Sunwayfoto T3240CK Carbon Fiber Tripod Review

INTRO:

In this Sunwayfoto T3240CK Tripod Review I am going to share with you my personal experience using this tripod of the Knight Series from Sunwayfoto.

My first recommendation when it comes to camera equipment is always to get a good tripod during your first steps in photography.  A sturdy tripod is a key to getting sharp photos and in many types of photography is essential, like astro photography.

This versatile, lightweight, and compact tripod will revolutionize your photography experience and open up new possibilities for your creative potential.

A tripod is as important as footwear for people, or tires on a car,…You can not take an advantage of expensive equipment which is standing on an unstable cheap tripod. We must also be aware that the tripod will most likely carry equipment that is 10x more expensive than tripod itself. Therefore, investing in a good tripod is one of the best decision.

After using this tripod for a few months and having all the experience that i needed for a honest review i am going to tell you all the specs, how the tripod works and behaves in the field, all the pros, all the cons and my final recommendation.

 

MY SETUP FOR TRACKED SKY PANORAMAS USING SUNWAYFOTO T3240CK CARBON FIBER TRIPOD:

WHY DID I CHOOSE THIS TRIPOD?

I was looking for a tripod which would have a big payload and at the same time to be very light, small when folded for easy carrying, but at the same time big enough when fully extended. Of course I knew I had to look for a carbon tripod, but today we can find a huge selection of the photography equipment.

At 1.5kg weight, this carbon fibre tripod is pretty light tripod, which makes it good for traveling and hiking. The payload which holds up to 25kg is especially welcome during extreme conditions and in my case for astrophotography. Even though I don’t usually have such a heavy equipment, it is really useful when using my star tracker for astrophotography where stability is vital to getting pinpoint stars. With them i can also use my telephoto lenses or even panorama heads with easy. 

Size is always important while travelling around, and at 51cm folded size I can fit it easily in carry-on luggage and attach it to my hiking backpack without sticking out. 

 

WHAT IS IN THE BOX? 

The Tripod comes in a recycled-carton box as all Sunwayfoto products released after a point in 2012; shrink wrapped which ensures that the product has not been opened after it left the factory.

The Sunwayfoto T3240CK Carbon Fiber Tripod comes with a quality tripod carrying bag, 3 Stainless Steel Spikes, Hex Wrenches, Cleaning Cloth and User Manual.

 

KEY FEATURES:

Knight Series Tripods are designed without center column to reach better stability in a more compact folded size. With their semi-automatic springs-back angle lock latches and swift twist locks, the tripods can be quickly set up.

I found this very convenient for my work, because for Landscape-Astrophotography we need very sturdy tripod but at the same time, light and small enough to carry it around. I love hiking on the mountains, going on deep snow, scouting some remote locations, and that is also the reason why i choose Knight Series Tripod instead of Master Series Tripod.

The main difference between Master Series Tripod and Knight Series Tripods is replaceable bowl ( center column ) which can be only found in Master Series Tripods. But because of that, the folded tripod is not so thin then it is with Knight Series Tripod, especially not in the upper part where the center column is located.

Maybe we loose a bit of stability because of the smaller platform diameter with T3240CK, but for now it serves me really well and i can carry it with easy on my backpack wherever i go. 

I just wish that Sunwayfoto would make Knight Series Tripod with max. tube diameter of 36mm like they did with Master Series Tripod.

Rubber cushion pads on top increase friction between ballhead and tripod, minimize the vibrations for the camera and at the same time protect the vase of the mounted equipment from scratches.

Mounting Screw on top of the center column is 3/8＂ makes it more solid and faster to install any kind of gear on top of it.

Stabilization: new design counter weight hook under the apex allows to hang your bag or backpack to further stabilize the tripod in windy conditions. I do not use this method of stabilization, because i simply do not trust in this, especially not in the night time where it is windy. And because i need a lot of space for accessories under the tripod i am using simple method with stone bag which is tied to each of the legs of the tripod. There i place my accessories, or if the wind is strong, i put stones to boost the stabilization of the tripod.

At the upper part of the leg tubes you can find the vent holes which ensure efficient air inflow and exhaust when pulling or pushing leg tubes. This allows you to smoothly extend or contract tripod legs.

I have to say that i use this tripod in some extreme winter conditions where the tripod was placed in the snow for few hours. When i finished with shooting night sky i tried to contract tripod legs, but it was a bit hard to do it. I needed to use a bit more force to successfully contract one of the leg. 

Both, rubber feet and stainless steel spikes are included in the box.

Because i am normally shooting on the soft ground or sand, i am using in 90% of cases stainless steel spikes, which can be replaced with rubber foots fast and easy.

You would use the rubber foots on smooth surfaces to ensure the stability and protect underneath material from scratches.

Quick action twist locks are very good on this tripod. Actually at Sunwayfoto they named it sealed twist lock watherproofing system because they prevent water, sand or dust from entering the locks and tubes. All of this makes this tripod even more durable for extreme conditions and thus extend the longevity of it.

Locks are wrapped with silicone for better grip and the material feels good. After using them in hot temperatures, snowy nights with freezing temperatures, in the water and so on…, the locks are still working with no issues.

For now i do not have any complaints about grips, but we shall see how long they will last.

Maximum height with legs fully extended is 140cm, minimum height with legs folded is 51cm

 

FUNCTIONALITY:

The T3240CK tripod is nice looking tripod, very easy to operate with them. Easy to carry around, very sturdy with high payload makes it a good choice for every landscape photographer. It is a pleasure to use it for my astro-landscape photography and also thanks to the multiple mounting holes located at the base and the top of the legs, you can easily attach more accessories to boost the tripod functionality. 

With the price tag 350$ this tripod is a great choice for any kind of photographers who are looking for sturdy, lightweight and easy to carry tripod. 

You can use my referral link to purchase all products from Sunwayfoto and get additional 5% discount on all products with my coupon code: UROSFINK

https://sunwayfoto-store.com/?ref=urosfink

MY SETUP FOR TRACKED SKY PANORAMAS:

One camera tracked panorama setup:

Two cameras tracked panorama setup:

PROS AND CONS:

SUNWAYFOTO T3240CK TRIPOD PROS:

• light weight 1.5kg
• big load capacity of 25kg
• very sturdy and stable
• good material
• waterproofing system
• smooth extension of the legs
• compactness
• small height with legs folded
• competitive price
• fast lock latch system
• included spikes
• stylish

SUNWAYFOTO T3240CK TRIPOD CONS:

• no option for bigger legs diameter with knight series tripods
• stickers feel cheap and are pilling off after a couple of months of usage
• the tripod bag is a bit too big for tripod
• a bit too small diameter of top base
• in extreme snowy conditions, its a bit more difficult to contract the legs

CONCLUSION:

My experience with the Sunwayfoto T3240CK Tripod is really good. I’ve been using it for the last few months in all kind of different conditions during the night and also in daytime. At high temperatures  with +30degrees, in the water, high on the mountains, on rocks, soil, on snow, in the low temperatures -10degrees and it worked like a charm, performing very good in even the toughest conditions.

It is very light, compact, easy to carry around, sturdy and big enough for my work. There is some room for improvement but considering the fast growth and evolution of Sunwayfoto over the last few years I’m sure that the best from this brand is yet to come.

I hope that this review will help you choose your dream tripod and that you may have learned something new from it. So, do not hesitate and buy yourself a good footwear for your photography gear. 

Wish you all clear sky and stay safe!

Uroš Fink Photography