Ultraportable tripod recommendations?

B

Barry_Green

Moderator
Anybody have any recommendations for a tiny, ultraportable halfway decent tripod with a halfway decent fluid head? Something that might extend up to maybe four feet, with a head weight rating of like six pounds, but small enough that you could fit it in or on a backpack? And, to add ridiculous onto the list of requirements -- ideally it'd have a ball leveler too?

Not really looking for a gorillapod type of device, but a hyperportable real tripod, with a fluid head that could actually pull off a decent pan or tilt with an AF100 sitting on it.
 
Barry_Green said:
Anybody have any recommendations for a tiny, ultraportable halfway decent tripod with a halfway decent fluid head? Something that might extend up to maybe four feet, with a head weight rating of like six pounds, but small enough that you could fit it in or on a backpack? And, to add ridiculous onto the list of requirements -- ideally it'd have a ball leveler too?

Not really looking for a gorillapod type of device, but a hyperportable real tripod, with a fluid head that could actually pull off a decent pan or tilt with an AF100 sitting on it.
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Me too Barry, the sort of stuff I do like Nepal and Kokoda Track in PNG last year, hoofing your own pack, ultra compact but steady with fluid head, way to go....anybody???
 
IMHO ...no tripod is up to the task of a pan and tilt head. They flex under torsion. Just the way they are engineered .

Look for lightweight leg set (carbon fibre maybe) and then a head that could include a level device .

Some Millers have an illuminated bubble incorporated. ( or use an app on your Smart Phone)
 
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It would be nice to know... I hoofed it up many mountains out west shooting deserts and the like with my Cartoni Focus head and sticks. Not too super-heavy, but certainly not something you'd consider ultra-portable. Especially when you're carrying a laptop to offload P2 from the good old HVX200, but I digress.
 
You might want to look for 3 stage baby legs, or even a two stage shorty.

Some time ago I purchased a set of inexpensive baby legs from Adorama. They're 3 stage, 75mm bowl, and are small enough to easily fit inside a Pelican 1650, but fully extended, the bowl is at about 4'. Add a head, plate and whatnot and you're at about 5-ish feet. I would give you a name, but they're unbranded - sorry. I'll send a pic if you think that would help. I think Vinten has a set that is supposed to go from 17" to 5' - not real sure how that works, but there ya go.
 
If I was looking for more portability, I'd take my 501DV head (Manfrotto) and get a tripod with fiber legs. I'm happy with the results on the 501DV with the AF100 on it. Don't get me wrong, I'd much rather have a miller, but I was shocked at how usable it is even with the steel legs when I take portability into consideration.

The camera shops where I am all have Manfrotto gear so I was able to test before I bought to make sure I liked.

I wish I could remember the other carbon legs someone posted about six months ago that traveled all over with them and loved them. They were not cheap, about $2.5k but the guy who used them absolutely loved them.
 
 
http://www.manfrotto.com/product/87..._Half_Ball_Carbon_Fiber_Tripod_WCenter_Column

I have the heavier aluminum model and it's my favorite tripod out of the many I own. The carbon fiber model listed here is even lighter and this MdeVe model has a half ball for leveling (a must have on my list) ... These are definately worth looking at. Put any small fluid head on it for the occassional pan & tilt and there you go.

This will spoil you -- you won't want to use any other.
 
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Hm, there's a Manfrotto tripod that I believe fits all your requirements. I just browsed over their website but I can't find it. Stephen Mick owns one... I just emailed him for the model number.
 
10s said:
http://www.manfrotto.com/product/87..._Half_Ball_Carbon_Fiber_Tripod_WCenter_Column

I have the heavier aluminum model and it's my favorite tripod out of the many I own. The carbon fiber model listed here is even lighter and this MdeVe model has a half ball for leveling (a must have on my list) ... These are definately worth looking at. Put any small fluid head on it for the occassional pan & tilt and there you go.

This will spoil you -- you won't want to use any other.
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You and me both! I have the aluminum model as well, exact same, and love it. I have been thinking awhile of picking up this version instead but keeping both since I like the old one so much. And the ball head is AWESOME. I use this with the 501DV although I am thinking of trying the 503DV as it is supposed to be a real fluid head and not too pricey.


Edit: This is what I am thinking, just under 9 pounds with the head

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/735008-REG/Manfrotto_503HDV_Fluid_Head_w_755CX3.html
 
Just bought the Sachtler 6 in anticipation of the new arrival. The two stage ENG75 leg system with mid spreader is the lightest and is surprisingly compact (certainly compared to the Vinten Pro 6's I've used in the past). Will post images of AF100 and FSB in action once they are together.
 
Barry_Green said:
Anybody have any recommendations for a tiny, ultraportable halfway decent tripod with a halfway decent fluid head? Something that might extend up to maybe four feet, with a head weight rating of like six pounds, but small enough that you could fit it in or on a backpack? And, to add ridiculous onto the list of requirements -- ideally it'd have a ball leveler too?

Not really looking for a gorillapod type of device, but a hyperportable real tripod, with a fluid head that could actually pull off a decent pan or tilt with an AF100 sitting on it.
Click to expand...

Hi Barry,

in my trips I use a Manfrotto Mdeve 50Mm Half Ball Carbon Fiber Tripod W/Center Column with an ADCOM AT-H4400 fluid head (http://www.adcom.it/product/20556_AT-H4400.html).
In my opinion it's a very good compromise and I think you saw this strange combination in Japan.
 
Took a Sachtler 6 and Manfrotto 501 to a shoot at Everest Base Camp - that's a 7-10 day walk (mostly up, well actually up, down, up, up, up, down, up) along mountain trails from the nearest drop off point. I complained about taking them, but was very glad I didn't go lighter when we were shooting. I don't think we actually used the Manfrotto for anything other than building the camera.

G.
 
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