Cheap, compact, light tripod?

I am looking for a budget secondary tripod to use just for support for vlogging. I already have a primary tripod I'm quite happy with!

I recently purchased this, after mostly comparing it to the Sirui T-005X:

https://www.amazon.ca …nal-Monopod/dp/B00L6IUHUS

- Light at 2.5lbs.

- Nice compact length of below 13"

- Extended height of 57" - but I wouldn't mind more???

- I THINK I like the idea, that unlike the sirui t-005x, the center column(s) DO retract down - which means inbetween uses on the go, I can still fold up the legs without reversing folding the legs and don't end up with a "double height" folded length tripod (sirui would have the downward legs + center column extension)

- Monopod functionality is nice as I could use it without rest of tripod as stick, stick it in some snow, etc. But maybe there wouldn't be times I would actually use this functionality without having the whole tripod...

- Annoyingly and confusingly the monopod version has a ballhead that is NOT arca swiss compatible. Apart from buying another ballhead to put on it, this alone might be a dealbreaker.

Is there another "cheap" tripod that is within the same nice compact+light category that is maybe even lighter, or smaller, or extends higher? I'm 6" tall and would prefer being able to stand up comfortably talking to the camera.

So yeah - I am definitely not looking for a great tripod... just something that ticks the boxes ...

A Benro IF-19C might fit the bill. It's available from B&H in NYC and directly from China at a lower price. Shipping from China will take 3-4 weeks. It has a max height of 58" but it's not clear if that includes the kit ballhead (which sports an A-S clamp). I've used several Benro tripods and have never been disappointed. It seems a bit similar to the Dolica to me though, and it's more expensive.

Unfortunately, ticking all the boxes in a lightweight tripod does not come cheap. Lightweight and compact are physically opposed to height and durabilty, so require more engineering and expensive materials to achieve. On top of this, stability and ease of use are what most photographers really desire after bad experiences with cheap tripods. Ticking all the boxes currently means spending $200+ and likely won’t change based on material and manufacturing costs. Search for “travel tripods” at Adorama or BH and you’ll find anything carbon fiber is in the $200-400 range. To pay anything less, you give up something from your list.

For a very limited time, B&H has the Oben AC-2361L 3-Section Aluminum Tripod on sale for $90 (regularly $230).

See https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …ion_aluminum_la​teral.html

NDAPhoto wrote in post #18829201
Unfortunately, ticking all the boxes in a lightweight tripod does not come cheap. Lightweight and compact are physically opposed to height and durabilty, so require more engineering and expensive materials to achieve. On top of this, stability and ease of use are what most photographers really desire after bad experiences with cheap tripods. Ticking all the boxes currently means spending $200+ and likely won’t change based on material and manufacturing costs. Search for “travel tripods” at Adorama or BH and you’ll find anything carbon fiber is in the $200-400 range. To pay anything less, you give up something from your list.

With all due respect - I specifically said things like stability weren't as important. This is more of a video camera support, not a stills photo tripod for long exposure/vibration reduction, etc.

Of course I don't want it blowing over but that's pretty difficult to do, especially if you just hang a bag or lean something against one of the legs for added support

John from PA wrote in post #18829592
For a very limited time, B&H has the Oben AC-2361L 3-Section Aluminum Tripod on sale for $90 (regularly $230).

See https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …ion_aluminum_la​teral.html

Price definitely looks good! The 26" folded seems quite long though? Also, 5.5lbs

kaitlyn2004 wrote in post #18829735
Price definitely looks good! The 26" folded seems quite long though? Also, 5.5lbs

Both of your points are the trade-offs due to it being made of aluminum and being three sections. As you increase the number of sections the potential exists to loose stability.

kaitlyn2004 wrote in post #18829734
With all due respect - I specifically said things like stability weren't as important. This is more of a video camera support, not a stills photo tripod for long exposure/vibration reduction, etc.

Of course I don't want it blowing over but that's pretty difficult to do, especially if you just hang a bag or lean something against one of the legs for added support

Must have missed where you specifically wrote, “stability is not as important”. Primary function is always stability, which is not the same as vibration dampening. Obviously, I have no clue what I’m talking about.

kaitlyn2004 wrote in post #18823463
I am looking for a budget secondary tripod to use just for support for vlogging. I already have a primary tripod I'm quite happy with! ...

NDAPhoto wrote in post #18829885
Must have missed where you specifically wrote, “stability is not as important”. Primary function is always stability, which is not the same as vibration dampening. Obviously, I have no clue what I’m talking about.

I think the intent was pretty clear from the first line.

There is a valid use for light flimsy tripods! They don't all have to be rock-solid. I have used one not much sturdier than a fishing pole very successfully. Sometimes it is sufficient that it supports the camera just for a minute or so, and swaying a bit doesn't matter if the shutter speed is sufficient. Primary function is not always stability. Sometimes it is just support, and sometimes it is to reduce motion, not to stop it.

When I was in Ecuador in January, I borrowed a tripod that was pretty cheap, that nevertheless helped a lot to get 1/25 sec shots.

I have three tripods myself, and like Kaitlyn, one is big and strong for times when I need good stability. There are other times when such stability is not necessary. The big one stays home on almost all trips.

The paraphrased saying goes, "I can provide you with 'lightweight', 'cheap', 'sturdy', 'tall'...pick TWO!"

Archibald wrote in post #18829906
I think the intent was pretty clear from the first line.

There is a valid use for light flimsy tripods! They don't all have to be rock-solid. I have used one not much sturdier than a fishing pole very successfully. Sometimes it is sufficient that it supports the camera just for a minute or so, and swaying a bit doesn't matter if the shutter speed is sufficient. Primary function is not always stability. Sometimes it is just support, and sometimes it is to reduce motion, not to stop it.

When I was in Ecuador in January, I borrowed a tripod that was pretty cheap, that nevertheless helped a lot to get 1/25 sec shots.

I have three tripods myself, and like Kaitlyn, one is big and strong for times when I need good stability. There are other times when such stability is not necessary. The big one stays home on almost all trips.

OP may not know it, but she was inquiring about travel tripods. She didn’t ask for light and flimsy. The other criteria she requested were: Under 3 lbs., over 57”, folds less than 13”, and non-reversing legs, all for “cheap”, so say $100-150. And don’t forget Arca-Swiss, too. These features are found in the manufacturer category called travel tripods, but you only get all of them combined in the $200-400 range.

A Dolica travel tripod targets the lowest budget already. When someone says I want the same thing, but better in every respect, it is not possible without increasing the budget. The price in this competitive market happens to be around $200. Only a Magic Unicorn brand offers all of these features for less, just like cheap fast portrait lenses with the best image quality. To be realistic about finding a “cheap” travel tripod, you must give up either weight, height, or compactness, but you don’t get them all.

If someone asked, “What’s the best compromise in a cheap travel tripod?”, I would recommend the MeFoto Roadtrip. Its build is not cheap and it comes reasonably close to “all the boxes”. Same company as Benro, btw.

NDAPhoto wrote in post #18829940
OP may not know it, but she was inquiring about travel tripods. She didn’t ask for light and flimsy. The other criteria she requested were: Under 3 lbs., over 57”, folds less than 13”, and non-reversing legs, all for “cheap”, so say $100-150. These features are found in the manufacturer category called travel tripods, but you only get all of them combined in the $200-400 range.

A Dolica travel tripod targets the lowest budget already. When someone says I want the same thing, but better in every respect, it is not possible without increasing the budget. The price in this competitive market happens to be around $200. Only a Magic Unicorn brand offers all of these features for less, just like cheap fast portrait lenses with the best image quality. To be realistic about finding a “cheap” travel tripod, you must give up either weight, height, or compactness, but you don’t get them all.

If someone asked, “What’s the best compromise in a cheap travel tripod?”, I would recommend the MeFoto Roadtrip. Its build is not cheap and it comes reasonably close to “all the boxes”. Same company as Benro, btw.

Sure, tripods are compromises just like everything else in photography. I have an old Star D (1970s vintage) which weighs 6 1/4 pounds with a Sirui head and is pretty sturdy. I also have an old and cheap Slik, which is tall enough for me and just a hair over 2 lb. Neither is ideal... so from time to time I check to see what new tripods are available. And with all the new technology and space-age materials, and the decades that have passed, I am disappointed. Good quality sturdy tripods are lighter but not by much, and apparently there are no major breakthroughs in travel tripods either. And the good models are very expensive.

Different folks will accept different compromises, and we have to make our own decisions. Maybe the MeFoto Roadtrip is the right one for the OP.

To reiterate, this is a SECONDARY tripod, for vlogging (video). Sturdiness is not important. I don't have a 3lb+ load [expensive] on it, nor do I really have to worry about most things that I would with still photography/my camera support

kaitlyn2004 wrote in post #18829993
To reiterate, this is a SECONDARY tripod, for vlogging (video). Sturdiness is not important. I don't have a 3lb+ load [expensive] on it, nor do I really have to worry about most things that I would with still photography/my camera support

manfrotto backpacker air.

not very stable, but packs very small, extends very tall, costs very little. Got mine on sale for $30, going to be my travel tripod, I'm using RRS tqc travel tripod as a normal tripod, but it's too big and heavy for travel. I know all the limitations of the backpacker, and you really need to get familiar with it, however it does the job if you're ok with some limitations. Phone, gopro, or short height + camera, that's the main useage of the tripod. It also doubles as a gimbal like stabilizer for walking or smaller movements. I've been using it as a secondary tripod for the occasional multi angle camera shoot, and it's great having a few of these around in case I need/want different angles. If you want slightly higher quality but a lot less height, benro proangel series 0 is very similar, more stable, easier to manipulate the legs. It doesnt extend nearly as high unfortunately. I generally use the benro before the mefoto, however for vlogging or small camera, the mefoto may have the advantage. I use the benro for normal photography all the time

I have a Vanguard tripod and head that weigh close to 6 lbs. Too heavy for carrying any sort of distance. This summer I'll be going to Norway and Iceland and will be taking an old tripod I have that I think is from the late 90's. It's a Blacks photo tripod, they used to be a Canadian camera store that went out of business a few years ago. I think the model # on it is BH50, but anyway that and my Cowboy Studio ball head weigh in just a little over 2 lbs!