Kingjoy C83s Carbon Fibre Tripod review Gitzo comparison

Last year I reviewed the outstanding Kingjoy C85 Tripod and found that it not only performed as well as my Gitzo Systematic 3 Series but that by the end of the review period I was choosing it in preference on a regular basis. My interest was especially raised therefore when Kinjoy invited me to try out another of their tripods. This time the C83S.

***Attached to a Shimoda Action X-30 Bag***

If I’m lucky enough to be composing with the camera at eye level, I need a tripod that brings the camera right to my eye. I can’t spend a day in a slightly crouched position, after an hour my back is aching so much, I’m ready to give up and go home.

There are some superb tripods on the market but if they don’t deliver the camera to my eye without requiring me to bend, I’m not interested.

This four section carbon fibre tripod is a pretty much direct equivalent to my middleweight tripod of choice the Gitzo Mountaineer Series 2. Unlike the previous Kingjoy Tripods I’ve seen, it has a centre column and one that is of an unusual design.

The tripod comes very well presented with a set of fitted rubber feet, an alternative set of short spikes, Allen keys and a tripod case. As with the larger Kingjoy, the screw in feet come with rubber 'o' rings which both resist the ingress of moisture and also help prevent the feet loosening through vibration. A small but excellent design detail that sets these tripods above the many.

As with all the Kingjoy products, the finish is flawless and the manufacturing is to a high standard. This tripod presents itself as a premium product. As I’ve been so happy with my Series 2 Gitzo, I chose to structure this review as part review and part comparison.

A table of comparative measurements will save a few paragraphs. The measurements are my own so might vary a little from those quoted by the manufacturers. I’ve added some notes where relevant.

At full height without the centre columns set up the two tripods are very similar indeed. They are broadly similar in general tube diameters and overall look.

In use

I’ve been using this tripod for several months on a daily basis in the Lake District. I feel I’ve got to know it pretty well in that time.

One of the highest forms of praise for an item like a tripod is that it fades into invisibility in use. You simply use it and forget all about it. The legs extend and close away quickly and smoothly. They lock solidly under all conditions and never seem to exhibit that 'faux lock' that some do where you feel you have locked a leg but then have to go back and tighten further once you apply weight. In use, despite being of four sections, the rigidity is very high and I saw no reduction compared with my three section Gitzo. Vibration is as well damped as any equivalent support on the market. The weight supported will be comfortably above all normal DSLR/Mirrorless camera /lens combinations. If you’re looking at super telephotos such as 600/800+mm, you’re probably looking at a slightly more substantial tripod. Bear in mind that the limiting factor on supported weight will generally be the tripod head rather than the legs and I’ve learned to take most stated maximum weights with a pinch of salt.

I found the C83s a pleasure to use and small details such as a spring loaded self returning leg locks represent significant improvements over my current Gitzo.

The centre column is an unusual design. Most makers go for a carbon fibre tube, usually of similar gauge to the upper leg section. Kingjoy have chosen a solid carbon column in a concave triangular cross section. Kingjoy refer to this as a Herringbone shape.

Using the tripod centre column

It's worth taking a moment to consider the use of a tripod centre column. These are often the subject of advice, some of it good but much of it passed on without thought. The established wisdom is that one should never use a camera on a fully extended centre column and yet most budget and many high end tripods have such a column. The reality is of course a compromise. If you place a camera on top of a scaffolding pole it will sway in the slightest breeze and breeze or wind is the key to centre column use. First we need to eliminate all centre columns that are inherently unstable either by being simply too thin or composed of too many ill fitting pieces. Then we need to consider the conditions on the day. If there is little or no movement of air then a camera can be mounted on a centre column at maximum height quite safely without worry of movement. As soon as a breeze picks up then the height of the column needs to be reduced until the point where no column height can be used at all. If possible, using the column down is usually the preferred option but every time we choose and use a tripod we engage in a process of compromises. The key is understanding these compromises and their consequences.

This design, though unconventional, seems to give a very light but rigid structure. The column is itself in two parts joined by a long inner screw connector. The three curved facets rather than a round section allow the tripod legs to fold much closer together than a traditional tubular centre column would allow.

Scalloped column allows space for the legs to collapse into a smaller folded size.

The legs are made from 10 layer interwoven high density carbon fibre. Each leg section locks independently, securely and with a short rotation. There's never any doubt - it's 'first time every time'. Over a photographic career spanning 40+ years, I've never had any doubt that twist locks are preferable for me over side operating clips. I don't think it's any coincidence that all the industry's premium models use twist locks. They are quicker, lock more securely and in my experience, last longer. Some other photographers disagree however. The legs have the usual three angle settings. In contrast to some brands, the Kingjoy angle clips return to the null position as the legs are collapsed.

As would be expected, the centre column separates and also allows the tripod to operate at ground level. This is accomplished quickly and easily and gives a very low and stable operating platform.

I chose to compare the C83S with my existing middleweight tripod of choice, the Gitzo Mountaineer Series 2 three section. This has become pretty much the industry standard at the premium end and serves as a useful yardstick. It should be noted that I’m comparing a three section Gitzo with a four section Kingjoy so the comparison is not exact. I’ve used one of these models for nearly 20 years without finding anything that came close.

Thanks to the innovative centre column and the use of four sections, the C83s folds to a much more compact size for carrying or attaching to a backpack. Considering that I found the stability and working height to be more or less the same, this is remarkable. Clearly a four section Gitzo would have been a more direct comparision but the three section is the one that I own.

The lighter weight and smaller packed size make the Kingjoy a more attractive option for the higher fells.

When moving through woodland with the tripod on a backpack, the shorter packed length means there is less to catch on overhead branches.

I found the C83S a pleasure to use and the performance entirely satisfactory. There were a couple of minor niggles that I’d suggest might benefit from redesign. I think the adjustment screw on the centre column would benefit from being larger, both thread and the adjustment end. Smaller screws like these work OK in the summer but with gloves in winter a bigger adjustment knob is an advantage. A heavier gauge screw would also be more resistant to any damage due to impact. The second area for improvement is that the adjustment screw for the centre column is not captive meaning that it is capable of coming loose and being lost. Any screw can vibrate loose and be retightened but it should not be possible for such a critical screw to be lost entirely. These are two very minor points to emerge from 2 months regular use across the fells and valleys of the Lakes.

The key take away from this review is that I approached it by comparing the performance of the Kingjoy C83S with my existing tried and trusted Gitzo Mountaineer tripod. I often took both and used them side by side. On other days, I’d alternate. As I experienced when testing the C85, by the end of the testing period, I was increasingly choosing to take the Kingjoy in preference to the Gitzo. I didn’t anticipate this and didn’t notice at first but there were so many aspects that made it a preferable choice. If you are looking for a tripod in this size and weight category, you should definitely be considering the Kingjoy C83s. I’ll be sorry to see this tripod go and will definitely have one on my list for a future purchase when the time comes.

Even when the light is good, I’d never want to be without a tripod in woodland photography as it helps me to compose carefully. In this instance even f6.3 only gave 1/25s and a tripod gave additional security against camera shake.

Conclusion - Highly recommended.