A good hiking tripod?

[Just Be]

I'm looking for a decent light weight tripod to strap to my back pack for hikes.

Pan/tilt would be nice and under $150. Under 15" folded. Over 48" extended. Independent leg spread.

[crn3371]

What you're describing sounds like a good set of carbon fiber legs. Isn't going to happen for under $150 with head.

[gjman]

Slik Sprint Pro GM (compared to the Bogen 3021 BPro)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v200/gjman/SprintPro/2006_1123SlikSprintPro0033.jpg

Close up on the Slik Sprint Pro GM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v200/gjman/SprintPro/IMG_1170.jpg

Another cool application for the Silk Sprint Pro
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v200/gjman/SprintPro/IMG_6504.jpg

[AirbusA380]

I'm sorry for bumping this thread, but I'm looking for the very same thing.

gjman, the Slik Sprint Pro seems like a good choice. I do have a question, however. When shooting panoramas, wouldn't a panhead be better?

I mean, if you try to "pan" the ballhead (which would involve unscrewing the ballhead's plug) won't the camera slope down a bit (due to the weight), and thus screwing your horizon up?

[gjman]

Yep but I don't do much panoramas ( by that I assume you want to stitch multiple images in post). When I do shoot landscapes, I usually compose and shoot and recompose and shoot and see which one I like the best in post.

If you want to do panorama you need something like the 488RC2 head. It allows you to lock the ball so no lens creep/sag and it pans in the horizontal plane. My ProBall 308 (484RC2) fits my needs.

[AirbusA380]

Thanks gjman.

As a tripod noob, I was quite shocked to see the prices of a head. But it seems there are other, WAY more expensive ones lol.

Anyhow, I was actually wondering if it is worth to shoot panoramas, with a normal head. The best option would be a pano-head but I find these (often $300+) too expensive. Is it worth shooting panoramas in portrait?

[gjman]

The problem with the portrait setting in the real world is that to be perfectly vertical you cannot let it rest all the way to the end of the notch (well you can if you use a 2 way bubble level). The other problem is that on a non-panning head a single knob controls both the unlocking of the ball and rotating the entire assembly. With a panning knob, one locks/unlocks the ball, the other knob allows you to rotate the entire assembly.

Also the 488RC2 does not cost that much (at least not in the US), its only $107.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/272779-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_488RC2_488RC2_Midi_Ball_Head.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/272779.jpg

Notice the two knobs, and the one on right says "Ball lock" while the one of the left is what rotates the whole assembly.

[René Damkot]

Another cool application for the Silk Sprint Pro

I assume you've found out by now that you have the umbrella adapter upside- down ;)

[gjman]

I assume you've found out by now that you have the umbrella adapter upside- down ;)

Well yes and no. The hole on either end and the accompanying adapters work for 1/4"-20 and the 3/8"-16 diameter tripod/stand mounts. So when I got it I didn't know how to use it. :confused:

I tried what you call the right side up and I didn't like it. I could only control the angle of the umbrella but my 550EX is too big to center the flash to the vertex of the umbrella (parabola).

The upside down set up directly to the tripod without the OEM head (pictured) allowed me to angle the flash the way I want it but not change the angle of the umbrella. To solve this problem you simply connect the umbrella adapter "upside down" to the wimpy Slik ball head (1/4-20) and now you can set the umbrella in any angle since the "upside down" adapter is connected to the ball head and the adapter single axis control can be used to better angle the 550EX flash.:)