Tripod

Sangoma

Sangoma

Suspended / Banned
Messages
2,951
Name
Steve, Coventry, England
Edit My Images
Yes
I am looking for a "travel" tripod, ie short when collapsed and light.
I have enough heavy tripods, and ordinary ones which are about 20" when folded, so about 14" folded would be about the max.

It won't be used with a long lens, and should have a removable head so I can fit my own if I choose

Would prefer carbon fibre, and I don't mind an inexpensive Chinese one, as it will not get a lot of use.

Any suggestions for new ones, or second hand ones to look out for?
 
I use a Vanguard VEO2 CF travel tripod.
It folds to around 48cm.
Really pleased with it.

There is a new range now - VEO3
Worth looking at their website as they have lots of different models
www.vanguardworld.com

Tripods

Shop Vanguard tripods, tripods for cameras, professional tripods, tripod with heads, aluminum tripods, carbon tripods, and spotting accessories. Lightweight yet durable DSLR and video tripods from Vanguard. Now with FREE SHIPPING on selected items.
www.vanguardworld.com www.vanguardworld.com
 
mstphoto said:
I use a Vanguard VEO2 CF travel tripod.
It folds to around 48cm.
Really pleased with it.

There is a new range now - VEO3
Worth looking at their website as they have lots of different models
www.vanguardworld.com

Tripods

Shop Vanguard tripods, tripods for cameras, professional tripods, tripod with heads, aluminum tripods, carbon tripods, and spotting accessories. Lightweight yet durable DSLR and video tripods from Vanguard. Now with FREE SHIPPING on selected items.
www.vanguardworld.com www.vanguardworld.com
Click to expand...
I have a VEO 3GO and its ideal for when you want a small portable, but decent tripod.
Mine is the Alu version mainly because it was on sale and the weight difference was minimal.
Folded length is 33cm and weighs in at 1.2kg, Carbon version was just over 1kg
 
tijuana taxi said:
I have a VEO 3GO and its ideal for when you want a small portable, but decent tripod.
Mine is the Alu version mainly because it was on sale and the weight difference was minimal.
Folded length is 33cm and weighs in at 1.2kg, Carbon version was just over 1kg
Click to expand...
Thanks, just been looking at them after mstphoto's mention of Vanguard, and they fit the bill nicely.
Aluminium is fine :)

The TB 235AB also looks OK

​

 
I have the Peak Design tripod, I was initially sceptical as it was so expensive, but it is bloody good, and folds up really small.

Prior to that, I had a 3LT Travis, which was good, but much bulkier when folded than the Peak Designs tripod - it is a little bit longer due to the head, but significantly fatter.
 
Sangoma said:
Thanks, just been looking at them after mstphoto's mention of Vanguard, and they fit the bill nicely.
Aluminium is fine :)

The TB 235AB also looks OK

​

Click to expand...
I also have a Vanguard shoulder bag that has a horizontal pocket my tripod fits inside.
Very handy if you don't want to have it hanging separately or from straps on the bag.
Fits nicely under a train or plane seat and means you have all your gear in one place ready to go.
https://www.vanguardworld.co.uk/products/veo-go34m-kg
 
Last edited:
tijuana taxi said:
I also have a Vanguard shoulder bag that has a horizontal pocket that my tripod fits inside.
Very handy if you don't want to have it hanging separately or from straps on the bag.
Fits nicely under a train or plane seat and means you have all your gear in one place ready to go.
https://www.vanguardworld.co.uk/products/veo-go34m-kg
Click to expand...
I have the Vanguard VEO Discover 38
One of the most versatile bags I have owned
 
tijuana taxi said:
I have a VEO 3GO and its ideal for when you want a small portable, but decent tripod.
Mine is the Alu version mainly because it was on sale and the weight difference was minimal.
Folded length is 33cm and weighs in at 1.2kg, Carbon version was just over 1kg
Click to expand...
Sounds ideal for me as well, what kind of camera do you usually use with it?
 
I have been using a 3 legged thing Punks Billy with a D500 and 500mm PF, it's fairly sturdy, lightweight and collapsed down very well.
 
chphoto said:
Sounds ideal for me as well, what kind of camera do you usually use with it?
Click to expand...
Panasonic G9 and Olympus 12-100 is the heaviest combo I use it with.
Fairly weighty for a M4/3 set up and front heavy, but haven't noticed any slippage.
 
Thanks for that, its reassuring. I've got a Sony a7iii & 24-105 which I reckon is about 100g heavier than your setup. Should be alright...
 
I have a 3lt punks billy as my travel tripod which i find very good
 
Awfers said:
How high do you want it to be able to go? There are a lot of tripods out there, but only some can go above 180cm, and those are usually not the smallest / lightest..
Click to expand...
160-165 max would be fine, I have others.
Main thing wanted here is short folded length, light, and ability to fit my own head
 
Sangoma said:
160-165 max would be fine, I have others.
Main thing wanted here is short folded length, light, and ability to fit my own head
Click to expand...
Back in 2019 I was looking for a lighter travel tripod. I walked around the NEC and worked out that short folded length and lightweight meant stability issues, especially if you your own head on it. I ended up working out the series 2 gitzo travel tripods we’re likely the best compromise as they had wider diameter legs than most travel tripods. I ended up finding a gitzo 100 year travel tripod a few weeks later that they were selling off at half the price of their normal travel tripods. It’s basically the 1545T version but in limited edition (they had put a silly price on them so they never sold them all hence reducing them a year later). Going for the series 1 on sale was a compromise on cost as it was less than half the price of the series 2 at the time.

I’d say it would meet your specification, but height would be 140cm with the column down and 160cm with it up.

www.gitzo.com

Gitzo tripod kit Traveler, series 1, 4 sections

The GK1545T-82TQD is a Traveler tripod/head kit comprising the GT1545T Tripod and the GH1382TQD Center Ball Head.The Gitzo GT1545T Series 1 Traveler carbon fiber tripod is an ultra-compact, 4-section support with an 180° leg folding system pioneered by Gitzo, which enables its legs to...
www.gitzo.com www.gitzo.com

Since I bought the travel tripod it’s been my most used tripod. It’s the one I often pick up because it’s small and light. Gitzo travel tripods come out on top of most travel tripod comparisons, but I’d still say they are a big compromise compared to a bigger tripod. No tripod can be small, light and absolutely rock solid, but it will be likely be sturdier than no tripod.
 
rob-nikon said:
Back in 2019 I was looking for a lighter travel tripod. I walked around the NEC and worked out that short folded length and lightweight meant stability issues, especially if you your own head on it. I ended up working out the series 2 gitzo travel tripods we’re likely the best compromise as they had wider diameter legs than most travel tripods. I ended up finding a gitzo 100 year travel tripod a few weeks later that they were selling off at half the price of their normal travel tripods. It’s basically the 1545T version but in limited edition (they had put a silly price on them so they never sold them all hence reducing them a year later). Going for the series 1 on sale was a compromise on cost as it was less than half the price of the series 2 at the time.

I’d say it would meet your specification, but height would be 140cm with the column down and 160cm with it up.

www.gitzo.com

Gitzo tripod kit Traveler, series 1, 4 sections

The GK1545T-82TQD is a Traveler tripod/head kit comprising the GT1545T Tripod and the GH1382TQD Center Ball Head.The Gitzo GT1545T Series 1 Traveler carbon fiber tripod is an ultra-compact, 4-section support with an 180° leg folding system pioneered by Gitzo, which enables its legs to...
www.gitzo.com www.gitzo.com

Since I bought the travel tripod it’s been my most used tripod. It’s the one I often pick up because it’s small and light. Gitzo travel tripods come out on top of most travel tripod comparisons, but I’d still say they are a big compromise compared to a bigger tripod. No tripod can be small, light and absolutely rock solid, but it will be likely be sturdier than no tripod.
Click to expand...
I also have a Gitzo 2545t, its probably the largest tripod that falls into the travel category.
Yes its sturdy, relatively short when folded and comparatively lightweight too.
Nothing like the little Vanguard that really is portable and easily carried in a shoulder bag or rucksack.
Its all about compromise and quite often some things have to be sacrificed, nearly always its better than nothing though.
 
Last edited:
rob-nikon said:
Back in 2019 I was looking for a lighter travel tripod. I walked around the NEC and worked out that short folded length and lightweight meant stability issues, especially if you your own head on it. I ended up working out the series 2 gitzo travel tripods we’re likely the best compromise as they had wider diameter legs than most travel tripods. I ended up finding a gitzo 100 year travel tripod a few weeks later that they were selling off at half the price of their normal travel tripods. It’s basically the 1545T version but in limited edition (they had put a silly price on them so they never sold them all hence reducing them a year later). Going for the series 1 on sale was a compromise on cost as it was less than half the price of the series 2 at the time.

I’d say it would meet your specification, but height would be 140cm with the column down and 160cm with it up.

www.gitzo.com

Gitzo tripod kit Traveler, series 1, 4 sections

The GK1545T-82TQD is a Traveler tripod/head kit comprising the GT1545T Tripod and the GH1382TQD Center Ball Head.The Gitzo GT1545T Series 1 Traveler carbon fiber tripod is an ultra-compact, 4-section support with an 180° leg folding system pioneered by Gitzo, which enables its legs to...
www.gitzo.com www.gitzo.com

Since I bought the travel tripod it’s been my most used tripod. It’s the one I often pick up because it’s small and light. Gitzo travel tripods come out on top of most travel tripod comparisons, but I’d still say they are a big compromise compared to a bigger tripod. No tripod can be small, light and absolutely rock solid, but it will be likely be sturdier than no tripod.
Click to expand...
For that price I want someone to come and hold the camera :)

I'm sure it is very nice, but rigidity is not a major factor, yes it follows that it won't come with a small and light tripod, but that is fine.
 
I'm very happy with my FLM CP26 travel tripod. I believe Snapper Stuff of Think Tank gag fame sell them.
As a rule of thumb the more you pay the better you get holds true more for tripods than many products.
 
ilikebowens said:
I'm very happy with my FLM CP26 travel tripod. I believe Snapper Stuff of Think Tank gag fame sell them.
As a rule of thumb the more you pay the better you get holds true more for tripods than many products.
Click to expand...
They are excellent, I gave mine to my daughter when I got the Gitzo at a trade show.
The model she has is this one https://www.snapperstuff.com/flm-32-26-904-cp26-m4s-centrepod-tripod
She has used it in all sorts of places mainly rough ground for landscapes and its still going strong.
Only poor point is the pathetic spikes that are revealed by unscrewing the rubber feet.
 
I've got a Velbon Ultra which fits into my small suitcase which does extend to a reasonable height. Just seen the price of Amazon, the new one is pricey!

It is steady but heaviest lens I use on it is the 70-200/2.8 Pentax and it is no problem. I have Benro and Manfrotto heads that attach to it.
 
Sangoma said:
For that price I want someone to come and hold the camera :)

I'm sure it is very nice, but rigidity is not a major factor, yes it follows that it won't come with a small and light tripod, but that is fine.
Click to expand...
Their prices can be a bit high but worth looking out for them when on sale. I seem to think I paid circa £380 for the gitzo travel tripod. it’s rrp was a crazy £1250 hence they didn’t sell too many even though there was only 1917 in the limited edition run. It’s quite a bit for a travel tripod but I won’t be changing any time soon and it should last years. The ability to get spare parts from gitzo is good too. Hopefully it could be repaired rather than thrown away. I use a tripod for about 80-90% of my photography so for me it made sense for me to invest in a good one. I’d already tried a couple of cheaper versions bit they didn’t work out.

It’s a few years old but holds some good info on travel tripods.

Travel Tripod Review | On Landscape

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been testing out a range of travel tripods. As with most of the testing we’ve done, it all starts with a personal question
www.onlandscape.co.uk www.onlandscape.co.uk

tijuana taxi said:
I also have a Gitzo 2545t, its probably the largest tripod that falls into the travel category.
Yes its sturdy, relatively short when folded and comparatively lightweight too.
Nothing like the little Vanguard that really is portable and easily carried in a shoulder bag or rucksack.
Its all about compromise and quite often some things have to be sacrificed, nearly always its better than nothing though.
Click to expand...
That was my main thoughts too. When you get to the travel tripods it’s definitely more of a compromise compared to larger tripods.
 
Last edited:
Tried a few, and just bought one I liked, not what anyone would have thought of, myself included.

It is a Hama Traveller Premium 144.

In fact it seems very good, less flexing and more steady that some much more expensive ones, very small folded, and absolutely perfect for what I need.

It feels so firm that I will try it with the G9 + 100-400 once the weather has improved as it feels like it will do quite nicely with that too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top