The Manfrotto PIXI Evo is the best mini tripod for any media creator. It has three legs you can adjust independently. It has a strong max capacity for a variety of cameras. And it has a vari-angle ball joint head with excellent build quality. Plus, you can’t argue with its price. [Note: ExpertPhotography is supported by readers. Product links on ExpertPhotography are referral links. If you use one of these and buy something, we make a little bit of money. Need more info? See how it all works here].
What Is the Best Mini Tripod?
We all know the benefits of using a tripod. It gives us the stability to shoot in low-light conditions. And they keep our camera in position when we’re doing multiple shots from the same point of view. But there are downsides. Tripods are often big, heavy, and hard to fit in your camera bag. Even the best tripods with telescopic legs can be bulky and cumbersome. This is why mini tripods are such a revelation for media producers. They are small and compact. And they slip right into your camera backpack. The best mini tripods are useful pieces of gear to have. You can get mini tripods for compact, DSLR, and mirrorless cameras. You can also get tripods for action cameras and smartphones. And you can use them for all kinds of photography and video production. Mini tripods are also perfect for food photography. You can use them to support your vlogging camera. And they are ideal for holding streaming cameras. Photographers also use them for self-portraits. Or you could try miniature photography.
14 Best Mini Tripods
There are plenty of mini tripods on the market, giving you a great variety. But it can make finding the best mini tripod difficult. We’ve included a wide variety in our list. And we’ve also given you all the info you need to find the perfect mini tripod. So you’ll find the best mini tripod no matter what camera you have or what you’re shooting. Manfrotto’s reputation and equipment are improving all the time. And in the tabletop photography scene, the Manfrotto PIXI Evo is the best mini tripod on the market. But don’t be fooled by its small stature. It’s a robust mini tripod that can carry a surprisingly large load. It can hold cameras that weigh up to 5.5 lb (2.5 kg). That’s strong enough for APS-C mirrorless and DSLR video cameras. So it’s perfect for food photographers or anyone with a camera for YouTube. You can also put a GoPro on there with no issue. And it’s more than strong enough for 4K webcams. The main body component is the tripod’s ball head. It gives you a wide range of movement. And it allows you to get the perfect camera position for filming or snapping stills. Plus, the three fold-away legs give you five height settings between 10 and 20 cm. So you can use it for a variety of purposes. The PIXI Evo has a simple and uncomplicated design. It’s stronger than most other small tripods. And the build quality and price combine to make it excellent value for money. It’s easy to see why it’s our pick as the best mini tripod. Mini tripods don’t come much sturdier than the Neewer Mini DSLR tripod. It has a solid aluminum alloy construction that handles larger cameras. And it’s one of the best lightweight travel tripods you can put in your backpack. It’s perfect for food and time-lapse photography. It’s also ideal for product photography. And it will help you improve your product photography with ExpertPhotography’s Products in Focus e-book. It has independent telescopic legs that give you an adjustable height range from 6.9 to 19.7 inches (17 cm to 50 cm). So it works well as a tabletop tripod or on uneven surfaces. The ball head swivels 360 degrees, giving you a full panoramic view. And it can support up to 11 lb (5 kg) in weight, which is strong enough for most DSLR cameras. It can even support full frame models. And that goes for mirrorless cameras too. This Neewer tripod is one of the best mini tripods on the market. If you’re looking for a small version of a normal tripod, this one is for you. It’s great value for your money. And it has the excellent build quality you’d expect to see on a full-size tripod. The Joby Gorillapod 3K has a bold and unique design. As far as mini tripods go, there’s not much else like it. The flexible legs give you excellent creative control. You can shoot in any location on any surface. And you don’t even need a surface to work on. It’s also strong enough for most cameras. You can bend and manipulate the flexible legs any way you want. It can stand up straight with a maximum height of 11.8 inches (30 cm). Or you can spread and bend the legs for a lower angle. This flexibility is great for uneven surfaces and rough terrain. You can even wrap the flexible legs around poles and tree branches. This versatility gives you a world of freedom as a photographer. The camera plate is connected to the legs with a ball head. This gives you a fantastic range of movement, helping you shoot from any angle. And it allows you to pan and tilt with a smooth motion. It’s ideal if you need to change the angle while filming. And it also has a built-in bubble level to help you achieve perfect alignment. The GorillaPod can handle a load of up to 6.6 lb (3 kg). So you can use a mirrorless or DSLR. And despite its strength, it doesn’t weigh you down. It only weighs 0.86 lb (400 g), meaning you can take it with you on any photography trip. The Gorillapod 3K is the best mini tripod for any environment. The SIRUI 3T-35 tripod is a specially-made tabletop tripod for tabletop productions. The aluminum body has excellent build quality. It only weighs 0.55 lb (250 grams) but supports up to 8.8 lb (4 kg). This is impressively strong for its size. You can use it for mirrorless and DSLR cameras. And it’s also good for GoPros and webcams for Mac and Windows computers. This tripod gives you a height range from 4.5 to 10 inches (11.4 to 25.7 cm). And you get an adjustable tripod ball head, which provides you with an excellent range of movement. It also has a panoramic base, which allows you to rotate the head 360 degrees. It folds down into a compact unit. And when folded, you can use it as a camera handle. This is useful for action and vlogging cameras. It’s a small tripod, but it’s versatile. We believe the price tag matches the quality of this product. And the 3T-35 mini tripod is a purchase you won’t regret. The Altura Photo mini tripod has a unique pistol-grip design. You can use it in its grip formation, giving you support for moving shots. Or you can unfold it into a tabletop tripod. It gives you a wide variety of shooting options for photos and videos. And it’s small enough to fit in your pocket. It’s compatible with all types of devices, from smartphones to mirrorless cameras. But the maximum weight it can handle is only 2.5 lb (1.1 kg). So you’re limited to APS-C cameras. It’s also a good match for the GoPro alternatives if you use an action camera. The rubber-coated handle offers an excellent ergonomic grip. And its rubber design prevents the legs from slipping as a table tripod. The fixed height might be frustrating for some. But it’s the perfect height for shooting products and food photography on a tabletop. The overall build quality is good, and so is the price. It’s limited with no variable height adjustments. But the dual-purpose design still gives it a broad appeal. The Altura mini pistol grip is a fantastic tripod. The Neewer portable and compact tripod is one of the stronger ones on our list. The build quality is exceptional for a mini tripod. And it’s also excellent value. So you get plenty of bang for your buck. With all-metal components, its build quality is excellent. The legs are strong and have non-slip feet, and the ball head has terrific movement. It also has a tightening nut to keep the head in position when the camera is mounted. So you can shoot from high and low angles. The mini tripod only weighs 0.9 lb (423 g). But it has a holding capacity of 17.6 lb (8 kg). That’s impressive for a tripod of this size. It can support full frame DSLR cameras. And you can use the best telephoto lenses. So it has no problem holding lenses and cameras for time-lapse photography. The adjustable legs give you two height options—19 and 13 cm. It’s not a wide range. But the strength of this tripod makes it one of the best mini tripods on the market. The Newer tripod is the perfect mini tripod for heavy photography setups. The SmallRig desktop tripod gives you a solid platform on which to work. It has a solid design that can hold the best quality cameras. And each component of this aluminum tripod fits perfectly, making its movement smooth and easy. This mini tripod has a load limit of 11 lb (5 kg). It’s strong enough to hold good quality mirrorless and DSLR cameras. And it can hold webcams and action cameras. But its strength allows you to use the best macro lenses, too. Its strong structure makes it a good option for macro photography. But it’s also a great option for food and product photography. The legs are adjustable to two levels of adjustment—5.5 and 8.3 inches(14 and 21 cm). This isn’t the wide height range. But it gives you enough options when you’re working on a tabletop. The high-quality ball head moves well, giving you a good range of shooting angles. The legs have a non-slip design, so you’ll have a stable frame to work on. It also helps when working on slick surfaces. The overall quality of the SmallRig Mini Tripod is excellent. It’s strong and relatively lightweight. And it would be an excellent addition to your kit bag. The Velbon EX-Mini is a traditional tripod, except it’s made for tabletop and macro photography. But it’s more of a small tripod than a specially designed tabletop tripod. The head has a two-way pan and tilt control. The joints give you smooth movement. And there’s a handle for better control. This makes it easy to change the shooting angle when filming. It has three two-section legs. You can adjust each leg individually. And it has flip locks for quick and easy adjustments. The rubber feet give you a good grip on slippery surfaces. And the legs have internal stabilizing bars for more support. The frame is made of aluminum, which is strong and sturdy. It isn’t the strong tripod on the list, with its weight capacity limited to only 3.3 lb (1.5 kg). So you’re limited to smartphones and crop sensor mirrorless cameras. But the tripod does come with a carry case. And this makes the EX-Mini one of the best mini tripods for travel. The ULANZI smartphone tripod is the best option for content creators who use a mobile. It’s one of the most compact tripods on the list. You can carry it in your pocket when folded down. And you can use it with iPhone and Android smartphones. The stand has two joints that let you get the perfect height and angle. It gives you an excellent range of movement. And it allows for high- and low-angle shooting. You can also rotate the head section to shoot in horizontal or vertical mode. You can even set it up for overhead shots. This is great for food photography shots for social media. You can also use the ULANZI tripod as a handle grip. This is perfect for shooting self-portraits or vlogs. And it’s good for shooting video tracking shots. You get more stability than shooting handheld. It’s a reliable, affordable solution if you create media with a smartphone. The Artcise mini tripod is a scaled-down tripod that works well on small surfaces and uneven ground. And it will fit into most camera bags. But despite its convenient, compact size when folded down, it gives you excellent shooting options. Made of solid aviation-grade aluminum, the body is solid and durable. It’s a compact tripod weighing under half a pound (190 grams) and has a load capacity of 11 lb (5 kg). This is strong enough for the biggest DSLRs and large lenses for sports photography. The ball head gives an excellent range of movement and solid device support. The telescopic legs can be adjusted individually. And they give you an incredible range in height from 9.7 to 35 inches (24 to 88 cm). This mini tripod is a scaled-down, full-size tripod. But it’s strong and gives you a fantastic range of shooting options. You can shoot all kinds of photography, including scenes with the best landscape cameras. This Artcise tripod has a decent price tag. And the convenient size makes it a versatile mini tripod you can take anywhere. The Gitzo mini traveler tripod has a sturdy build, yet it’s lightweight. It’s one of the lightest mini tripods you’ll find. You can stow it with your camera gear and barely feel it. The tripod weighs only over half a pound (265 g). But it has a maximum load capacity of 6.6 lb (3 kg). So you can securely fit a good-quality DSLR camera on there. All the main components are made of aluminum, and the build quality is outstanding. The tripod ball head has a smooth action and provides an excellent range of motion. You can move each leg independently to give you a max height of 6.9 inches (17.5 cm) and a minimum of 4.9 inches (12.5 cm). Plus, the rubber feet stop the legs from slipping. It’s a good tripod for travel, product, macro, and food photography. (See our list of the best tripods for food photography.) This Gitzo tripod is one of the best-built mini tripods. But it comes with a hefty price tag. Some might consider it the best mini tripod on the market. But the price puts it lower on our list. The Pedco Ultrapod 3 is a stripped-back and streamlined tripod. Its design is simple and effective. It’s made of durable plastic and weighs only a quarter of a pound (133 grams). It takes up next to no space in your hiking backpack. So you don’t even feel the weight of it when you’re traveling. And despite its light frame, it has a load capacity of 10 lb (4.5 kg). That’s enough for most of the best travel cameras. There is no height variability with the legs fixed in position at 5 inches (12.7 cm). But it’s a compact and practical piece of equipment. It’s not expensive and is very useful. Mini tripods don’t get much more mini than the Oben TT-100. Its simple structure is designed as a quick-use tabletop tripod with fold-out legs. It’s one of the best mini tripods for getting a low-angle shot. It’s small and fairly lightweight, weighing about half a pound (200 grams). Folded up, it measures 7.4 inches (19 cm). So it fits into even the smallest camera bag. And the build quality is surprisingly good for such a small piece of equipment. It has an all-aluminum construction with strong legs and a mini ball head. Despite its small size, it can hold a max weight of 6 lb (2.7 kg). That’s enough for a point-and-shoot camera or a beginner DSLR camera. The Oban TT-100 is small and simple. But it’s surprisingly good quality for a tabletop tripod. It has its limitations, but it’s not trying to be anything it’s not. If you need a simple tabletop tripod, the TT-100 is good value. If you’re looking for a mini tripod, they don’t get much smaller than the Manfrotto MP3-BK. It literally fits in your pocket at only 0.15 lb (70 grams)! The legs fold out independently, giving you a solid base to work on. It’s very much a tabletop tripod, as you’ll need a flat surface to lay it on. And it only gives you less than 1.5 inches (7 cm) of elevation. The MP3-BK is about as basic as a mini tripod can be. And it’s designed for lightweight cameras. A compact camera or beginner DSLR will be fine. But it can’t handle much more than that. With so many fantastic mini tripods to choose from, finding the right one can be tough. Thankfully, we’ve answered some of the hottest questions on mini tripods. These answers will help you narrow your search, so you can find the best mini tripod for you.
What Can Mini Tripods be Used for?
The mini tripod is a vital tool for many photographers and media creators. They can be used on tabletops for product and food photography. Vloggers and live streamers use them all the time. Social media creators use them for Instagram and TikTik content. You can even use them for video calls and online tutorials. Mini tripods can also be used for sports photography. They give you a low-angle view, which can be great for slow-motion shots. And you can set them up on the sidelines, and they don’t obstruct the view of the crowd. Videographers also use them to get low-angle shots. This is useful for creative cinematography and art direction. And the mini tripod is also popular with time-lapse photographers. A smaller tripod is less sensitive to movement. That gives you a smoother final time-lapse video. Macro photographers are also fond of tabletop tripods. They need strong ones to support the large macro lenses. But mini tripods give them the perfect platform to work from.
What Cameras Can a Mini Tripod Support?
Mini tripods can support many types of cameras. But you need to know your mini tripod is strong enough for the camera you want to use. You need to check the load capacity of the mini tripod. And you need to measure the total load, including lenses and other accessories. If the load is too heavy, the tripod with collapse. If the camera is within the load capacity, you have a lot of freedom. You can use DSLR and mirrorless cameras. You can mount a compact camera on your mini tripod. And they also support webcams. If they have the correct holder, you can also use them with smartphones.
Conclusion: The Best Mini Tripod
Every photographer should have a mini tripod in their camera bag. They take up barely any room in your bag. And you never know when you might need one. Mini tripods are versatile and useful. You can use them for food, product, and travel photography. And you can take self-portraits and shoot vlogs and live streams with them. The Manfrotto PIXI Evo is our pick as the best mini tripod. It is lightweight, easy to use, and has a sturdy construction. It has adjustable legs, and its quick-release plate makes it easy to attach to your camera. It also has a comfortable grip and is compatible with many devices. So it’s an excellent choice for those looking for a reliable and portable mini tripod.
