Tripod Review: Ulanzi Falcam TreeRoot
- Stephen Knight
- Sep 6
- 5 min read
The Ulanzi Falcam TreeRoot Quick Lock tripod (R141K-320P) was released in 2024, and has received impressive reviews by paid influencers. Does this travel tripod really match up to these glowing reviews?
Disclaimer
The Ulanzi Falcam TreeRoot Quick Lock tripod was purchased with my own funds. This is an independent and honest review. Links in this review are affiliate links.
Specifications
This review is of the original/classic Ulanzi Falcam Treeroot Quick Lock Travel Tripod (model R141K-320P). Since its release, it has been joined by a slightly lighter TreeRoot Lite (also known as SE in some markets) as well as the more heavy duty TreeRoot Pro.
Specifications are:
Maximum height: 155.2cm (measured 155.7cm to top of base plate).
Height (column not extended): 130.5cm.
Minimum height: 16.8cm.
Folded length: 47.3cm.
Net weight: 1.5kg (actually around 1.48kg).
Material: M40 Carbon Fiber & Aluminium Alloy.
Leg sections: 4.
Leg locks: Twist lock - 1/3 turn.
Centre column: Quick release.
Ball head type: 320P inverted ball head - 32mm ball, 280g weight.
Ball head load capacity: 5kg.
Ball head compatibility: F38, and 90% of Arca-Swiss style plates.
RRP: US$499.
The TreeRoot is a quite different to Ulanzi's popular and cheaper Ulanzi & Coman Zero Y and F38 travel tripods. The TreeRoot has twist locks instead of flip locks, less leg sections (4 vs 5), slighly lower maximum height (155cm vs 156/159cm), higher weight (1.5kg vs 1.1kg), and longer packed length (47.3cm vs 42.5cm). However, the TreeRoot is considerably higher quality and more stable the Ulanzi & Coman Zero Y and F38 and has been designed to compete with more high end travel tripods.
Legs and Column
The TreeRoot tripod gets its name from the unusual design of an upper Reuleaux Triangle Tube and lower circular legs. This design is claimed to improve stability and storage size. The leg has 4 sections, and unusually for travel tripods, has twist locks. These twist locks only require a 1/3 turn to lock/unlock which makes deployment and packing up fast. Whilst claimed to be unique, some other tripods such as 3 Legged Thing Punks range also have 1/3rd turn twist locks.
The legs are not of a fold-back design, which is great as it allows for very fast deployment and packing up. The non-fold-back design was one of the reasons for purchasing this tripod. There are three leg angle settings, though I can't find the exact angle specifications. The legs have rubber feet, which can be removed to allow the use of spikes underneath.
The centre "tri-prism" column has a triangular shape for high stability and allows for quick removal of the lower column for very low angles. It can be inverted for low to the ground photos. There is also a base hook which can moonlight as a slotted/hex screwdriver. The column height lock is a twist lock, which is much better than the flip lock on the Zero Y/F38 tripods.
Whilst the maximum height is OK for most use cases, there are some occasions where more height is required. For example, in my home city of Brisbane, many riverside walkways have high railings so prevent wayward cyclists from ending up in the shark infested river. These railings require tripod maximum heights of around 165cm. Thus, whilst this tripod may become my most commonly used tripod, I will still need to use the taller 3LT Punk's Billy 2.0 tripod for some night cityscape photography. A 5th leg segment may have been useful, and this may also have allowed for a shorter packing length.
Falcam TreeRoot tripod - central column lock, F22 quick release, and 1/4"-20 "Arri" attachment.
Falcam TreeRoot tripod column lock, and multi-function end hook.
Ball Head and Plate
The TreeRoot is available with or without a ball head. The version with a ball head includes the Falcam 320P ball head. This is a 280g inverted ball head which has a lot going for it, and is designed to handle equipment up to 5kg in weight. The ball head has a friction adjustment knob, release/lock clamp, and a knob for horizontal panning.
Whilst designed for Ulanzi / Falcam's own F38 quick lock system, the ball head is claimed to accept 90% of Arca-Swiss style plates. Plates click into place from above. I successfully tested compatibility with a low profile FotoPro plate (from the X-Aircross Lite), but it would not accept a more heavy duty 3 Legged Thing QR plate. So for me, that is a 50% success rate from a sample size of two. The plate is lowered in vertically, and firmly clicks into place. A lever can be used for quick release of the plate. As I do a lot of swapping over of equipment (camera, flash, COB and panel lights) during photoshoots, I have now migrated across to using the F38 quick release system, with four F38 base plates attached to my equipment. This can save me up to 15 minutes of time during a 2 hour photoshoot.
The F38 base plate supplied with the TreeRoot is of the newer design with an anti-deflection design. The anti-deflection section can however be removed for use with equipment where the anti-deflection section gets in the way (e.g. panel lights). No tools for the F38 were supplied, which is strange as they are supplied with the F38B4908 F38 Quick Release Trigger Upright Ball Head and individually purchased F38 base plates.
Other Features and Thoughts
The TreeRoot has multiple expansion ports including 1/4"-20 "Arri" and a F22 quick-release. This allows for the attachment of devices such as magic arms or phone holders. As the tripod (not the ball head) can handle a static vertical load of 50kg, then there shouldn't be too many worries about the weight handing as long as the weight distribution is adequately balanced.
The TreeRoot comes with a bag made from polyester and neoprene. Whilst this bag is good, at this price point I would expect wider and removeable straps, and a pocket or two.
Since the original TreeRoot was launched, the lighter TreeRoot Lite and heavier TreeRoot Pro have also been released. The Lite is an interesting model. It has just circular legs and weighs in at slightly below 1.3kg, 200g less than the original TreeRoot. However, 140g of that weight difference is due to the use of a more lightweight F38 only ball head. Whilst it is far more stable than the Zero Y/F38 travel tripod, it is also 200g heavier. Incidentally, the TreeRoot Lite's ball head is available on its own for use with other tripods - the F38B4908 F38 Quick Release Trigger Upright Ball Head. This ball head lacks a dedicated pan lock, and also has a 3/8" female screw thread that is shorter (7.5mm) than most tripod's 3/8" mount. This requires to use of washers to raise the ball head enough to allow the ball head to operate. Ulanzi/Falcam need to come out with an improved lightweight F38 ball head.
Conclusion
Positives:
Excellent stability for the weight.
Excellent inverted ball head.
Compatible with F38 plates and some Arca style plates.
1/4"-20 and F22 accessory port.
Extremely fast to deploy and pack up (non-fold-back design).
Twist locks only require 1/3 turn.
Excellent build quality.
Negatives:
Heavier than many other travel tripods.
I would like more maximum height (>160cm).
Doesn't accept some Arca-style plates.
Bag could be better (e.g. pockets, wider and removeable straps).
This really is a very impressive travel tripod. Build quality and stability are superb. The ball head is impressive, and deployment is very fast. Arca-style plate compatibility cannot be guaranteed though. I would like to see a taller (but still lightweight and stable) version.
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