Very lightweight travel / hiking tripod

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Mr Mike

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Hi all i currently have a redsnapper 283 with ball head, i love this tripod for the money but im starting to hate the weight when out for a hike. So basically im looking to buy a cheap lightweight to take on longer trips, my number one choice is the Hama Traveller Compact Pro Tripod but just found the mini version.

Downside to mini is no quick release and max height 117cm compared to 163cm and quick release on the compact pro. Mini weighs in at 720g whereas the compact pro 1370g. My current redsnapper is a total of 2640g.

So who has a compact pro and is it a good enough substitute of weight for portability?

Please dont suggest a carbon fibre at £200+ because thats not what im after.

Mike
 
Mr Mike said:
So who has a compact pro and is it a good enough substitute of weight for portability?
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I ordered 2 of these last night, so they should arrive tomorrow. I only intend to use them to mount my flashguns indoors, though I might take one out & about with me when I go for my walks. I'll post some info back here when they've arrived and I've had time to play with them.

Darren
 
I have done the exact same thing as you. I have a Redsnapper 284 with a RS-12 ball head. I'm going interailing for 6 weeks over summer and wanted something lighter and more portable to take with me.

I bought a Hama compact pro from a guy on the forum last week and it arrived today. I'm going to have a play with it when I get home and I'll let you know what I think.

What camera and lens setup are you planning to use it with?
 
RichGrundy said:
I have done the exact same thing as you. I have a Redsnapper 284 with a RS-12 ball head. I'm going interailing for 6 weeks over summer and wanted something lighter and more portable to take with me.

I bought a Hama compact pro from a guy on the forum last week and it arrived today. I'm going to have a play with it when I get home and I'll let you know what I think.

What camera and lens setup are you planning to use it with?
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Hiya, yeah i made an offer but the cheeky git ignored me and went back to you.

Anyway i would be shooting landscape stuff so either my sigma 10-20 or tamron 17-50 on my gripped d90. Most of my landscapes are shot low to the ground so the hama would be more than stable i think. I would be keeping the redsnapper and use it most times except when going out for a long walk / hike where the weight starts to become a real pain.

Mike
 
My Hama Traveller Mini Pro tripods arrvied today. Nicely boxed and inside their own good quality bags.

The tripods themselves are very light indeed and are only a little bit more than a rulers length when collapsed. Without the legs extended, they are very stable. With the first (thickest) part of the legs extended, they are still stable. When the 2nd part is extended, they begin the feel a bit wobbly. Fully extended, I'm not sure I'd trust my DSLR and long lens on them, but it's probably okay if you're careful.

For my needs (on lowest level just holding a flashgun to light a backdrop) they are perfect!

Darren
 
Mr Mike said:
Hiya, yeah i made an offer but the cheeky git ignored me and went back to you.

Anyway i would be shooting landscape stuff so either my sigma 10-20 or tamron 17-50 on my gripped d90. Most of my landscapes are shot low to the ground so the hama would be more than stable i think. I would be keeping the redsnapper and use it most times except when going out for a long walk / hike where the weight starts to become a real pain.

Mike
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I accepted the offer as Rich met the negotiated asking price, which I stated was the minimum I'd led it go for. So please don't go calling others names in threads - if you wanted it that much you could have offered the asking price! :)
 
@ darren, thanks for taking time to review, appreciate it. Nearly all my landscapes n filter wrk is done down low so sounds perfect for hiking about. Cheers

@ pjd88 It can be bought new n delivered for £34 so I made u an offer based on that n you having no current offers. I thought it was fair n after alerting you with a pm I at least expected a response from you. Admittedly my previous comments were unnecessary so I apologies but it is how I felt.
 
Bear in mind I'm talking about the "mini pro", not the compact. A final observation from me for hte evening.....the ball head it total rubbish! It holds my flashgun in place, but I can imagine with a DSLR it will droop all the time.
 
i saw a velbron aluminium tripod the other week, It's so compact and light. max weight of 4kg also. it was online for about £100. i think its called REXi something or other.
 
I'm just about to order a Manfrotto MKC3-H01 - seems like a cracking tripod :)
 
domino1999 said:
Bear in mind I'm talking about the "mini pro", not the compact. A final observation from me for hte evening.....the ball head it total rubbish! It holds my flashgun in place, but I can imagine with a DSLR it will droop all the time.
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Thanks for pointing out its the mini and not compact, i have read reviews on the mini and most say ball head is a let down although the compact has a very usable ball head, watched a few vids and its looks good enough for what im looking for

tysing said:
i saw a velbron aluminium tripod the other week, It's so compact and light. max weight of 4kg also. it was online for about £100. i think its called REXi something or other.
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Thanks for the input but £100 is well over what im considering

Scout n' About said:
I'm just about to order a Manfrotto MKC3-H01 - seems like a cracking tripod :)
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Cheers for alerting me to this but looking at it i prefer the Hama compact pro as its cheaper and it has foam grips on the top of the legs, nothing worse than cold hands
 
I looked at it too but then went for the Manfrotto as I didn't like the head on the Hama
I like good head, even when I'm outdoors ;)
 
Mr Mike said:
Thought about this long enough so decision made and order placed for Hama Traveller Compact Pro.

Will let you know my findings and post back here :cool:

Mike
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I've had a play with the one I bought from pjd88 and it seems to pretty good, I think i'm going to swap the tripod head out for a redsnapper RS-61 ballhead mainly so that I can use the same QR plate as with my main tripod and partly I think I'd trust it a bit more.

The 3rd set of legs feel a bit flimsy so probably won't use those if I don't have to. Overall I'm pleased with it.

Look forward to hearing what you think :thumbs:
 
Scout n' About said:
I'm just about to order a Manfrotto MKC3-H01 - seems like a cracking tripod :)
Click to expand...

Scout n' About said:
I looked at it too but then went for the Manfrotto as I didn't like the head on the Hama
I like good head, even when I'm outdoors ;)
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I was looking at this too, but can you remove the Manfrotto Head? I'm trying to standardize heads & plates so I don't have to spend my life changing them over. I use the same tripods for cameras and scopes.

BB
 
Not sure BB

I like the head on it but I'm having a few doubts as to wether or not it will hold a 2kg lens with the camera planted on the back of it
 
Sorry folks, i was meant to post back on this thread to let you know how i got on so here it is now..

Its rubbish lol

It is exactly what it looks like a cheapy flimsy tripod, its put together well enough and the foam handles are great. I bought this for when im out on long walks / hiking due to how light it is, i would say i dont even know i have it with me compared to the killer redsnapper with ball head. I only have it for landscape type stuff which i normally shoot from lower perspective anyway so i either dont extend any legs or maybe the first top set, i also have the camera strap round my neck so it cant fall and due to how many times i nearly lost my camera in the sea or rivers this is now habit. I would not trust it unheld i dont think and thats just with the D90 and sigma 10-20 or tamron 17-50. I think if i extend to full height it would just snap all by itself, think of it as a monopod with 3 legs and everything be just fine, lets face it you cant let go of them.

The ball head does what it should do and i dont think it would ever slip when tightened, its a little loose so when you think you have your compostion and tighten it move into position a little bit knocking horizons off but you learn to adapt to this and off set it first and already i nearly bang on every time.

So basically as rubbish as it is it does exactly what i wanted it for, very very light weight yet good enough to get the shot :thumbs:

I do have and use my redsnapper for everything else

Mike
 
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