Looking for Suggestions for Travel Tripod

I am looking for a different tripod essentially. I'm currently using a Manfrotto 190X Pro B, and it's great, but it's also very heavy.

I use a Lowepro Slingbag when I'm out and about, and it does have a little tripod strap on the side to hold a tripod. The 190X is a bit big and tends to whack into things when walking around.

I use a Canon 5D3 with a grip, which is of course pretty heavy (with L lenses). I am also a fan of panorama's, and use a Nodal Ninja 4 when doing those.

Any suggestions for small, lightweight, and yet super sturdy for this rig?

My friend let me borrow his Joby for the weekend, and it just bent over under the weight.

Do you have a price limit? Many posters asking for advice like this only want to spend a bare minimum. That of course is going to make the super sturdy req unattainable. If you're willing to pay for quality the recommendations you get will be much more relevant to the sturdy factor.

Love my Benro C-EX-580 with photoclam PC30 head. I take it everywhere that I travel.

Easily held my old 7D, 100-400 fully extended with an 580EX flash on top - mounted tot he camera (all for testing purposes...).

Z...

luciddreamer wrote in post #15974973
Do you have a price limit? Many posters asking for advice like this only want to spend a bare minimum. That of course is going to make the super sturdy req unattainable. If you're willing to pay for quality the recommendations you get will be much more relevant to the sturdy factor.

I think I'd be willing to spend under $500. I actually have two 190X Pro B's now (one with a video head for a totally different purpose than photography), and the one I reserved for photo stuff. I suppose I would be willing to sell one of the 190's for something more light and sturdy.

I have a Manfrotto Ball Head, and a 3-way head (which is too huge to take anywhere without the car nearby).

I'm not sure if sticking in the Manfrotto product range is necessary. But thinking more on this, I think I'm willing to spend a bit of money to get a tripod I'll actually take with me!

Ryan0751 wrote in post #15974949
Any suggestions for small, lightweight, and yet super sturdy for this rig?

You can get a decent rig for $500. With research you can find value in tripods like Benro and Feisol and ballheads like Photo Clam where there are many choices. A really good place to start is the Tripod FAQ.

If you're serious about sturdy take a look at the Feisol models that come with no center column, the 3442 seems to be a favorite here and it only weighs 2.5lbs and it's well within your budget.

Ok great, thanks a lot!

The problem with any pod is taking it !

I have a Dolica CF proline for travel, and an older Silk.
But what I tend to use most is the Primos Shooting Stick w V Rifle Mount.
It serves as a walking stick and Camera monopod.
Nothing is quicker than that V Lens mount.

My Feisol 3441T is my main and travel tripod. It performs admirably. It's been through tripod hell and back, and costs $414 which is under your budget (since you already have a head). Very light, very sturdy, folds up small, extremely well built. I can't recommend it enough.

I have also used Benro. They are very good too (the C2691 is especially nice and similar to the Feisol), but a bit less "refined" than Feisol, and use cast metal parts (bad) as opposed to machined (good) as found on that particular Feisol.

Here's my summary (which I've gotten tired of typing out) of what it has survived:

Sirrith wrote in post #15764731
For your peace of mind, the following is what my Feisol has been through since I've had it:
Took it to Iceland and used it on sharp volcanic rocks in the rain, it was partially submerged in freezing salt water (unintentionally by a rogue wave as well as intentionally at Jokulsarlon), in sand (which thanks to the wave also got everywhere), under the hot shower back at the hostel with me to wash out the salt and sand.

Took it to Scotland where it was used on wet grass and mud.

Took it to China where it was scraped along granite rocks and used in relatively strong winds hiking around the Yellow Mountains (I was extremely thankful for the light weight there, have you ever walked up and down steep stairs for 6 hours straight with a loaded pack?).

Back here in Hong Kong it has been used on very uneven rocks, and has fallen into a river twice, being completely submerged as well as being bashed against rocks (both my ballhead and the legs bear the scars).

In France it was used in a snowstorm as well as being buried in the stuff.

All in all, I don't see how a more expensive tripod would have fared any better (I do not have a single failed shot which was due to the tripod in any of those conditions, all blurry shots were a result of me bumping against the tripod or camera during the exposure, and the tripod has been so easy to use as well).

One more thing to note actually:
These particular models of Feisol use machined aluminium parts as opposed to cast metal on the Gitzo, which means they are stronger and more resistant to impacts. They are also more costly to make.

What are the big differences between the 3441 and 3442? The head I have is actually the 234RC ball-head, it's really for a monopod. I had bought it as I have the Manfrotto video monopod setup, and wanted a second head for my camera if I pull off the video head.

So I might need a good light ball head as well.

Using the Nodal Ninja setup, there's a bit of added over hang from the support arms, as well as probably 2-3 pounds extra weight. And it helps to have the tripod super level.

The 3442 has a wider spider and by default comes with no centre column. The 3441S has a 2-part centre column and shorter legs. The 3441T has the exact same legs as the 3442, but has the 3441S's spider, and a 1-piece centre column (better).

So I went ahead and ordered the Feisol 3442, with their CB-50D head. I looked at the Photo Clam heads, while they looked great, very expensive.

Hopefully this will workout! I skipped the center column for now, I figure it's added weight where I don't want weight.

Another choice to consider is the Mephoto line. They get very good reviews and are relatively inexpensive depending on the model you choose. Some convert to monopods, too. They come complete with ballhead, clamp, and carry case. And they come in colors!

http://www.mefoto.com/

Ryan0751 wrote in post #15978765
So I went ahead and ordered the Feisol 3442, with their CB-50D head. I looked at the Photo Clam heads, while they looked great, very expensive.

The Photo-Clam ballheads are mid-range in price, the top-end heads cost $450-500. I don't know what Feisol heads are like but very few tripod makers also make good ballheads. Make absolutely sure the head is suitable when it arrives. Photo Clam offer great value for money and it's worth missing a couple of lunches to get one.

peter_n wrote in post #15978786
The Photo-Clam ballheads are mid-range in price, the top-end heads cost $450-500. I don't know what Feisol heads are like but very few tripod makers also make good ballheads. Make absolutely sure the head is suitable when it arrives. Photo Clam offer great value for money and it's worth missing a couple of lunches to get one.

I know, but still $250 seems like lot for what it is. Though I did spend $500 on a pano head (though those can go way higher)

The CB-50D seems to get good reviews. I can always return it I guess.

One other reason I chose the Feisol head was it's guaranteed to fit with the legs folded back over the head, which is important for travel for me.

I don't think you'll be disappointed by the legs. No idea about the head. Also, Feisol customer service is great.