My Tripod is Too Heavy!

I have a Manfrotto 190XProB aluminum leg tripod equipped with the 488RC2 ballhead. This tripod works fine for me relative to my shooting needs, but it is too darn long and too darn heavy. I tend to not have it with me when I need it because of this.

I don't need a better tripod. This is stable enough for me and my gear. I want a lighter and smaller tripod.

So please, give me some advice for tripods. I'm OK to the $600 - $800 range, but not much more as I am not using tripods super much and I am not as demanding.

What I like about the 190XProB

1) I like the snap locks, I do not like twist locks
2) I like the tilting center column, but I can live without so long as my new tripod is at least as tall as the basic 190XProB and has a removable center column so I can get the camera all the way down to the ground.
3) Quick release plates of some kind. I might just keep my 488RC2 head so I don't have to buy a bunch of new plates, but I dunno. The 488RC2 head is kind of heavy.

I know that to get a really short folded length I'll have to go from 3 leg sections to 4, and I can deal with this.

So what would everyone suggest?

I can't really chime in with any first-hand experience, but I do recall reading a lot
of positive reviews and feedback around POTN for the Benro Travel Angel 'pods.
They collapse to very small sizes, and are rather lightweight.

Have you by chance tried any of the twist locks on a higher end set of legs like a Gitzo or RRS?

ben_r_ wrote in post #13618154
Have you by chance tried any of the twist locks on a higher end set of legs like a Gitzo or RRS?

No, I have not. I guess I mentioned the flip locks because they are quick and to me they seem to be foolproof. I would worry about not getting all twist locks twisted, but that may be because I have not used such a tripod.

If you like the 190 why not get it's CF version?

auto-clicker wrote in post #13618202
If you like the 190 why not get it's CF version?

It's lighter, but still over 2 pounds (I think). More importantly, the 190 assembled with the 488RC2 ballhead is about 30 inches long when folded up. When I hang this under a backpack, it extends far beyond my own body on either side and is really cumbersome.

An ideal tripod to me would be no more than about 20 inches folded up (with ballhead) and roughly half the weight of my current rig.

Honestly though.... the huge folded up length is a bigger issue to me than the weight.

It sounds like Gitzo might be the one for you Jeffrey.

I'd be interested in knowing how you make out with this Jeffrey. My Gitzo CF tripod is 3.8 lbs and my Markins head is 1.2 lbs, which together is a lot of weight to lug around. It's also 26" long when folded.

A Markins Q3 Traveller ballhead is 0.83 lbs ($310) and could probably be mated with a set of Gitzo GT0541 Mountaineer 6X, 4-section CF legs ($500) which are 1.7 lbs and 19" long (excl head) and can support an 11 lb load. Wouldn't be any good for heavy lenses, but about as small and light that you can get for a quality setup.

2.53 lbs, 22.5" long (with the ballhead quick release upright) and $810.

In comparison: 190XProB + 488RC2 = 4 lbs + 1.34 lbs = 5.34 lbs

I would suggest keeping the tripod and doing squats and deadlifts.

Try them out in store. The twist lock is the preferred closure in my opinion.

RDKirk wrote in post #13618672
I would suggest keeping the tripod and doing squats and deadlifts.

Squats are getting hard for me ... my gut is starting to get in the way (too many Doritos)

ender78 wrote in post #13618680
Try them out in store. The twist lock is the preferred closure in my opinion.

Twist locks are great. I have an old Daiwa tripod with twist locks that I purchased in the mid-70's. They still work like new.

Bob_A wrote in post #13618736
Squats are getting hard for me ... my gut is starting to get in the way (too many Doritos)

Add cardio.

Seriously, though, that's not a heavy tripod.

Going from snap locks to twist lock I have to say I like the twist locks better (and my tripod doesn't even have anti-rotational legs)

More leg sections are going to give you a more compact tripod but the more leg sections the smaller that last leg is going to be which means the less stable. Also any tripod that is actually stable will still weigh 2+ pounds, even a good cf pod

Check out the feisol line of tripods. That are cf, build like tanks, and come in a varity of sizes and options all without breaking the bank.