy but also have some stiffness when opening and closing. This is reassuring and lends more stability to the whole setup, but the silver lining is that the amount of stiffness is adjustable using the included allen wrench.
Located in between two of the tripod legs, is a quarter-inch screw hole to which a magic arm can be securely attached, making it possible to use the Gazelle with a npf or small v-mount battery or lighter accessories such as a light, external monitor, or mic.
One of the best features of this tripod is the exquisitely designed feet. Upon first inspection one can see the sturdy rubber feet, but inside them are metal spikes that can be accessed by screwing the rubber feet so they retract and expose the spikes. In other words, the rubber feet don’t come off, and that means you don’t have to worry about losing them.
Use Cases
The Gazelle is best suited for videographers who need the lightest setup possible that is still sturdy enough to put a full-frame camera on top of, though I would be extra careful balancing larger cameras with the plate and by adjusting the legs to use a wider stance whenever possible. That said, the Gazelle is a perfect fit for my Sony A6660, which I typically use for long hikes and for scouting locations. It would also make a great first tripod for beginners who know they want to focus on video more than photography.
In the field in front of a real-life Gazelle
Conclusion
I’m thinking of all the times I brought a tripod on a long trip or hike and never used it. Now I won’t have to worry nearly as much because at 1.3 kg and 465 mm when closed, I almost don’t know it’s there.
The IFootage Gazelle TC3B
Pricing
The Ifootage Gazelle TC3B is available on Amazon, B&H, and the IFootage website for $229.
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