I’m looking into getting a nicer tripod for taking photos while traveling (mountains, hiking, landscapes). I currently have Benro and Manfrotto aluminum tripods but they’re a bit heavy and not “nice”. Looking for something that isn’t too bulky or heavy that can go in or on a backpack. My biggest lens in the 70-200 GM2 and I might get a 100-400 at some point, so nothing too crazy big/heavy.
What I’m liking so far:
Gitzo Traveler and Mountaineer series 1 & 2
Peak Design Pro & Pro Lite
I’ve also glanced at RRS but those are a little more than I’d like to spend right now
What’s your experience with any of these tripods and do you have any other recommendations or comments? Thanks!
B&H had a special in February where this combo was $699.. Might be worth following the price. They usually have pretty good specials for Black/Ciber Friday.
Gitzo GK2542-82QD Mountaineer Series 2 Carbon Fiber Tripod with Center Ball Head & GHF3W 3-Way Fluid Head (Special 50th Anniversary Kit)
Duramaxjon wrote:
I’m looking into getting a nicer tripod for taking photos while traveling (mountains, hiking, landscapes). I currently have Benro and Manfrotto aluminum tripods but they’re a bit heavy and not “nice”. Looking for something that isn’t too bulky or heavy that can go in or on a backpack. My biggest lens in the 70-200 GM2 and I might get a 100-400 at some point, so nothing too crazy big/heavy.
What I’m liking so far:
Gitzo Traveler and Mountaineer series 1 & 2
Peak Design Pro & Pro Lite
I’ve also glanced at RRS but those are a little more than I’d like to spend right now
What’s your experience with any of these tripods and do you have any other recommendations or comments? Thanks!...Show more →
One of my tripods — the one I’ll take into the backcountry or that I’ll travel with on the occasions when I carry my larger camera system — is one of the series 2 Mountaineers from Gitzo. (I always forget the number, but it is the “long” model with four leg sections.) It doesn’t fit “in” my backpack, but I can pretty easily strap it to the outside of my backpack, usually with some kind of protection over the (Acratech Ultimate) ballhead. The tripod is remarkable solid for a series 2 model.
I do not own one of the PD tripods, but I own other of their products and I’m close enough to one of their retail stores that I occasionally go in to play with the gear in person. I’ve looked at all of the models of their tripods, and I’m not really convinced. Yes, they have some innovative design concepts that make the thing a bit more compact when stowed, but it doesn’t impress me as being as solid as the more traditional brands. In particular I’m not a big fan of their heads — which, for example, can’t fully tilt when the center column is all the way down becasue the head runs out of room. That center column also doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence. What can I say — some people apparently love them!
I also own RRs gear. My “big tripod” is a honking big Series 3 model and is super solid. But it is too heavy for what you have in mind. (I have one “nit” with their tripods — they don’t have a lock screw to secure the head to the top plate. It isn’t a major thing, but that head can work loose if you aren’t attentive.
I also own an older and much smaller Induro (which is pretty much the same as Benro) “travel tripod.” It is quite light and quite short, but I’ll pack it for “emergency” use while traveling. These aren’t bad tripods at all, in fact the one I have is pretty solid for such a lightweight thing. I used to have one of Induro’s heavier tripods (maybe a C-414 or similar?) which wasn’t bad, but it developed problems sooner than I would have liked — loose leg attachment points that could no longer be screwed down enough to be tight, etc.
I recently switched from the Gitzo Traveler series 1 to a Peak Design Pro Lite. Love it, and wouldn’t go back to my Gitzo. The PD is about the same size and weight, but more compact and much sturdier. Actually love the head on the Pro where I wasn’t happy with the PD Travel head.
I actually bought both the Lite and Tall to act as my travel and heavy duty tripods.
