Originally posted by UncleVanya What about the PD makes you use it more than the Sirui?
Good question. Multiple answers:
-more stable, significantly so (mostly thanks to the absence of an always-extended center column)
-the way the ballhead operates is much quicker, both to lock and to adjust
-the thinner (albeit longer) profile makes it easier to store
-the built-in well phone mount (I've used it for quick Teams/Zoom calls often)
-general operation (reversing the center shaft, extending the legs, etc) is faster
If weight was an absolute requirement, the Sirui still does a great job. And the price is cheaper than the Peak Design, that's for sure. Based on my experience the PD tripod fits in the same "travel" category as the Sirui, while offering the stability of a much larger tripod. That's also backed by tests from other reviewers, such as the fellow phycist at The Center Column who built a measurement setup to confirm this.