travel tripod

luxikon · Nov 6, 2009

The choice of tripods is quite confusing.
What kind of tripod do you suggest for trakking/traveling? It should support a Hasselblad or a Plaubel Peco Junior which is max 3 kg. Folded lenght should not be more than 40 cm and weigh not more than 1 kg without head.

Klaus

John Koehrer · Nov 6, 2009

Two tripods I've been looking at are Induro and Feisol. Both have websites with specifications. KEH seems to have a lot of Demo or used Induro.
I haven't seen either one in the flesh, but like anything else there are opinions pro and con all over the web.
Gitzo also has something that would fill the bill but you need deep pockets. I've used Gitzos for years but always the aluminum, not CF and don't think there's anything that holds a candle to them.

olwick · Nov 6, 2009

The Gitzo 1550T - very lightweight surprisingly sturdy and very compact

See it here

gary mulder · Nov 6, 2009

I have the 1540T, but would not consider that tripod for anything other than travel. It is well designed, but for regular use, specially in windy conditions ,it not up to the mark. I use it with a hassie and a linhof technica.

Ian Grant · Nov 6, 2009

Like Klaus I'm in the market for a travel tripod, the criteria though is small and inexpensive, it has to hold a TLR or 5x4 Crown Graphic / Wista, and fit inside my back-pack.

Ian

gary mulder · Nov 11, 2009

inexpensive, strong and small/light are three properties that do not go together very well. You can only opt for two.

Q.G. · Nov 11, 2009

gary mulder said:
inexpensive, strong and small/light are three properties that do not go together very well. You can only those opt for two.

And the one most important - steady - isn't even included.

Larry.Manuel · Nov 11, 2009

Wee Manfrotto "My Tripod"

Many will scoff and call it useless. For the past 6 months, I have been carrying this tripod with me on my bike:

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/pid/18053

I won't claim it's a steady as my 055 with rugged ball head. However, it's the biggest tripod that I can carry all the time and certainly makes a drastic improvement over hand-held. It actually works better with Rollei TLR than with my M3, as the Leica has its tripod hole way off-centre. For travel, I invert the centre column, and it's only a little taller than a big stainless steel Thermos bottle. Cost was about CAN$120.

sanking · Nov 11, 2009

My travel tripod for MF is a Gitzo 1298 basalt tripod, which I use with a Giotto MH-1001 ball head and a Kirk Arca-Swiss quick release plate. I have Kirk or Really Right Stuff L brackets on all of my cameras and this system works great for me.

Sandy King

Peter De Smidt · Nov 11, 2009

I have a Gitzo 1227 CF tripod. I'm sure there's a more current model. It works very well as a travel tripod. Like Sandy, I'm a fan of RRS L-brackets.

Mike1234 · Nov 11, 2009

I have an old Velbon El Carmagne 640 CF tripod... very light and plenty stabile. I love it but it's slightly longer/heavier than you prefer. The 540 CF model will fit your criteria.

Besk · Nov 12, 2009

Larry.Manuel said:
Many will scoff and call it useless. For the past 6 months, I have been carrying this tripod with me on my bike:

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/pid/18053

I won't claim it's a steady as my 055 with rugged ball head. However, it's the biggest tripod that I can carry all the time and certainly makes a drastic improvement over hand-held. It actually works better with Rollei TLR than with my M3, as the Leica has its tripod hole way off-centre. For travel, I invert the centre column, and it's only a little taller than a big stainless steel Thermos bottle. Cost was about CAN$120.

I just saw one of these yesterday and was amazed at how light it is. If I purchased it, I would remove the "permanantly" mounted ball head somehow and substuture a RRS 25.

When you have to travel light, you have to make compromises. This tripod impressed me.

Larry.Manuel · Nov 12, 2009

>I just saw one of these yesterday and was amazed at how light it is. If I purchased it, I would remove the "permanently" mounted ball head somehow and substitute a RRS 25.

Re: Manfrotto 7322YSHB

The ball head comes off in 5 seconds by loosening the clamp-screw. There's a necked down cylinder under there, about 2 cm in diameter; not threaded. The std. ball head actually works. As I noted, I find it OK with my Rolleicord.

Laurent · Oct 6, 2010

Mike1234 said:
I have an old Velbon El Carmagne 640 CF tripod... very light and plenty stabile. I love it but it's slightly longer/heavier than you prefer. The 540 CF model will fit your criteria.

I too ended with a Velbon (but a 645 in my case) and it's a great complement to my Rolleiflex. The set (Manfrotto ballhead, tripod and Rolleiflex) is surpirinsingly light, and is very convenient to use !

mgb74 · Oct 6, 2010

Don't forget the old trick of hanging your camera bag (or other weight) from the tripod to steady it. As long as wind isn't blowing the weight around.

CGW · Oct 6, 2010

luxikon said:
The choice of tripods is quite confusing.
What kind of tripod do you suggest for trakking/traveling? It should support a Hasselblad or a Plaubel Peco Junior which is max 3 kg. Folded lenght should not be more than 40 cm and weigh not more than 1 kg without head.

Klaus

A very real concern, especially if you travel by air, is loss/theft/damage. That's what makes inexpensive tripods like the Manfrotto 7322YSHB attractive. They're really best suited to lightweight gear but they will do in a pinch with a 6x6 SLR/TLR that's not flipped for vertical shots. My "old faithful" for travel is an aging Manfrotto 190 with a 486RC2 head. Overall, a borderline stable tripod is better than no tripod for travel; if anything, a light tripod loaded with a little weight is quite secure. Despite the insistence here and elsewhere that overkill tripod/head combos are absolutely necessary, something like a Manfrotto 190 is more than up to holding tanks like an Mamiya RB67 for travel. The cameras don't care and my shots are sharp.

olwick · Oct 6, 2010

I compared the GItzo 1550T, the 1540 and the 1541. In the end, I bought the Induro C014T. I never thought I'd say that after seeing the Gitzo's, but honestly, I was very impressed with the quality, sturdiness, compactness and light weight. I set up all of those side by side in the store and actually liked the Induro best. As I said, I was quite surprised as money wasnt the real issue for me (having said that, the Induro was half the price of the Gitzo's).

It handles my Rollei 6008 Integral 2 with ease, which is heavier than your Hassy.

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travel tripod

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