Lightweight travel tripod

Sootchucker

Sootchucker

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Hi guys, with spring just round the corner, I'm dusting off my walking gear and time to loose some of that winter fat I've put on :lol:

I normally go walking with my lowepro backpack and I'll be taking my D7000 and a few lenses (Nikon 10-20, 24-70, 70-200 & 105 vr macro.) However I'm a b****r for not taking a tripod as my gitzo unit is just too large and heavy to carry around with me, so I tend to just leave it at home. I've therefore missed a few oppertunities whilst walking wehn the light levels drop etc.

Therefore I'm looking for a recommendation for a light weight and compact tripod that doesn't cost the earth. I want it ideally small enough to clip onto the tripod mounts of the backpack and not weigh very much. Although I'm 6 foot, it doesn't have to be a very large one (oh er misses), as I can always kneel down etc. Preferably with a small ball head and capable of carrying a D7000 with grip, and a 70-200 F2.8 VR with a 1.4 converter, so say 3-4kg minimum.

Don't want to spend a fortune as it will only be used when walking and I do have my big heavy gitzo for other times.

Any advice appreciated.
 
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I've had a similar decision to make recently and did a lot of research. This is a good buy, http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy...3rc1-3-way-head_1527040&utm_source=googlebase . However I long since went down the "buy once" path and opted for a used Gitzo GT1542T from Ffordes. It only weighs 1kg and folds down to 43cm, and works nicely with the mini ball head from my Redsnapper monopod. It fits nicely on my Kata 3N1 30, and If I'm going light with only one or two lenses it sits well under the large flap of my Thinktank retro 10. Pick this up in one hand with a 1.97kg Redsnapper in the other and you really appreciate it's lightness. Given that the mini ball head weighs @ 300g this makes for a very light combo, and with a bag hung from the hook between the legs it is very stable.
 
Thanks magirus. food for thought.
 
My personal experience with the GT1541 mountaineer (very similar to the traveller) is that whilst its rediculously light it doesnt provide enough stability for 200mm lenses in a breeze. If you are on a budget and a Gitzo 2-series (like the GT2541) is too much then you can look to equivalents from the likes of Feisol.
Otherwise it is worth considering a Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 or a 190CXPRO3

Alex
 
I was in the same position, needed a tiny tripod for travelling, I realised that I take a lot of shots low down so have bought a Novoflex Minipod from Speedgraphic, http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/mini__table_/novoflex_minipod/8451_p.html

It won't suit everyone but it is a sturdy little beast, 10kg weight rating, superb build quality, if I need it to be higher I'll just find something to rest it on (a car roof or a wall or whatever) but in the meantime it packs up tiny and is very lightweight.
 
i recently got the velbon sherpa 555, it comes with the velbon Q51 ball head. Its fairly compact, and made of aluminium so doesn't way a ton. I strap it to my Slingshot 302 and it doesn't make too much difference to the weight / balance of the bag. I got it new for 79 quid when it was on offer at WEX. The build quality is pretty good too and it comes with a split centre rod thing too giving you quite a few options.
 
I got the Slik Sprint Mini II for a recent holiday. It's certainly small and light, but not really up to the job. My Giottos behemoth will be going on future trips, never mind the weight.
 
I just used my gripped 7D + 70-200 2.8L IS USM on a Gitzo Traveller with a Redsnapper RSH-61 ball head and it handled the weight no problem.
 
Posted this on another thread but relevant here as well :)

Currently looking at getting the velbon ultra rexi L (1.3kg) with a giottos 5011 3way fluid head (0.45kg). Should hopefully be usable for everyday as well as being light and compact enough to carry around / travel (using with a 550d) Tripod is nice and compact when folded and will still fit in the tripod bag with the head.

Mate has this set up which i'm currently trialing and fairly impressed so far. He has the bigger head (giottos 5001) but its double the weight at 0.9kg as opposed to 0.45kg. Only difference i can see is the size of the qr plate and the load capacity, 6kg v 4kg, so i'm probably going with the 5011 head as will still cope with the 550d + lenses. Cost should be around £140 for that set up if you shop around.
 
Got a Gitzo something or the other number series 1 Mountaineer and seems ok.

Bit on the short side, but i'm just over 6ft and anything eye level without the centre column extended becomes a pain strapped to a rucksack
Compromises have to be made for weight and folded size, centre column removed and use a Kirk FP100 tripod mount base instead.

Can always hang a bag on the hook for a bit more stability and helps to get a decent head too, just a waste of money otherwise if the camera flaps about like a ****house door in a storm
 
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Gitzo GT1542T Traveler here, amazing stability, especially if you get some weight on the centre column. The gitzo G locks are brilliant too, they just get tighter as you load them instead of slipping like traditional leg locks. It's pricey at circa. £500 but you won't ever need another tripod again with your other gitzo aswell
 
mau00149 said:
Currently looking at getting the velbon ultra rexi L (1.3kg) with a giottos 5011 3way fluid head (0.45kg). Should hopefully be usable for everyday as well as being light and compact enough to carry around / travel (using with a 550d) Tripod is nice and compact when folded and will still fit in the tripod bag with the head.
Click to expand...

I ordered one of Velbon Ultra Rexi L yesterday but with the Manfrotto 494RC2 head after doing lots of research. It was this review that swung it for me. Only negative seems to be no hook underneath but I'm sure that can be bodged if you need one.
 
Andrew,

I'm in exactly the same situation as you, need to get out for some exercise, but can't be bothered to carry the heay Manfroto tripod.

I spent some time loooking at travel tripods at Focus on Imaging a few weeks ago. Most of the manufacturers have a carbon fibre travel tripod, there's not a great deal to choose between them - they all have the same challenge of weight v stability. In the end I chose a 3 Legged Thing CF tripod, it seemed to offer a good compromise between build quality and price. I paid £309, that sounds a lot for a travel tripod, but I'm hoping that it proves to be light enough for me to take it out and about - time will tell!

I'm waiting for delivery of the new mark 2 version, I'll let you know how I get on with it.

Chris
 
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