Light and SMALL tripods for travels

Thanks for the suggestions, I bought a RRS TFA-01 and BC-18 combination and really enjoyed having it out at car week in Monterey two weeks ago. It did a great job with my Canon 1Dx and 24-70 f/2.8 combo.

I used my Really Right Stuff 'Pocket Pod' TFA-01 with a BC-18 ballhead to take some images of a sandwich in a "super-dark" pub the other night.
When the images were taken, I could barely see the meat in the sandwich with my unaided eyes.

Because this tiny tripod was in my camera bag anyway, I was able to take a 1/2 second exposure without flash, and later another one at 1/4 second, utilizing flash.
The TFA-01 was able to support a full-sized Canon camera, EF 24-70 f/2.8 II lens, and a big, on-camera flash, very easily.
I angled the balhead several times, and changed the camera's orientation pretty easily.
See post #13 and to that, mentally add the mass of a Canon 600EX-RT flash.

While these images are not magazine-grade, they do make me happy because that sandwich was awesome, and I have a couple of images of it.

I am glad that I bought and have available, this small tripod!

1/2 second exposure:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2aZ5​XUV

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Qbdb​7U

The RRS TFA-01 is a great rig! One of my best purchases in camera support.

I just took receipt of yet another tripod; this one an Oben CTT-1000
I believe that it is new-to-market.

This one is a carbon fiber, table top tripod with adjustable legs and a ballhead, all for $100.
It is REALLY well made, even to my critical eye.

B&H has a few (compensated) reviews on it and the one offered by "Jeffery" is fairly in-depth.
I agree with a lot of what he wrote.

For me, this tripod will be way more versatile than the RRS TFA-01 that I had been using.
Just the fact that the height is now quite varying, is a huge boon.

The included ballhead can hold a 1DX Mk II with a EF 24-70 f/2.8 II at a 45° angle, reasonably reliably without creeping.
I wonder how many times it can do this before wearing, but time will tell.
The ballhead is also beautifully made.
It mounts with a 1/4-20 stud, and it is removable.

The folded length that is listed is with the legs folded in, but they do not swing up and over the ballhead as with some travel tripods.
It really something like 10.5" in collapsed height; feet-to-Arca Swiss Plate.

If you are in the market for such a thing, may I suggest that you check it out on-line.
B&H also has the manual on-line, where you can see more.
At some point I will try to take some side by side images of it and the TFA-01, and post them.
There are some "customer supplied" images in with the B&H reviews, and they may prove informative.

Hope this helps!

That's one reason why I like the TFA-01 Ultra because the locking legs. A slightly larger version would be nice for my uses. The RRS TP-243 is good too but not light relative to CF. This Oben you mention looks good! How do you like the included ball head?

Mark A. wrote in post #18735599
While these images are not magazine-grade, they do make me happy because that sandwich was awesome, and I have a couple of images of it.

I am glad that I bought and have available, this small tripod!

1/2 second exposure:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2aZ5​XUV 123_1964_5 by Mark A. photo, on Flickr

1/4 second exposure:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Qbdb​7U 123_1969_3 by Mark A. photo, on Flickr

So...some of us travel a lot so where did you find that great looking sandwich?

ra40 wrote in post #18815227
That's one reason why I like the TFA-01 Ultra because the locking legs. A slightly larger version would be nice for my uses. The RRS TP-243 is good too but not light relative to CF. This Oben you mention looks good! How do you like the included ball head?

ra40,

I do not think that I can come up with any new descriptions for this tripod and head.
I still think the whole thing is beautifully made, a great value, and the tripod head is also beautifully made (as above).

I mentioned that it can hold a 1DX Mk II with a EF 24-70 f/2.8 II at a 45° angle.
I know that you take many great images of food, which is a hobby I enjoy.
While the image below was taken in these popular but harsh LED floodlights that we are seeing more and more of these days, I used this Oben CCT-1000 and included ballhead on the table, with the above (HEAVY) camera setup, to take this image.

The tripod head is small. Asking it to perform like a $400, full-sized one is not fair.
But that is what I did below, and will do again and again.

This is why I bought the tripod: to slip it in my bag when I go places to eat, often restaurants with subdued lighting, where only using a tripod would you stand a chance.
The Oben achieved the height and minimum focus distance I required.
I bet that YOU would love this tripod for some of your food fotography.
No, it is not as useful as a studio tripod, but for traveling, wow, is it ever great!!

From Karl's Sausage Kitchen and European Market in Peabody MA:
Andouille Sausage (made on-site) on a roll, with Poutine, Cucumber Salad, and fresh, German Hefeweizen
(This was fantastic!!)

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/SyEa​fJ

John from PA wrote in post #18815703
So...some of us travel a lot so where did you find that great looking sandwich?

Hosted photo: posted by John from PA in
./showthread.php?p=188​15703&i=i749916
forum: Tripods, Monopods & Other Camera Support

John,

From the description I copied from the restaurant's on-line menu, and then added to the image's description field on Flickr:

Jerk Pork Sandwich at Armsby Abbey, Worcester, MA.
"Roasted & pulled pork, über spicy jerk sauce; carrot, raisin & cabbage slaw, served on a fresh baked roll”
$14

I can say with all sincerity that this was the best sandwich that I ever had.
The sandwich is not a standard menu item. It is not always available.
I long for another one!

If you ever get there, their Mac n' Cheese is the stuff of legends!!

It was so dark in Armsby Abbey that there was NO way I could have taken the image without a tripod; in the Armsby Abby's images, the RRS TFA-01.

Using the Oben CCT-1000 tripod, here is another image that I took at Karl's Sausage Kitchen, as mentioned above.
The Oben can reach heights that I need for such images:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2eC9​1Lw

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2dj2​4za

Thanks, great comments! Invariably the tools desired fall between the what is available category. The TFA-01 is a bit smallish at times and the TP-243 a bit big. Will look into this! The portable kit grows little by little that I will soon overflow the messenger bag. That's a and at the same time. Been working at streamlining the travel set-up but that's tough.

I use two small tripods; an ancient version of the Manfrotto 209 which I use inside, and a Leofoto LS-223C for outdoors. Both work quite well.