Rick Posted April 4, 2010 Share #21 Posted April 4, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) I ended up with the 5 section version of the Gitzo mentioned by everyone above. It comes with a wonderful ballhead and it folds down to a mere 14" long (2" shorter than the 1541T mentioned above). I think this is the ultimate travel tripod because of its size when folded down. It is the Gitzo 1550T. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 4, 2010 Posted April 4, 2010 Hi Rick, Take a look here Best compact travel tripod for M9?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
neli Posted April 4, 2010 Share #22 Posted April 4, 2010 gitzo 1550t with arca slide fix QR and 32mm plate, thought the RRS 25 seems a very good fit, just hard to find in europe. very small and light, even take it in my domke when i know where i'm going. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d2mini Posted April 4, 2010 Author Share #23 Posted April 4, 2010 Ok then, so far the Benro is the only thing that's anywhere near what I was asking for? Small, light, and inexpensive? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted April 4, 2010 Share #24 Posted April 4, 2010 The Gitzo is actually the best option. It is small and light a and fits perfectly what you asked for. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted April 4, 2010 Share #25 Posted April 4, 2010 Try the Gorillapod - doesn't get much cheaper and lighter than that - and despite the fact that it looks like a toy, it actually works... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d2mini Posted April 4, 2010 Author Share #26 Posted April 4, 2010 The Gitzo is actually the best option. It is small and light a and fits perfectly what you asked for. You forgot about the inexpensive part. Try the Gorillapod - doesn't get much cheaper and lighter than that - and despite the fact that it looks like a toy, it actually works... The gorillapod is WAY too short. I have a small one so I'm familiar with them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted April 5, 2010 Share #27 Posted April 5, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) What inexpensive part? Re-read your own OP. Didn't know that was a criteria. In that case, just about anything in the local chain camera shop should fit the bill for you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barcoder Posted April 5, 2010 Share #28 Posted April 5, 2010 Has anyone tried the ZipShot? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamiji Posted April 5, 2010 Share #29 Posted April 5, 2010 What inexpensive part? Re-read your own OP. Didn't know that was a criteria. In that case, just about anything in the local chain camera shop should fit the bill for you. So I guess the question is, which is more expensive, a good (Gitzo like) tripod or the repair bill for fixing your M after putting it on an inexpensive one from the local chain camera shop? I have learned my lesson.... I won't go down that path again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d2mini Posted April 5, 2010 Author Share #30 Posted April 5, 2010 What inexpensive part? Re-read your own OP. Didn't know that was a criteria. In that case, just about anything in the local chain camera shop should fit the bill for you. I clarified it in my second post. I clarified it multiple times after that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d2mini Posted April 5, 2010 Author Share #31 Posted April 5, 2010 Has anyone tried the ZipShot? WOW. I wouldn't let go of my M9 while on that, but it would definitely add some extra stability and in a super lightweight package. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d2mini Posted April 5, 2010 Author Share #32 Posted April 5, 2010 So I guess the question is, which is more expensive, a good (Gitzo like) tripod or the repair bill for fixing your M after putting it on an inexpensive one from the local chain camera shop? I have learned my lesson.... I won't go down that path again. How about something in between a $600 tripod and a $20 tripod? Again, that Benro is looking pretty good so far. And it was suggested without trite sarcasm or elitism. I think the better lesson was maybe not leaving your $10k sitting on 3 tall skinny sticks in the wind. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted April 5, 2010 Share #33 Posted April 5, 2010 this is what I use, save some money for your next lens Hama Mini Tripod With Ball Tilt Head - Category - Search for products and compare stores - Tradepar Shopping Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted April 5, 2010 Share #34 Posted April 5, 2010 Mine is a Manfrotto 785B MODO. Length (collapsed) : 17.1 in (43.5 cm) Minimum usable height: 6.9 in (17.5 cm) with legs spread wide Maximum usable height: 59.2 in (150.5 cm) weight: 2.16 lb (0.98 KG) max weight supported: 2.2 lb (1 kg) I don't know the exact price anymore, couldn't have been more than CHF 130 (roughly USD 130). Also, I'm not sure if that was regular list price, I'm afraid. It's not exactly tiny when collapsed. It's certainly very light weight. With the exception of the D3 I think my only camera/lens combo which outweighs the 1kg limit would be the R-D1 with the 135mm Elmarit (which isn't a useful combo anyway). The tripod won't collapse at once if you load it with - say - 1.5 kg. The first thing which I would distrust at that load would be the one-touch engage/disengage button of the ball head. Oops - missed the "headless" requirement. However, it does have a quick release platelet. Also, I just detected that you also can mount the head on the lower part of the column, i.e. between the legs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted April 5, 2010 Share #35 Posted April 5, 2010 I appreciate this advice, but like I said, i have this kind of setup already. Gitzo G1227, RRS BH-55 ballhead and RRS plate. I use this for professional use with my DSLRs. But in this case I'm looking for an uber light and small setup to take with my traveling, on my motorcycle, etc. I'm willing to give up some stability to gain the above.I have a similar regular tripod to yours, and this Benro looks like the ticket. They are cheap on eBay too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjames9142 Posted March 23, 2011 Share #36 Posted March 23, 2011 Check this one out. N1205 The interesting part is that one leg comes off as a monopod. There is one on my local craigslist with a small head, and I am tempted. I have half a dozen tripods -- customized Tiltall and Gitzo's that could take a machine gun (for 8x10), which is how the company started. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d2mini Posted March 23, 2011 Author Share #37 Posted March 23, 2011 Thank you. I ended up with this one, and received it about a week ago. Perfect for what i was looking for. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/customer-forum/170778-new-small-travel-tripod.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjames9142 Posted March 23, 2011 Share #38 Posted March 23, 2011 Interesting, but I have to work at eye level. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
exile Posted March 23, 2011 Share #39 Posted March 23, 2011 I have a Velbon Maxi that never gets used. I take a Gorillapod SLR Zoom instead. It fits in my small camera bag, is versatile in setup, weighs less than a filter, and has a quick release plate. Great for weekend breaks in cities and for smuggling into locations in which tripods are not explicitly banned, but certailny disaproved of . It is not ultra-stable admittedly, but it is easily good enough if you use good technique. It is the most versatile table-top tripod I have used. Vibrations do take a while to settle down though, so you have to use the 12s timer option and shelter the 'pod from any strong winds. I've used it sucessfully for long exposure shots of rivers, shooting the moon, cityscapes at night, and IR shots in daylight. I'm not really a frequent tripod user, but the Gorrilapod "does a job" with minimal outlay in cost or weight. It is more stable with a 21/2.8 or a 50/1.5 mounted on the M9 than it is with a CV 35/1.2 or Canon ltm 135/3.5 and these are about as heavy a lens as I would want to try on this 'pod. I think I would only ever use the Velbon for dedicated landscape shooting, but even so I would always moan about the extra weight on mountain trecks. Maybe the Zipshot would be the way to go for expedition grade backbacking if it is stable enough - I haven't seen one yet and am doubtful. The OP sounds more like a regular tripod shooter, so I would not recommend my approach for him/her. Probably the Gitzo is the way forward for the OP, but for people like me who shoot with only a small shoulder bag and prefer not to take a tripod at all rather than deal with the awkwardness of carrying even a Gitzo traveller, I strongly recommend trying the Gorrilapod SLR Zoom rather than nothing. I promise you won't even notice it is there until you need it. Then it just becomes a matter of improvising Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick in CO Posted March 23, 2011 Share #40 Posted March 23, 2011 I agree with the other comments on the Gitzo line of tripods - the best one can buy but you will have to pay for it. I have owned three Gitzo's and it will always be my choice for all around use. However, for a compact (18"), lightweight (<2 lbs/1kg), inexpensive ($200-300US) tripod that will fit into a small carry bag with a shoulder strap (will fit into a carry-on bag) I use a Slik #314 carbon fiber tripod. Nothing in this size/price range is as stable as the $1,000US Gitzo, but the Slik 314 with a small Gitzo magnesium ball head can be easily carried around when my heavier Gitzo basalt has been left in the car. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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