Light weight tripod

Willis · 12 Jul 2016 at 16:56

Looking at a light weight tripod for hiking trips, at the moment all my camping kit comes in at about 13-15kg.

Camera is a Canon 6d with 35L f1.4

Will be shooting time lapse so want a light weight but sturdy tripod.

Any recommendations

Clum · 13 Jul 2016 at 02:29

Look at the MeFoto range. Excellent quality for the price. I've done a few long trips with the roadtrip and its held up nicely.

Richdog · 13 Jul 2016 at 16:36

Clum said:
Look at the MeFoto range. Excellent quality for the price. I've done a few long trips with the roadtrip and its held up nicely.

I am finding it so hard to choose a tripod for hiking and travelling.

Which of the Mefoto range would you represents the best mix of function and portability?

ethan · 14 Jul 2016 at 00:42

By way of comparison look at the 3 Legged Thing EVO3 Punks Vyv Aluminum Tripod and Mohawk Ball Head. Recently been discontinued and arca swiss compatible. You might pick up a bargain from somewhere? I use it with a Fuji XT1 and is more than capable of holding the XF100-400. I paired this with a Slide It strap which comes with another Arca Swiss plate made by the same company.

Jase · 14 Jul 2016 at 11:24

I tried the MeFoto and I didn't like it, it's small etc but I had no confidence in it and wouldn't want to use it for anything other than a light holiday.

I went for a Gitzo Traveller kit which I really like, they are a little expensive but you get what you pay for I think.

GTRacer · 14 Jul 2016 at 12:06

I like my Gitzo 1542T. I've paired it with a Arca Swiss P0 ball head and short of doing long exposures with my Pentax 67/5x4 camera it's great - the light weight and speed at which I can adjust the ball head means that I actually use it way more than I did with my old Manfrotto 190. Folds down to a convenient size too. The whole setup was quite pricey but I think it's one of the few pieces of photographic gear where I haven't been annoyed by some illogical quirk.

Richdog · 14 Jul 2016 at 12:44

Jase said:
I tried the MeFoto and I didn't like it, it's small etc but I had no confidence in it and wouldn't want to use it for anything other than a light holiday.

I went for a Gitzo Traveller kit which I really like, they are a little expensive but you get what you pay for I think.

You tried "the" mefoto? There are several variations, be more specific about the model please and tell us why you wouldn't trust it.

GTRacer said:
I like my Gitzo 1542T. I've paired it with a Arca Swiss P0 ball head and short of doing long exposures with my Pentax 67/5x4 camera it's great - the light weight and speed at which I can adjust the ball head means that I actually use it way more than I did with my old Manfrotto 190. Folds down to a convenient size too. The whole setup was quite pricey but I think it's one of the few pieces of photographic gear where I haven't been annoyed by some illogical quirk.

That is really the luxury end of tripod pricing...

GTRacer · 14 Jul 2016 at 14:06

Richdog said:
That is really the luxury end of tripod pricing...

Had some good discounts on the legs and head so it was a fair bit less than the current prices online, plus anything that had the same kind of feature set was around the same price anyway.

Considering the lack of frustration I have with it, the increase in tripod use because of that, the corresponding increase in image quality due to working on a tripod more often, and that the camera+lens (+ amount of film and develop costs in some cases) are easily in excess of the tripod setup I don't have much regret about it. I'd still be using the same setup 10-20 years later.

If I wanted to go for a more 'budget' option I'd stick the P0 on some less expensive legs. I can cut corners on the legs but the head has made life a lot easier.

Richdog · 14 Jul 2016 at 14:09

GTRacer said:
Had some good discounts on the legs and head so it was a fair bit less than the current prices online, plus anything that had the same kind of feature set was around the same price anyway.

Considering the lack of frustration I have with it, the increase in tripod use because of that, the corresponding increase in image quality due to working on a tripod more often, and that the camera+lens (+ amount of film and develop costs in some cases) are easily in excess of the tripod setup I don't have much regret about it. I'd still be using the same setup 10-20 years later.

If I wanted to go for a more 'budget' option I'd stick the P0 on some less expensive legs. I can cut corners on the legs but the head has made life a lot easier.

Furry muff, each to their own!

I think I will end up ordering a MeFoto Roadtrip, they have stellar reviews and the price is right at around 185 EUR.

Jase · 14 Jul 2016 at 16:24

Richdog said:
You tried "the" mefoto? There are several variations, be more specific about the model please and tell us why you wouldn't trust it.

I think it was the Roadtrip, I tried a few at the time inc Sirui, Manfrotto, 3 Legged thing and of course the Gitzo. The only one that I wanted to try which I couldn't was a RRS and given the choice again I'd probably be torn between those 2. I'm pretty sure it was the leg mechanism that I didn't like and the one I tried slipped when I put weight on it which may have been user error but either way it didn't feel as solid as the Gitzo.

Richdog said:
That is really the luxury end of tripod pricing...

The thing with Tripods though is if you get a good one and look after it, it could last you a lifetime. Gitzo often have promotions which put them very close to prices of others mentioned. I had a really good deal on my Traveller and Systematic.

Amp34 · 14 Jul 2016 at 19:45

Jase said:
I tried the MeFoto and I didn't like it, it's small etc but I had no confidence in it and wouldn't want to use it for anything other than a light holiday.

I went for a Gitzo Traveller kit which I really like, they are a little expensive but you get what you pay for I think.

I have a mefoto road trip (Carbon) and regularly use a 120-300 f/2.8 on it, so basically unless you have something like a 400 f/2.8, 500 f/4 or larger you really shouldn't worry. It'll take a 5D with 24-70 (for example).

It's not ideal vibration wise with the 120-300 but it's mostly used when i'm travelling light with a D7000 and 17-55 or similar. It's never had leg "slip" or anything like that.

Out of interest how much does the Traveller weigh and how big does it get - is it the same as the mefoto or heavier? If you want light and small you're going to have to compromise, even if money is no object. I actually tried a Traveller when looking for mine and there was little to no difference between them. On the other hand the 3LT was not great and nor where some of the cheaper ones.

hux · 15 Jul 2016 at 07:00

http://www.kenro.co.uk/products/photo_tripods/kenro_compact_tripod_lgball_head/

mrgubby · 15 Jul 2016 at 14:11

I've got the Mefoto Globetrotter CF.

Lovely bit of kit, it's survived two trips to Iceland & all over the UK

I was going to get the 3LT Brian but the upper column felt a bit flimsy.