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I'm spending some time in London and Edinburgh in the coming weeks and was hoping to travel light with just my Q2 and leave my tripod at home. I've been tossing around getting a tiny table top tripod to have with me just in case. Any thoughts, advise or recommendations would be much appreciated.

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I use a tripod a lot and I always take one while traveling. I’ve not enjoyed the very small tripods. Either I’m stooping way over to operate the camera or I don’t like the perspective so close to the ground or I’m looking for somewhere to put it on top of. I gave up that idea and I take a Gitzo Traveler with a RRS Ballhead. It’s not very heavy and it works super well. 

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14 minutes ago, iQ2 said:

I use a tripod a lot and I always take one while traveling. I’ve not enjoyed the very small tripods. Either I’m stooping way over to operate the camera or I don’t like the perspective so close to the ground or I’m looking for somewhere to put it on top of. I gave up that idea and I take a Gitzo Traveler with a RRS Ballhead. It’s not very heavy and it works super well. 

+1  As always, Dan is spot-on.  I, too, have the Gitzo Traveler w/ RRS ballhead.  Very light and compact combo for a 'full-sized' tripod.  That said, are you sure you need one for this coming trip?  I recommend taking JUST the Q2.

Looking forward to seeing your photos!

- Scott

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I take a small Gitzo Traveler or a small RRS.  I have an RRS table tripod, but I rarely find it useful.  Keep in mind with those smaller tripods and the very light Q, it's a good idea to hang something heavy (camera bag, wife's purse :) ) from the bottom to stabilize it - especially if there's any breeze or you may notice shake in your photos.

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Gitzo Traveler for me as well but with an Acratech ball head. I also have an RRS "Pocket 'Pod"  tripod with BH-25 head. As others have mentioned, table top pods are of limited use but good to have along when the Traveler is too much to carry.

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4 hours ago, Matsaly said:

This is speculative as it has not been released but may be worthy of consideration due to its innovative design and compact size.

 

 

Looks interesting. It would be fun to get a day with it.  

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Full size tripods are great but you have to be committed to using it more than occasionally because they get to be really annoying when you carry them and not use them. You sound like enjoying your time is most important and photography is secondary. Also I have been running into more and more places that are banning tripods because of inconsiderate photographers when in cities. On photography trips I take a tripod, on vacations I don’t. 

If your determined to take one, the Gitzo traveler and RRS series 1 are great. For tabletop I’m a big fan of the Leica Tabletop and Leica ballhead. Used it for years. I take it apart and put the parts in my pocket. Assembles in seconds. Even when I go out with one camera and one lens I carry the Leica kit. 

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8 hours ago, Matsaly said:

This is speculative as it has not been released but may be worthy of consideration due to its innovative design and compact size.

 

 

Peak Designs stuff is always worth looking at.

NB the Gitzo Traveller series comes in a range of sizes and weights. I went for the smallest and lightest: Gitzo GT0545T, and picked the Markin Q3 head which is also small and light (and designed for the Gitzo). This is great for lightweight travelling.

I have the Manfrotto 'tripod' but hardly ever use it: too bulky/messy to keep permanently fixed to a small body, and too much of a faff to attach each time. I end up balancing my camera on loose stones on a wall instead😯. A small bean bag would be better.

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On 7/15/2019 at 4:03 AM, PaulJS said:

I'm spending some time in London and Edinburgh in the coming weeks and was hoping to travel light with just my Q2 and leave my tripod at home. I've been tossing around getting a tiny table top tripod to have with me just in case. Any thoughts, advise or recommendations would be much appreciated.

Honestly, I would not think about going to such interesting places and not taking a tripod. I find taking/ carrying/ using a tripod is much about attitude and philosophy. I led a photo club for a decade and often people would complain that a tripod was too much trouble. I am exactly 180 degrees from that view. Last time in London I loved taking long exposures of the Parliament with the Thames flowing by. You cannot do that without a tripod. I was in Bucharest and up early photographing the government buildings still lit by lights with a gorgeous sunrise sky. You cannot do that without a tripod. I love photographing waterfalls. ...

I recommend you take a tripod and use it. You’ll return home with more keepers IMHO. Have a great trip regardless. 

Edited by iQ2
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7 hours ago, jeff_m said:

. For tabletop I’m a big fan of the Leica Tabletop and Leica ballhead. Used it for years. I take it apart and put the parts in my pocket. Assembles in seconds. Even when I go out with one camera and one lens I carry the Leica kit. 

A great tripod and ballhead. The ballhead is actually amazing stable. Not the lightest kit to walk with, however. It's famously useful with a long telephoto lens as a chest tripod, because the longer leg is placed against the chest and the other two legs splay to the shoulders; the longer version of the ballhead brings the camera to eye level. Absolutely rock solid. Can save lots on ebay: the older ballheads are actually better, and these things are pretty indestructible.

Edited by bags27
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8 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Peak Designs stuff is always worth looking at.

NB the Gitzo Traveller series comes in a range of sizes and weights. I went for the smallest and lightest: Gitzo GT0545T, and picked the Markin Q3 head which is also small and light (and designed for the Gitzo). This is great for lightweight travelling.

I have the Manfrotto 'tripod' but hardly ever use it: too bulky/messy to keep permanently fixed to a small body, and too much of a faff to attach each time. I end up balancing my camera on loose stones on a wall instead😯. A small bean bag would be better.

I use the Pixie frequently for table-top work. Occasionally for night/dusk photography e.g. on harbour walls.

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On ‎7‎/‎17‎/‎2019 at 2:05 AM, jeff_m said:

Full size tripods are great but you have to be committed to using it more than occasionally because they get to be really annoying when you carry them and not use them. You sound like enjoying your time is most important and photography is secondary. Also I have been running into more and more places that are banning tripods because of inconsiderate photographers when in cities. On photography trips I take a tripod, on vacations I don’t. 

If your determined to take one, the Gitzo traveler and RRS series 1 are great. For tabletop I’m a big fan of the Leica Tabletop and Leica ballhead. Used it for years. I take it apart and put the parts in my pocket. Assembles in seconds. Even when I go out with one camera and one lens I carry the Leica kit. 

+ 1  I've been using the Leica Tabletop and Leica ballhead for over 40 years and it almost always goes with me when traveling.  It breaks in two pieces for easy carrying.  It is one of the few small tripods I trust with heavier cameras and lenses.  

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I have always been a gitzo fanboy in the past when I was shooting hasselblad and 4x5 . 

Got back into photography after 5 years and united back with Q . While looking into travel tripods came across a Chinese one - ZOMEI Z699C and so cheap compared to my gitzo . 

Tried it and boy it’s amazing !!! So light , carbon fiber , packs around 13 inches in height and can support quite a lot . It’s amazing how durable and classy it looks .

 

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