turning trekking poles into a real tripod?

Yes

the idea is obvious but if you want it to work properly (easy to assemble-disassamble, stable) there’s some work to do. My idea was just as you describe. I started from a regular tripod (not a expensive one), cut the legs off and installed some tube joining screws (this I had done by somebody else, I think it’s some electrical stuff thing). Quite simple. It doesn’t work as smooth as a real dedicated tripod but it does the job.

When I answered your question yesterday I couldn’t find the thread the thread where I had posted the picture.

I can use both my cameras with this setup. My current heavy Sony Digital – 23oz works well with the tripod. The Cannon in the picture weighs about the same.

The third pole is packed when not in use. It is made in 3 sections the longest 2 sections are 24.5″ long and the 3rd section is 8″ long. All the extra parts necessary to complete the tripod weigh 5.51oz.

Thanks for replies.

Inaki’s solution is really interesting and far surpassing what I had in mind when I was thinking about it.

I like both ideas, Bill is it possible for you to post some pictures detail the head or a quick blurb on how you made yours? Thanks!

Andy asked:

I took an Olympus Mini tripod
Olympus Tripod Link
and cut off most of the legs. The legs are a flexible spring thing and is where most of the weight was. I left enough of the flexible legs to slid into pieces of tubing that attach to the top of my trekking poles and the third tripod leg pole. The ballhead is the one that came on the Olympus mini tripod. It has a strong locking mechanism and holds my camera in any position without any problem. The part of the mini tripod that I saved, ballhead and the short sections of the three flexible legs weigh 2.67oz.