The best tripod leg
“TSUBAME” is a true classic among photographic tripods. Its rugged construction, timeless design, and dependable operation have kept it in continuous use for more than 60 years since its debut in Japan. As the world’s first duralumin tripod and the first tripod to feature an elevator center column, it effectively became the blueprint for many of the tripods that followed. With overwhelming support from working photographers, it has earned its place as a genuine industry standard.
The market is full of camera products labeled “for professional use,” but how many of them are actually trusted and used day in, day out by real professionals? TSUBAME is one of those rare tools. In Japan, it has long been a familiar sight in photo studios, wedding venues, school photography, and food and product work. For many photography students, the advice has been simple: “If you’re buying your first tripod, get a three‑section TSUBAME.” That level of presence and trust is what truly defines a professional tripod.
Continues to be refined over time
The head itself is built to an exceptionally high standard. It may sound simple to say it “moves smoothly and locks precisely,” but in reality, very few heads truly deliver both. One of the key reasons TSUBAME is so easy to use is that there is almost no image shift when you tighten the locks after framing your shot. What you compose is what stays in the frame. This is where you can really feel the world‑class quality of its “movement” and “stopping”: a fluid, controlled motion while you’re adjusting, and a rock‑solid hold the moment you lock it down.
Aluminum alloy legs
In an era where carbon fiber dominates the tripod market, TSUBAME deliberately uses only carefully selected, top‑grade aluminum alloy for its leg tubes. This allows us to deliver the two qualities every location shooter depends on: high rigidity and low weight. Each leg section is precision‑machined from a single solid piece of metal using dedicated tooling—a manufacturing method that simply isn’t possible with carbon tubes. There are no bonded layers, so there is no risk of adhesive cracking or peeling over time, and the advantages in durability and long‑term reliability are clear. Despite being metal, TSUBAME tripods are lighter than many competing aluminum models and even comparable in weight to carbon‑fiber tripods.
The standard TSUBAME is an integrated tripod with a built‑in head, but we also offer legs‑only versions to suit a wide range of shooting styles. The lineup includes seven sizes, from two to five leg sections, covering everything from compact travel setups to more robust, studio‑oriented support. These leg sets are ideal if you like to swap heads depending on the subject—still life, portrait, video, or long‑exposure work—or when you need to stay within strict carry‑on baggage size limits when flying.
All from a professional shooting location
Production of this tripod was first handed over from Quickset in the United States to Toyo Trading Co., Ltd. in Japan, and has been fully transferred to Studio Jin since 2022. Instead of relying on low‑cost overseas components, we insist on premium materials and high‑precision machining. Every single part—down to the smallest screw—is manufactured in Japan, and final assembly is performed in Japanese factories under strict quality control. Because all parts are made locally and kept available as service components, any TSUBAME tripod can be completely overhauled and returned to “like new” operating condition whenever necessary. That level of support gives working photographers the confidence to rely on a single tripod for years, not just seasons.
Today, it is entirely routine for us to service tripods that were produced 20 or even 30 years ago. Since the core dimensions of the main components have never changed, all of these older tripods can be repaired with current, brand‑new parts without compromise. Across the wider world of industrial products, it is rare to find a tool that has been allowed to evolve in this way over such a long period of time, while maintaining full compatibility and support. TSUBAME is a direct expression of what professional photographers demand in terms of build quality and after‑sales service. There is a clear reason why this tripod has been chosen—and kept in use—by generations of working pros.
| Model Number | Model Name | Shorten length | Lowest leg height | Maximum leg height | EV increase | Total Maximum Height | Weight | Load capacity (dynamic load) |
| HT-1130 | 3 Sec. Tripod 3/8" screw | 666mm | 623mm | 1466mm | 370mm | 1838mm | 2440g | 10kg |
| HT-1140 | ４ Sec. Tripod 3/8" screw | 711mm | 665mm | 1991mm | 370mm | 2363mm | 2870g | 10kg |
| HT-1150 | 5 Sec. Tripod 3/8" screw | 754mm | 704mm | 2554mm | 370mm | 2926mm | 3240g | 10kg |
| HT-1131 | Semi-Short 3 Sec. Tripod 3/8" screw | 539mm | 507mm | 1114mm | 260mm | 1376mm | 2070g | 10kg |
| HT-1141 | Semi-Short 4 Sec. Tripod 3/8" screw | 585mm | 549mm | 1522mm | 260mm | 1784mm | 2430g | 10kg |
| HT-1142 | Short 4 Sec. Tripod 3/8" screw | 460mm | 429mm | 1060mm | 205mm | 1267mm | 2070g | 10kg |
| HT-1120 | Super-Short 2 Sec. Tripod ”Lowrider” | 274mm | 261mm | 346mm | 88mm | 434mm | 1200g | 10kg |
*The dimensions and weight in the specifications table are calculated values using CAD and are roughly consistent with the actual measurements, but there may be slight individual differences.
*TSUBAME tripods are manufactured with the assumption that they will be used by professional photographers for 10 or 20 years at that frequency. For that reason, some parts are made with materials that prioritize durability, and when you first start using them, you may notice a stiffness in movement, or the legs may not lock in place properly, causing a slippery feeling. These issues will likely go away as the parts become more familiar with each other, so we hope you will enjoy using them for a long time.
It's only when each part has become familiar that it becomes a true TSUBAME. The words "for Professional" are not just for show.