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Hiking tripod for M240


jmahto

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Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with this product. Simply sharing my experience.

 

Title says it all. I came across this unique tripod concept called Trailpix. This is supposed to be used with two hiking poles with one additional tent pole. I usually hike with only one pole (it is actually an wooden stick) therefore I had to improvise and get legs for this tripod. First I thought of getting some carbon fiber tent poles to keep the weight down but then realized that thin bamboo sticks (used for gardening) are as stiff and as light as carbon fiber ones. Nature produces the best composite material. :)

 

I used plastic tubing at the end of the stick so that I can extend the legs if needed. To my surprise it was remarkably stiff and perfectly usable with M lenses up to 90mm. I also tried with 135mm and x2 extender and it is fine but one has to be careful about shutter shock (specially around 1/4 sec). My Sony Nex-6 has no such problem with long lens due to electronic first curtain. This setup is more suited to Nex but in normal M lens usage (28-90), suitable for M as well.

 

The pictures below are self explanatory.

 

With shorter legs

 

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With legs extension (total height around 31 inches)

 

Edited by jmahto
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Now the weight (269grams or 0.6lb)

 

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Edited by jmahto
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And the long exposure (12 sec) shot using this tripod

 

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Edited by jmahto
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Very cool and ingenious idea for a travel tripod.

If I may ask what is the lens rig you are shooting with ?

...another ingenious invention of yours?

Thanks. That is 135 tele elmar head with focusing helecoid. Since it becomes R mount, I can use 2X APO with this (not shown) to get 270mm.

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Jayant.  Thankyou for sharing this information.

 

I have spent many years ( and dollars) looking for and buying ultra lightweight tripods.

 

I would like to check with you, do you attach any weights to the centerline of the tripod ? to try to get the center of gravity central and lower.

 

I currently use the lightest weight carbon fibre Gitzo, and the 1st thing I always do, is hang anything I can find to it's center hook to prevent

a camera fall over in the slightest wind, or slightest bump.

 

regards

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Jayant.  Thankyou for sharing this information.

 

I have spent many years ( and dollars) looking for and buying ultra lightweight tripods.

 

I would like to check with you, do you attach any weights to the centerline of the tripod ? to try to get the center of gravity central and lower.

 

I currently use the lightest weight carbon fibre Gitzo, and the 1st thing I always do, is hang anything I can find to it's center hook to prevent

a camera fall over in the slightest wind, or slightest bump.

 

regards

Yes, I have attached weight to this tripod. There is no separate hook but one of the screw knobs of Traipix acts as anchor for attaching small backpack weight. I have tried to attach almost 9 lb of weight to this setup. It is quite sturdy. Having said that I will say the following:

- I don't rely on weight to prevent camera fall. After the shot is done I take the camera off. I have learned hard way not to leave camera on tripod. Weight or no weight.

- The extra weight is actually not needed in my setup if there is no wind. It is sturdy enough. If there is wind then weight will help only so much in this setup. I will go for shorter legs, add some weight and check in magnified LV image for shake before taking picture. Don't expect it to be as sturdy as Gitzo traveler. 

 

And usual tripod techniques are necessary for good results. Using delay timer. Using front curtain electronic shutter (if available, as in Nex series), Switching off LV before pressing shutter (as in M240 to avoid double shutter close/open), using tripod collar instead of camera mount etc. etc. applies here as well. In my experience these become important only if you are shooting at 90mm+. With 18-50mm you don't need that much precaution. My sample night shot was with 40mm and there was enough wind to blur leaves in 12 sec exposure. I had no problem in that much breeze.

 

Finally I will add this. If there is a vibration problem caused by shutter shock then adding weight is not the primary way to fix it. Only proper technique and more rigidity (shorten and tighten everything) will help.

Edited by jmahto
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I ise a Sirui T-025X as a travel tripod.

 

It is undersized for an M, but works with good technique.

If i need a rock solid tripod, i take my old Slik pro700 - weighs heaps but is rock solid with anything up to 200mm

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A clever idea, if it's necessary to further refine it you can buy all lengths and diameters of carbon rod from Ebay dead cheap.

I explored the CF options. Surprisingly there is not much weight saving compared to bamboo stick of same length. Stiffness is also similar. After a certain length, flex becomes an issue even with CF. Then diameter of legs and stiffness of joints matter. I would rather go with RRS or Gitzo's traveler options as next step but on multiday backpacking, saving 2lb over these options becomes significant (2lb extra food means one more night in wilderness).

Edited by jmahto
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I ise a Sirui T-025X as a travel tripod.

 

It is undersized for an M, but works with good technique.

If i need a rock solid tripod, i take my old Slik pro700 - weighs heaps but is rock solid with anything up to 200mm

Deciding on tripod is so tricky. I have finally decided on three tier setup. Lightest for backpacking as this one. Second is for traveling as yours that fits into in cabin luggage (I have Afaith Q666 that is clunky but I am happy with. I will soon replace the ball head with RRS BH-25 to get 2.6lb combined weight). Then I am going to get heavy 5-6lb tripod to be kept in car trunk. No one tripod can do it all. Edited by jmahto
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