Compact Travel Tripod (1 Viewer)

[Jonny721]

Hi all,

Increasingly I am finding myself taking short overseas trips, usually 3-5 days in length, primarily for work trips but also specific birding holidays. Usually on such trips I opt to take a large cabin bag on the plane rather than splashing out on an additional checked suitcase. I am therefore looking to find a tripod to go along with my small travel scope that is small/compact enough when collapsed to fit inside a large cabin bag - approximately 50cm or less when fully collapsed (including the head). I am not too bothered about the weight, so aluminium or carbon fibre is fine, and it doesn't need to be a particularly high spec/quality given that it will only be used on a handful of occasions per year, it just needs to do the job when I want to use the scope on these trips. I would ideally be looking to spend under £250.

Any suggestions?

 

[Mono]

Manfrotto BeFree is truly tiny when folded about 50cm. It comes in aluminium or carbon versions with camera or video heads.

Befree live fluid head with Befree aluminum tripod system

The most compact video kit, dedicated to videographer on the go. The Manfrotto Befree Live is easy to carry everywhere thanks to its small size and minimal design. It fulfils the increasing customer demand for a lightweight tripod that is easy-to-carry for video recording with a DSLR, compact...

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[Gzoladz74]

I got a Velbon Ultra 655 years back and works very well for travelling, but I think it is discontinued. Now I use a Sirui ST-125 which is even better and lighter.

I tried one of the Manfrotto BeFrees (I think there are different models) but had to return it as I found it too flimsy.

 

[dwatsonbirder]

What scope are you using it with Johny? The options given so far are very good, I have used a Velbon Luxi with an ED50 for many years when travelling with little complaint. It isn't suitable for e.g. seawatching, or even with a >60mm scope, but it is stable enough, and packs away to 30cm. A ball head is another good way to save space and weight.

 

[Richard D]

I find the Be free fine with an ED50 and usable with the ED60 at lower magnifications

 

[Gzoladz74]

What scope are you using it with Johny? The options given so far are very good, I have used a Velbon Luxi with an ED50 for many years when travelling with little complaint. It isn't suitable for e.g. seawatching, or even with a >60mm scope, but it is stable enough, and packs away to 30cm. A ball head is another good way to save space and weight.

Don't mean to hijack the thread but the ball head suggestion comes over and over again and for some reason I never considered it...I suppose it has the advantage (in addition to weight and bulk saving) of a single knob for pan and tilt but the compromise is that to position it you need both hands (one for the knob, one for the scope)?

 

[Jonny721]

What scope are you using it with Johny? The options given so far are very good, I have used a Velbon Luxi with an ED50 for many years when travelling with little complaint. It isn't suitable for e.g. seawatching, or even with a >60mm scope, but it is stable enough, and packs away to 30cm. A ball head is another good way to save space and weight.

I use a Swarovski ATS 65mm for overseas trips, so certainly not a tiny scope compared to the travel scopes offered by e.g. Opticron, but it is small enough to fit in a cabin bag.

Don't mean to hijack the thread but the ball head suggestion comes over and over again and for some reason I never considered it...I suppose it has the advantage (in addition to weight and bulk saving) of a single knob for pan and tilt but the compromise is that to position it you need both hands (one for the knob, one for the scope)?

I was thinking about this too, having never used a ball head, and I cannot imagine how it would be as maneuverable compared to a usual video head with a handle.

 

[Hermann]

Don't mean to hijack the thread but the ball head suggestion comes over and over again and for some reason I never considered it...I suppose it has the advantage (in addition to weight and bulk saving) of a single knob for pan and tilt but the compromise is that to position it you need both hands (one for the knob, one for the scope)?

A ball head has but one advantage: It's smaller and (usually) lighter than a video head. It works, sort of anyway, but only with a small scope. Unless you take a big ball head - which in turn is going to be heavy.

I use a Swarovski ATS 65mm for overseas trips, so certainly not a tiny scope compared to the travel scopes offered by e.g. Opticron, but it is small enough to fit in a cabin bag.

That's what I'd call a "medium sized scope" actually ...

I was thinking about this too, having never used a ball head, and I cannot imagine how it would be as maneuverable compared to a usual video head with a handle.

For a scope of that size I'd always go for a video head. For a small scope (like the ED50) a small ball head works OK, but not for an ATS 65. At least not IMO.

Hermann

 

[dwatsonbirder]

^What Hermann said. A ball head works well with a small and light scope (like the ED50) but doesn't handle a 60mm (like a Kowa 613) particularly well. You would just grip the head and slacken the ball sufficiently to move it, having used this for a few years, it is surprising how much the long arm of a fluid head gets in the way during regular use! Something like a Manfrotto 700 or Benro S2 could be a nice light option.

Here are my three scopes mounted on their regular tripods (Nikon 82 on a Gitzo, Kowa on a Novo flex and ED50 on the Velbon luxi). All have their uses, and in particular the Nikon 50 is the one I tend to use on overseas trips, whilst the big Nikon is the preference for looking at waders etc. The Kowa probably gets the most use as it is my work scope that lives in the car.
Having owned the 65 Swaro before I would only recommend the luxi at a pinch, perhaps have a look into the Gitzo traveller series (like this). Benro tripods are also well renowned, I believe there is a 'slim' series which may be a cheaper suitable option.

 

[4John]

".....it is surprising how much the long arm of a fluid head gets in the way during regular use! "

In my experience (Swarovski STS80 and Manfrotto B200 head) a properly designed handle (pan bar ?) does not get in the way during regular use. However, if the handle is short and straight so it ends up under the rear of the scope or extends straight back behind the scope I agree it can be a nuisance. Short straight handles are usually found on heads designed for cameras that typically don't have a rear overhang. This is the problem I had with the Smallrig head. If the handle is long and has a bend in it, so the end is to one side of the scope (like the B200) there shouldn't be a problem. My advice to anyone is take your scope to a shop with a large selection of heads and try them out if you can. Some of the big out-of-town photography warehouse-type shops have a good selection.

 

[Gzoladz74]

In my experience (Swarovski STS80 and Manfrotto B200 head) a properly designed handle (pan bar ?) does not get in the way during regular use. However, if the handle is short and straight so it ends up under the rear of the scope or extends straight back behind the scope I agree it can be a nuisance. Short straight handles are usually found on heads designed for cameras that typically don't have a rear overhang. This is the problem I had with the Smallrig head. If the handle is long and has a bend in it, so the end is to one side of the scope (like the B200) there shouldn't be a problem. My advice to anyone is take your scope to a shop with a large selection of heads and try them out if you can. Some of the big out-of-town photography warehouse-type shops have a good selection.

I use a Sirui VA-5 and you can decide at what angle and the side of the head you want to set up the handle. This should be simple to implement but I don't think all heads have it.
What I also discover it has which is very useful is a "2 speeds" panning locking knob....if I turn it right it locks the head very firmly (i.e. for transport) but if I turn it left it applies pressure very slowly what is great to set the desired amount of panning resistance (not sure if I am explaining myself).

 

[Jonny721]

Thanks for all the recommendations/advice. Tripods are a subject that completely baffles me once I start looking into the multitude of different leg and head combinations, and after a search this evening I'm probably more confused than before!

The Sirui ST-125 looks to be a good compact option, perhaps paired with the VA-5 head as combined here - SIRUI Super Traveler 125 Carbon Fibre Tripod with Video Head VA-5X | Wex Photo Video.

 

[Tringa45]

^What Hermann said. A ball head works well with a small and light scope (like the ED50) but doesn't handle a 60mm (like a Kowa 613)

I would not deny that a video head is usually the better solution but friction ball heads (not the locked or loose variety) do have a few advantages.
Weight for weight they have a higher load capacity and are more stable than video heads and if the tripod legs can be folded 180° backwards, such as on the Gitzo Traveler, the folded length can be reduced.
A disadvantage is the unwanted lateral tilt, but FLM offers ball heads where this can be locked out, and another possibility is to drop the spindle of the ball head into the "vertical format" slot and rotate the scope 90° in its collar for a pseudo-gimbal head.
Before acquiring a couple of Berlebach video heads I used a Gitzo friction ball head with Novoflex Q-Mount quick realease clamp for several years.
There are a couple of members on the forum who use a Berlebach Albatros 2-way ball head with 15 kg (!!) capacity for simultaneous mounting of heavy scope and camera.

John

 

[Sancho]

I've just taken delivery of a new Slik Sprint Pro lightweight tripod. I haven't used it yet, it's for my Kowa TSN60. So far my only grip is that the lever for panning is on the left (I'm used to the lever being on the right), and it can't be switched. Obviously I could have checked this before buying, but hey....Otherwise it fits the bill.

 

[Hermann]

You would just grip the head and slacken the ball sufficiently to move it, having used this for a few years, it is surprising how much the long arm of a fluid head gets in the way during regular use!

Talking of handles on video heads ... I don't like them. Never did. The thing is long handles - and some are really quite long - always get in the way. In the field, especially at a twitch when there are many people about. In the backpack, in the car, everywhere. So I shortened the handles. A lot. And I found that worked very well. I didn't need long handles.

Then I started simply taking them off, on most heads anyway. I nowadays basically use the scope as the handle - one hand on the focuser, one hand on the scope to move it to get on the bird. You even save some weight that way. Some of these handles are surprisingly heavy. I now only use handles with heads that make use of a hefty spring, like the Manfrotto 500AH. But for the other video heads ... No handles.

Hermann

 

[dwatsonbirder]

I find the 128RC to be a good head, but struggle to get the correct tension/fluidity if I remove the handle for some reason. Any recommendations for shortening the handle? When I am surveying I find the handle gets in the way if I need to pan from extreme right to left and vice-versa. I completely removed the handle from my 501, and find that gripping the entire head gives a perfect movement, the only issue is the weight.

 

[Steve Babbs]

This is great with a 50mm scope. And very light-weight and folds to about 50 cm. I wouldn't use it with anything bigger though.

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[Sancho]

Talking of handles on video heads ... I don't like them. Never did. The thing is long handles - and some are really quite long - always get in the way. In the field, especially at a twitch when there are many people about. In the backpack, in the car, everywhere. So I shortened the handles. A lot. And I found that worked very well. I didn't need long handles.

Then I started simply taking them off, on most heads anyway. I nowadays basically use the scope as the handle - one hand on the focuser, one hand on the scope to move it to get on the bird. You even save some weight that way. Some of these handles are surprisingly heavy. I now only use handles with heads that make use of a hefty spring, like the Manfrotto 500AH. But for the other video heads ... No handles.

Hermann

My God, Hermann....no handles? I don't know if I'm brave enough. And yet....it makes perfect sense...use the scope as its own 'handle'! I'll try it, but today is stormy here so it's an indoors day!

 

[Hermann]

I find the 128RC to be a good head, but struggle to get the correct tension/fluidity if I remove the handle for some reason. Any recommendations for shortening the handle? When I am surveying I find the handle gets in the way if I need to pan from extreme right to left and vice-versa.

I simply used a hacksaw ...

Hermann

 

[Dasherman]

I use a Sirui AT-125 with a cheap (and light!) video head for my Opticron MM3 50. It works well for me, and it's both light and small enough to fit into a normal backpack. I first used the video head that came with the tripod, but I didn't like it so much. It worked fine, but I was curious about what a cheap head from Aliexpress would be like. I now use it with an Ulanzi U-190 head, which is nicer and also very light. Still nowhere near as nice as my VA-5 head, but it does the job and is a lot lighter.