Looking for tripod ultralight for backpacking trip

<p>Hi,<br>

I am heading out for three nights to the Adirondacks soon on a backpacking / photography trip. I was going to bring my Manfrotto tripod but realized it's too heavy and not compact enough to carry with all the other stuff Im bringing. I'm looking through the Adorama website when I see what looks like the perfect option, it's the Hakuba Versipod II Monopod Tripod and claims it can carry 9 lbs. It's only 1 lb and can be used as walking stick too. But these things are usually too good to be true. I have a Canon 5d Mark II with small zoom Im taking and perhaps some extension tubes for macro work. Perhaps 5 lbs total. No flash so I really need a tripod. Does anyone know about this model, haven't seen one review yet. Or something in the 1 lb or slightly more range that is compact and can support 7 lbs?<br>

Here is the link http://www.adorama.com/HAVP2MAG.html<br>

Thanks for any suggestions !</p>

 

<p>I'd be really scared about putting a 5D2 on something with that small a footprint - it looks like it would be really top-heavy compared with the spread of the legs. I've pushed my luck with success in the past (a Velbon VTP-777 with a D700, a Tamrac ZipShot with a D800E) - these have wider bases (they won't fall over) but tiny legs (wobble) and the heads aren't usually up to anything but a small lens (flop - though the ZipShot just about held a 24-70...) If you shelter them from the wind, you may be okay with either of those options (with mirror lock-up), but I won't call them stable if the conditions are at all taxing. Any chance you could live with a bean bag or, say, a gorillapod?<br />

<br />

My default suggestion for "very light" and "full-frame DSLR" would be a Manfrotto 190-series, preferably (at twice the cost) carbon fibre, and a small ball head. That may still be heavier than you're willing to take, and more than you're willing to spend, though - and may be more stability than you need. Others may know other manufacturers' ranges better. I'm afraid there's no rock-solid, cheap, light tripod - or we'd all have it. Good luck finding the right compromise.</p>

<p>Michelle, I am <em>highly</em> skeptical of many aspects of that tripod/monopod/walking stick combo delivering the performance you want. The 'shoulder' of the tripod (the junction of the three legs) is at/below knee level, leaving the long center column to teeter, however imperceptibly, in even a slight breeze, not to mention the hugely diminished ability to dampen vibration from normal handling of the camera such as when you depress the shutter release.</p>

<p>About the only thing worse than not having a tripod is to be under the false impression that a tripod is 'delivering' when, in fact, you're getting blurred images. Very frustrating. Consider, for a moment, your level of disappointment if your images are blurred and the lost opportunity. My take on such matters is that if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right, without compromise and with a proper tripod, not a Swiss Army knife of a tripod...which leads us to carbon fibre (lightweight) and an increased budget. Do it once and do it right. Cut weight elsewhere. The aches and soreness of a trip pass but the images persist.</p>

<p>On the matter of using a tripod/monopod as a walking stick, I can't see it except in a physically non-challenging environment, e.g. urban. For backcountry hiking I use an adjustable ski pole and abuse the living daylights out of it. No monopod would last long in my hands, though you may be more gentle. When schlepping a heavy pack over uneven terrain I don't want to have to worry about pampering a monopod at the risk of injury to myself. Nothing like the right tool for the job. You have a wonderful camera. Do your images justice with a proper tripod and get an adjustable ski pole to take the abuse of hiking.</p>

<p>Tangentially, give strong consideration as to how to carry your camera while hiking that will give you immediate access to it vs. carrying it in the pack. If you're having to take-off your pack to access your camera, I think you'll find it to be a royal pain and you'll arrive back at home with <em>far</em> fewer images. Have a great trip!</p>

<p>Ideally I'd go with a very light Gitzo tripod with a modestly-sized ball head. You can augment its stability by hanging your pack or other item from the hook on the bottom of the center column. If that's too expensive, a lower-priced Velbon or Hakuba tripod, with some improvised weight as suggested above, should be fairly stable.</p>

<p>I don't have any, but I've always been led to believe that the larger Gorillapods are stable enough to carry a DSLR and zoom lens and are still very light. </p>

<p>I have what I think is the original gorillapod (the bigger ones hadn't been launched). It's not really enough to hold my D700 and a kit lens without sagging. A 5D2 is a little lighter, but I'd still at least go for an SLR Zoom version. I was going to, then the Focus GP-8 came out and I started dithering over the price (I'll probably get one eventually). It is tiny, and bends - sadly under the weight of my camera, but that wouldn't be a problem for a bigger one. Their issue as a tripod is that they tend to rely on there being a convenient tree available where you need one... if you think that's likely, they're a very good idea.</p>

<p>This is one of those "contradictions" - heavy camera/lens, lightweight tripod. Unfortunately, it's very hard to "have it all".<br>

I'd suggest a monopod, but the good ones there aren't all that light either.</p>

<p>Have you considered a "bean bag" support? (such as http://www.amazon.com/Adorama-Bean-Support-Camera-Lens/dp/B0002ER322/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1349395515&sr=1-2&keywords=bean+bag )</p>

<p>The Gorillapods are OK in a pinch but nothing I would want to rely on for an extended period, such as a backpacking trip. The major limitation is one of height. If you're in a variety of unconsolidated or uneven terrain that is commonly encountered in the wilds (snow, mud, sand, knee-high greenery, water, rock/small boulders, etc.), you will soon discover the limitation of a tiny tripod, not to mention spending much time on your knees and elbows. Monopods, too, have their pronounced limitation. Just how slow can you go, which is focal-length dependent, before vibration becomes apparent in images? Consider how many stops are gained by a monopod and its weight vs. the infinite number of stops gained by a tripod and its weight.</p>

<p>My favorite of all time is the Gitzo Traveller, GT 1542.<br>

While it's pricy and yes i nearly fainted when i read up on this, i now use this for a couple of years and it stills works like new. The weight is amazing and it's reasonable stable. It's so small i now bring it nearly any shoot, sometimes to just put the camera down.<br>

A nice addition was the small RRS ball head with quick release. It's a dream combo with years of service and and joy to work with. I had salt water on it, washed it off, in the sand, hiking everywhere.<br>

It's truly an investment that you'll have much longer than probably all your other gear, i use Gitzo tripods that are closing in on 20 years and with some love and care work absolute flawless.<br>

best,<br>

Mark</p>

<p>I recommend that you consider a lightweight but sturdy tripod such as the Feisol Tournament CT-3442 Rapid 4-Section Carbon Tripod. You would also need a ball head and a camera-to-tripod mounting plate. All this could weigh just over 3 lb, depending on your choice of ball head. This tripod folds down to 19 In, and you can easily strap it to your backpack. This will definitely hold your 5D2 at a cost that is about 1/2 the Gitzo. Check it up; it has a very good reputation for stability and workmanship. Feisol has a good record of customer service, too. Forget about attaching an slr to a walking stick. </p>

<p>Thanks for the responses ! I am not going to be considering a gorilla pod or the monopod /tripod option after all. I really need something steady, adjustable height, and can handle some macrophotography. For this trip I think a cheaper lightweight tripod with a hook on the center column and a bag for rocks for stability is how i'll go this trip. If this becomes a "thing" I may look into the more expensive carbon fiber options. I have a good Manfrotto I use for day trips and don't mind the 6 lb weight, but I am now heading out for 4 days (need more time for photography) and thats more food weight ! So I really need to stick to 2 lbs. for the tripod. I am looking at the Cullman Nanomax 250 and probably will keep it low and add some weights to the base. I really am intrigued by the Tamrac ZipShot but it looks like there is no way to adjust height and it does look a bit flimsy for a full size DSLR. </p>

 

What is the old saying? Sturdy, Lightweight, and Cheap for Tripods -- you can have any 2. A long time ago I bought a Gitzo Mountaineer carbon fiber and it was a great buy even though I was horrified at the expense. Nowadays maybe sophisticated in-camera and in-lens stabilization might be an other answer (outside the box). Now even that is too much weight.

Both very sturdy - a couple of "work arounds".

I have a Sirui T-05 ( think that's right - it's the lightest one) that weighs about two pounds. It's been on sale; at B&H and elsewhere recently too. It's sturdy enough to be useful, and pretty easy to accommodate.

 

For trips where even that is difficult, I also have a Promaster "Clamper Jr." which is big enough to use as a table tripod with a D7100 and a mormal lens, and can clamp to chair backs, railings, and the like, though it's a bit light for security. But it weighs only 11 ounces. I have an older Linhof clamp which is the cat's pajamas by comparison, similar to the second one Sandy shows above, but bigger, and capable of use as a table tripod simply by laying it flat. But it's bigger, and weighs over a pound, so tends not to go traveling so much since it's not so compact, and does not work as well on railings. It does, however, have a very tight C-clamp, an enormous top pad, and a really nice screw that nests in the body when not needed. For railings, I have found that the Promaster works better with the extra 90 degree feet removed. It takes some setting up to keep it from drooping, but it is better than nothing. I also have a cheap but fairly sturdy Cullinan (Correction...Cullman) tripod with a ball head that goes up to about three feet, and weighs only a pound. It's part of a set that included the tripod, a ground stake, a clamp, and a suction cup head. Not state of the art, but serviceable. With all that junk lurking,I find I most often use the Sirui tripod if I can, because it's quick to use and has an Arca Swiss compatible head.

 

If you like that old Linhof, I think Vermont Camera Works has a couple, probably pretty cheaply.

Edited October 20, 2018 by Matthew Currie

By the way, the Cullman mentioned is the 1001 "Touring Set," no longer made, I think. The tripod is pretty cheap plastic, and does not go very high, but it's fairly study and very light, and the ball head is decent. The suction cup ballhead is pretty useless, the clamp very well made, and the ground stake pretty handy. The pieces go together in various ways, and it's versatile if you have all of them. It's more clever than practical probably, but still worth a look.

Late to the party here, but I've recently discovered the Viltrox VX-T60, it really impressed me:

It folds very small, weighs 1.3 lbs and has a functional built-in ball head and Arca clamp (the ball socket is built into the leg spider, saving weight.) Max 24" high, which to me is much more useful than a simple table-top tripod. I’ve used it with full-frame Sony cameras and small zoom lenses. I’m not aware of anything else like it. Even with the pull-out tubular legs it’s actually quite steady and useful.

A CF tripod the size of a Gitzo #2 weighs about 3 pounds plus the head. A comparable aluminum tripod weighs about twice as much. Manfrotto tripods are heavier yet because of the massive, cast fittings for the legs and top. I carry mine with a cross-shoulder shoulder strap attached to the top. That keeps the head from pointing downward, possibly dropping to the ground. If you attach the tripod to a backpack, you'll never use it because you have to take the backpack off. You are stuck with the weight, but none of the benefits.

 

In my case, I use a Magpul 2-point strap (for an AR-15), with MIL-SPEC quick connects and an adapter screwed to an RRS tripod. I can pop it off the strap without undressing.

Just remember, you can buy one expensive, good tripod NOW, or you can buy a whole bunch of cheap tripods that you'll end up getting rid of before you buy the expensive one. You'll probably still end up with the expensive one, it's just a matter of how much money you waste first. Plus if I were buying a tripod today, the current version of my Gitzo 1228 is way MORE expensive now (though it can hold a heavier camera).

To borrow a phrase, a tripod can be sturdy, light weight or inexpensive - pick any two.

 

I once bought a $90 tripod at Best Buy to copy some family photos and documents. My good tripods were at home, 18 hours of hard driving away. In short, the tripod legs were functional but the plastic 3-way head would not hold 15 degrees from level, much less pointing straight down.

 

A 4-section, #2 Gitzo tripod collapses to about 18" minus the head, small enough for a carry-on bag. In CF, I would not hesitate to trust it to hold lenses up to about 300 mm steady in the field. Not cheap by any means, but a lifetime investment. Really Right Stuff makes a line of tripods lighter and stiffer than comparable Gitzo tripods, about the same price. Benro and Oben make tripods too, and seem to be high quality for much less money. I don't have one, but I do have an Oben panning platform which is made very well.

Honestly, who owns one tripod? Or one pair of shoes? Fly-weight tripods like the MeFoto don't promise weight-bearing capacity or rigidity comparable to bigger/heavier/pricier brands. They work and work best with MILCs as part of an all-day walkaround kit. Their little Backpacker Air collapses down to under a foot. Carry one strapped to shoulder bag for occasional use when street shooting that does the job. Horses for courses.

Levante, either a Gitzo or Really Right Stuff series one tripod are best if you want the lightest. I have a very light Enduro aluminum pod that is OK and that is all it is. I would not buy it again. The small series 2 Gitzo mountaineer that I have had for eleven years is still one of the best. It fits me just about right and is just large enough for 70-200 f2.8. I don't know any professionals who use Hakuba and don't believe even at a low price point that it is worth your time. I mean time literally because time is something you don't get back. I would go to an auction site or to KEH, B&H or Adorama and see what they have by Gitzo. You might get lucky. There is a Velbon Carmage carbon fiber pod on KEH for 99 bucks. That pod had a good reputation a few years ago though please don't get me wrong it does not come close to either Gitzo or Really Right Stuff in terms of quality. I am not sure if Velbon or Hakuba even exit anymore. I imagine that they are Japanese name brands that exit in name only and are tacked on to products made in multiple factories outside of that country in nations where quality control does not exist. Good hunting.

Buying an expensive carbon fiber tripod now (like the current version of my Gitzo Mountaineer 1228) will be a terrible shock to your bank account, but you'll still be using it 30 years from now. Buy a cheap tripod now and you'll be buying another one soon when it doesn't work out for you. And Carbon fiber doesn't give you freezeburns in the winter either. I had an Manfrotto aluminum tripod (well 2, still have one in the closet) and I had to buy plumbing pipe insulation and tape it around the legs so I could handle it in the winter. The bigger aluminum tripod was as stable as my 1228, but was too heavy for me to carry, even back when I was younger. The Aluminum version which was the same size as my 1228 didn't keep the camera steady enough.

 

These days, with image stabilization and lighter cameras and high ISO performance, maybe you can do without a tripod entirely and if so, more power to you. But if that isn't the case, if it's not worth buying a good tripod that will perform for you (basically forever) it probably isn't worth buying one at all. Gitzo is only going to get your money once because their tripods are probably never going to need replacing (unless you buy a much larger camera that needs more weight support).

If I could trade what I've spent on tripods for a camera with in-body image stabilization (IBIS)... Oh wait!

 

Seriously, the few times I use a tripod are for long exposures (astronomy), consistency (panos) and for better contact with subjects (portraits). With IBIS and ISO up to 106,000, a full moon is more than enough light.

Edited November 4, 2018 by Ed_Ingold

A slightly different take on the issue. Your current tripod and lightening the load in your pack to compensate - unless you're a seasoned hiker you probably have too many extras anyway...it's only a couple of days!. I used to pack for 8-10 days solo wilderness hiking and found that many photo combinations added too much weight to my typical 33# pack. I usually ended up with a minipod/desktop collapsible & multi-purpose bungee cords (tent stakes were sometimes used in combination for stability, as well as tree trunks), either a 35mm SLR and 2 lenses or my Leica RF & 2 lenses ...total less than 3# weight addition to my pack.