Over the last few months, I’ve been testing out two tripods, the Sirui 3T-15 and 3T-35. These are two very popular tabletop tripod options and prior to getting both, I was torn between one or the other. So, in this post, I’d like to share my thoughts on both with you in hopes of helping you make an educated buying decision.
First, let’s look at the design of these tripods.
Of the two, I would say that the 3T-15 has a more traditional tripod design. It’s essentially a set of legs with a ballhead. It doesn’t do anything special but that’s not a bad thing. Because it doesn’t have special features, it doesn’t require a bunch of special parts. The construction of the 3T-15 is simple yet extremely robust. This thing just feels like a tank but it is surprisingly the lighter weight of the two. In terms of construction, this one feels of better quality. In terms of design, everything is streamlined and in my opinion, the 3T-15 is the better-looking tripod of the two. This looks like a complete product as if everything belonged together.
Next, the 3T-35. This is definitely the more interesting design of the two options. The main thing that makes this tripod different from the 3T-15 is the center column. This allows you to get some additional height when in tripod mode and when held, it’s actually long enough to be a pretty functional selfie stick. The center column features two different sections and has the ability to extend. This allows for a little more height in tripod mode and an even longer selfie stick. If you don’t want the height and just want a more traditional design like the 3T-15, then you can just remove the entire center column. This reduces the size quite a bit and makes the setup very compact but to be honest if I’m buying this tripod, I’m buying it for the center column. That is the main appeal of this tripod. Also, removing the center column isn’t exactly an effortless task. It requires a tool and takes a moment to remove. In a pinch and if you absolutely need a really low angle shot then sure, remove the center column. Just make sure to bring the hex key along or you’ll be out of luck. For me, the process is not practical so I always keep the center column on. That being said, there is one major drawback to this design. As with any other tripod, the center column does make the tripod less stable and not as sturdy. Whereas the 3T-15 can support 11 lbs, the 3T-35 can only support 8.8 lbs. Remember, these are the recommended max payloads so you should really use a rig that weighs less but still, the 3T-15 will be able to support a greater payload. With a camera mounted to the tripods, you can definitely tell that the 3T-15 provides the more stable platform and this makes sense. The center of gravity of the camera is lower when on the 3T-15 than 3T-35. They may be more similar, in terms of stability, if the center column is removed from the 3T-35, but again, that’s just not how I use this tripod.
If you are watching this video and are interested in buying one or the other and are hoping that there’s an outright winner than I’m sorry to break it to you because there just isn’t. These two tripods have different purposes and are geared towards different users. The 3T-15 is a simple, straight forward tabletop tripod. It has no frills but feels extremely robust and looks great. It provides the a more stable platform out the box and can support a greater payload. The 3T-35 is a bit of a chameleon. It’s multi-purpose. It can be a plain tabletop tripod like the 3T-15 when the center column is removed or with the center column, you get a taller table tripod and a very functional selfie stick. Not to say that you can’t use the 3T-15 to get a little extra reach, but the 3T-35 is just more useful as a selfie stick if you do not have a particularly wide lens. The main drawback, for me, with the 3T-35 is its perceived robustness. The specs say that it can hold 8.8 lbs but I don’t know if I really believe that. I mean 8.8 lbs is more than a body and a 70-200mm f/2.8. Would you throw that kind of setup on this thing? Probably not. The 3T-15 on the other hand, the specs say that its load capacity is 11 lb and I don’t know if I would want to test that but, I have an easier time believing it. Realistically, a tripod is only as strong as its individual components whether its the head or the legs. You can have a set of legs that can carry 100 lbs but if the head can only hold 1 lb, then the whole setup only holds 1 lb. The 3T-15’s head is so much beefier than the 3T-35’s head. Because of this, I think the 3T-35 would be an excellent option for a smaller setup. If you use a point and shoot, micro 4/3, APS-C or a small, lightweight full-frame setup, then the 3T-35 is an extremely versatile option. If you have a heavier setup or just have no need for the center column, go with the 3T-15. It’s extremely well built and will more likely hold up to the test of time.
It should also be noted that there is also a 3T-35 Plus model which costs a few dollars more than the standard 3T-35. I’m not exactly sure what’s different but the Plus model is advertised as having a C-10S ballhead. The C-10S head essentially gives you all of the functions of the 3T-15’s head but can’t support the same payload. Aside from this, there isn’t much difference. The specs show that the Plus is a bit larger in size and has a bit more maximum working height but this could just be because the C-10S head is a bit larger. The Plus is a few grams lighter than the original. Other than that, the two are very similar.
