Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site

New Feature: SMS Notification alert

New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist

FM Forums | General Gear-talk | Join Upload & Sell

2 end

Sirui carbon fiber tripods

gus6464
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

Sirui came out with an updated Traveler X II that holds more weight than the original while being slightly heavier. How decent are these tripods? Is there something this small and light that's better for under $200?

Feb 27, 2024 at 03:00 PM

Bobarino
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

I'd stay away,,,, this looks like it has friction legs,,, with no leg locks at various intervals.

To adjust height on sloped terrain, it appears that you have to get down on your knees to loosen or tighten the foot of each leg. You have to lift each foot individually, while leaning the tripod away from the foot that you're lifting. Each adjustment becomes pure guesswork, because your bubble level is at the top of your tripod.

With a load,,, this is a recipe for disaster.

Marsace uses the same concept.

Edited on Feb 27, 2024 at 03:59 PM · View previous versions

Feb 27, 2024 at 03:15 PM

gus6464
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

Bobarino wrote:
I'd stay away,,,, this looks like it has friction legs,,, with no leg locks at various intervals.

To adjust height on sloped terrain, it appears that you have to get down on your knees to loosen or tighten the foot of each leg. You have to lift each foot individually, while leaning the tripod away from the foot that you're lifting. With a load,,, this is a recipe for disaster.

Marsace uses the same concept.

What should I be looking at around the range?

Feb 27, 2024 at 03:51 PM

Cinstance
Online
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

. It is pretty easy to adjust any of the individual sections, once you get a hang of it. You can grip and turn any individual section to loose and tightening it, actually easier and faster than the traditional twisting lock because you don't need to change your grip. I have been using this type of tripod for a couple of years (mostly on snowy slopes) and and I can set it up in around 10 seconds

Feb 27, 2024 at 04:02 PM

sjms
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

instructions:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0449/9344/6037/files/AT-125_B00_1.pdf?v=1686552497

Edited on Feb 27, 2024 at 04:14 PM · View previous versions

Feb 27, 2024 at 04:13 PM

gus6464
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

Cinstance wrote:
That is not quite accurate

.

And you haven't had any issues? I am not looking to carry a super heavy load. Most of the time it will just have my R8 and Sigma art 20/1.4. I might also use it to mount my star tracker (skywatcher star adventurer 2i) which weighs less than 3lbs.

Feb 27, 2024 at 04:13 PM

Bobarino
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

gus6464 wrote:
What should I be looking at around the range?

When choosing a proper tripod, you first of all need to consider the job or task you'll need it to perform, otherwise it becomes a shot in the dark. You'll first of all need a tripod that can handle the weight of your gear,,, in a stable manner in varying weather and wind conditions. You'll probably want to shoot at eye-level,,, so height is important. Ergonomics is important,,, as is portability, to varying degrees. Buying that first tripod will probably require you to prioritize various trade-offs,,, stability vs portability, etc.

I realize that budget is important to many,,, but in my book,, setting price as the top or first priority is a mistake. Save that particular priority to the end of the search process, and you'll identify what you should be buying. We can always narrow the price downward once we've identified a few competent candidates.

A few questuions,,,
1, how tall are you

( goes to ergonomics).

2. What type of photography do you want to do?

3, What gear do you plan on using?

4. How important is durability, and availability of spare parts for routine maintenance?

Answering a few basic questions will guide us to providing a few suitable options, and as close to your budget as possible.

Feb 27, 2024 at 04:26 PM

Bobarino
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

Cinstance wrote:
That is not quite accurate

.

OK, that's good to know, but those friction legs still give me 'the willies" (ala Vuepoint, etc) Even if you gave me one, I'd probably say "Thanks, but no thanks".

Feb 27, 2024 at 04:36 PM

gus6464
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

Bobarino wrote:
When choosing a proper tripod, you first of all need to consider the job or task you'll need it to perform, otherwise it becomes a shot in the dark. You'll first of all need a tripod that can handle the weight of your gear,,, in a stable manner in varying weather and wind conditions. You'll probably want to shoot at eye-level,,, so height is important. Ergonomics is important,,, as is portability, to varying degrees. Buying that first tripod will probably require you to prioritize various trade-offs,,, stability vs portability, etc.

I realize that budget is important to many,,, but in my...Show more →

Answers in quote

Feb 27, 2024 at 05:21 PM

rek101
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

I can't say what is better, but I bought a Sirui travel tripod with really good specs and the leg angle I think is the same as this (maybe 22 degrees?) and it is very tippy.

Without a weight hanging on it, I can't even consider using mine which to me makes it very inconvenient. It's one thing to use a weight to add stability, it's another to not trust it not to tip over without the weight.

I think it's better to find a different brand that doesn't cheat angle to create too good to be true specs. If the angle was 24 or 25 degrees, I would consider it, but based on the amazon listing for the older model, I doubt the leg angle is wide enough.

Feb 28, 2024 at 12:11 AM

Bobarino
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

gus6464 wrote:
Answers in quote

Thanks for that info Gus6464, So, you're 6' tall,,,, you shoot astro and landscape with a Canon R8 with grip, and a few very high quality wide-angle prime lenses, and you're looking for something portable so you can take it on a plane.

First off,,, your eye-level is typically 5" lower than your overall height,,, so your viewfinder should be at approx 5'7". Assuming your cameras' viewfinder is 7" tall, that takes us down to 5 feet... a typical ballhead will be roughly 5" tall,,, so we're looking for a tripod height of 4' 7" tall. If you want a levelling base, that's another 2"-3",,, so, you're looking for something thst's between 4'4" and 4'7"., or, between 132cm and 140cm tall..(legs only)

Regarding plane travel,,, different airlines may have different restrictions based on aircraft type, and,,, you might be changing planes along the way,,, and that can mean switching from a large airliner to a very small plane to your final destination. You'd probably want something between 18" folded,,, to 21" folded. Most tripod manufacturers post the folded,,,or column-down height for their tripods, but you have some ability to "cheat" those specs to a certain degree, by removing the tripods, feet,,, or even removing one or more leg-sections in order to fit in a smaller bag or case.

Regarding the word "stability",,,, some see that as meaning the tripod won't tip-over,,,, for myself,, that has little to do with how I view stability. I'm refering to the resistance to vibration which can cause your images to appear soft and not pin-sharp. Of course tip-over is something that has to be taken very seriously, especially with gear like yours. Counter-weight and spiked feet can help to some degree, but you need to get to know your tripods' limitations on how it'll react to variable wind conditions and flowing water. Leg-spread for a wider footprint can be helpful in countering the elements.

Typically, small travel-tripods with small diameter legs of the 0, 1 ,and 2 series are the least stable. Once you get into 3, 4, and 5 series legs, that stability increases dramatically and you can go with longer exposures in dim light with moderate winds, to extract the maximum performance potential from your kit.

My dedicated "Traveller" tripods are the 2-series Gitzo GT-2545T, which folds to just under 18" with head mounted. My heaviest-duty Traveller is a Gitzo 4-series 5-section tripod, the GT-4552TS Traveller Systematic, which also folds to under 18". I also have a Gitzo 1-series Mountaineer GT-1542 that folds to 21" or so, and that can further be shortened by removing the center-column assembly for travel.

My larger/taller tripods for landscapes and long exposures include a 3-series Gitzo GT-3542 XLS which is 79" tall,,, and for ultimate stability, I have a 5-series 3-section Gitzo GT-5532S Systematic. These tripods easily handle large lenses and heavy cameras and heads with aplomb. All five are completely different from one another, and each excels in one way or another.

I'll leave it there for now.

Feb 28, 2024 at 02:31 AM

Bobarino
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

Here's an interesting review from a guy who does wide-angle astro photography.

Feb 28, 2024 at 12:14 PM

Bobarino
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

Here's the 3-series Benro Tortoise with an incorporated levelling head. Benro sells it for $299. and you get an additional 10% off if you suscribe to their newsletter. ($270.) This tripod measures 26" long when folded,so it's not eligible for carry-on. It can be further shortened however by partial disassembly. ( removing the lower leg sections for travel)

https://benrousa.com/tortoise-columnless-with-leveling-base-3-carbon-fiber/#

Here's the Benro Mach3 3-series tripod. It goes for $400. after suscribing. This appears to be a more substantial build, and includes the versatility of having a well-designed center-column.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1157821-REG/benro_tma38cl_mach3_9x_carbon_fiber.html

Folded length is 23.6" or 60cm. This one might be fine for carry-on if you remove the column assembly for travel. Max height without center-column is 60.2" Downside is weight, at 4.5 lbs, but it's to be expected with such a robust build.

I'll check other brands/models later today as time permits.

Feb 28, 2024 at 02:27 PM

gus6464
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

BH is selling this benro for half off in blue but not sure if it's so cheap for other reasons.

https://benrousa.com/mefoto-roadtrip-pro-carbon-fiber-tripod-in-black/

Feb 28, 2024 at 03:47 PM

Bobarino
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

At this stage, you're going to need a good hands-on experience at a local camera shop. That Benro is precisely the type of tripod you'd want to avoid for your stated application. Good luck.

Feb 28, 2024 at 07:03 PM

hiepphotog
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

gus6464 wrote:
Sirui came out with an updated Traveler X II that holds more weight than the original while being slightly heavier. How decent are these tripods? Is there something this small and light that's better for under $200?

I would recommend the Marsace XT-26S, which I got based on Cinstance suggestion. It’s great so far. It’s the only one of this type with a 28-mm top leg, most are a size smaller. Also check out Markus Pix on Youtube since he travels a lot and always looks for great lightweight solutions that meet his requirements. He is currently settling with the fotopro X-aircross 3. I believe both can be had around $200 or less.

Feb 29, 2024 at 05:49 PM

GroovyGeek
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

Likely not selling well given how many joints it has to get to decent height. I am guessing that B&H's customer base skews more enthusiast.

Also 3 lbs for a star tracker is a very substantial amount of added weight. A mid range body is under 2 lbs and a WA lens is another 1-1.5 lbs. You are effectively doubling the weight of what you are putting on the tripod, which would be about the same total weight as a for a giant lens such as a 300/2.8.

You should ignore the manufacturer weight readings, they don't mean shit. 24mm legs probably have a usable range of 2-3 lbs, 28mm at 3-4 lbs, 32mm should be OK to 6-8lbs, anything above that is a 4 series territory. Astro is actually quite demanding with long exposures and need for pin-prick stars. You need at minimum leg diameter in the mid to high 20s with no center column and at most 4 leg sections.

Given your parameters you need at least two tripods - one light and one solid. And in both cases you should either stay away from a center column or plan on using it very rarely.

Most Chinese tripods have unusually small apex angles, around 22-23 degrees vs 25 degrees for the brand names. May. It seem like much but it is a very large difference in stability. Fortunately if you are handy with a file or a grinder you can correct that pretty easily, just file down the let stops to your preferred angle. Or buy a buddy a 6pack and have him/her do it.

gus6464 wrote:
BH is selling this benro for half off in blue but not sure if it's so cheap for other reasons.

https://benrousa.com/mefoto-roadtrip-pro-carbon-fiber-tripod-in-black/

Mar 02, 2024 at 09:47 PM

GroovyGeek
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

hiepphotog wrote:
I would recommend the Marsace XT-26S, which I got based on Cinstance suggestion. It’s great so far. It’s the only one of this type with a 28-mm top leg, most are a size smaller

Is it really a 6 section leg? Never seen anything like it, the bottom section is 13mm, about the body size of a sharpie.

Mar 02, 2024 at 10:06 PM

sjms
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

yep it sure shows to be that way

Mar 03, 2024 at 05:05 AM

gus6464
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Sirui carbon fiber tripods

Well I ended up looking at some of links provided and I did order a Fotopro Sherpa mini from b&h as the price was good and after receiving it I realized that I will just have to get two different mounts. The Sherpa mini packs real tiny and can hold my body and lens no problem but there is no way on earth it's going to keep it all stable when using a star tracker. There's just no way a sub 2lb mount period is going to ever be able to handle a proper star tracker.

I will be keeping the Sherpa mini though as it makes a good mount for just hiking and taking normal landscape shots because it packs so tiny. Then I will be on the lookout for a proper 4-5lb CF mount for when I want to do star tracking.

Mar 05, 2024 at 04:30 PM

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

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.