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Author Topic: Looking for some ideas; compact tripods?  (Read 482 times)

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Offline balacau

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Looking for some ideas; compact tripods?
« on: January 31, 2010, 09:32:33 PM »
I took a while tonight looking through various Manfrotto tripods and monopods on Amazon UK.  It would seem most of these collapse down to a size of 51cm, although durability also has to be considered when looking at lenses like Sigma's 50-500mm.  Can anyone suggest a small tripod of either 40cm or less which would be durable enough to hold an SLR with a decent weight of lens (combined total of maybe 2.5-3kg)?  Add to that either a tilt or ball head mounting and you are looking at 3kg anyway.

http://www.photos-of-the-year.com/manfrotto714shb/

After scouring Amazon for a while, I googled and found the above.  Pretty much what I required although I did take note of the author saying it would be top heavy with a bulky lens.  Fair warning!  But 35cm is the ideal size really for table-top photography or whatever.  I could really have used something like that last year looking out of my hotel window at the moon shining on the sea!  Oh well...maybe next time.

I have a local dealer for Manfrotto which would make the products easier to return if something goes wrong.  This is why I've pretty much stuck with them for now.  Their products are good though.

Any ideas?
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Offline Stef.

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Re: Looking for some ideas; compact tripods?
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2010, 11:50:57 PM »
Have a look at the gorilla pods. They need some getting used to but frankly are worth their money IMHO.

http://joby.com/gorillapod/slrzoom/

They come in different versions for different weight. I have got one and it is always in my bag.

Stef.
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Offline vaughaag

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Re: Looking for some ideas; compact tripods?
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2010, 08:41:07 AM »
Stef,

I have been looking for these for about three months. I saw a Chris Packham, a fairly well known Wildlife presenter in the UK at Longleat with one of these clamped around his car wing mirror.

Rgds,
Dave

http://www.chrispackham.co.uk/photography.htm
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Offline Fud

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Re: Looking for some ideas; compact tripods?
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2010, 12:57:53 PM »
Gorillapods depend on what lens you have attached as they are fine with a camera and small lens but definitely don't like it with a telephoto lens.  Also don't use mine a lot as I find small adjustments with my large mits not that easy.
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Offline dominicall

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Re: Looking for some ideas; compact tripods?
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2010, 05:34:57 PM »
If you have a heavy rig you can use the Gorillapod Focus - designed for up to 5kg in weight.

http://joby.com/gorillapod/focus/

Agree with Stef - very handy little thing.

Dominic
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Offline balacau

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Re: Looking for some ideas; compact tripods?
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2010, 03:52:29 PM »
Thanks for all the replies.  I do believe I've seen something similar to these "Gorillapods" but it didn't look quite as durable.

Its a good idea for a birthday present too since no-one knows what I need and what I don't.

Thanks again!
« Last Edit: February 02, 2010, 03:59:37 PM by balacau »
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Offline Pirate!

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Re: Looking for some ideas; compact tripods?
« Reply #6 on: February 04, 2010, 11:48:30 PM »
Ahoy!

Have a look at the squat tripod from Redsnapper.  http://www.aldine.co.uk/redsnapper/redsnapper-quality-tripods.html

Plenty of other options as well.  Excellent products and very well engineered.  If you're a member of the Talkphotography forum, you'll get a 10% discount.
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Re: Looking for some ideas; compact tripods?
« Reply #7 on: February 05, 2010, 12:19:17 AM »
Quote from: Pirate! on February 04, 2010, 11:48:30 PM
Ahoy!

Have a look at the squat tripod from Redsnapper.  http://www.aldine.co.uk/redsnapper/redsnapper-quality-tripods.html

Plenty of other options as well.  Excellent products and very well engineered.  If you're a member of the Talkphotography forum, you'll get a 10% discount.


Thats got a 12KG max load, very impressive :)

Dave
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Offline Stef.

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Re: Looking for some ideas; compact tripods?
« Reply #8 on: February 05, 2010, 12:31:41 AM »
Thanks for the tip Pirate- unfortunately it's in the UK. I have to check whether somebody sells them over here as well. A friend of mine is in need of a tripod.
Stef.
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Offline balacau

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Re: Looking for some ideas; compact tripods?
« Reply #9 on: February 05, 2010, 04:46:52 PM »
Quote from: Pirate! on February 04, 2010, 11:48:30 PM
Ahoy!

Have a look at the squat tripod from Redsnapper.  http://www.aldine.co.uk/redsnapper/redsnapper-quality-tripods.html

Plenty of other options as well.  Excellent products and very well engineered.  If you're a member of the Talkphotography forum, you'll get a 10% discount.


Well no 10% discount for me as I'm not a member!  The products do indeed look very decent and particularly impressive is the "squat" version of the RS-283 tripod with a 12kg load capacity.  I could put about 5 1/2 Sigma 50-500mm lenses on one of those so I think it'll happily support the weight of one!  Folded/travel length is only 40cm too which I'm quite surprised at since my monopod is over 50cm without the tilt head attached.

£70 isn't so bad, 3 year warranty & 7-day return policy.  Having a handle attached to the head attachment would give it that bit more control over the camera tilt methinks especially with a heavy lens...maybe the RSH-528 or RSH-24 3-way tilt heads would be the best choice for my requirements...?

Just tried sending them an email but its just bounced.  Wonder if they are having issues there?
« Last Edit: February 05, 2010, 04:57:36 PM by balacau »
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A350 camera body; SAL-1870 F3.5-5.6 18-70mm, SAL-75300 F4.5-5.6 75-300mm, 20F28 F2.8 28mm wide angle, 500F80 F8 500mm mirror, Sigma F2.8 4.5mm fisheye, Sigma F4-5.6 10-20mm super wide-angle & Sigma F4-6.3 50-500mm APO DG | Manfrotto 682B monopod & Red Snapper squat tripod.

Offline Pirate!

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Re: Looking for some ideas; compact tripods?
« Reply #10 on: February 05, 2010, 05:03:55 PM »
Ahoy!

1.  Go to TalkPhotography and sign up (free).
2.  Email is: joe@pitbitz.co.uk

If #2. fails, do a search on the TP website for username: redsnapper and send a PM.
« Last Edit: February 05, 2010, 05:09:46 PM by Pirate! »
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Offline balacau

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Re: Looking for some ideas; compact tripods?
« Reply #11 on: February 05, 2010, 10:42:02 PM »
I will give that a shot.

Thanks!

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Re: Looking for some ideas; compact tripods?
« Reply #12 on: February 06, 2010, 10:19:27 PM »
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Offline balacau

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Re: Looking for some ideas; compact tripods?
« Reply #13 on: February 17, 2010, 08:52:59 PM »
As an update to my original query about compact tripods...

On Friday evening I decided to go for it and purchase myself a RedSnapper quat tripod with the RSH-12 ball-head mount.  It arrived first thing this morning.

I haven't used it "in the field" yet but have toyed around with it in the house, getting used to the weight and feel of it.  I must say I'm impressed with it so far, its strongly built and durable, I've had my A350 + 50-500mm "Bigma" mounted on it with no issues which means it can easily handle anything else that I have.  It also comes in its own bag with a shoulder strap for easy carrying.  Not half bad I think!

Thanks for all the help with this one, I'm really pleased with this purchase.  Now just to put it to its first real test!

Best regards

Gavin
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A350 camera body; SAL-1870 F3.5-5.6 18-70mm, SAL-75300 F4.5-5.6 75-300mm, 20F28 F2.8 28mm wide angle, 500F80 F8 500mm mirror, Sigma F2.8 4.5mm fisheye, Sigma F4-5.6 10-20mm super wide-angle & Sigma F4-6.3 50-500mm APO DG | Manfrotto 682B monopod & Red Snapper squat tripod.

Offline Stef.

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Re: Looking for some ideas; compact tripods?
« Reply #14 on: February 17, 2010, 08:59:44 PM »
Great news Gavin. Looking forward to some pics taken with it!
Stef.
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