COMAN T1 Mini One-Touch Tripod Launched on Kickstarter

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COMAN T1 Mini One-Touch Tripod Launched on Kickstarter

COMAN just launched the T1 Mini on Kickstarter, a compact carbon fiber travel tripod weighing 1.65kg/3.5 lbs and supporting payloads up to 6kg/13 lbs. It keeps the T1’s one-touch leg system and adds a bolt-style Arca-Swiss quick-release ball head, three leg angles, and a modular center column you can invert or swap. So, let’s take a closer look at it!

Founded in 2010, COMAN is a Chinese manufacturer based in Zhongshan that designs and manufactures photo and video support equipment in-house. You might remember the Ulanzi & COMAN Zero Y lightweight travel tripod we talked about at IBC 2022.

The T1 Mini is COMAN’s third crowdfunding campaign, following the COMAN Go! M1 Series one-touch monopod and the COMAN Go! Series T1 tripod. According to the company, T1 users asked for a more compact, travel-friendly version that kept its core features, and the T1 Mini is the answer.

The COMAN T1 Mini folded and fully extended. Image credit: COMAN

COMAN T1 Mini – specifications

The COMAN T1 Mini weighs 1.65kg/3.5 lbs and can take payloads up to 6kg/13 lbs. It reaches a maximum height of 1,595mm/62.8″, or 2,285mm/89.9″ with the optional PH110 Light Stand Shaft. The folded length is 533mm/20.98″, so the T1 Mini should fit in or on the side of most backpacks.

The T1 Mini has interchangeable rubbera nd steel spike feet. Image credit: COMAN

The T1 Mini features four-section legs, and three preset leg angles allow you to adapt to slopes, stairs, or uneven ground. The tripod also includes interchangeable rubber feet and steel spikes.

It is made of 3K, 10-layer carbon fiber, 6-series aluminum alloy, and stainless steel. The panoramic ball head offers 360° pan and uses a bolt-style Arca-Swiss quick release.

The T1 Mini features two ARRI-style 1/4″-20 threads at the tripod base for attaching accessories such as a monitor, microphone, light, or magic arm.

COMAN T1 Mini – one-touch leg system and center column

Unlocking, extending, and locking each leg section of a traditional tripod takes time. To speed things up, the T1 Mini uses the company’s proprietary one-touch leg system: flip open the clamps, let the leg sections slide out to the desired length, and close the clamps to lock everything in place. COMAN claims a setup time of as little as 3 seconds.

To keep the tripod as compact as possible when folded, COMAN replaced the traditional round center column with a Y-shaped column with a concave-triangular profile. The three legs nest into its grooves when folded, reducing total storage volume by 30%, according to the company.

The center column is also modular and can be configured in several ways:

Inverted center shaft: remove the bottom hook, pull out the center shaft, reverse it, and reinstall it for low-angle, ground-level, and macro shots.
PH100 Short Center Shaft: included in the box, it replaces the standard center shaft for low-angle shooting. Its 3/8″-16 mounting point also lets you use your favorite photo/video heads.
PH110 Light Stand Shaft: sold separately, it extends the tripod height to 2,285mm/89.9″ and turns it into a light stand or 360° camera stand.

The COMAN T1 Mini ball head. Image credit: COMAN

COMAN T1 Mini – ball head and quick-release system

The T1 Mini comes with a panoramic ball head that rotates 360° horizontally for panoramas. COMAN says the head uses a US-patented inverted-bowl design that keeps the folded profile compact while still offering a wide tilt range, in both landscape and portrait orientations.

Instead of a traditional knob, the head uses COMAN’s in-house Arca-Swiss quick-release system with a bolt-style side latch. Sliding the latch releases the plate, so you can mount or remove your camera in about one second. The company says the clamp is compatible with 99% of Arca-Swiss plates on the market, including Peak Design-compatible plates.

Last but not least, the optional COMAN DP59 Magnetic Arca-Swiss Mount allows you to attach a smartphone magnetically to the tripod. It can also hold a smartphone next to your camera, for example, to use it as a teleprompter or for live-view monitoring.

The T1 Mini is available in black, silver, and olive green. Image credit: COMAN

Price and availability

The COMAN T1 Mini is now available to preorder on Kickstarter, starting at $279.99 for the Black version and $299.99 for the special-edition Silver and Military Green versions. All three versions share the same specifications.

The tripod ships with a soft carrying pouch, an Arca-Swiss quick-release plate, the PH100 Short Center Shaft, a dedicated adjustment wrench, and a user manual.

For more information, please visit COMAN’s Kickstarter page here.

We are saying this at the end of every crowdfunding-related article: be aware of the risks when backing a project on a crowdfunding platform. Please read the platform’s terms of use, and keep in mind that product delivery can be significantly delayed. Some projects may not be delivered at all. COMAN has a good track record regarding crowdfunding campaigns; their two previous Kickstarter campaigns raised over $216K for the Go! M1 Series and over $174K for the Go! Series T1, and they delivered both to backers on time.

What do you think about the COMAN T1 Mini? Have you already used COMAN tripods before? Do you usually travel with a tripod, and is setup speed important to you? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!