State of the Market – Fully Functioning Lightweight Tripods

[Jon Leibowitz]

I'm always interested to see what people are using. I'm pretty impressed with the Benro C0190T combined with a RRS BH-25. Anyone using a lighter set up than that for a fully functioning tripod? About 2 pounds with tripid and ballhead.

[Daniel Collins]

My Benro C269MB is too heavy for hiking but I LOVE my Manfrotto 7322CY-BB @ 2 Lbs , 12 oz. with stock mini ball head.

Edit: It looks like you got the Manfrotto beat with your setup. Changing the ball head will not make much difference here.

[Tommy Thompson]

I've been looking at a tripod upgrade and have seriously considered the Sirui T025X. It's just 11.8" folded and 1.5 lbs. The max height is 48.6" without the center column.

[Corbin McFarlane]

I use this too. Unfortunately I got the T-025 vanilla, I might try and find a way to make the center column removable at some point. It is the same weight as table-top tripods half the height, and is surprisingly well finished and thought-out. I removed the quick release mechanism with a hair dryer and replaced with a 1/4" x 3/4"L threaded rod to make it even lighter. If you were serious about a light-weight sturdy tripod you could also remove the relatively flimsy final leg segments and then cap the legs (gorilla tape?) to keep them clean, through by then it would only be about 40" tall if you also removed the center column.

[Bob Gross]

You might want to define what you mean by a fully functioning lightweight tripod.

For example, does that mean a ball head?

Personally, I can't stand ball heads, so I always use a pan-tilt head for an ordinary camera and lens. For long lenses like 800mm, I aways go with a gimbal head.

–B.G.–

[steven franchuk]

"Personally, I can't stand ball heads"

I also don't like ball heads. The est tripod head I have found is Bogen 410 mini gear head. Once you point it at your target it will not move even when you let go of the camera. Very small left, right, up, down movements are easy and very accurate. It's a very good head, except for the weight. :(

[Richard May]

Tripod weight is directly correlated to camera weight. Except in carbon fiber which is stiff enough that it won't vibrate like an equivalent weight aluminum.

My camera with the longest lens I own weights 950g (33.5oz) so I can get away with a weaker head. If you are shooting with Bob's 800mm my tripod head would collapse, but the tripod itself would be fine.

Tripod: Manfrotto 055CXPRO3
http://www.manfrotto.com/055-carbon-fibre-q90-3-section-tripod

Head: Manfrotto 460MG
http://www.manfrotto.com/460mg-magnesium-camera-head

Why did I get Manfrotto? It's what my local dealer carries and I got good price and local warranty service.

I prefer 3 section legs as they tend to vibrate less. Lately I've been creating long exposures and HDR imagery which requires absolute rigidity to get really sharp images. It's one thing to hold a camera still at 1/60th of a second and quite another to do it for exposures lasting 30+ seconds.

[Daniel Collins]

I just got the Velbon V-Pod (Amazon Germany) and it is perhaps worlds lightest full featured tripod but it doesn't look like it will do for my needs – see Richard's post above.
So I'm now eyeing the Sirui T025X and was wondering if I was to steady it by hanging a water bottle from the centerline along the lines of the "rock" bags supplied with some other tripods – would this help any ? The water would be no additional pack weight so it is multi use gear.

[Jon Leibowitz]

I suppose my definition of "fully functioning" is a loose term. I basically mean a real tripod. Not 2 hiking poles and a stick, not a table top tripod that is is 1 foot tall, not a bean bag, not a gorilla grip or whatever those are called.

I generally think of a stable tripod, with three independent fully adjustable legs, preferably that can extend outwards for low angle photos. Ball heads are preference, but a fully functioning tripod should be flexible with the type of mount you want to use vs. just a screw connected to the tripod that doesn't let you chose a mount. The setup should be stable enough for slow shutter speed shots.

[Chris S]

Does anyone have any opinions on some of the less expensive (i.e. non carbon fiber) options? I generally don't take a tripod, so I don't want to spend the money on the carbon fiber ones, but for certain trips it would be nice to bring one along. 2 that I was looking at are:

Dolica GX600B200

Dolica TX570

The first is cheaper, has better reviews (at least on amazon) and is a little bit taller while the second is more compact when not extended. Both are about 2.5 lbs. This would be for a Sony NEX.

[Bob Gross]

Look around at a Target store photo department.

–B.G.–

[Daniel Collins]

Quote:
"'ve been looking at a tripod upgrade and have seriously considered the Sirui T025X. It's just 11.8" folded and 1.5 lbs. The max height is 48.6" without the center column."

I got mine yesterday. 1 lb 14 oz without bag.
The ball head is .44 pound – I may look for a lighter one.
The center column is very light, wont save much weight by removing it.
Removing it forces the tripod to stow differently which makes the whole unit longer.
Seems sturdy enough but not tested yet.

[Jon Leibowitz]

Hmm…that Dolica GX600B200 looks interesting.

It comes with the ballhead and tripod for 2.5 pounds. I wonder how much it weighs after removing all of the foam legging and center column.

Does anyone actually own this? I've been burned too often by tripods in this price range….they rarely are stable and if they are the locking mechanisms on the legs break after a few uses.

If this thing is legit, I'll gladly carry a few ounces more and save around 500 dollars on a CF tripod + ballhead.

However, if you have the money, it looks like the Sirui T025X is the winner at 1.5 pounds with ballhead included! It weighs less than my setup. It doesn't go full height, but it goes high enough. Can the users of this tripod talk about the leg locks, durability, and stability? Do the legs go flat out in all directions for ground level shots?

I'm shooting with a Fuji XE-1, so I don't need it to hold 10 pounds of gear…I just need it to be steady and sturdy.

[Nico .]

I've been using the Vanguard Alta 225cb for most of this year. The tripod itself is carbon fiber and it includes a SBH-30 ballhead. It's not full height (max is ~49"), but it's fully adjustable (4 leg sections), has a removable/reversible center column, and folds down to ~16.5"

Total weight is a little under 2.5 lbs straight out of the package. I'm sure the weight could be reduced further by cutting off the foam padding and/or going with a smaller, lighter ballhead.

I don't recall what I paid for it from B&H Photo but a quick google search turned up a few places where it's on sale for well under $200.

I don't have a whole lot of use with it so far, but I have no complaints with the build quality, etc. It's more than enough tripod/ballhead to support my Sony Nex and assortment of lenses.

[Corbin McFarlane]

The leg locks work great, no problems there. At only 1.5 pounds it clearly will not be as sturdy as a 3 pound tripod. In the "storm pitch", with the smallest leg segments retracted, the center column down, and the legs set to the middle lock position (of three lock positions) it is solid for any condition short of gale force winds, if weighted down, and solid with the chance of blowing over if not weighted. If you extend the pencil-thin last leg segments and raise the center column to max it would not be as steady, though still good for many occasions. The legs don't quite go flat, but I think you can mount the camera upside down by replacing the weight-hanging-hook with the center column, which would let it go even lower than the legs (haven't tried though, might look into it first). Durability, I have only had mine for 5 months, and have had it in the field for something like 12 days. So far no problems, and I am pretty tough on my gear. But I can't comment on how it will hold up after several years. I use mine with Olympus E-M5 and smaller lenses, as a reference. I don't think cameras under roughly 5 pounds with a compact center of gravity (ie no long, heavy lenses) would be an issue though.

[James Lee]

I've been seeing some buzz on the 3-legged-thing tripods. This one's 2lbs. but holds 26lbs. which means a rock back or LW pack could be suspended from it for long lens work. http://www.3leggedthing.com/tripods/travel-tripods/keith.html

[Dale Wambaugh]

I've always liked the Manfrotto line for their simplicity, options, and parts availability. My "real" tripod du jour is a Slik Pro 340DX that I got at Goodwill for $35. I eBay'd the 3-way head and got an Oben ball head for a 3lb package that is very compact and has legs that will spread independently.

What I want is a third leg for my trekking poles with a ball head. It would be so easy for one of the pole manufacturers to make a top yoke/bridge with a leg and offset clamps so you could use the poles handles up and take advantage of the spikes. It wouldn't be a rig for 800mm telephotos, but could handle a DSLR with a shrt zoom.

I've thought of making a prototype from laminated wood and going down to Cascade Designs and sitting on someone's desk until they make them :)

[Sharon J.]

"I've thought of making a prototype from laminated wood and going down to Cascade Designs and sitting on someone's desk until they make them :)"

What about a 3-d printer?

[Dale Wambaugh]

"What about a 3-d printer?"

That sounds so dangerous for me to have. I might never leave the basement!

[Matthew Reese]

I've been looking for a second, lightweight tripod, such as the following.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/740670-REG/Cullmann_CU_52001_Nanomax_220T_Tripod.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/682193-REG/Slik_611_461_Compact_Tripod_II.html

Both are shorter than full size but taller and more adaptable than a table top tripod, and they both weigh about a pound and a half or less, with a head. Does anyone have any experience with either of these?

[Dale Wambaugh]

My first test to check out a new tripod is to extended the legs, grab the tripod at the upper joint and attempt to twist it. That will give you a good idea of the strength and stability.

[Miguel Arboleda]

What I want is a third leg for my trekking poles with a ball head. It would be so easy for one of the pole manufacturers to make a top yoke/bridge with a leg and offset clamps so you could use the poles handles up and take advantage of the spikes. It wouldn't be a rig for 800mm telephotos, but could handle a DSLR with a shrt zoom.

Dale, while it doesn't use the trekking pole tips on the ground, it does utilize trekking poles. Seems to be making the rounds big time.

TrailPix

[Dale Wambaugh]

I like it. It is certainly lighter and more compact to carry than what I had in mind and far easier to manufacture.

[Doug Smith]

My new tripod (full featured) is the ProMaster XC552:
http://www.promaster.com/products.asp?product=XC522

The listed weight is 1.9 lbs, shich is accurate if you are NOT including the included ball head. With the ball head it is right around 2lb 8oz.

After owning a nice Giottos Carbon fiber tripod for lighter weight stuff, with a Manfrotto Mini Ball head, I can't tell you how happy I am with this new tripod/ head combo for 1/2 to 1/3 the cost. Promaster, as near as I can tell, is a fairly new player in the tripod market, and the quality is outstanding. I would be shocked if their prices don't start going up once more people become familiar with them.

The XC522 is the exact same weight as my old set-up, but feels sturdier, and collapses to roughly a foot in length (ball-head attached).

[Robert Keeth]

DP Review reported today that Manfrotto, in collaboration with Fizan, is introducing a collection of tripods and bags targeting consumers looking for compact and lightweight products. The OFF ROAD collection consists of a new ultra-lightweight tripod and a pair of walking sticks with camera attachment.

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/1499924154/manfrotto-launches-off-road-camera-gear

"OFF ROAD is an ultra lightweight tripod engineered in collaboration with Fizan, an Italian market leader in poles for outdoor sports. It is the lightest tripod in the Manfrotto range and is perfect to be carried everywhere without being heavy and bulky. It has been designed to perfectly respond to hikers’ needs being easy and fast to set-up and use. The tripod is extremely compact with a diameter of just 5 cm, easily portable in any situation."

Maximum Height – 48.03 in
Closed Length – 21.85 in
Load Capacity – 5.51 lbs
Weight – 1.43 lbs w/ ball head
Price – $149

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