FLM CP30-L4 II - Best Tripod for Landscape Photography
Introduction
In this article, I am going to be reviewing my new tripod, the FLM CP30-L4 II Carbon Fiber Tripod which I’ve been using for five months across a variety of terrains and truly believe is one of the best options for landscape photography out there.
We’ll cover the key features of this fantastic tripod:
Why I chose it
My hands-on experience
How it compares to other high-quality tripods
Vibration dampening test
I've had this tripod now for about five months. Beforehand, I relied on a smaller, 10-year-old Benro travel tripod, which still works well. But I needed something sturdier, taller, and without a central column—ideally, without adding much extra weight to my bag.
1. Meet the FLM CP30-L4 II Tripod
The CP30-L4 II is a 10x carbon fiber series tripod from FLM with an excellent build quality. What really sold me on this tripod is its max height, which is 173.5 cm (68.3”).
When it comes to choosing a tripod, I think your height is just as important as the weight, sturdiness, and stability. And as someone who’s 6 foot 1, having a tripod that tall makes a real difference. It’s a big step up from my old Benro travel tripod, which maxed out at 141 cm without the column, and 164 cm with the column fully extended.
The CP30-L4 folds down to 58.42 cm (23”), so it’s still fairly compact. It has a minimum height with the legs ratcheted all the way out of just 9.1 cm (3.6”), and it weighs only 1.41kg (3.1 lb) with a load capacity of 20kg (44.1 lb). The price at the time I’m recording this video is about $495.
2. FLM CP30-L4 II Tripod Legs
The 'CP30' in the name refers to the maximum leg diameter, while 'L4' indicates that the tripod has four longer leg sections with three leg locks.
The tube dimensions are 30mm, 26mm, 22mm, and 19mm in the last section. I feel like a maximum tube diameter of 30 millimeters is really a sweet spot for a lot of photographers.
It gives you great stability without making the tripod too heavy or too light, which was one of my top priorities for choosing a new tripod.
The legs are incredibly sturdy, which is something I’m super impressed by. Being carbon fiber it does an excellent job of absorbing some vibrations that come up through the legs.
I haven’t really noticed any loss of sharpness in my shots, even during long exposures. Considering how lightweight and tall the CP30-L4 is, its sturdiness is really remarkable.
One thing I really love about having this extra height is how useful it is on uneven terrain.
A lot of people say, “Well, I’m only 5 foot 4, why do I need a 68.3-inch set of legs?”.
Well, if you’ve ever been on a steep hillside and you stretch one or two legs out down the hillside, suddenly you realize that even at five-four your tripod only comes up to your navel, and you’re forced to kneel to try to work on a steep hillside.
With this extra height, you can easily set the tripod at eye level, even on tricky ground, making everything so much easier and more comfortable to work with.
That said, keep in mind, that the taller you extend your tripod, the less stable it's going to be. Whenever possible, try to work with fewer leg sections extended to maximize stability.
Or maybe you find yourself in a spot where you need that extra height to shoot over a fence or wall, or just a few more centimeters to better separate the elements in the frame.
Like here below, for example, during my workshop in Iceland last July, where I had to fully extend the tripod to get the perfect composition and balance for the shot.
Or here below, where to capture the composition I wanted I had to position the camera in a very tricky spot—one leg on the grass, another on a rock, and the third leg extending down into the streambed.
Despite the awkward setup, the tripod was rock solid, no vibrations at all, and I was able to capture a tack-sharp long exposure of this wonderful waterfall.
So, that extra height made all the difference in getting the shot.
Another advantage of its height is that, if you use it in a normal height position, just unfolding only the thickest two sections, you can get an extreme stability.
The thinner section doesn't have to extend at all. So, instead of being a four-section tripod, it essentially turns into a very thick three section tripod, with a comfortable height of 131cm at the plate, that’s great for working on flat terrain.
It really just gives you all kinds of flexibility.
3. Aluminium Twist Locks
FLM tripods feature beautiful aluminium and not rubber coated twist locks like other manufactures.
They have a weather sealing o-ring that helps to keep out dust and moisture. They are very pleasant to use and something I really appreciate about the FLM CP30 is how easily the legs drop when you unlock them.
It's a quarter turn to loosen them, and that makes things faster when you're working in the field. Not all tripods do this, but it saves time when setting up or packing away, which is always a bonus.
One key advantage of twist locks is how easy they are to clean. If you keep twisting, the leg section comes off completely, so you can clean and take care of your tripod. This is a big help if you’re working in sand, saltwater, or in some extreme kind of conditions.
4. Tripod Apex & Top Plate
The built quality of the apex is excellent. The 60mm diameter top plate can support different tripod heads within the 20kg payload range.
One of the key advantages of this fixed-apex design is its compactness—it allows the tripod to fold down with a smaller diameter, making it super convenient to pack for hikes or slip into your luggage when traveling.
This is one of the reasons I chose the CP30 model over the bigger models, which have a bigger apex.
It has a foam core material that helps with slip resistance and reduces vibrations when the ball head is attached.
All screws are stainless steel, so you won’t have any issues with saltwater when shooting seascapes, that’s really nice.
There’s a small eyelet, which honestly I don’t ever use. I’ve seen people use it to hang a bag for extra stability, but in windy conditions, this doesn’t help at all. Please don’t do that. In fact, it can cause significant movement through the camera, giving you the exact opposite effect.
The leg lock mechanism is hands down the best I’ve ever used. It’s super easy to grab and operate—just pull the angle lock or push it from behind, and the leg unlocks smoothly.
You can adjust it to three angles, even going nearly flat with the ball head for low-angle shots.
These locks are spring-loaded to stay open while moving the leg up, and when the leg reaches its top position, the lock ratchets down automatically and locks in position. And that way it’s always right there where you need it.
So far, the legs have stayed very consistent with the tension to open and close over the last five months.
Two great features are the bubble level and (1/4"-20) quarter-twenty threads on the side, which is nice. If you’re a panorama lover like me, the bubble level is really essential for keeping the tripod perfectly level, ensuring each shot lines up smoothly and making the stitching process much easier.
The accessory ports on the apex are perfect for attaching tools like magic arms for lights or video monitors. I find them incredibly useful for holding my smartphone to film B-roll or shoot time-lapses.
5. FLM CP30-L4 II: No Central Column!
As you can see, this tripod isn’t as compact as my old Benro in terms of length—it’s about 10cm longer. That said, I think it strikes a great balance between sturdiness and portability, making it a solid all-around option.
The CP30-L4 II comes with no center column, which was actually something I specifically wanted in my new tripod.
Without a center column, you control the height by extending or shortening each leg individually, which takes slightly more time than simply raising or lowering a center column.
The upside is that, without the center column, the tripod folds down to a more compact size, with a profile of just 8.5cm compared to the 11cm of my old Benro travel tripod.
I’ve been using the CP30-L4 II for about 5 months now, and I’m really happy with how stable it is at all heights, even when fully extended. And that’s a really important factor to consider when shopping for a tripod.
A tripod with a center column is not going to be nearly as stable at maximum height, as you’ll see in the test later on.
6. Tripod Rubber Feet vs. Spikes
The CP30-L4 II comes with large, sturdy rubber feet that work really well on various surfaces.
A nice little touch is the rubber ring on the thread, which helps keep dirt, sand, and water out—definitely a great feature to help the tripod last longer.
The CP30 also comes with high-quality 4 cm stainless steel spikes that you can easily swap out for the rubber feet. I love using them on softer terrains because they dig in and give the tripod a much more solid grip, stopping it from sinking or wobbling.
7. Tripod Ball Head: FLM 55GX/QLB-60
A good tripod system isn’t complete without a solid ball head.
Mounted on the top I have the 55GX ball head from the new FLM GX series, which pairs perfectly with the CP30-L4 tripod. It’s topped with the QLB-60 Lever clamp, and the whole setup comes in at about $359.
The ball head with the clamp weights 456g, so it’s remarkably light for its substantial ball size. The tripod and the ball head together is just barely over 1.8kg (4 lb), which means it’s still very portable and lightweight.
I really like the low-profile design of this ball head. The 55mm ball is solid and easy to work with. I’m pretty stoked with the fluidity, the smoothness. The heaviest setup I’ve used this with is my Fujifilm X-T4 with the 50-140mm, but it’s rated for up to 40kg, so it can hold very big setups.
What I love most about this ball head is that there’s no drop whatsoever—once it’s positioned and tightened down, it’s locked solid, and I know it’s staying exactly where I put it with zero drop.
That gives me peace of mind, ensuring my shots are accurate and reducing the need for constant adjustments. Everything stays in position without any shifting or sagging.
This tripod has a big lever that controls both the ball and the friction damping. Personally, I prefer using a lever over a friction knob. One feature I really like is that the lever is ratcheting.
So, if you need to adjust the friction but don’t have enough room to spin it fully, you can just turn it, lift it, and reposition it before turning again. It makes it super easy to get the perfect adjustment while keeping the lever in a comfortable spot for smooth use.
For the clamp, I went with the QLB-60 quick release lever clamp which is excellent.
It’s Arca-compatible so I can use my L-bracket and Peak Design camera plates I have on each of my cameras and that I use with the Peak Design Capture Clip. So, everything fits one whole system, which is fantastic. It also has a dedicated knob to adjust the jaw to accommodate different Arca plate sizes.
I’m happy with the ball head level back here. So, we have in total two bubble levels, one on the top of the ball head and another level on the actual tripod itself.
The 55GX comes with two knobs—a panning knob, and a 15° degrees stop knob.
I shoot a lot of panoramas, and the 15° stop knob on the 55GX is a great feature for this. It allows precise 15° rotation increments, which is perfect for capturing wide scenes.
Occasionally, the increment feels a bit wide, but it’s worked great for most of the scenes I’ve captured so far.
For example, here is a series of 8 vertical wide-angle shots for a waterfall panorama in Iceland, and the 15° stop gave me the right overlap for an easy, consistent merge in Lightroom.
8. Tripod Comparison: FLM vs RRS vs ProMediaGear vs LeoFoto
I wanted to compare the FLM CP30-L4 II with a few other popular great tripods from different brands with very similar characteristics. I’ll look at two options from high-end brands and a third, more “budget-friendly” choice.
So, I’ve put together a table that compares all the key features of the FLM CP30-L4 alongside these ProMediaGear (TRS344L Pro-Stix), Really Right Stuff (TFC-24L MK2), and LeoFoto (LS-324CEX) models in the same category. Let me be clear—these are all great tripods, and any of them could be a solid choice.
My goal here is simply to show you how the FLM measures up against the competition, and why it became my top pick.
FLM vs LeoFoto
When we compare the FLM with the LeoFoto, we see that, for a similar price, the CP30-L4 is 20cm taller, 200g lighter, has an additional 5kg load capacity, the same minimum height, and is only 2.5cm longer when folded.
FLM vs ProMediaGear
Against the ProMediaGear, the FLM is just about 5cm shorter, which doesn’t make much of a difference for my needs. It’s 470g lighter (this is substantial!), has a lower minimum height, and a shorter folded length.
While the FLM’s load capacity is lower than the ProMediaGear’s, 20kg is more than enough for me, well beyond what I actually need. Plus, the FLM is nearly a third of the price of the ProMediaGear, which is a huge plus. Another great benefit is that the FLM comes with a lifetime manufacturer's warranty, while the ProMediaGear only offers 5 years.
FLM vs Really Right Stuff
When comparing the FLM to Really Right Stuff, the FLM is about 5cm taller, 270g lighter, has a smaller minimum height, and the same folded length. It also includes a bubble level, whereas the RRS does not.
The FLM’s load capacity is 12kg less than the Really Right Stuff, but once again, 20kg is more than enough. It also comes with a lifetime manufacturer's warranty and is about $600 cheaper.
So, considering my needs, the CP30-L4 II really stands out—and when you factor in the price, it's an absolute bargain.
I also compared the ball heads, focusing on models with a 55mm ball diameter (except for the ProMediaGear, which is 50mm).
The FLM 55GX ball head with the QLB-60 lever clamp is the lightest at just 456g—almost half the weight of the others, which is amazing! It also has the lowest height, smallest base diameter, and useful extras like the 15° stop knob and adjustable jaw, all at a price that’s hard to beat.
So, this tripod and ball head combo offers all the features I want and more, making it a great value.
9. Tripod Vibration Dampening Test
To make the review more complete, I decided to do a simple side-by-side comparison between my old Benro with the center column and the new FLM CP30.
While this is not a scientific test, it’s a practical way to show how a tripod’s performance can change depending on factors like terrain, height, leg sections, and type of feet.
This could help you understand how to get the most out of your tripod in different situations.
I tested both on soft terrain and concrete, using both rubber feet and spikes, to see how they handled different surfaces, and the results are pretty interesting.
If you want to see these tests in action and how the tripods performed side by side, check out the full video demonstration.
10. FLM CP30-L4 II: Do I Recommend It?
I haven’t come across another tripod that ticks all the boxes like the FLM does—especially when you consider factors like price, height, weight, usability, portability, and build quality.
It really is a fantastic all-rounder that performs well in a variety of situations. When you consider that you’re getting an about 6 foot tall tripod with no center column with these characteristics and price, well, I think it’s pretty amazing.
It is hands down the best tripod I've ever had for my landscape photography.
There are some trade-offs, though: it's a bit longer than my old Benro model, so it sticks out a little above my backpack; it’s about 200g heavier; and not having a central column can sometimes make setting up the shot a little more time-consuming.
However, none of these are deal-breakers for me.
That said, the best tripod is the one that can do what you want it to do, when you need it to do it, and a lot of this is down to personal preference.
In fact, just a few days ago, I sent out a newsletter asking my subscribers about their favorite tripod setups, and the feedback was fantastic, reinforcing my belief that everything is subjective.
Anyway, if this fits within your budget, I’d strongly recommend the FLM CP30-L4 II.
A solid, reliable tripod might cost a bit more upfront, but it’ll save you money and frustration in the long run, and it will last for years.
If you’re interested in the CP30-L4 II or exploring FLM’s other tripod models, they offer a great selection for various needs.
11. Where Can You Get FLM Tripods?
Here are the direct links to FLM’s shop for USA and Canada customers:
12. What About You?
That’s my review of the FLM CP30-L4 II tripod.
I’m really curious to hear why you chose the tripod you’re using now—what’s working for you, and what’s not? I’d love to know the little details, the reasons behind your choice, and any quirks or surprises you’ve encountered along the way.
So, please leave a comment and share your thoughts!
And if you found this helpful, please forward this article to a friend or fellow photographer who might benefit from it.
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