Platypod delta review: a tripod for when you can't use a tripod

The Platypod Delta is an intriguing mini-tripod alternative. It's essentially a triangular-shaped flat sheet of aluminum alloy with three small flip-out legs at the corners. As such it's more of a raised platform rather than a true tripod, but one that can take a hefty load rating and is useful for extreme low-level shooting giving a different perspective, or when there's a handy surface to place it on.

The legs flip out in seconds, and it is thus ideal for shooting in places where tripods aren't allowed or would be impractical, such as in churches. It can also be strapped to tall objects like trees and posts, or secured to permanent platforms, providing a handy mount for tripod heads in hides and the like.

Playpod Delta: Specifications

Platypod Delta: Price

The Platypod Delta has a list price of $79 in the USA. If you can't find it listed on an online retailer in your country, the company ships worldwide and its website converts to your local currency (which at the time of writing worked out at around £62 / AU$128). You might also want to pick up the Playball Traveler ball head for $39 (approx £35 / AU$73) or Platypod Grip for holding a mobile phone for $35 (approx £31 / AU$62). However, the Delta does have a regular 3/8in screw for attaching to any existing ball heads you might own. If your order amounts to more than $99 ($150 in the UK/Europe) you get free shipping when ordering direct from Platypod.

Playpod Delta: Design & Handling

The main body of the Platypod delta has been stamped out from a sheet of 6mm-thick aluminum alloy and has an elongated triangular shape, at the point of each is a flip-down 'leg'. At full extent, this raises the platform by around 40mm from whatever it's positioned on. The legs have a screw thread and can be lowered, though this only reduces the height by around 10mm or so. There's a spike at the end of each leg for prodding into soft surfaces, or they can be retracted into rubber 'feet' for use on surfaces you want to avoid scratching.

You can mount a camera directly to the platform via a mounting plate, but this severely limits leveling flexibility so Platypod recommends using it with a standard ball head, and it's down to your choice of head that has much more of an impact on the overall shooting height. Platypod's own Platyball Traveler head raises the shooting height to around 115mm (or 105mm with the legs lowered).

In addition to the legs, the Delta has cutouts for a supplied strap for securing it to a tree branch, post, or other handy object, so it can be used for remote shooting or even as a camera trap when attached to a suitable trigger. There are also screw holes for attaching the plate to a permanent surface, such as a camera hide, and there are further threaded holes for attachments such as goosenecks for holding LED lights, for example. It comes with a carabiner for clipping to the outside of your pack or a belt, and – best of all, perhaps – the carabiner attachment slot doubles as a bottle opener, which is just the thing for cracking open a coldie after a long day's shooting…

Platypod Delta: Performance

The Delta has a claimed load rating of 10kg, but I found that you had to position larger cameras carefully, with the lens pointing toward the longest corner of the plate to avoid the danger of the whole lot toppling over. The limited shooting elevation works well for when you want a low-level bug's eye view, but using the screws on the legs to change the operating height is fiddly and only makes around a centimeter or so of difference. Of course, like most mini tripods, you'll need to place it on a table, wall, or other raised surface for a more practical shooting height.

The three miniature legs just about qualify this as a mini-tripod – and in this respect it's much more practical for use on uneven surfaces than its predecessor, the Platypod eXtreme, which is a four-cornered platform.

You really do need to use a ball head to have any kind of flexibility in composing your image, but this does add considerably to the size and bulk, and rather takes away from the 'virtually flat' USP of the Platypod.

Platypod Delta: Verdict

The Platypod Delta is small and lightweight, and easily slips into not so much a spare corner of your camera bag, but into a spare sleeve (or can easily be attached to the outside via its carabiner). Adding a full-size ball head does take away somewhat from its easy-to-pack-away credentials though.

Its low-to-the-ground platform does endow shots with a unique perspective, but there's very little flexibility in shooting height, and the adjustable legs are more about getting the platform level than adjusting its height, and you're better off using the ball head to level things up instead.

It's not going to replace your tripod, and is perhaps best thought of as an alternative support for use in places where setting up a tripod would be impractical or forbidden altogether. It only takes a moment to flip out the feet, slip your camera onto the head, and set up the shot, and as such is unlikely to attract the attention of the tripod police.

Alternatives

Leofoto Ranger LS-223C
For the same 10Kg rating in a traditional mini-tripod design, the Leofoto Ranger's legs can be splayed to shoot close to the ground yet has a decent height extension to around 300mm with its three-section legs, but is relatively heavy, chunky and is quite costly too.

Benro Tabletop Flex
The Benro Tabletop Flex has both solid and flexible legs, which can also be wrapped around posts and branches and makes leveling on uneven surfaces easy, though its 3Kg load rating won't handle heavier camera kit. It comes complete with attachments for holding things like lights.