[rparmar]

Hi I am looking for mini tripod travel.

I am not sure how mini you mean. A few posts up I wrote about my Slik Sprint Pro II which works for me.

[Duplo]

Guys,
I have a Pentax 6x7 with 105mm lens.
What tripod can you recommend?

Regards,
Jake

Jake,

You would want that big camera on something very solid, IIRC it has quite a mirrorslap.

I would say a Gitzo series 3, possibly even a series 5 and a very solid ball head.
Graf, arca swiss, acratech, Kirk or RRS would be my recommendations

RRS has begun making tripods as well, possibly something to look into as the look very promising.

Again you can find cheaper options but in my experience one needs a very sturdy supportsystem when shooting MF.

[ahw]

I am not sure how mini you mean. A few posts up I wrote about my Slik Sprint Pro II which works for me.

Any recommendations for a mini/table tripod -- around the size of a Slik Mini Pro V (Amazon.com: SLIK MINI PRO V - Tripod - table-top: Camera & Photo) or a Manfrotto 709B (Amazon.com: Manfrotto 709B Digi Table Top Tripod with Ball Head (Black): Camera & Photo)?

Are either of those two worthy choices? Or something else?

Looking for something in that price range (~$30) that can hold a K-x with, at most, the DA L 55-300mm kit lens.

I like photographing food at restaurants and have found that handholding the camera doesn't cut it for me. I also like doing macro nature photography, so something that would be stable on the ground and shooting at near ground/flower level would be nice.

[GibbyTheMole]

Price: $74.13, plus approx. $10 for shipping, from Amazon.com.

Amazon product page with photos, etc.: Amazon.com: Ravelli APGL4 New Professional Tripod with Adjustable Pistol Grip Head and Heavy Duty Carry Bag: Camera & Photo

I'm 6' 3" tall, and needed a tall, stable tripod. After reading positive reviews on Amazon, I decided to take a chance on the Ravelli APGL4.

PROS:

1) very sturdy and stable
2) capable of extending tall enough for an NBA player to use
3) well-designed panhead is quick to adjust, and holds position securely
4) all metal construction
5) adjustable tension leg locks hold legs securely
6) two instant-release mounting plates
7) very versatile
8) reversible column
9) 3 bubble levels on panhead
10) includes Allen wrenches for adjustment
11) low cost

CONS:

1) not ready to use right out of the box - loose screws & other minor
assembly glitches easily fixed with a screwdriver & Allen wrenches
2) screws are made of a softer metal than they should be.
3) a few screw heads were deformed by assembly at the factory
4) funky smell from manufacturing
5) somewhat heavy
6) graphite lubricant on the ball of the panhead can come off on your hands
7) included bag is flimsy
8) included free mini-tripod too flimsy for DSLR. (but it's a freebie, so..)

SUMMARY:

I bought the Ravelli APGL4 at Amazon for around $75. ($85 with
shipping) According to the website, it has a list price of $399.95. I
seriously doubt that. But I can say that it's a downright smokin' deal
for $85.

Other reviewers recommended going over the tripod before using it and
tightening screws, and making adjustments. In my opinion, this is a
necessity. On mine, some screws were loose, and leg-lock tension was
very uneven. Luckily, this is an easy fix, as the tension of each
leg-lock is easily adjustable via an Allen screw. One of the leg-locks
operated kind of wonky... The lever wanted to twist to the side when
closing. I quickly discovered it was due to a loose screw at the
leg-lock's pivot. A quick twist of the screwdriver was all that was
needed to restore it to working properly.

There was another odd glitch in assembly. One of the balls that the
rubber feet attach to was screwed on upside down. Because of this,
the rubber foot wouldn't fully extend to the lowest position. Using a
crescent wrench, I popped off the rubber foot & unscrewed the mounting
bolt & reversed the ball. Another easy fix.

When adjusting & tightening the screws, you might be better off using
quality Allen wrenches rather than the ones supplied. The included
wrenches work, but the steel is probably softer than a quality tool
from a hardware store. Don't over-tighten the screws or strip out the
screw heads, either. They're made of a softer steel than they should
be, so it's easy to do. That said, once they're tightened up properly,
I'm sure they'll hold securely.

Once everything was tightened and tweaked, I mounted both included
quick-release mounting plates to my two camera bodies, and set up the
tripod, which is very quick to do.

First, I set it up with the legs fully extended and put some body
weight on it. It was unyielding. So I pressed down harder. Still no
give. I wound up putting A LOT of weight on the tripod to check it's
load handling capacity & the strength of the leg-locks, and there was
only a very slight amount of bowing on the lowest leg sections, and the
leg locks held their grip. I was probably putting about 50 lbs. of
downward pressure on it at that point, so a little leg-bowing at
the bottom was expected.

Mounting the camera to the head took about a second. It was a snap. I
like the mounting plates on this tripod much better than some of the
other quick-release systems. Instead of putting one edge into a
groove, lowering the other side of the camera, and locking it in with
a flip lever like most others, this one is more straightforward, in my
opinion. You slide the camera onto the head, like you would slide a
flash onto a hotshoe. It instantly locks into place. A quick turn of
the lock-knob on the side of the panhead securely mates the camera to
the socket, preventing an accidental dismount. When it comes time to
remove the camera, unlock the knob and press the lock button while
sliding the camera out. It's a piece of cake.

This is my first pistol-grip panhead, and I wasn't sure how I'd like
it. As it turns out, it's pretty awesome. It's made of a dense cast metal,
with steel lock lever, and 3 bubble levels. Construction quality of
the head seems good, and it has a good, solid feel and smooth
operation. Aiming the camera is a snap. Squeeze the lever, aim the
camera, and let go. Once you let go of the lever, the head is locked in
place very securely, exactly where you want it. There's also an adjustment
screw for the amount of tension on the ball. It's a well-thought out design,
and should suit my needs very well.

By the way, the panhead is identical to the Kruger Optical model 6530
head, which sells at Amazon, for roughly the same price at this entire
package.

The rest of the tripod (except maybe the screws) is made of
reasonably durable materials, too. The legs are very rigid,
and everything is metal, except for the rubber feet and the plastic
balls on which they pivot. I really like the adjustable-tension leg locks.
Instead of tossing the tripod when your leg locks loosen from wear,
a quick tweak of the screw is all that's needed to restore performance
to like new. The metal leg-lock levers seem pretty heavy duty, and
look like they will stand up to many years of use.

With the camera mounted, this thing is rock-solid. There's no flex
anywhere. Even when the column and legs are fully extended, it's quite
stable. I have no qualms about mounting my camera and a monster
telephoto lens to this thing. I don't think it's going anywhere.

Since the column is reversible, and each leg has a quick-adjust angle
lock at the top that allows you to move each leg out to crazy-low
angles at the press of a button, you should be able to aim your camera
to about any position imaginable. Plus, there's also a screw
protruding from a removable slug on the bottom of the column. This
could come in very handy for hanging a weight off of the column for
improved stability, (not that you'd need to...) hanging a light of
some sort, or whatever.

If you're planning on doing a lot of hiking with a tripod, this one
might not be for you. It's got some weight. But that only adds to it's
stability. For me, stability is the big factor in a tripod, and since
I'll usually take it to my destination in a car & carry it maybe a few
hundred feet to where I'm going to shoot, It's not an issue for me.

I've checked out some of the much pricier Manfrotto tripods in camera
shops, and they are a very well-built piece of kit. They're admittedly
assembled with more care, to tighter tolerances, and they're probably made
of better stuff. That said, tweaking and tightening things up on this
Ravelli tripod goes an awful long way to bridging the quality gap.
Sure, the Ravelli is a Manfrotto ripoff... But it's a fairly good one.
As far as doing the basic job of being a solid, stable camera platform,
I can't tell much difference between the Ravelli and the Manfrottos.
Only time will tell if the Ravelli will hold up to years of use, but from what
I've seen so far, I'm optimistic that it will.

For me, the 300 bucks or so that I saved was worth 20 minutes spent
with a screwdriver and an Allen wrench.

BOTTOM LINE: If you're willing to spend a little time tweaking it up,
and you don't mind packing a little extra weight, I'd recommend the Ravelli
APGL4 heartily. It's hard to imagine getting a more solid, flexible tripod for
anywhere close to it's price.

FOLLOW UP: I recently had the chance to directly compare the Ravelli tripod with the Manfrotto 055XB, which is very similar. The differences (other than the color) were: The Manfrotto has no spikes on the feet, and plastic leg locks rather than metal lock levers like on the Ravelli. Other than that, they seemed equally sturdy and solid. The Manfrotto pistol-grip head was also very similar to the one found on the Ravelli. Also, after shooting some night shots in high wind with the Ravelli, I'm impressed by how solid this tripod is. It's extremely solid and quick to set up. I think it was a good choice.

---

Last edited by GibbyTheMole; 05-01-2011 at 06:16 PM.

[rparmar]

Just remembered this thread and must post a follow-up. The Slik Sprint Pro II I reviewed above actually fell apart after only slight and infrequent use. One of the legs disintegrated... from the parts it seems it is held together internally only by thin plastic. Since I bought off eBay I had no recourse with seller.

Just a warning that no matter how good a tripod looks, cheap is cheap. I have finally been able to replace it at significantly higher cost, but will wait one year before reviewing the new unit.

[stevebrot]

The Slik Sprint Pro II I reviewed above actually fell apart after only slight and infrequent use

I am glad that I sent my copy back! My Slik 330DX is still working out well...fingers crossed that it does not suffer from the same build issues!


Steve

[rparmar]

Yeah Steve I had a bad summer in 2010 with a speaker blowing up, a macro lens failing and the tripod incident. Being a starving artist it has taken me 12 months to replace all of these and finally get my gear sorted.

[fisheye freak]

Another possibility, although it does not satisfy all the requirements , is a Joby( R)Gorillapod. Its legs wrap around whatever is around that is stable. There is a model that takes 5kg (I bought one on eBay.)The model is the GP 8 I think. It is very compact and light. It is versatile, can get in low for macro. The ball head is well made and takes a good load. Its only downside is that you need to find something stable to wrap it around.Compared to a Cullman or Manfrotto, it is cheap. Life is all about compromises is it not, so sometimes we have to think outside the box.

[Designosophy]

I've had this tripod for about 6 months, and I like it a lot. It's very sturdy and versatile. I only had one lock that needed tightening when I bought it. Does anyone know if it is possible to tighten the ball head? It seems to have become slightly looser over the months. I am going to have to find another bag for it. The included bag is coming apart at the seams, is uncomfortable to carry around, and doesn't properly fit the tripod.

Edit: It is possible to tighten the ball head. There is a small black alan screw on the side opposite the grip lever. If you turn this it will tighten the ball head. If you tighten it too much, it becomes difficult to use the pistol grip.

[Andrew Faires]

Induro CT213 with RRS-BH40 head

For the purpose of this review, I'm actually going to make a lot of reference to my Manfrotto 190PROB and 484 ball head. The reason for this is because it might provide a decent frame of reference for anyone considering a CT213 or similar who might already have a 190PRO(B), or be familiar enough with one that the comparison will help out.

First off, I got the 190ProB about 7-10 years ago. It fell within my budget at the time (carbon fiber was out of the question) and I wanted something stable, sturdy and as light as possible. At the time, it wasn't uncommon for me to go on 10+ mile hikes so the 190 fit the bill. Between the tripod and head, I was working with about 5 pounds. I also decked the tripod out with a shoulder strap and the retractable spiked feet, which increased the weight marginally but the retractable spiked feed added about an inch to the working height of the tripod. At 6'2", the extra inch was welcome.

I have to say, in spite of the 11 lb capacity of the legs and 8.8 lb capacity of the tripod head, it's been a rock solid little unit. I've used this set-up with all my cameras with up to an FA*400 f/5.6 lens and have never had a problem. For the price (which was about $250 or less - I can't recall exactly), it's exceeded my expectations and I strongly suspect Manfrotto was quite conservative with the ratings.

I have a couple of small niggles with this set-up though:
1) needing to periodically tighten the leg locks - they always seemed to loosen at the worst possible time (setting up for a shot as the sun was setting)
2) it's short
3) needing to unscrew the bottom of the center column to remove the bottom portion (which took ages) for ground level shooting
4) it turns out that being able to use the center column in the horizontal position was a great feature which I didn't use more than once a year, meaning the spider was larger/heavier than I needed it to be
5) only 2 of the three legs had foam coverings....why they don't go all the way, I have no idea; all or nothing please.

Flash forward to this year:

I decided to upgrade my tripod and ball-head. I was looking for more useable height without relying on the center column being fully raised. I was considering the Gitzo Mountaineer 2531 and this tripod as they're very similar in specifications. Since I had to buy on-line (for lack of a useful camera store near where I am), spec's were all I had to go on.

I chose the CT213 over the Gitzo for a couple of reasons:
1) You can get the Gitzo at b&h for 519 but to get it into Canada, I was looking at about $113 extra with taxes chalked on and other such fees (according to B&H's quote). The same tripod cost $660 + tax/shipping in Canada. With the dollar at parity I don't want to support getting gouged/***ewed. Induro was the same cost ($380) on both sides of the border.
2) The Induro and the accessory short center column clocked in at $430, which also includes metal spiked feet, tool-kit, strap and bag....all of which would have cost extra with the Gitzo.
3) I have to admit that while I really liked what I saw on-line of the Gitzo, I couldn't justify (to my better half) spending $700 after tax on a tripod.

So the tripod is here and these are my impressions:
Pros:
1) With the short center column down, the tripod isn't much shorter than the 190ProB fully extended with the center column all the way up. It's a comfortable working height. With the standard center column, I have more height than I need but it's nice to have in reserve
2) At just over 3 pounds, it's lighter than the 190.
3) with the RRS head on the tripod, the total weight is about the same or just a bit less than the 190prob with the 484 ball-head
5) the twisting leg locks are just as quick or quicker than the lever locks of the 190prob
6) all three legs have the foam grips - not just one or two
7) legs are sealed against debris and moisture
8) Metal spiked feet are included (although you need to remove the rubber ones and then attach the spikes)

Cons:
1) Unlike the slick design of the Gitzo leg locks, the Induro leg locks are somewhat monsterous in comparison
2) 3 leg angle settings compared to Manfrotto's 4
3) More vibration than I expected from a carbon fiber tripod - not field relevant, but something to be aware of (ie, don't tap the tripod while the exposure is running)
4) Like all things tripod related, to get the extra height, the folded length is much longer than the 190prob.

Overall, I consider the the CT213 a good purchase. On specs, it outstrips the 190ProB and gives me some future-proofing should I find longer/heavier glass to use and I haven't sacrificed anything in the overall weight. As for the Manfrotto, for a light-duty set-up, it's an absolute steal. It's going to remain with me for a long time to come but the CT213 will be my primary tripod.

On to the RRS-BH40

First off, what an absolutely beautiful piece of kit this is! Everything about it reeks of quality. It's overkill for a k-5 and limiteds, but when you get to the DA* lenses, it's about perfect.

To compare it to the Manfrotto 484, it's a David/Goliath sort of thing (the the 484 being the David). The 484 is puny. It looks odd sitting on top of the 190ProB, taking up only about 1/2 of the plate it sits on. However, it locks incredibly tight. I would say it's good for more like 15 pounds of capacity; the sucker doesn't creep, whether it's the FA* 400 f/5.6 using the tripod collar or the 50-135, which is grossly front heavy due to not having a tripod collar. I dare say, it actually has the same gripping power of the RRS-BH40. Please note: This is not a knock against the RRS head. It's a compliment to just how tough the 484 really is.

Having said that, the bh40 locks down very tight - I say easily earning it's rating of an 18 lb capacity, it's perfectly matched to the mouting plate on the CT213 (there's only about 1.5mm of plate sticking out past the ball-head (the plate diameter is 56mm, the ball-head is 53mm).

Pros:
1) It's a thing of beauty
2) It locks up tight
3) separate pan, tension and locking knobs (lever, in the case of locking the head)
4) every movement is silky smooth

Cons:
1) Price - you get what you pay for, and at $390 for the head with the LR II full size lever release clamp, it's a steep entry fee.
2) You don't want to get debris between the ball and casing. With the Manfrotto 484, you don't really care, but with the RRS, you do.
3) It's a thing of beauty, and it pains me to think that it's going to suffer great abuse at my hands
4) - and this isn't really a con, but having the two drop slots off center takes some getting used to.

One last note about the RRS gear in general:
If you decide to go with L-Brackets, there isn't one that can be used with the BG-4 battery grip. And on the subject of L-Brackets, I opted to forego the RRS L-bracket because the vertical portion is offset far enough it looks like it might interfere with the Auto-focus selection switch on the k-7 & k-5. They do this to allow the ports door to open unhindered but I don't use the ports and I do use the AF selection switch quite a bit. Instead, I went with the Kirk L-bracket; it prevents easy access to the ports door, but it does allow you unhindered access to the AF selection. Personal preference and all that . Both brackets have a bracket at the end for fastening a hand-strap, which is far more robust than the mounting plate that comes with the Pentax hand-strap.

According to Induro (http://www.indurogear.com/products_details_CT213.html#specs)
Material: Carbon Fiber
Maximum Load: 26.4 lb (12 kg)
Max Height (24° Leg Angle) w/Column Extended: 64.2 in (1630 mm)
Max Height (24° Leg Angle) w/Column Retracted: 55.5 in (1410 mm)
Min Height (24° Leg Angle) w/Column Retracted: 23 in (584 mm)
Min Height (80° Leg Angle) w/Short Column: 6.8 in (172 mm)
Folded Length: 25.3 in (642 mm)
Number of Leg Sections: 3
Leg Lock Type: Moisture and dust-resistant locking grips
Independent Leg Spread: Yes, with three position stops
Center Column: Grooved-Rapid
Spiked Feet: Removable - Included
Head Mount Thread Size: 1/4"-20 & 3/8"-16
Weight: 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg)

What Induro doesn't say on their web-site, but that they confirmed via email to me:
Leg diameter (thickest leg section): 28mm
Tripod Head mounting plate: 56mm

And according to Really Right Stuff, on the BH-40:
Load: 18 lbs
height: 3.0"
Weight: 18.3 oz
Diameter: 53mm/2.1"
Ball diameter: 40mm/1.6"

Last comments on this:
RRS has amazing customer service. I called to confirm that the Kirk l-bracket would work with the LR II and got a knowledgable confirmation right away - they actually recommended that plate for the Kirk bracket. I ordered the ball-head later that afternoon near the end of the day and they shipped it that afternoon, advising me via email when they did it.

Induro was helpful with my questions about the leg diameter etc... It took them about 24 (or slightly longer) hours to reply, but not bad.

If a deal on the GT2531 existed in Canada, like B&H offered, this review would have likely been on that tripod. I don't doubt that they're amazing tripods to use. I just couldn't swallow paying an extra $140 premium to buy one of these in Canada (more if you go through Vistek)

Lastly, Vistek was the only Canadian dealer I found who carried the Induro line - and they're priced the same here as they are in the states. That, I can support.

[krylon360]

So, I know the review on this tripod is old, however, there is something that wasn't covered on the Dolica AX620B100 tripod review. The Tripod can be set up into Macro mode.
The weight hook can unscrew, then remove the rubber gr-omit, and you can flip the center pole, thus making the ball head right above the ground, granted, your camera is now upside down, so have fun with that learning curve, however, this is pretty useful.

[photolady95]

My Slik 330DX is still working out wel

I've been looking for a new tripod too. My Bogen is a bit heavy to carry around all the time, so it leans against the wall and waits.

I've just been to B&H and they have the Slik 330DX reasonably priced and was thinking about ordering it along with this head:

Slik 2-Way Pan/Tilt Head for Master Classic 619-710 B&H Photo

Any input before I hit the buy button?

[stevebrot]

I've been looking for a new tripod too. My Bogen is a bit heavy to carry around all the time, so it leans against the wall and waits.

I've just been to B&H and they have the Slik 330DX reasonably priced and was thinking about ordering it along with this head:

Slik 2-Way Pan/Tilt Head for Master Classic 619-710 B&H Photo

Any input before I hit the buy button?

Looks good if you like two-way heads.


Steve

[photolady95]

I just read this head doesn't come with QR. Darn. Guess I'll keep looking. Question though, I have a Manfrotto head would that fit on the Slik tripod?

[LeDave]

EDIT: 08DEC2012 - I have just added this review of the tripod. This review can also be seen in the accessories review section or the tripod review section of this forum.

Benro MeFoto A1350Q1

First off there are two versions of the MeFoto tripod a tiny travel version and a larger transfunctional one. A smaller one that is tiny in size and can only withstand 7-8 lbs and cannot be transformed into a monopod. Then there is a slightly bigger one yet small that can withstand 17-18 lbs and be transformed into a monopod. I bought the A135Q1 which is the bigger one. It also comes in 5 colors, I bought the blue one.

Well for the first time with the tripod today, I extended all of it's leg out and placed my camera on top and did the wiggle wiggle around, it is solid in place and no wobbles. It is very strong and sturdy in place and can withstand between 17 and 18 lbs. I even gave it a little push down with my hands against my chest and this thing is a keeper. My old tripod which is a Amazon $40 dollar one that has less leg sections can't even phase this in quality. The only time this Benro has a wobbly piece into play is when you unscrew the smallest section to pull the leg down, other than that when you screw it back in, it stays in place and is rock steady. This tripod is heavier than it looks but by no means is it too heavy. It's got quite a feel to it, it feels like it has a lot of strength based on it's weight. Once again, it is VERY SOLID for it's size and the amount of leg sections it has. You definitely can tell this tripod is worth in the hundreds pricing. The tripod head's adjustment rings are made of thick high quality rubber and so are the twisties for the leg section. My old Amazon $40 tripod looks like a heavy duty tripod, yet feels like a toy. Yet this Benro Mefoto Transfunctional tripod, looks like a toy, does not feel like one at all. Love it so far, will update more on this post in the future if necessary and needed.

For those who don't know about Benro, it is a chinese brand tripod maker that literally makes Gitzo tripods at fractions of the price. Doesn't mean that it's all out knock-off cheap brand. This brand makes really good tripods, don't let the Made in China fool you.

Advantages:
Extremely compact design for easy around carry. It folds out to about/around 5 feet, 7 inches.
A lot more solid and durable than it looks.
Aluminum designed twist-to-release legs design is more sturdier than plastic clip-to-release designs.
Comes with a decent ball-head that has ability to pan and adjust panning speed.
Ball head has 4 notches to adjust position of head and to adjust friction of rotation needed to move around the head.
Comes with high quality bag for storage. Bag even has a adjustable strap.
Can be turn into a monopod within a few minutes.
Arca Swiss compatible!

Disadvantages:
Heavier than it looks, it's possibly heavy because of the solidity and high build quality.
Twist-to-release leg sections can take awhile to get used to.
May take a little longer to put back into it's folded form than clip-to-release.
Four leg sections rather than three may take up more time to get set-up.
Spirit-bubble(Leveler) is a little small and hard to see.

Walkthrough of my new tripod below.

Other big online stores are selling this tripod for 229 USD, however with my student discount, I only bought it for 125 dollars from a website that sponsors my school.



This tripod is tiny! Just look at the bag and the Tripod (folded) to my DA* 50-135 f2.8, the lens is about 3/5th the size with it's hood attached.




Let's look at the head, it has 4 nozzles to adjust all kinds of stuff.




The Arca Swiss style quick release plate.



It can be taken apart and turned into a monopod!




To quickly and simply extend almost all the length of one tripod leg, simply grab as much of it as you can and twist.




Maximum height is about 5'7, I am 5'8 so this is perfect.