The Ulanzi & Coman Zero-Y tripod was clearly aimed at photographers who wanted an affordable travel tripod in the spirit of the Peak Design Travel Tripod. Like many Peak Design products, that tripod introduced a clever new system, but the price put it out of reach for a lot of us.

In 2023, after looking back and forth between different options and almost buying a used Peak Design, I decided to try the Ulanzi Zero-Y during a Prime Day sale.

Three years later, I am still very impressed with it. It is light, compact, easy to strap to a backpack, and capable of carrying a decent camera setup as long as you stay realistic about what a travel tripod is meant to do. The Zero-Y version is fully compatible with Arca-Swiss and Peak Design plates, whereas the Zero F38 version pushes you into the Ulanzi quick-release ecosystem, which is great if you are starting out with a new system. I also bought a separate centre column for the times when I want to use a different ball head.

Obviously, if I try to mount a Canon R5C with an EF 100-400mm lens for long-exposure photography, this tripod won't cut it. But that is not really its job.

The Good:

• Carbon-fibre build keeps weight low for travel and hiking.

• Compact folded size makes it realistic to strap on a backpack.

• Arca-Swiss head is widely compatible, including with Peak Design plates.

• Decent maximum height for such a small travel tripod, around 1.5m.

• Included 360° ball head.

• Strong value when bought on sale.

The Bad:

• Ball head is not ideal for smooth video pans or tilts, though Ulanzi makes more video-focused versions.

• Quality control can be hit or miss, so there is always a chance of getting a bad copy.

• A bit too light for larger cameras, long lenses, or heavier cinema setups.

• Centre column extended at full height is useful, but not the most stable configuration.

• Get it if you need a compact carbon-fibre tripod for travel, landscape, and light hybrid work.

• Get it if low weight and packability matter more than maximum rigidity.

• Get it if you want a mid-range budget travel tripod.

• Pass if you need a dedicated fluid-head video tripod.

• Pass if your main use is heavy telephoto or cinema rig support in rough outdoor conditions.

• It is often on sale during Prime Day events, making it especially interesting.

• There is also a newer model now, the Ulanzi JJ06 GlideGo, which features a two-stage centre column.