S. Wong Posted May 14, 2007 Share #1 Posted May 14, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am looking for a tabletop tripod that can hold my R4 & 80-200/4.5 This lens has no tripod mount, and so the entire weight would be held by the R4's tripod mount, stressing the tripod the most I've looked at the Leica pods, and they are 5-10x more than the other pods for sale. Ideally, this would be less than $60, all-metal, and will fold into a small camera bag/pocket, and perhaps have a ball head. I've never had one, and would like to know if it can hold up my small setup Thank you all for your experience -Steven Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 14, 2007 Posted May 14, 2007 Hi S. Wong, Take a look here tiny tripod. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
dhsimmonds Posted May 14, 2007 Share #2 Posted May 14, 2007 Steven I suggest that you look out for a good used Leitz table top tripod on Ebay or camera fairs. You may be lucky to get a very well built tripod, built for the purpose. Good luck! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted May 14, 2007 Share #3 Posted May 14, 2007 Manfrotto do an excellent one. The 345 Table-top kit. Regards, Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted May 15, 2007 Share #4 Posted May 15, 2007 That is quite a big lens to mount over a small table tripod. The Leica one is a classic but you should not buy blind without trying it with your combination. In any event, it is sensible to align the lens axis above the longest tripod foot of the three. Go to a good dealer and try those likely to meet your needs. David Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
masjah Posted May 15, 2007 Share #5 Posted May 15, 2007 I too have the Manfrotto table-top kit - legs, micro ball-head, extending rod and nice case - incredible value for money. However, I share David's concerns about balancing it with a lens that long. I use it with my R8/9, but nothing any longer than a 90/2 or 35/1.4, and even then I feel I need to be cautious. I wouldn't care to use it with my 180/2.8. It really needs trying out, and put one of the feet directly pointing forward. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobtodrick Posted May 15, 2007 Share #6 Posted May 15, 2007 I'd second the suggestion of looking for a good used Leitz. There is not need for the Leica legs (IMO)...Manfrotto makes a decent set of table top legs...but definitely go for the Leitz Ball & Socket head. Most small heads have a smooth ball, which allows for 'sorta' smooth panning, but also allows creep when a heavy load is placed on it. The ridges on the Leitz ball mean that on the one hand you can't really pan with it...but once it's locked down it's LOCKED DOWN. In the past I regularily used mine with a Nikon FE/drive and and a 300mm F4...easily comparable to the setup you're considering. It was rock solid (though the 300 did have it's own tripod socket). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjr Posted May 15, 2007 Share #7 Posted May 15, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) The MANFROTTO mentioned above is brilliant,better than the Leica and cheaper. I bought mine in Venice as a desperate measure and now I carry it everywhere. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steich Posted May 15, 2007 Share #8 Posted May 15, 2007 After a tip from somebody else in the forum, I bought an old Polaroid mini tripod (with its original ballhead). Great! Got mine at the "bay" for 15€, including a Polaroid Image System camera (works!) and a wireless remote control (transmitter works, receiver broken, and no wiring scheme available....). Regards Stefan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted May 15, 2007 Share #9 Posted May 15, 2007 A man in our camera club destroyed an R4 that way. The entire base pulled out from the camera exposing wires etc. Leica deemed it economically unrepairable. The best small tripod is the Leica one with either a medium or large Leica ball head. Ther are no good small cheap tripods. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted May 16, 2007 Share #10 Posted May 16, 2007 Ther are no good small cheap tripods. ...except the Manfrotto... Regards, Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted May 17, 2007 Share #11 Posted May 17, 2007 The Manfrotto is an excellent little tripod. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjr Posted May 17, 2007 Share #12 Posted May 17, 2007 ...except the Manfrotto... Regards, Bill ......which is actually..better and cheaper ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenerrolrd Posted May 18, 2007 Share #13 Posted May 18, 2007 are you using a motor drive or winder on your R4? If so leica made a tripod adapter that screws into the winder (front) and to the bottom..it provide a small foot to balance the weight.... the large Leica ballhead and small tripod are IMHO the best...been using them from before the R4 was introduced...you are near the weight limit for even the leica table tripod..you can make it work but it will not give you that confident no hands setup Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frc Posted May 20, 2007 Share #14 Posted May 20, 2007 What's wrong with a ricebag? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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