Tilta expands lineup with BT03 tabletop tripod and VT05 travel video tripod

Tilta’s a relative latecomer to the world of tripods. After entering the tripod market only a few months ago, the company is already expanding its range. This time, we’ve got the Tilta VT05 ($299) carbon fibre travel video tripod and the Tilta BT03 tabletop tripod ($89–98).

The more interesting of the two, to me at least, is the smaller BT03 tabletop tripod. It’s a section of the tripod market that I feel has been quite underserved in the past. Lately, we’ve seen a few good new ones, and even some 3D printed ones, so it’s nice to see more popping up.

Tilta VT05 Carbon Fibre Travel Video Tripod

The Tilta VT05 is a carbon fibre travel tripod. As such, it’s a lot like many other carbon fibre travel tripods. Travel tripods are quite common, but they’re typically tailored to photography. This one, on the other hand, is designed for video.

It packs up small and lightweight, making it easy to carry around on either short or long journeys. Its four-section legs open up to let it sit 160cm (62.99″) at full extension. This is a little lower without the centre column extended, with a height of 132cm (52.05″).

The lower height is important, as you’ll typically have the centre column lowered when shooting video for a more stable result. Its minimum height is only 23cm (9.06″), allowing you to get some great low-down dramatic shots looking up at the world.

It features a fluid video head on top, but it utilises an Arca Swiss quick release plate rather than the usual Manfrotto video plate. This will be very handy for hybrid shooters who regularly switch between video and stills with their mirrorless cameras.

Tilta BT03 Tabletop Tripod

Historically, tabletop tripods haven’t been in huge demand. Most people prefer to handhold in such instances, or it happens so infrequently that they just figure out a way to adapt their regular tripod for the task at hand. But they can be extremely handy.

The Tilta Tabletop Ball Head is designed primarily for tabletop photography – as opposed to video. Of course, it has an Arca Swiss mount on top, so you can stick a camera on there and do whatever you want with it, but a ball head is generally better suited to stills.

The marketing materials for the BT03 do actually show a version of it using what appears to be the same fluid video head as the VT05 (or very similar), although the combination of BT03 with the fluid video head does not seem to be available to buy. Hopefully, that will come in the future, as I could see myself picking up a couple if it does.

Its diminutive legs lock at 25º, 55º, and 82º. The tripod sits at 55.5cm (21.9″) at maximum height, and it has a minimum height of 27.5cm (10.83)”. At least, that’s what the specs on the website say, but I’m not so sure.

There are two models of BT03. There’s the standard BT03 and the BT03E, the latter of which comes with an extending centre column for when you need a little more height. The specifications for both tripods show the same minimum and maximum height. I suspect the version without the centre column can probably get much lower than 27.5cm.

Price and Availability

The Tilta VT05 is available to buy now for $299 in either Space Grey or Forest Green colours. The Tilta BT03 is also available to buy now for $89 (there’s a $10 launch discount, and then it’ll go up to $99) in Space Grey, Forest Green, or Snow White colours. The BT03E Extendable Edition is available in the same three colours for $98 (again, a $10 discount, it goes up to $109 once that’s over).