Tripod advice - NEED QUICKLY

[photophile]

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I have read some of the posts here and other forums - but would ask further advice and experience on lightweight, small travel tripods. Need to get on carry-on through europe and middle east where weight retsrictions are now strictly enforced, I have an old gitzo, years of great service, but too big to carry-on and too heavy for my suitcase. Considering the 1550, 1540T ( last year's model ) or the new 1541T. All other similar options considered. Will hold my m8 plus lenses up to 90 cron ( no problems there) BUT also must hold my d200 including the 70-200 2.8....there is the rub..

Has anyone used these lightweights with similar setups and are they compatible? All comments advice welcomed. Leaving this weekend so time is of the essence. Thanks to all. Best. CH.

[ho_co]

Not a direct response, but perhaps setting a bottom limit: Having used a Gitzo 1126 with Leica large ball & socket head with M and smaller cameras, I would say that the tripod is at its limit when used with the M and would be unusable for the D200.

 

Enjoy the trip! Sounds like fun.

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[photophile]

thanks...its an important limiting fact6or to consider. best. ch

[redbaron]

I would have suggested the Manfrotto table-top tripod, if you didn't need it for the D200. Great little unit!

[photophile]

I will need the full extension but thanks for the heads up anyway. best. ch

[giordano]

I've used a Gitzo G1028 with large Leitz ball head underneath a D200 and lenses up to the 200mm f/4 without problems, though I haven't had them in extreme conditions (e.g. strong wind, long exposures). I reckon that the combination would support the big 70-200 at a pinch in calm weather as long as the lens axis wasn't too far from horizontal, but a bigger ball head would be a good idea.

[Steve Ash]

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I own the Gitzo 1540T. Its lightweight but strong enough to hold your DSLR with 70-200 attached if you mount it to the lens holder for balance reason. It is nice quality gear and I would recommend it if you really need the height. I use it rarely and prefer now a small Novoflex tripod (half ball with legs to screw on, see website) which is even lighter, smaller and holds about 25kg.

 

Regards

Steve

[NZDavid]

This is such a common inquiry! Everyone wants a lightweight travel tripod. The subject deserves its own website.

 

The late Herbert Keppler wrote in PopPhoto that he needed such a tripod and Velbon created one. Their Luxi and Maxi models may not suit every professional assignment, especially if you are forced to lug around such heavy beasts as Nikon or Canon DSLRs, but they seem remarkably well designed.

 

Otherwise, the usual suspects include Slik, Gitzo, Leica tabletop (but you want full height), and Cullmann.

 

With Leica a fast lens and ISO speed are real boons in low light down to 1/15 sec, or slower if you can brace the camera. Not sure about the others.

[Guest PhotoWebb.co.uk]

The Gitzo Traveller is excellent. I have shot a 1Ds Mark 2 with 70-200 f/2.8 L without too much hassle, just remember to mount the camera by the lens when using a heavy telephoto.

 

I would recommend the Gitzo 1780QR head though as the one that comes with the 1550T is not QR and is very small.

[photophile]

Your suggestions are very informative and helpful. If there are any other members who have used the 1540T close to weight tolerances, kindly let me know of your experinces. Thank you all thus far. Best. CH

[forent]

I can recommend the inexpensive but very sturdy, light and well made FEISOL tripods from Taiwan (see here: http://www.feisol.com/english/feisolen.htm). I own the large Feisol CT-3372 and it holds easily my heavy fieldscope at 50x magnification or my full metal analogue SLR with 300mm lens attached - fully extended! Of course it has no center column which helps a lot.

For your needs, a tripod of the tournament line, e.g. the CT-3342, should fit the bill.

[Guest Luis D]

I have read some of the posts here and other forums - but would ask further advice and experience on lightweight, small travel tripods. Need to get on carry-on through europe and middle east where weight retsrictions are now strictly enforced, I have an old gitzo, years of great service, but too big to carry-on and too heavy for my suitcase. Considering the 1550, 1540T ( last year's model ) or the new 1541T. All other similar options considered. Will hold my m8 plus lenses up to 90 cron ( no problems there) BUT also must hold my d200 including the 70-200 2.8....there is the rub..

Has anyone used these lightweights with similar setups and are they compatible? All comments advice welcomed. Leaving this weekend so time is of the essence. Thanks to all. Best. CH.

 

I have a GT1540. Unless you are a dwarf, you will need to extend all leg sections and raise the centre column completely, to bring the camera to eye level (I am 5'11" and I still must bend slightly). Even so it is remarkably solid. It will hold my M8 and 75 f/1.4 Summilux perfectly steady (although I'm somewhat reluctant to do it because of the number of cracked base castings resulting from tripodding the M8 with heavy lenses). I tried it just now with my Canon 5D and 70-200 f/2.8L-IS which is as close as I can approximate your D200 and 70-200, and it is steady enough provided I keep the IS switched on. If your lens has IS and it can be left on on a tripod, then you should be ok. Otherwise, you would probably want to not extend the last (bottom, smallest-diameter) leg sections, though that will make the tripod several inches shorter still.

[rleffingwell]

I'm a longtime fan of Gitzo sticks, owning 2 brass and three carbon fibre models including the Traveller. I have mounted my M6, Viso and 180 Elmarit on the Traveller (down low - just use your knees) and gotten results I needed even at 1 second with the cable release. I have a 1280 and have used it with Nikon's 300 2.8 and a D2x - again down low and again with the electronic release and mirror lock-up - and I've been been entirely satisfied and so has my publisher. These have been car shoots for my books in golden light or later. However, on each I hang my camera bag by the strap over the lens to further stabilize it. Be sure to check focus after you hang the strap over the lens. The weight of the bag can shift focus. Both the Traveller fits in roll-on bags legal throughout the US and Europe.The 1280 will fit in bags legal for carry-on in the US.

[photophile]

Thank you all. Recently back from the mideast. Ended up buying the gitzo 1540 and a Q3traveler head. For me at least, it turned out to be the perfect combo. Very lightweight, very compact, easily transported under my bag ( a modified mountainsmith hip bag ) and "air-planable". The config allowed for surprisingly rock steady shots for nighttime long exposures with both the m8 and the d200 with a 80-200 2.8 mounted on the kirk lens mount. Cable release.The input all of you provided allowed me to make the right decision for me. Best to all. CH

[cwf]

I have found Thom Hogan's Tripod 101 essay useful on a number of fronts and commend it to you in the hopes that you will also find it so.

 

Tripods and Ball Heads by Thom Hogan

[thehouseflogger]

Gitzo everytime.

 

The Rolls Royce of tripod manufacturers.

 

Any model will probably outlive the gear it supports (and perhaps even the user!)

 

Big bucks though but worth every penny.

 

Good luck.

 

Guy

[USA road racer]

Ever heard of the ultra-pod? It's a small 8" long injection molded glass filled tripod that has a Velcro attachment strap so you can strap it to branches or a hiking staff. The ultra-pod II will support 6 pounds I believe. Weighs just an ounce or two! Google ultra-pod & go to their home website. They have several models with complete specs. I have the ultra-pod II and want to get an ultra pod I for my Leica D-Lux 4.

[peter_n]

Gitzo everytime.

 

The Rolls Royce of tripod manufacturers.

 

Any model will probably outlive the gear it supports (and perhaps even the user!)

 

Big bucks though but worth every penny.

 

Good luck.

 

Guy

Couldn't agree more. I bought a seriously used G-1228 a few years ago, disassembled it and replaced the leg section sleeves/lubed and it is still working like new although it doesn't look so good. I use a Linhof ballhead and in the last couple of years bought a dSLR and a Fotoman 617. It handles everything with ease. What a great product.

[sepiareverb]

Another thing to consider is your hands- I cannot use a Gitzo for arthritis has stripped my hands of enough grip to loosen and tighten the legs. I'm using a Bogen/Manfrotto, which is overkill for an M, but I kept it from my SLR stock shooting days.

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[pauledell]

I use a Gitzo G1098 Basalt model for M6 and p&s cameras only. It weighs less than a pound and is only 15.5" long without my Leica large ball & socket head when compressed. It gives the appearence of being a tinker toy tripod but it is suprisingly stable I have found that it works well for me.

Warning. It has four section legs and a column but one needs to be a midgit to use it

at full extension. It extends to 53" with the head. It makes a good solution for table top and flower images but I use it for every situation. I alse have the Gitzo G1348 carbon fibre

for larger (Dslr and LF) cameras.

Paul