In this article, we will be going over our full, in-depth Zomei Q555 review. With more and more photographers turning to the Zomei tripod range, we decided to review all of the tripods in their range and today it is the turn of the Q555.
With the Q555 being more of a budget option or entry-level tripod we are actually very impressed with the build quality of it as well as the amount of functionality that it offers for such a low price. If you are an entry level, amateur, or student photographer then this could be the perfect tripod for you!
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Table of Contents
Our Zomei Q555 Review
Although there are a few competing products out there at the entry level price point, we feel the Q555 is definitely towards the head of the pack if not leading it. Many entry-level and amateur photographers and videographers, as well as YouTubers, use the Q555 as their go-to tripod of choice due to its good mix of functionality and reliability for a low price. Since its release onto the market, the reputation of this tripod has steadily increased to become the excellent reputation that it enjoys today within the photography community.
Zomei Q555 Specs
Our specs table above shows some of the key specifications of the Zomei Q555 (Click here to check for product prices and availability). As you can see, the Q555 offers no monopod functionality. This is very common for tripods at this price point as it is a quick and easy way for manufacturers to lower the costs of their product.
If you think that you will need to use a monopod and want a tripod that has monopod functionality we would recommend that you look into the Zomei Z699C (Click here to check for product prices and availability) and you can read our full Zomei Z699C review here.
The Head Of The Zomei Q555
The Zomei Q555 uses a ball head system rather than a flat head. Although some videographers prefer to use the flat head system on their tripods, we feel that the ball head on the Q555 will be fine for the vast majority if not all entry level and beginner videographer needs.
The image to the left shows the head of the Q555 tripod and in our opinion, it is of a much higher quality than you would expect from a tripod at this price point.
The head is very smooth for any pan based footage or panoramic photographs that you may need. The third dial on the head can also be adjusted to change the level of resistance of the head when rotating it so you are able to customize it to meet your preference.
The image to the right shows the Q555s ninety-degree locking system. Depending on your photography niche you may be able to use this to your advantage for overhead photographs or changing the tilt angle of your camera up to ninety degrees.
One of the main problems with entry-level tripods and this type of functionality is the locking system of the tripod being low-quality and dropping your camera rig. We are happy to report that the locking system on the Zomei Q555 is solid and should be able to hold your camera, lens, flash, and mic combination at any angle without issue.
The head of the Q555 also has various compass bearings marked onto it as shown in the image to the left. The markings are clear and easy to see even in low light conditions while also not being blocked when you mount your camera onto the tripod like some competing products.
Although this may be totally useless to you depending on your photography niche, you are able to use these to get the perfect panoramic photograph or panning on your video recording.
As you would expect for the price of the Q555, it has a pretty basic quick release plate but it does do its job and do its job well.
The image to the right shows the quick release plate and you can see it uses a key assisted locking system to help ensure your camera rig is secure in the tripod and help reduce the chance of it falling.
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The Legs Of The Zomei Q555
Next up on our Zomei Q555 professional tripod review, we will be taking a look at the leg system on the tripod. Unlike many entry-level tripods, the Q555 has a surprisingly high-quality leg system that we feel is usually restricted to tripods at higher price points.
Each of the three legs on the Q555 has its own individual ratchet system to help lock the legs in 
place and help keep your camera rig secure when mounted. The ratchets can lock in at various positions to allow you to come up with some unique tripod setups to meet the needs of your location with ease.
The ratchet has a nice audible click when operating too so you know that it is triggering when adjusting your tripod legs. This can offer a little peace of mind of knowing the legs are firmly secure before adding your camera rig to the tripod.
Thankfully, Zomei has actually put a fair amount of thought into the ratchet system and included a quick press to release system as shown in the image to the left. This allows you to quickly and easily tweak your set up with minimal effort on the fly.
The feet of the Q555 are rubber with slight points on them. The idea behind their design is that they are able to offer a non-slip solution for both indoor and outdoor photography.
One of our favorite things about the Zomei Q555 is how quick and 
easy it is to invert the tripod to allow you to get quick and easy low angle photographs. The image to the right shows the Q555 fully inverted with the center column essentially upside down.
All you have to do to invert the Q555 is to release the ratchet lock on the legs of the tripod and push them upwards until they are essentially upside down. Repeat this with the other two legs until the tripod is looking a little something like the one in the image to the right.
One thing that we would like to point out is that there is a small amount of flex in the legs of the Q555. Although this is totally expected for a tripod at this price point, some photographers and videographers have reported that they feel a little worried when mounting their camera rigs although to date, we were unable to find a single report saying that a leg has broken or even bent.
The legs on the Zomei Q555 use a flip lock system to secure them in place when extended. Now locking system preference usually changes from photographer to photographer so this is down to the system that you preffer. That said, although the flip locks do feel a little cheap they are very secure when locked while also being quick and easy to use.
Click Here To Read Independent Third Party Reviews Of The Zomei Q555 Tripod!
Click Here To Check For Prices On The Zomei Q555 Tripod!
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Click Here To Read Independent Third Party Reviews Of The Zomei Q555 Tripod!
Click Here To Check For Prices On The Zomei Q555 Tripod!
Zomei Q555 vs Q666C
Our comparison table above compares the Zomei Q555 to the Zomei Q666C (Click here to check for product prices and availability) or click here to read our full review of the Zomei Z666C. Although both tripods do come in at similar price points, we feel that the additional cost of the Z666C would probably suit the needs of more of our readers, especially if you need monopod functionality.
In addition to the monopod, the Z666C also offers twist lock legs that in our opinion are safer and a much higher max payload weight. On the flip side though, if you are in the market for a cheap, small, and light tripod while also not requiring a monopod then you would probably be better off with Zomei Q555 due to its lower weight, lower price, and smaller dimensions.
Zomei Q555 vs Q111
Our comparison table above compares the Zomei Q555 to the Zomei Q111 (Click here to check for product prices and availability). In all honesty, we would not recommend the Zomei Q111 unless you are on an extremely tight budget. Although it can hold its own against other ultra-low price tripods, the additional price to pick up the Q555 will be well worth it in almost all circumstances.
Zomei Q555 vs Z818C
Our comparison table above compares the Zomei Q555 to the Zomei Z818C (Click here to check for product prices and availability). Although there is a fair amount of improvement of functionality between the Zomei Q555 and the Zomei Z818C, we really don’t think that the Zomei Z818C is worth the additional cash, especially when the Zomei Q666C (Click here to check for product prices and availability) covered above first on our comparisons is available cheaper while still providing the majority of the functionality of the Z818C at a cheaper price.
What To Look For In A Budget Or Entry Level Tripod
We are fully aware that some of our readers will not choose to go with the Zomei Q555 so we thought that we would share some features that you should try to keep an eye out for in rival products to ensure you are getting a tripod that is worth your money.
Try to ensure that the legs have a ratchet locking system rather than a ball and socket joint. This adds an additional layer of protection for the legs to make sure they will hold the weight of your camera, lens, flash, and microphone when mounted without the tripod falling over due to one of its legs giving way.
Both photographers and videographers have their own personal preference when it comes to the head of the tripod so try to ensure it has the ball head or flat head system, whichever one you prefer. Both systems can be found on entry-level tripods but try to make sure you are able to find some third-party, independent reviews confirming that the head of the tripod offers smooth rotation as well as variable resistance levels.
Again, photographers and videographers have their own individual preference when it comes to the leg locking systems on their tripods. The most popular systems are flip locks and twist locks. Both have their advantages and disadvantages so just choose the system that you prefer. It would also be ideal if you could find some third-party, independent reports from other photographers or videographers commenting on if the leg locking system is secure and firm or not.
The final thing that we would recommend that our readers look for in an entry level tripod is some form of footing on the legs of the tripod. This is often overlooked on the cheaper tripod systems and can lead to accidents and potential damage to your camera rig. Even just a basic rubber shoe is better than nothing and can help to prevent your tripod legs accidentally slipping. If you can find a rubber pointed shoe system on your entry level tripod then that’s even better.
The Zomei Q555 (Click here to check for product prices and availability) offers all of these features with a sturdy ball head system making it an ideal entry-level tripod if you have no requirement for a monopod or just want a budget-friendly travel based tripod.
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