Table Top Tripods

FM Forums \| General Gear-talk \| Join Upload & Sell	Search Used
1 2 end

Archive 2008 · Table Top Tripods

mjrobson
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #1 · Table Top Tripods

Hey,

I am traveling to Australia in 2 months and I want to get a small, stable tripod. I have a Canon XTi with a 10-22 and 18-200. What are your opinions on the small table top tripods? I will mainly be using it for taking landscape shots and night shots.

If you have any mini tripods to recommend that would be great also.

Thanks
Matt

Oct 15, 2008 at 08:00 PM

jcolwell
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #2 · Table Top Tripods

I like the Manfrotto 345 tabletop kit, which includes the 482 mini ball head. It's rated for 2 kg, but it can hold 3.2 kg in a pinch.

2012 © jcolwell

Oct 15, 2008 at 10:19 PM

mjrobson
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · Table Top Tripods

Cool thanks, I like that looks of that.

Matt

Oct 15, 2008 at 10:36 PM

stan2
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #4 · Table Top Tripods

ck out the gorillapod. I don't have one, but I've held one and seen it used. Comes in various sizes, depending on camera/lens weight. The user was very happy with it.

Oct 15, 2008 at 11:53 PM

lou f
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #5 · Table Top Tripods

gorillapod zoom slr with a small ball head. can hold a hell of a lot more than a 10-22. i use to use it with a d2h.

Oct 16, 2008 at 09:58 AM

Smiert Spionam
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #6 · Table Top Tripods

I have a Gorillapod SLR, and it's a joke. Very handy for a point and shoot or hanging a flash on a door, but it is only stable for extremely long exposure shots -- anything short of a second or two, and it's still bouncing. It's essentially a coiled spring, so the pressure of the shutter release and mirror slap set it in motion.

The above Manfrotto is a good inexpensive option; the Leica table tripod is more expensive, but better yet. Either will be fine, and very helpful.

Oct 16, 2008 at 02:30 PM

lou f
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #7 · Table Top Tripods

zoom slr is different.

Oct 16, 2008 at 02:50 PM

Jeremy Conoley
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #8 · Table Top Tripods

my zoom SLR is rock solid, no movemnt once I've set it. Of course jsut like any tripod MLU and cable release help alot as well.

I find I use mine in a pinch but carry my tripod more if I know I'm shooting. Having said that my gorilla pod stays in my camera bag at all times to give me the option of using a tripod when the moment hits and I'm not dragging my legs around.

I use mine ALOT as an off camera flash holder. It's great for placing the 580ex someplace and firing remotely, a little bgger tan superclamp, but it does jsut fine 99% of the time.

Oct 16, 2008 at 03:01 PM

Mickey
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #9 · Table Top Tripods

A bit pricey but it'll hold a 600mm. Solid aluminum construction.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/rrs/Itemdesc.asp?ic=TP-243&eq=&Tp=

Oct 16, 2008 at 11:27 PM

beauport
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #10 · Table Top Tripods

I've been using one of these for 30 years, Leitz table tripod and head. Breaks down to two pieces and legs fold flat. It's very stable and secure and can easily be used as a shoulder brace as well.

2012 © beauport

Oct 17, 2008 at 01:02 PM

Edgar Maguyon
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · Table Top Tripods

the Slik mini tripods are nice...they actually look like mini-tripods and not like transformers/robots.

Oct 17, 2008 at 04:19 PM

mark1958
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #12 · Table Top Tripods

I have tried several over the years and this one... is the best I have used.

beauport wrote:
I've been using one of these for 30 years, Leitz table tripod and head. Breaks down to two pieces and legs fold flat. It's very stable and secure and can easily be used as a shoulder brace as well.

Oct 17, 2008 at 04:25 PM

mjrobson
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #13 · Table Top Tripods

Thanks for all the suggestions. They have the Henry's Digital Photography Show in Toronto this weekend so I am going to give some of these a try if they have them on hand.

Oct 17, 2008 at 04:44 PM

AJ Nadershahi
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #14 · Table Top Tripods

The Manfrotto legs with RRS BH-25Pro ball head is almost always in my camera bag. It's proven to be a very capable system.

I don't use the extension tubes, as the mass of camera and lens makes it vibrate too much, so it's just the ball head attached directly to the legs. It's a very compact package and very stable.

Oct 18, 2008 at 12:11 AM

jchin
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #15 · Table Top Tripods

jcolwell wrote:
I like the Manfrotto 345 tabletop kit, which includes the 482 mini ball head. It's rated for 2 kg, but it can hold 3.2 kg in a pinch.

That photo sells the product!
Excellent.

Oct 28, 2008 at 09:10 AM

Jason Kim
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #16 · Table Top Tripods

I have Gorillapod SLR Zoom, Manfrotto and RRS Groundpod. I would not trust my expensive gear to any other table top tripod except RRS Groundpod. You will need right angle view finder with table top tripods for comfort. That said, I prefer Gitzo traveler tripods when traveling. It is lighter than RRS Groundpod and more flexible.

Oct 29, 2008 at 04:21 AM

Bifurcator
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #17 · Table Top Tripods

Here's what I use. It's perfect as a table-pod, legs only extend to 110cm, costs $19.00, and is light enough that I just leave it attached to the camera at all times. It came with a pan & tilt arm type head so I just changed it out for this ball head. I think the ball head was $150 or something crazy (back when these kinds of heads were just getting popular). I've had the legs for 30 years and they still make the exact same model today for the same price. Fully collapsed to 1/2 extended you can use it with up to about 10 or 12 pounds of camera attached (actually FULLY collapsed you could double or triple that) but fully extended I wouldn't want to go for more than 4 or 5 max.

Ruler = Centimeters

But if the picture sells the product I guess no one will buy this then.

I think this is it here: http://www.fadfusion.com/selection.php?product_item_number=20243400174

Oct 29, 2008 at 03:03 PM

jcolwell
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #18 · Table Top Tripods

Somebody recently asked me for some info and more photos of the Manfrotto tabletop tripod that I use (shown earlier in this thread) when it's closed up for packing away. I couldn't figure out how to attach an image to a PM, so I'll post it here - it's probably the best place, anyway.

In the first photo below, with the legs extended for supoport, it's 13.75" tall. In the second photo, with the legs collapsed and the top half of the post slid inside the bottom half of the post, it's 13" long - this is how I usually carry it in a backpack or suitcase. The leg assembly is attached to the bottom of the post with a (looks like) 1/8" locking nut. If you remove the feet and take off the small head, you have three parts: feet, 5 1/8" long; post, 5 3/4" long; and head, at about 2 1/2" x 2" x 1". I usually keep it screwed together pretty tightly, but it's easy to disassemble if you have a multi-tool with you. Its total weight is 0.31 kg.

2012 © jcolwell

Mar 22, 2009 at 03:22 PM

PierreB
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #19 · Table Top Tripods

I was going to try one of these. Anyone got any experience of them?

Mar 22, 2009 at 03:30 PM

Savas K
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #20 · Table Top Tripods

AJ, good idea to put a BH-25 on the small Manfrotto legs. I have the little kit, that consists of the belt-mountable case, the legs with head and extension column. Sometimes, I considered selling it, and then found an ideal use that made me glad I didn't. BH-25 would extend it's usefulness. The Manfrotto head is equally as fussy as BH-25 with no friction control and panning, but I would gain Arca-Swiss compatibility.

Mar 22, 2009 at 11:10 PM

1 2 end
FM Forums \| General Gear-talk \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 end