Need help - good lightweight tripod suggestions

CraigDouglas

CraigDouglas

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I currently have a Manfrotto 055BPro which is good and sturdy...and far too heavy. I've shifted my focus into lightweight gear as I'm getting into more and more landscape photography on long walks and climbs.

So, ideally i'm after a tripod of about 1.5kg or less, less IS good :D (I assume they come with a hook or something on the bottom of the center column to weigh them down to increase stability? I'll be doing panos etc from peaks so will be a little windy)

The collapsed length needs to be less than 55cm for airport hand luggage restrictions and gneral ease of carrying/strapping.

I'm a 6'2" bloke so the taller the better really but this is a minor consideration (but it mustn't be a tiny tripod like a table top one :p)

Finally, budget of £250. I could be persuaded to creep up to £300 if there is something really special and weighs f-all :D

Any suggestions? I'd also be happy going down the second hand route if this will fit requirements better.

Many Thanks
Craig
 
Have you looked at the Velbon Ultra series? They are very lightweight and fold down to about 30cm.
 
Another Vote for the Velbons, I have the Luxi-F version and considering how light it is it performs well, I often take it hiking around the North Wales mountains so weight is an issue for me too

simon
 
I hadn't actually, i'll have a look now though.

I'd pretty much decided on a SLIK PRO 714 CF-II but i'll check out the velbons and see how they compare. Thanks for the suggestions :)
 
I found my 055PROB too heavy to lug about, so I bought a 190PROXB and coupled it with a 486RC2 Ball Head , which does the job nicely :)
 
Feisol

The CT3441B (The B stands for the Ball head).

Its the dogs pyjamas, also comes in silver or BLUE !

I ordered additional QP-30 release plates, spikes and a short column.

It comes with a bag.

http://www.feisol.com/english/CT3441B.htm

Confusing web site though. Mine came in two days !
 
Gitzo do some light tripods that are mega sturdy.
 
john-oh said:
Feisol

The CT3441B (The B stands for the Ball head).

Its the dogs pyjamas, also comes in silver or BLUE !

I ordered additional QP-30 release plates, spikes and a short column.

It comes with a bag.

http://www.feisol.com/english/CT3441B.htm

Confusing web site though. Mine came in two days !
Click to expand...

Now THAT does look interesting! Whats the price of that baby? Also, does the head have a seperate pan lock so that you can rotate the head without affecting any other dimension? How did you order?
 
ive got a manfrotto modo maxi thing, seems quite good and lightweight. But you can probally get better for £250
 
Now THAT does look interesting! Whats the price of that baby? Also, does the head have a seperate pan lock so that you can rotate the head without affecting any other dimension? How did you order?
Click to expand...
I ordered from the website, two days from Taiwan - amazing.

The prices are on the site. The CB30 ball head only has two 'controls' one releases the plate and the other frees the ball (in all directions) but they do other heads, or you could go for something like the aratech http://acratech.net/product.php?productid=7&cat=1&page=1 although its bigger and heavier and you probably wouldn't have the advantage of reversing the legs to fold up like when you have the CB30 fitted.

You order from the web site, but you have to poke about a bit as it's not very clear. Start at http://www.feisol.com/
 
I bought the Feisol 3441B - from Taiwan. It was quicker, very quick, and slightly cheaper I think.

Awesome piece of kit. And in Blue, too. :D


CT-3441BblueM.jpg


The folks in Taiwan were easy to deal with by email. I had to place the order by email rather than on their web site (can't remember exactly why - to ensure I ordered the blue one I think).
 
It looks cool in blue, but I don't think I'm eccentric enough to be able to use one in public :).

But whatever colour, for a small light tripod, they are brill.
 
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