Lightweight, Inexpensive Travel Tripod/Head Combo

I currently have the Bogen 3021 legs with the 488RC2 head & also the 3265 head. Great set-up!! I use the Rebel XT with lenses in my sig. What I need now is an inexpensive, lightweight combo for the times I don't want the weight of the 3021. I have narrowed it down to three possibilities & would like your input on which one is the best.

Slik Pro 340DX-1st Choice
Slik Pro 330DX-2nd Choice
SlikSprint Pro-3rd Choice

I also need your input on the heads. Is the Bogen 484RC2 enough or do I need to go with the 486RC2?

I would love to get a carbon fiber tripod, but like I said.....inexpensive. The amount of times I will be using this does not justify spending more than $100.00 US for the legs.

Thanks for all replies. Kath

I am actually interested in this as well. I am on the fence between the manfrotto's, specifically 682B and one before it.

What about the Bogen 725B? Has a ball head as the main difference. I was looking at this model - not much more than $100...

Just went back to B&H to look at the 725B, it's on sale, & less than the ones I mentioned. Must have passed that one up thinking it was not the RC2 QR system. The ballhead on this tripod is a non-removable type. Wonder if this head will be too small for a DSLR?? Thinking that it might be more for a P&S?? Any input would be appreciated.
Kath

I have a 728B, it has a non removable pan/tilt head and it supports the 20D with 70-200 2.8 just fine. It doesnt have all the bells and whistles but it does what I need it to do.

Edit: If anyone has one of the digi model tripods, you can take the rubber foot off the bottom of the center column and put a stainless "S" hook through the 2 holes in the bottom and then hang your camera bag from the bottom of the column and this makes it 10 times more stable.

I was in the same boat as you...

You stated, "I currently have the Bogen 3021 legs with the 488RC2 head & also the 3265 head. Great set-up!!"

I have the Manfrotto 3001P legs with a 488RC2 Ball head and also have a Calumet pan-tilt head. I use this as as my go to tripod...

Additionally, I have a Davis and Sanford tripod which I have had for at least 25 years. This old workhorse has both a pan-tilt head and a fluid head. The darn thing could support a Volkswagen but, it is also as heavy as a VW. I do frequently use this tripod, especially when I am in a fairly stationary shooting position.

I also felt that I needed a relatively inexpensive, lightweight combo for the times I don't want the weight of the 3001P".

I wanted the tripod primarily as a base for pano shooting. While I have shot panos hand-held, there is simply no comparison with a tripod mounted string of shots.

I stopped off at my local Calumet Photo Shop in Escondido, CA and looked at composite (such as carbon fiber) tripods. They were very expensive. Since I had two other tripods, I didn't want to hock my home for a composite tripod. Gitzo's were out of reach as were the composite Manfrotto tripods. Even the Chinese rip-off of the Gitzo, the Benro's were expensive if you opted for a composite model and the aluminum Benro was too heavy for my needs.

They had a Slik Pro 330DX in stock and on sale. It was the lightest weight metal tripod in the store and was also as light as some of the composite models. The price was good, about $82.00 including California State Tax. So I picked it up. The tripod will suit my purposes and at 3.5 pounds or so I will carry this rig when I would not carry the heavier rigs.

The longest lens I plan to use on this tripod is the 70-200mm f/4L IS and usually, it will be my 24-70mm f/2.8L on a 30D camera. Just for fun, I tried the tripod with my 400mm f/5.6L lens and the Slik 330Pro DX is not really sturdy enough for that weight, especially in any type of a wind (and it is not advertised to be used with that much weight).

Since I got the tripod at a good price and since I never plan to use it with the center column extended, I purchased the shorter center column which subtracts a couple of ounces from the total weight. This allows the tripod to be used in a much lower position than with the stock center column. You could just cut off the stock center column and save the price of the short model.

The tripod adjusts easily and (most importantly) stays in adjustment; at least for the short time I have been using it. The head is minimal and without a lot of bells and whistles but - serves its purpose. The head is also interchangeable and you can use any head with a 1/4 screw attachment or with a 3/8 inch attachment and a bushing.

I have to be honest and say that I would rather have a carbon fiber tripod but, I just cannot justify the expense since the Slik does the job I bought it for.

You could sell your Bogen legs and pick up a Feisol, that way you'd only have one tripod. That should be about an additional $100.

My Feisol 3401 works just fine and dandy.

For those of you who have the pan/tilt head...can you tell me how long the handles are? The tripod will be used for sightseeing in the Charleston area ( plantations, landscapes, etc ), & hiking in the woods around home. Do you think that head sufficient for those purposes or is a ball head better? (never used a pan/tilt head)
Thanks, Kath