Ultra light tripod

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ash39

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Hi,

I'm going to Paris next month and would like to do some night shooting but my tripod is too heavy to carry around comfortably.

I'm after the lightest, most portable tripod available , max budget around £100. Not concerned about height as I have my normal tripod for that.

Any recommendations?
 
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Hi,

Look at Warehouse Express, in the Slik section.

Regards.
 
Thanks, they look decent actually. Got 3 weeks to make a decision. Anyone got any other suggestions?
 
There's that slightly irritating maxim that tripods can be cheap, stable and light but you can only have 2 out of the 3.
I bit the bullet and bought a Benro Travel Angel which certainly isn't cheap but is the perfect companion to travel photography.
 
Ok, I want cheap and light. Stable isn't a big problem as I don't intend to go hiking on windy hills with it.

I would like something which extends to about 1.5 metres if possible though. One of the Slik ones looked really good but only went to 1 metre which might be a bit limiting. Not bad for £50 though.
 
I recently bought this as a travel tripod. Really nice and light, reasonable ball head, extends pretty high, compact when folded up. Only downside is when the legs are fully extended, the bottom section is pretty thin and possibly not the most stable. But if you're not perching on some windy hillside :), you're probably ok.
 
ash39 said:
Ok, I want cheap and light. Stable isn't a big problem as I don't intend to go hiking on windy hills with it
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Surely the whole point of a tripod is to provide a stable base for the camera.......
 
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The Benro looks very good, folds to 37cm but can extend to 136 in height. I'll possibly go for that. Welcome any other suggestions though!
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Surely the whole point of a tripod is to provide a stable base for the camera.......
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Agreed, but what I meant is I don't need one that can support a superzoom on a pro body in a typhoon! Just a prosumer body with a prime/small zoom, mostly in cities.
 
Velbon Luxi or Maxi range are good especially if you use a lighter head and stable with it
 
I was all ready to buy the slik one mentioned above, but the 1.1m max height was bothering me although I'm sure it'd be fine.

Anyway, I then stumbled upon this for around the same price, has some decent reviews on Amazon but wanted to see if anyone on here had any experience of it first. Ticks all the boxes and goes to about 1.6m...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Velbon-Ultra-Maxi-L-Tripod/dp/B000WM91Q0
 
I've always used a Manfrotto 785B...cheap, light...and stable enough to do long exposures with a 5D2+24-105 in a moderate breeze.
 
I went for the Velbon ultra listed on the link above, it does fold very small which is fantastic, would easily fit in a rucksack with room to spare. Unfortunately even at under 1kg it's heavier than my old, larger tripod, but that is a plastic one so it's to be expected. First impressions indicate the head will be a lot more accurate as well, my current one moves after you tighten it which is annoying but think it only cost me about £18 in 2006.
Overall happy with the new one but obviously haven't used it for any shots yet!
 
[/Velbon Luxi or Maxi range are goodQUOTE]

That's what I said and glad you agree, sturdy enough especially for the weight and decent leg locking system
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Yes thanks for the tip. It's an unusual system but I'm sure I'll get used to it quickly! My concern is that the legs are so thin at the bottom end (as they have to be to get the height/small folding) that they may get damaged over time, but at least the thickest legs come out first so if not using at full height they are spared the wear and tear.

There is a bit that screws onto the middle (inbetween all three legs) it was attached by default but it came off. Makes the tripod a little lighter. Is it there for anything other than balance?
 
The removable screw in bit is so you can reduce the length of the centre rod for getting down low on things like macro shots or keep it in place for a higher centre column

Also easy to just twist the bottom of the leg three clicks to lock them all at once, same for when closing it up too (also applies as in two clicks for the first two legs etc etc)

My daughter has the same model as you and I have the now discontinued Luxi F which had larger diameter legs, strange they didn't carry on making that model.

Dumped the head on mine and prefer it with a ballhead, if you ever change yours don't forget the screw is 1/4in and you will need the step up adapter as most heads use the larger 3/8in thread
 
Yeah the instructions make it clear(ish) that you take out the middle bit to get lower for macro style shots, but my point was what is it there for in the first place?
 
Yeah the instructions make it clear(ish) that you take out the middle bit to get lower for macro style shots, but my point was what is it there for in the first place?
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Not quite sure which bit you mean, only part that unscrews is the extension to the centre column and that is just there so you can raise it higher if needed
 
travellingcello said:
Actually I'm put off by this as I saw it only takes 2.5 kg ... and its the version with no monopod.
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I guess you are referring to the Benro. Mine which is a slightly different model is also rated to 2.5kgs and it holds the heaviest combo I would use it for (body and 100-400L) fine. As for these travel tripods with removable monopods, does anyone really use them? The monopod would be stick thin. Personally, I only ever use my dedicated monopod with my 300mm f2.8. I wouldn't put the 300mm f2.8 on any Travel Tripod no matter how high the rating was.
 
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