[jon.partsch]

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Hello Friends,

I am trying to shed kit weight and I am thinking about getting this combo:

Giottos MTL 9251B 3-Section Aluminum Tripod Legs - Supports 11 lbs (5kg)

and this

Gitzo GH1780 Center Magnesium Ballhead - Supports 22 lbs (10kg)

This should add up to 3.81 pounds (1.74 kg). Does this seem like a good choice for the price. The current $80 Gitzo rebate brings the total price to about $220 US. I am more concerned with light weight than I am with compactness. I will want this to be able to easily support a K5 with the DA* 300mm f/4 attached for wildlife shooting. Do you think there are any better options at approximately this price and weight.

Thanks for your input!

~Jon

[GaryH]

I have this set up and it is sturdy and folds up small enough to fit in a suitcase.
Benro A1690TBH0 Travel Angel Aluminum Tripod

[jon.partsch]

I have this set up and it is sturdy and folds up small enough to fit in a suitcase.
Benro A1690TBH0 Travel Angel Aluminum Tripod

Thanks Gary,

This looks like a pretty compelling product, but not tall enough or sturdy enough for my needs. I should mention that I am 6'1" and have an eye height of 69".

~Jon

[twitch]

I love my Benro C-1691, that might be eye height for 6 foot 1. I can get it way above my eye height (I'm 5"9 though), I dont think I've ever even extended the bottom legs.

[dadipentak]

Came here via for some suggestions and got good ones. I figure it's worth saying that tripod selection is a matter of trade-offs and I'm willing to go substantially below my normal eye-height for the sake of cutting weight: I can lower my height a lot just by spreading my legs.

[Ira]

Have you ever used a monopod?

Also, if that only brings you to 59" with the center column raised all the way, that's not good.

Once you raise the column on a lesser tripod, especially with a heavy lens combo, you're almost negating the benefit of the tripod,

My heavy tripod (all wood Berlebach) is superb, but I make it a habit to never raise the center post, and instead, use leg adjustments for proper height.

No wind or inside the house--okay. Maybe I'm being anal retentive. But out in the field with wind, raise that post and she'll blow like a leaf in the wind.

[jon.partsch]

I love my Benro C-1691, that might be eye height for 6 foot 1. I can get it way above my eye height (I'm 5"9 though), I dont think I've ever even extended the bottom legs.

Thanks for the suggestion - this looks like a great product, but way above my current budget as I am trying to save up for the K-5

I can lower my height a lot just by spreading my legs.

Call me old-fashioned, but I haven't met a tripod yet that I'd be willing to spread my legs for on the first shoot

Have you ever used a monopod?

Yes! That's exactly why I am looking for a lighter tripod! I only take the monopod with me on trips anymore because the old tripods are so cumbersome in comparison. I am looking for something similarly light and portable that will provide a stable platform for longer focal lengths or longer exposures than the monopod.


Thank you all for your input. I couldn't find a product more compelling to me than what I listed above, so I pulled the trigger last night on the purchase. PF will be getting its cut of my B&H purchase

~Jon

[dadipentak]

Call me old-fashioned, but I haven't met a tripod yet that I'd be willing to spread my legs for on the first shoot