Need good travel tripod rev. - have fractured hip.

I just went to B&H's web site and searched for Gitzo parts. There are various items, but I need to figure out what fits my tripods.

May be this would help: Gitzo Parts Link.

Just to clarify, the two Velbons I mentioned have oddly-shaped leg sections that look like a comma in cross section (slightly spiralled with a step). That means you can grab the end of the compacted leg, twist it to unlock all the leg segments simultaneously, pull it out, then twist back and the whole thing locks solid.

 

My problem with it is when I don't want to fully extend the legs, only a certain number of sections, I would want to start with the thickest and work my way progressively to the thinner ones. However, when I twist the leg one or two clicks, it is not necessarily the thickest sections that are unlocked, so I have to extend all the legs fully first, and then retract the sections that I don't need, starting from the thinnest.

My problem with it is when I don't want to fully extend the legs, only a certain number of sections, I would want to start with the thickest and work my way progressively to the thinner ones. However, when I twist the leg one or two clicks, it is not necessarily the thickest sections that are unlocked, so I have to extend all the legs fully first, and then retract the sections that I don't need, starting from the thinnest.

 

Yes - I agree that's a little awkward. The REXi, at least, has a bonus top section that I mentioned with a separate grip around it - so you can elevate the legs to a plausible height but then have an easy way to partially extend the top section for levelling. It's only just head-height though, so I normally want to extend everything (you can always splay the legs wider). I take the speed advantage on level ground over the awkwardness on very lumpy terrain. :-) The biggest problem I have with the REXi is that the legs don't meet in the middle - so they're cantilevered around the apex, which might be bad if they got squashed in a bag. I put a film cannister between the feet and hold it in place with a rubber band, which seems to work, but isn't a problem with my other tripods that can put their feet together.

 

My RRS tripod is a TVC-34L - it might not be rock solid if I extend the last leg section, but it's easily head height even without that extended. I only got the long version a) so I can set it up below me on a hill, and b) for astronomy, where I want to look up through the camera without crouching.

I started looking for a lightweight but good travel tripod a year and half ago. It was just too taxing to carry the Gitzo 1325 for 20 miles in the mountains. I wanted one that was light, would support both Nikon D800E + 80-400mm AFS and a Chamonix 4x5, and would reach around 60 inches height. After trying out a number of them in stores checking out height and resistance to vibration, it came down to either a Gitzo, RRS, or the Feisol 3441T. I found a great deal on a used 3441T and went with that. I've been using it for a year now, several times a week. It's a nice tripod. Very sturdy, reaches high enough and has no center column, and easily holds my gear. It's very light and has been holding up very well. I think it's the best option for lightweight, usuability, and price. The only negative is, like all these light weight tripods, it's not the best choice in heavy wind. Since the Dakotas are often very windy (over 50 mph in recent weeks) I still use my 1325 too. The 3441T is not quite as solid as the RRS, but it cost one third as much and has been doing everything I ask for over a year now.

 

I will add that I hate lever locks. They're always catching on brush or pinching my fingers.

 

 

Kent in SD

May be this would help: Gitzo Parts Link.

Thanks Mary. That is a handy link, with lots of details.

I found a great deal on a used 3441T and went with that. I've been using it for a year now, several times a week. It's a nice tripod. Very sturdy, reaches high enough and has no center column, and easily holds my gear.

Excellent idea, it's a taller version of the CT-3442 that I had for a while to use as a lighter G1325, as it does not have a center column as well - though it lifts a little higher than the G1325's spider look when all spread out.

I think the Feisol ct3401 makes a nice travel tripod. I got one for Christmas and have been using it a lot. Its a little on the short side at 50 " but you can add a center column to it if you need additional height.

from another 72 yo...

how's your hip? What did you decide to get? Are you satisfied?

I too am looking, but want something that collapses to a short length, is light and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

My problem with it is when I don't want to fully extend the legs, only a certain number of sections, I would want to start with the thickest and work my way progressively to the thinner ones. However, when I twist the leg one or two clicks, it is not necessarily the thickest sections that are unlocked, so I have to extend all the legs fully first, and then retract the sections that I don't need, starting from the thinnest.

I start from the thin end, proceeding to thicker sections in that order. It is a royal PITA to clean sand and dirt out of the joints, so I keep them as far from the ground as possible. Joints are extremely strong in Gitzo tripods, due to their tight tolerance and bushings at the upper end of each section. There is little if any affect on stiffness if you start with the thinnest section.

A little late in responding. I’m up and around these days -starting to carry to photo equipment out to the South Texas wetlands. Needless to say I won’t be doing any Pennsylvania off trail waterfalls any time soon. The Mefoto carbon fiber Globetrotter arrived today - $300 including ball head. No, it’s not a Gitzo, but the, again, neither is the price. It appears to be quite sturdy, especially when only 4 of the 5 legs are in use. It reverse folds down to 16 in, and looks to be perfect for backpack/hiking. I also have a Slik Sprint Pro - in comparison it is like an inexpensive toy, suitable for an iPhone or small p&s. I’ll be putting the mefoto through the paces and will report back. I read somewhere it is made by Benro.

Resurrecting this thread as push is coming to shove tripod wise. No broken hip, but now 73, ugh, and have been looking on the lower end price wise.

I weighed my d810 with the 70-200 attached (the maximum I would use) and it comes in at around 6 lbs.

Is there any rule of thumb on weight of camera vs a tripod's "load capacity?"

I have a Bogen 3011 for non traveling work, I am happy with it, but it is bulky and heavy.

I need something now to use on an upcoming trip to Spain photographing antique chairs in both shops and museums. My setup will be the 810 and a Nikon 35 prime or Nikon 55 macro or Nikon 16-35/4. I may use my Nikon 20, but whatever I use it will

1) not be particularly heavy...possibly 5lbs or less

2) in a controlled protected environment, ie not on a Pennsylvania trail or South Texas wetlands

I am a bit vertically challenged at 5'7.5" on a long day, and I don't mind bending over a bit to look through the viewfinder or live view focus. I will be using a delayed shutter on tripod shots most likely.

Lightness is important but not most important. Aluminum would be fine. I want something sturdy enough for the above setup, something under $150, and that collapses down to <15".

The one that is catching my eye is the Benro Tripster Series 1and it seems to tick most boxes.

Benro Tripster Travel Tripod (1 Series, Black, Aluminum)

Advice appreciated, especially any owners of the Benro which has very good reviews online. TIA

Belatedly (sorry): there is some theory about the legs and head needing to be as heavy as the tripod (see Thom's old advice). You can cheat if there's a hook under the tripod and you can hang a bag from it - although not so much if the bag is hanging in the wind. It depends what you're doing: I've put a D800 and 14-24 (and L plate) on a Tamrac Zipshot:

 

 

That's upwards of 70oz on an 11oz tripod. Was it stable? Not remotely. Did I keep the strap around my neck in case it fell off? You betcha. Did it take a while to stabilise and would it have wobbled in any wind at all? Yes. But was it more stable than my attempting to hold the camera for 1/15s at a low angle? Yes, it really was. And it was the tripod I could be bothered to carry. I also have a Velbon VTP-787, which is absolutely tiny, and again you can use it if you're really careful. Not that I recommend any of this, but iffy support you have with you beats the support you left at home.

 

But for practical tripods, let's assume you're willing to carry a little more. I've never tried the Benro; for all I know it may be your best choice, although I will say the final leg sections look a bit spindly.

 

I can say good things about a Velbon Ultra REXi L, which I believe has now been replaced by the similar Ultra 655A, or possibly 555A. Checking the 655A specs, that's just under 15" folded, $160 - $150 for the 555A (although no head on either), and according to B&H 3.29lbs. It's not ridiculously light (my RRS VTP-34L is scarily light for its size with no head, and some small carbon tripods are barely there at all), but it's nearly as stable as my Manfrotto 055CXPro3, which I believe is considered to be decent - if not quite up to my RRS. The main reason I recommend it is the trunion legs: the whole leg twists to lock inside itself, so you extend it by grabbing the foot, twisting to unlock, pulling, and twisting to lock. It's extremely fast to set up, although only one section lets you adjust it independently for levelling (though you can adjust the leg angle). If you want to set up and tear down quickly, if you're in places full of people, that might be a consideration. It's absolutely solid enough for a 70-200, and I often take it on trips when I can't be bothered to carry my RRS around. There's a carbon version of the legs if you want to splash out. Velbon make smaller versions, but I've found some of them to be significantly less stable in my scientific "try to wobble the head with my hand" tests. That was especially true once you extend the centre column.

 

On that note, I see that your putative Benro is about 5" shorter than the 655A without the column up (less than 4' tall), and that probably includes the head. I'm not all that tall either, but a little height is good, especially if you occasionally want to put the tripod below you on a hill or point the camera up and see through the viewfinder - even my RRS tripod is notably less stable with the last leg sections extended, but I don't need them to hit head height, they're only for emergencies.

 

I use a Triopo RS3 head with a replacement QR clamp, which is a little rough but should hold anything I could possibly throw at it (it's certainly taken some torque) - I don't know if they're still around. For normal use of a 70-200 you can probably get away with most heads (within reason - I've had a cheapish Giottos head fail to hold a 150-500, which is probably more down to the "cheapish" than anything against Giottos, and the tiny Joby ball heads might not cope). Whatever feels best within your budget. Can you just take the head off your existing Bogen? That would save money and avoid worrying about QR plate compatibility. I have an expensive head (Arca d4), and often travel with the legs in my suitcase (padded!) but the head in my carry-on bag.

 

For shops and museums, you may find a flexible centre column is less inconvenient than moving the legs around. The Manfrotto 055XPro3 is a little over your budget, and likely way too big and heavy - but (at least if the redesign is nearer in stability to the carbon version I own) plenty solid for a 70-200 (I got the RRS because a 500/4 in the wind was too much for it), and has a centre column that goes horizontal, which is useful for macro or similar careful positioning - though I wouldn't hang the 70-200 off the far end of the column when horizontal. A 290 is cheaper, smaller and lighter while still having the horizontal column trick - but obviously less stable. They're pretty common, so if you can find one in a shop and see how flimsy its legs are, that may make your decision. I avoid most Manfrotto heads because of the proprietary QR plates, which is unfortunate because they make some interesting ones.

 

That's me talking about the ones I know and some unusual features in the hope it helps; it's been a while since I bought a tripod, so I've no idea what the current standard is, and I suspect there are plenty of fairly standard twist lock legs out there which are competent.

 

Finally: Are you sure you're going to be allowed to take a tripod at all? Some museums don't like them because they trip up visitors. (I've been on a photo tour of Antelope Canyon where they mandate tripods, because they need you to make a wall of interlocked legs so other people can't get in the shot.) You might be safer with a monopod, or just a sand bag "Pod" and finding something to rest it on. Check before you go?

 

Good luck, whatever you decide on.

Thanks, Andrew, appreciate your experience.

As I said, I will be in a controlled setting, no wind or rocks, and I could hang my backpack on the hook. Re the museums and tripods...I am being told that we will have special admission that will allow tripods...if not, I guess I'll be shooting higher ISOs. Spindly legs seems to be the norm, though the Benro's are thicker than others...I've looked at that, still your point is well taken. If I wanted to slouch over more, I could just not extend the lowest sections.

I will be taking a bean bag--poor man's tripod. My original plan was a big gorillapod and the bean bag, but that requires something to rest it upon and that may not be easily achieved. I will look at the Velbon though...thanks very much for the insights

Hope it helps, John. Just pointing out some unusual considerations/options - I'm not going to claim that a "conventional" tripod won't be better for you. If they weren't usually a good choice, they wouldn't be the standard design.

 

I almost suggested a gorillapod, but came to the same conclusion as you about places to attach it - also I've been less than impressed with how well they grip things. There's also the old "tension monopod" (tie a piece of string to the QR plate and stand on the other end) approach if you need to be in a hurry, but I'm glad it sounds like you've got permission and won't need to resort to that.

 

Good luck, and I hope you have fun with your project!

BTW, I fretted over this over the past few days, and found myself keep coming back to the Benro. It was like I was trying to look for its spec to fail, and they just didn't. I ordered one and it should be coming in a few days. Fingers crossed.

Good luck, John. I'll be interested to know what you make of it.

It arrived today. It seems pretty solid, the skinniest legs are thicker than I thought they'd be. Because of the folding design, the implementation is not as straightforward as my Bogen, but nothing to complain about.

3.4# is heavier than I thought it'd be, but going to carbon fiber would shave only a lb. That pound may be critical, but after playing with it for a bit, I am not tempted. It packs nicely.

there is some theory about the legs and head needing to be as heavy as the tripod

The head and legs ARE the tripod - the theory IS that the head and leg need to be at least as heavy (better is 1.5x) as what's on top of it (lens/camera combo). The problem is that the tripod then becomes heavy enough to be a burden to haul around.

3.4# is heavier than I thought it'd be, but going to carbon fiber would shave only a lb.

I tried the Sirui 1005x once (now replaced by the Sirui A1005: Sirui A1005 Aluminum Tripod with Y-10 Ball Head) - I returned it the day I got it. I ended up with a Gitzo GT1541T as my lightest (2.1lbs) tripod; I have a tiny Giottos MH1302 head on it with a Sunwayfoto arca-swiss-type clamp which brings the overall weight to about 3 lbs. Unfortunately, this is totally out of John's budget; the head/clamp alone costs almost as much as the entire Benro Tripster tripod. My Induro CT-414 is provides certainly a more stable platform - but it's (with Acratech head) over twice the weight and it certainly doesn't pack down compact.

 

Carbon often saves just about a pound in weight over a corresponding aluminum tripod and generally costs at least twice or trice as much - it seems hardly worth it. But carbon has a much better damping characteristics than aluminum.

The head and legs ARE the tripod - the theory IS that the head and leg need to be at least as heavy (better is 1.5x) as what's on top of it (lens/camera combo). The problem is that the tripod then becomes heavy enough to be a burden to haul around.

 

Oops. Sorry, typo.

 

Carbon often saves just about a pound in weight over a corresponding aluminum tripod and generally costs at least twice or trice as much - it seems hardly worth it. But carbon has a much better damping characteristics than aluminum.

 

Yes - once you've got the head in the equation the weight of the legs isn't so significant to me, but the thing that sold me on the carbon version of the Manfrotto 055 (back in the day) was that it seemed much more solid. YMMV.

So, doing a test drive on the weight. Nikon 35, 55 macro, 24-70, 20 Ai, 16-35/4 d810, tripod, beanbag, in the backpack is about <14#. Doable, I think. And I likely won't be carrying all that on the shoot. And I have people with me that I might "burden' to carry the Benro.

 

Right, Deiter, on the cost vs weight vs Gitzo. There are compromises to be made, and being very careful with camera on tripod for steadiness is a big part of the equation. I looked at the Sirui_s, but they did not fold up compact enough, and the center column was problematic on the less expensive one.

An unmentioned usage of this tripod will be carrying it on motorcycle trips and to fit in a side case requires <15". I kept looking over the same selections and new suggestions and the specs of the Benro were always the basis of comparison. When I have it set up it seems pretty stable, esp with delayed shutter. Height is good too. 3.4# is 3.4# and the cost increase to carbon fiber to shave a pound or for improved damping was not worth it to me.

some followup...

In Madrid now and the Benro is performing well. The more I use it the more familiar I am with the setup. It is very sturdy for use with a d810 with a 35 afs G 1.8, the 16-35 f/4 in landscape mode. When used in portrait, which I've only used a few times, I have to play with the ball head setting a bit because the weight of the camera/lens hanging to the side tends to sag (not drift) a smidge, so to compensate I set it a bit higher and let it sag down...I'm talking mm if that much. It's not a big deal. Landscape is not a problem. The weight is not a problem either. The carrying case is actually functional and the straps can be used as a back pack.

I've used it now 5+ times and every time I think I am glad I got it.

Hi!

 

This is Gene, the guy that started this thread awhile back. I'm surprised to see it pop up so recently. I did go with the meFOTO Globetrotter, and I have no complaints. My current cameras are a D60 and a D700 both with Kirk L plates. For travel it is now the D60 and a 16-85 that go with me. My hip is fine, but the agility and balance have suffered. No more rappelling down steep banks into stream courses to get the waterfall shot or hopping from one boulder to another to photograph the mountain vista. I'm also looking to modernize the cameras with a Z6 or whatever DX mirrorless Nikon may produce. The days of a heavy backpack, two bodies, lenses are long in the past.

 

Gene

Did you get the Carbon Fibre or Aluminium meFOTO Globetrotter?

FWIW, I found with any misaligned load, pretty much any ball head will sag. (At least, my relatively rigid Triopo does, and when I've tried an Arca Z1, that did too.) It's not necessarily the head's fault - the support of the whole system (mount, plate, head, legs, ground) changes between hand-positioning a ball head and when the tripod is supporting it. Aiming slightly high is usually good enough for me. If you want perfect framing, I believe the solution is a gear head - then the head (and rest of support system) are responsible for positioning the camera rather than your hands, so it's pre-tensioned. I use an Arca d4 for this; Manfrotto's gear heads also seem to work well (and have a similar clutch mechanism - although the Manfrotto acts like a pan/tilt head in one axis at a time where the d4 can be unlocked to act like a ball head) - but I wish they had Arca plates.

 

Mostly I don't care that much about perfect framing, and tweak in post anyway. :-)

pretty much any ball head will sag

Some time ago I found a German website that had done some thorough comparison of various ball heads - it was disconcerting to find out that the above statement certainly proves true. I am quite surprised that there are so few (any) ball head and tripod tests - given the plethora of rather meaningless lens tests that are conducted by everyone. I found one test of the dampening characteristics of tripods - and that was quite outdated.