Any Tripod recommendations (compact/light weight/traveling)

[Jon Borcik]

I'm traveling to England this August (hopefully with my mkII) with my son's college soccer team and was looking to purchase a compact light weight tripod to take with me. Does anyone have any recommendations. Some of the compact ones I've seen would probably not be very stable with the weight of a 10D or mkII with any of my bigger lenses attaches.

Thanks :?

[scottbergerphoto]

Gitzo G1228 Mountaineer Reporter MK2 with the rapid column. It is light, collapses into 4 segments, holds 17 pounds, very sturdy.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=180916&is=REG
I take it with me on NYC subways.
Scott

[CoolToolGuy]

I bought the Velbon MAXi 343E, which comes highly rated as a travel tripod. It is small, light and compact. However, I have had several poor experiences using it with my Drebel, especially with the 24-70 L. I tried to use it on a beach, and there was enough breeze that the legs were vibrating. I had to hold the camera to steady it. I used it in a theater where I extended the column, and it shook for a long time with every adjustment. In both cases it made the use of the remote switch (cable release) difficult. I have relegated it to emergency use, and am considering something more substantial as my main tripod.

I think you should consider that, especially if you plan to use it with long or heavy lenses. Unless you are going to use it unattended (self portraits, etc), a monopod may be a more effective use of weight and space in your travel gear.

My 2 cents.

Have Fun,

[NILOLIGIST]

I agree with Scott, I have that tripod and I love it!!! It is light weight and sturdy.

NiL,

[Tapeman]

Another vote for the Gitzo 1228.

Overpriced but you will keep it forever.

[robertwgross]

I take my empty tripod case, put a rock in it, and hang that from the bottom of the tripod center. That effectively stabilizes it during a wind.

If it is a big wind, then get a bigger rock.

---Bob Gross---

[CoolToolGuy]

I take my empty tripod case, put a rock in it, and hang that from the bottom of the tripod center. That effectively stabilizes it during a wind.

If it is a big wind, then get a bigger rock.

---Bob Gross---

Bob, that is a good tactic, but I don't think that would have worked in my case - I had the column extended, and not only were the legs vibrating, but the column was swaying.

The Velbon is not a bad tripod, it is well made, but by necessity (to keep it light and small) it is rather flimsy. For a digicam it may work out fine, but not a DSLR with a big lens.

[Tapeman]

I'll often hang my camera bag from the hook. It actually is handier than putting your bag on the ground & weighs about 10 pounds which seems to be no problem for the G1228 with a 1v HS & 70-200 2.8L with 2x mounted on a Gitzo 1275 head. Total weight on tripod over 15 pounds.

[CoolToolGuy]

This thread got me thinking - I have been considering the Manfrotto 440 Carbon Fiber tripod ($399), and the Gitzo is getting plenty of good press here - but it is $80 more than the Manfrotto, and seems to have less - no ability for column to mount parallel to the ground, no bubble level, etc.

Why do you all like the Gitzo so much, and is it worth the extra cost?

[Blues67]

I've got a Promaster 6800. Huricane force winds don't faze it, you can run over it with a truck, it will (and has) survived falls off cliffs. It will support a small car. Light? hell no. But I'm hauling around a 500mm sigma. Who cares about weight.

[Jon Borcik]

Wow... a lot of Gitzo lovers I see! :lol:
.. any other recommendations!

I've tried that rock trick also. :D

[NILOLIGIST]

Gitzo is the best. Light & sturdy, a little overpriced but would you trust your thousand dollar camera to anything less?

NiL,