I'm new to landscapes. Preparing a second trip to Iceland this summer. Looking for a light weight compact size traveling tripod. Weight and size is a priority of mine but not at the cost of quality. I plan to bring my sony a7 CII, Sony 24-105 f4, Sony 24 f1.4 GM or Sony 35 f1.4 GM. Thank you!
I got a sweetheart deal on a RRS TQC-14 that I use for travel (with a Markins Q3 head), but I've been very impressed by Leofoto CF tripods after picking up a mid-size LS-324C here last year. Particularly at a price point of $200-300. The 324C is compact but a bit heavy for travel at 3 lbs, but their smaller LS-284C and LS-254C rate very well in The Center Column's rankings (https://thecentercolumn.com/rankings/travel-tripod-rankings/), right behind much pricier RRS and Gitzo models. Worth checking out along with other travel tripods listed on that website.
I used to have a MeFoto GlobeTrotter Carbon (made by Benro), but the leg locks were not well made and the rubber grips kept slipping. Better options from Leofoto and Feisol at that price.
While I have heavier tripods, these days I travel with one of two:
This Benro for heavier rigs + wind. Or their Travel Angel Series with the legs that fold up backwards to a very short dimension which fits perfectly inside of my rolling carry on. Unfortunately the Angle comes with a ball head. It works fine but I use one of my own. Regardless I also bring a leveling base which makes setting up shots so much easier.
I would prefer to keep the cost below 300$ but I have no idea how much a good tripod cost. I guess I'm willing to pay more if needed. ChatGPT recommended the following three:
wsheldon wrote:
I got a sweetheart deal on a RRS TQC-14 that I use for travel (with a Markins Q3 head), but I've been very impressed by Leofoto CF tripods after picking up a mid-size LS-324C here last year. Particularly at a price point of $200-300. The 324C is compact but a bit heavy for travel at 3 lbs, but their smaller LS-284C and LS-254C rate very well in The Center Column's rankings (https://thecentercolumn.com/rankings/travel-tripod-rankings/), right behind much pricier RRS and Gitzo models. Worth checking out along with other travel tripods listed on that website.
I used to have a MeFoto GlobeTrotter Carbon (made by Benro), but the leg locks were not well made and the rubber grips kept slipping. Better options from Leofoto and Feisol at that price....Show more →
schlotz wrote:
While I have heavier tripods, these days I travel with one of two:
This Benro for heavier rigs + wind. Or their Travel Angel Series with the legs that fold up backwards to a very short dimension which fits perfectly inside of my rolling carry on. Unfortunately the Angle comes with a ball head. It works fine but I use one of my own. Regardless I also bring a leveling base which makes setting up shots so much easier.
AI recommended Benro. I will check it out. I need to educate myself with tripod heads too. What kind of head you use or recommend?
Truebeam wrote:
AI recommended Benro. I will check it out. I need to educate myself with tripod heads too. What kind of head you use or recommend?
On this one, it's slender when folded so the legs look to not reverse past the leveling base.
I use several different types of heads, most fall into the two basic types: ball heads and pan/tilt and/or video heads - which are sort of a pan/tilt, too. A pan/tilt controls movement on two axes, the horizontal panning, and front/back tilt. This allows nice control for horizontal or vertical stitched "panoramas." However, this also requires the tripod to be "leveled" precisely to allow the pans to be "flat." Otherwise each image, as you pan, steps up or down some and then you can loose a fair amount of image as you crop back to where you have full width or height. This tripod has a leveling base, which allows you to level the top plate and get flat pans. Without a leveling base or device of some sort, a pan/tilt had to be leveled by making adjustments to leg lengths and that could be touchy.
A ball head, otoh, allows one to move the camera in pretty much any direction, rotating and twisting. This can be more flexible than a pan/tilt but because it's not restricted to two axles/axes, you need to use more care if doing vertical or horizontal pans. Ball heads may come with separately controlled panning base, or have leveling or panning devices, added to the base or top.
I think right now, I tend to prefer the pan/tilt types. A ball head, if loosened, for example will allow the load to move off center in the direction it's weight pulls it. A pan/tilt, if loose or unbalanced would tilt front to back if loosened. Either may have some form of tensioning or balancing to hold the camera in position when let go but still allowing for movement.
The tripod and heads should be "matched" to the loads. If the load is too heavy, you can get droop or the tripod won't hold steady getting vibrations. Too light a load and you might be carrying more than needed. A good head won't make up for bendy legs, well made leg set won't keep a loose head from drooping or dragging or not locking up/loosening easily.
I recently acquired a Leofoto 284C X Ranger. There seem to be several models with similar names. The one I purchased is reasonably light and fits my roller bag with the ball head turned sideways but places the viewfinder at close to eye level for me. There are some advantages to being 5’6”.
All supposedly have compatibility with Arca Swiss plates
Only the Treeroot is quick release
Gitzo seems to be the "widest" and the PD the narrowest when collapsed
All are within close proximity to eachother in collapsed size.
PD weighed the most at 3.8 vs the other two that I think were 3.2lb
PD is rated for the most amount of weight on the tripod.
PD has cool tools hidden within the center column.
Treeroot - 5kg
PD - 18.1 kg
Gitzo - 10kg
PD has lever lock vs the other two are twist.
Gitzo I think is Italy, PD is china, Treeroot is made in china
So far my peaked interest has been in the Treeroot due to twist legs, quick release and cost.
Truebeam wrote:
I would prefer to keep the cost below 300$ but I have no idea how much a good tripod cost. I guess I'm willing to pay more if needed. ChatGPT recommended the following three:
These are all information AI gets from internet so not sure how good they are.
I have an Ulanzi one, I got it for around £150 GBP or so from aliexpress on sale. It's alright.
Very light, got to be a bit careful not to knock it when changing lenses etc. There's an arca swiss one, and an F38 one.
I heard the arca swiss one comes loose at the camera plate/mount and you need to retighten every now and then, I'm not sure. I believe the f38 came after.
I'm using an L-bracket with a separate arcaswiss mount ontop of the F38 ballhead. That separate mount makes it a bit of a tight fit with the bag that it comes with, but it fits - I just had to get a 5cm arca swiss mount instead of the 6cm I already had.
Feel like it was a great price reading some of the other prices for tripods, and I don't know what you're really getting for that huge extra cost. I believe it's carbon fibre... the peak design carbon fibre one is £680(?!) It looks pretty similar other than the leg shape. I'm not convinced it's even any narrower.
They drop the Ulanzi from the name on aliexpress and it's just Coleman. I think the official name is Ulanzi X Coman. Looks identical and pretty much half the price of Ulanzi X Coman.
It's very very light though, I think 1.1KG. It has a place to hook your bag. If I really cared about having a super stable tripod during a trip, I'd consider getting something a bit heavier, maybe around 1.8kg or so - just a gut feeling but maybe this is fine. My main concern would be long exposures on not so stable ground/windy conditions.
I haven't tried that many and I don't have a suggestion for you unfortunately.
