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Please recommended an affordable light tripod for travel
- Thread starter KenLee
- Start date
DougDolde
Well-known member
I can't give you a model number but I like and have the Really Right Stuff carbon fiber tripods. Mine is pretty big but a smaller model is probably all you need.
Something like the RRS - TVC-23 Versa Series 2 Tripod
Something like the RRS - TVC-23 Versa Series 2 Tripod
+1 for Really Right Stuff, it's a little expensive but my TVC-33 has held up wonderfully over the years. The TVC-33 is a little big for travel and won't fold up and fit in a backpack, I'm looking at a TFC-14 myself (http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/TFC-14-Series-1-tripod). It's folded length (~17 inches) is 6" shorter than the TVC-23 recommended above and would be fine for the A7RII.
bradhusick
Active member
much less money: benro travel angel.
not RRS quality, but nice.
not RRS quality, but nice.
ggibson
Well-known member
I've been looking at this too recently, so I'll share my shortlist. I currently use a Benro carbon fiber tripod, which is excellent quality, but only folds to about 21" long, which doesn't fit well in a suitcase or a backpack. This tripod came out just before most travel tripods started having the legs folded back over the center post, which shaves off a couple of inches from the folded length. Benro doesn't seem to make travel angels that do this, unfortunately, so I've been looking at other brands.
Gitzo released an updated travel tripod lineup last year. The GT1555T and the GT1545T are ones I'm really looking, since they are incredibly small and light. The GT1555T is a 5-section design and folds down to only 14". The GT1545 is a bit taller and a 4-section design, folding down to 16.7". Both are about 3lbs with a smaller ballhead. Check out the specs on Gitzo's website for with/without ballhead heights, but I think both are reasonably high enough (I'm 6'1").
Sirui is the value brand that I would look at. I heard they were started by a previous supplier of Gitzo, and from playing with their ballheads and tripods in a store, I think the quality is very, very good. Ones I'm considering are the T-025X (5 section), the T-024X (4 section), the T-2205X (5 section), and T-1205X (5 section). They all have slightly differing measurements and designs, so I think it's probably helpful to check them out in the store if you can or read up online.
Gitzo released an updated travel tripod lineup last year. The GT1555T and the GT1545T are ones I'm really looking, since they are incredibly small and light. The GT1555T is a 5-section design and folds down to only 14". The GT1545 is a bit taller and a 4-section design, folding down to 16.7". Both are about 3lbs with a smaller ballhead. Check out the specs on Gitzo's website for with/without ballhead heights, but I think both are reasonably high enough (I'm 6'1").
Sirui is the value brand that I would look at. I heard they were started by a previous supplier of Gitzo, and from playing with their ballheads and tripods in a store, I think the quality is very, very good. Ones I'm considering are the T-025X (5 section), the T-024X (4 section), the T-2205X (5 section), and T-1205X (5 section). They all have slightly differing measurements and designs, so I think it's probably helpful to check them out in the store if you can or read up online.
mjm6
Member
I did this evaluation a while ago, and found that I liked this Feisol tripod:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/848831-REG/FEISOL_CT_3442_Tournament_CT_3442_Rapid_Tripod.html
The main reason I chose this one is that it is short enough to fit in a normal carry-on bag. Most of the others are not. Price-wise, it is pretty good, as well.
I would prefer a larger, more stable tripod in truth, but I do have an older Gitzo that is considerably more substantial, so I decided that going pretty small for the travel 'pod made sense to me. If you are 6' tall or something like that, you may find this one a little too short, but it works fine for me.
---Michael
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/848831-REG/FEISOL_CT_3442_Tournament_CT_3442_Rapid_Tripod.html
The main reason I chose this one is that it is short enough to fit in a normal carry-on bag. Most of the others are not. Price-wise, it is pretty good, as well.
I would prefer a larger, more stable tripod in truth, but I do have an older Gitzo that is considerably more substantial, so I decided that going pretty small for the travel 'pod made sense to me. If you are 6' tall or something like that, you may find this one a little too short, but it works fine for me.
---Michael
I ended up ordering an Oben CT-3535 Folding Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod with BE-208T Ball Head.
When folded it's only 12 inches long, so it will fit in my inconspicuous cheapo backpack. Since it weighs only 2.5 pounds, it won't burst the backpack. Priced towards the lower end of the scale, it won't burst the wallet either
When folded it's only 12 inches long, so it will fit in my inconspicuous cheapo backpack. Since it weighs only 2.5 pounds, it won't burst the backpack. Priced towards the lower end of the scale, it won't burst the wallet either