Hi Guys,
I was wondering if anyone has any experience with small travel tripods? I took the SLR gorilla pod with me on my last trip and it was great but the balls kept poping out the sockets when tightening down, seems low quality for its cost. It was frustrating to get a good perspective when there is nothing to put it on but ground level.
The specification I want is to take either my 5DMKIII with 24-105 or 16-35mm so around 2kg. Ideally under 1.5kg, max of £150 (which means no CF) and as small as possible folded.
I have had a little look around and have been quite taken with the Mefoto products, the Backpacker or the roadtrip version.
Backpacker
http://www.mefoto.com/uk/products/backpacker.aspx
Roadtrip
http://www.mefoto.com/uk/products/roadtrip.aspx
The main difference is that the roadtrip is bigger it gets to 5FT, It can get lower to the ground, has an inversion option, both have a monopod built in. The backpacker is a great size but and has a load weight of 4kgs… the size of the Roadtrip makes it more suitable.
One issue I have seen is with the ball head, it looks great quality and spec, it has 360deg panning with a degree scale, tension nob etc but the locking mechanism on it isn't perfect. Basically a Arca-Swiss Style (PU50) but you place the camera on, screw it in, once you have screwed it so far it locks the camera like a normal locking plate but there isn't a release mechanism so if you un-tighten camera without a strap attached to you it could very easily fall off the tripod when releasing as it takes both hands. I also don't really like to use straps so this could be an issue for me.
Better explanation here at 18:52
https://youtu.be/aGALkcWPIhg
I was wondering if anyone could
A. give me any other experience with any travel tripods
B. if anyone has a Mefoto tripod in either spec would love to hear your opinions especially on the ball head whether it is actually an issue?
C if I go for the mefoto I will change the ball head for another, but this is a bit of a minefield for me. tripods are definitely not my strong suit so if anyone has any info on ball heads that would be great.
Cheers
Tom
I was wondering if anyone has any experience with small travel tripods? I took the SLR gorilla pod with me on my last trip and it was great but the balls kept poping out the sockets when tightening down, seems low quality for its cost. It was frustrating to get a good perspective when there is nothing to put it on but ground level.
The specification I want is to take either my 5DMKIII with 24-105 or 16-35mm so around 2kg. Ideally under 1.5kg, max of £150 (which means no CF) and as small as possible folded.
I have had a little look around and have been quite taken with the Mefoto products, the Backpacker or the roadtrip version.
Backpacker
http://www.mefoto.com/uk/products/backpacker.aspx
Roadtrip
http://www.mefoto.com/uk/products/roadtrip.aspx
The main difference is that the roadtrip is bigger it gets to 5FT, It can get lower to the ground, has an inversion option, both have a monopod built in. The backpacker is a great size but and has a load weight of 4kgs… the size of the Roadtrip makes it more suitable.
One issue I have seen is with the ball head, it looks great quality and spec, it has 360deg panning with a degree scale, tension nob etc but the locking mechanism on it isn't perfect. Basically a Arca-Swiss Style (PU50) but you place the camera on, screw it in, once you have screwed it so far it locks the camera like a normal locking plate but there isn't a release mechanism so if you un-tighten camera without a strap attached to you it could very easily fall off the tripod when releasing as it takes both hands. I also don't really like to use straps so this could be an issue for me.
Better explanation here at 18:52
https://youtu.be/aGALkcWPIhg
I was wondering if anyone could
A. give me any other experience with any travel tripods
B. if anyone has a Mefoto tripod in either spec would love to hear your opinions especially on the ball head whether it is actually an issue?
C if I go for the mefoto I will change the ball head for another, but this is a bit of a minefield for me. tripods are definitely not my strong suit so if anyone has any info on ball heads that would be great.
Cheers
Tom