FLM CP30-S4 II 10X Carbon Fiber Series II Tripod Review
Searching for the ideal tripod is sort of like trying to shop for clothes online. There are seemingly endless options at all different price points, and without being able to try it out in person, you never really know whether it’s going to fit or what the quality is like until it shows up at the doorstep. I’m 6’ tall, so most of the time tripods are either too short for me or so tall that I spend frustrating amounts of time adjusting them to proper height.
I was setting out to find a “daily driver” tripod for use in the field with heavy telephoto lenses. I also wanted something I could fly with that was not so large that I would need to put it in a checked bag. Finding a tripod that suited both of these purposes was no easy feat. I’m not a fan of center columns, so that ruled out a lot of options classified as “travel tripods”. I wanted a large enough platform to accommodate a range of different head sizes such as the Flexshooter Pro, which is now my go-to head for long-lens use. Note, this review is my own and I’m not in any way sponsored by any of these brands.
The collapsed tripod is pleasantly light and compact for easy stowing in a backpack or luggage.
On paper, the FLM CP30-S4 II 10X Carbon Fiber Series II Tripod basically fit the bill perfectly. It’s a 4-section pod with roughly 55 inch max height and 19” packed height. When I compared it against 13 other tripods on paper, it was one of the lightest, could expand to be one of the tallest relative to its collapsed size, which is small enough to fit in carry-on. Most of the reviews I saw of FLM products were very positive about the build quality, so I decided to give this a try.
When the tripod arrived, I was immediately impressed by the low weight combined with the quality of the hardware. The fit and finish is at a high bar, meeting and in some ways exceeding that of other much more expensive tripods. The leg angle locks feel great - they have to be some of the best designed locks I’ve yet used. There is a small indent on the back of the lock which is perfectly positioned for one’s pointer finger, and with one swift motion you can unlock the leg and set the appropriate angle position. The locks are also ratcheted, so there is no fear of accidentally forgetting to set the angle lock. The legs have a nice and rigid feel to them, but also a lightweight quality that is pretty unique for this class of tripod.
When setup the tripod is nicely rigid with very little flex, which is surprising for a tripod of this size that only weighs 2.4 lbs. The apex also has some nice touches like three set screws which can be engaged to prevent the tripod head or clamp from twisting loose during use, and a an eyelet to hang a bag from for even more stability. There are also 1/4"-20 ports for accessories like magic arms that could hold lights or video monitors near the apex. Without a center column to get in the way, the tripod can be set to a diminutive 3.6” height above the ground which is ideal for low-angle shooting.
This particular model is good middle ground between an ultralight travel tripod and much larger tripods.
The leg locks work smoothly and effortlessly, only a quarter turn is needed to engage and disengage the locks. It’s easy to grip all three locks with a palm, and the legs are vented at the apex so there is no resistance during closure. The leg locks have a weather sealing o-ring and are generally pleasant to use. As a personal preference, I wish they were made of rubber instead of metal, primarily because I like the way the rubber grips feel on my Gitzo monopod. After discussing it with FLM, they indicated that they went with all-metal grips because there is never any adhesive or rubber to wear out over time, which is sometimes the case rubber-gripped tripods (especially when the tripod is subject to harsh conditions like corrosive salt water).
The legs themselves are made of high quality carbon fiber. Something else that is nice is that they fall effortlessly down to the ground when the lock is disengaged - not all tripods behave this way.
The aluminum metal leg locks look beautiful and feel great, but they do scratch and ding pretty easily. On the bright side, they will probably never wear out.
The fit and finish of the tripod is all top-notch.
The QLB-50 clamp shown below on top of the apex is a nice recommended addition (note: not included with the tripod). I’ve used similar QR-clamps from other brands, but this one is very lightweight and shares the same excellent design aesthetics and build quality as the tripod. The clamp makes it easy to swap tripod heads that are mated with a dovetail plate. Setting the clamp to accommodate a given arca plate is a multi-step process - 1. Set the dovetail in the jaws of the plate with the clamp wide open, 2. Set the lever to the middle position and tighten the screw knob until the plate is secured, then 3. Push the clamp lever to the closed position. When I was first starting to use the plate, I wasn’t setting it properly and it was too loose, so I contacted FLM and asked for guidance. FLM’s customer support was amazing. They got back to me immediately with guidance on how to set the clamp properly, and from there I was good to go.
The FLM QLB-50 lever-release clamp is a great addition to the tripod to make it easy to swap tripod heads. Notice the attention to detail in the machining of the parts, no jagged or sharp edges or machining marks, it’s a high quality design.
For my use, this FLM CP30 is essentially the goldilocks size, just tall enough that I don’t need to slouch or fiddle with the leg height whilst setting up the pod in the field, and small and light enough to hike with anywhere. My golden rule with gear is that it just needs to work and “get out of the way”, and this does it well. Anything too fiddly, too heavy or cumbersome, is going to sit around unused. The FLM is simple and elegant design, feels rugged but lightweight, and operates the way you’d expect it to without fuss. The icing on the cake is that this tripod has excellent build quality that is basically unmatched at the price point. Overall this tripod is very nicely designed and I give it a 9.5 out of 10. If it had rubberized leg locks I would give it a solid 10.
The tripod is also great pairing with the all black Flexshooter Pro shown in the photos. I look forward to positing my feedback soon of that product.
The manufacturer’s description can be found here
Links to purchase the tripod and QLB clamp are below:
