What's the smallest yet most robust tripod available?

Kindredmachine

Kindredmachine

Well-known member
I might have to go on a production trip back to the Middle East in 6 weeks and this particualr engagement calls for extrememly light travel. I think Barry (a few months back) posted about what the best SMALLEST yet ROBUST/STURDY tripod would be for travel but I can't find the thread. I need something untra heavy duty that will hold a 10-12lb rig yet fold up to be about 21". I know it's probably gong to have carbon fiber legs) and there's a LOT of them out there but does anyone have an opinion as to what the best one might be for weight/size/price? Keep in mind I am going to beat the garbage out of this thing...

Thank you!!!!
 
We just bought this for our super-light travel:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...DV_190XV_701HDV_190XV_View_Tripod_System.html
and
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554093-REG/Manfrotto_438_438_Compact_Levelling_Head.html

The head is.... ummm.... OK. It's no pro fluid head, but, you can pan and tilt smoothly. No drag controls, just lock. The sticks, I couldn't easily twist when trying to torque them. But it folds up really small and weighs very little.

(Our "real" tripods are Miller DS25 and Vinten Vision 3.)
 
Kindredmachine said:
Thank you for the suggestions but the Miller is WAY to big (fold length 32") and the Manfrotto only has a 8.8lbs load capacity. Neither will work. Something like this looks pretty dark good but do you guys think? I've never used this brand before... It's only $630 with head too.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/655205-REG/Induro_471_214_Carbon_8X_CT214_Tripod.html
Click to expand...

Are you shooting stills / lockoffs?!!!!

Whats the deal with the minimum support requirement?
 
Thanks for the suggestions, the Gitzo tripods looks more like what I need. Shooter... I'm shooting short video segments with a 10lb rig but I need everything to fold up and mount to my back as we hike through the desert and ruins. I'll be in some remote places in the Middle East and I need to be able to run or move without too much restraint. I have a pack where a tripod straps to the back but it needs to be around 20" broken down and yet still be able to hold the rig ad take a beating from wind, dirt, stones, dinged on walls while moving through tunnels etc...

FYI: We have many other tripods from Manfrotos, to K-pods, but of course none of them are useful in this sort of shooting enviroment.
 
This may not help, but it might be cheaper to purchase a backpack that will accommodate your current tripods.
I have a gunslinger II backpack I purchased for spec ops work which has an expandable area to carry my sniper rifle.
It also holds my tripod/head in the covered area instead of a weapon, and Red One & Cooke zoom inside.

Good Luck!

Dave
 
Thanks for all of the help! I've decided to take a rigged GH2 B-cam instead of the AF-100 and use a smaller photographer's backpack and short Induro carbon fiber tripod. It's probabaly going to be the best combo for the locations I'm going to be in. The AF100 footage definately looks more filmic than the GH2 but with grading in post I think it will look pretty decent. I'll put up a test reel when I get back to show everyone the results.
 
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