00:04 So I got something from the mail today.

00:10 I remember ordering a tripod for my upcoming trip to Hong Kong and Macau.

00:15 I already have two tripods. The first one is a heavy-duty video tripod from Giotto, and the
other one, the K&F SA2324, which is considered a travel tripod, but I just can’t imagine myself
carrying that on a daily all throughout the trip.

00:30 So I went and ordered the Ulanzi MT-20 online.

00:39 I got this from JG Superstore for around 3,244 pesos

00:48 Ulanzi is a Shenzen Guangdong company. I have been a huge fan of this brand even when
I was still doing mobilephone photography. One of my best purchases from them are the
Anamorphic Lens and the Shutter Grip for my iPhone 11 Pro Max.

01:03 The Ulanzi MT-20 is a carbon fiber mini tripod that I assumed can carry either a heavy
smartphone like my iPhone, my lightweight DJI Osmo Pocket and my entry-level Fujifilm XT100
camera.

02:17 Let’s see what’s inside the package. This is my first ever carbon fiber tripod. I’ve seen
reviews stating that it’s more like a toy tripod than a proper tripod. I guess they failed to
comprehend what a carbon fiber mini tripod is all about. But we shall see if I was wrong.

02:25 First up is this documentation inside this packet. It comes with a nifty carabiner (which I
already have a dozen of it)

02:43 Next comes the tripod wrapped in a cloth-like sleeve, which is also wrapped in a
convenient plastic pouch

02:52 We’ll finally see the actual tripod… only if it isn’t fucking difficult to remove from the
sleeve. I don’t think I will be using that sleeve ever again.

03:15 As this is my first time to ever hold a carbon fiber tripod, I can see how people think of
this as a cheap material. It’s very lightweight. It is stated to only weigh around 322grams.

But despite that, I feel there is a good heft to it. I feel like if I swing it really hard on someone, I
can really do some serious damage.

03:42 The arms have good resistance and reminds me a lot of my K&F tripod.

03:51 But unlike my K&F, these legs have twist locks. All two of my previous tripods have clip
locks as I distrust twist locks for some strange reason. But for this size, Ulanzi’s twist locks made
it sleek and really portable.
05:15 Unfortunately, the Quick Release System on the MT-20 will not work with neither my K&F
tripod nor with my PGYTech Capture clip though.

05:29 I almost forgot that the MT20 comes with an expansion rod that is also made up of
carbon fiber material. It also comes with twist locks that will allow to double the height of the
whole tripod when installed.

You can use the expansion rod with the ball exclusively as a monopod

06:47 The only hassle this makes is you have to remove the ball head to install the expansion
rod.

07:24 I also forgot to mention the nifty cold shoe on the ball head that can add with external
flash or a portable microphone. My Rode Video Micro is ready for this one.