Tripod Help

Looking for suggestions and thoughts on a new lightweight tripod for hiking and backpacking. I've been looking at the Benro Travel Angels and was trying to decide between two models.

http://www.benrousa.com/products_details_A2691TB1#3
http://www.benrousa.com/products_details_C2691TB1#specs

One is aluminum and the other is carbon fiber but the weight is almost the same. Thoughts on which would be the better choice?

I'm also considering the lighter version of the CF one.
http://www.benrousa.com/products_details_C1691TB0#3

I'm also open to suggestions for other tripods and ballheads that are reasonably priced. I'll mainly be shooting with an a900 & 16-35mm 2.8 Zeiss lens. I'm looking for lightweight and something smaller than my Manfrotto 055XPROB.

Thanks!

For a ballhead, I am using a Photo Clam head from ReallyBigCameras.

CHECK THIS OUT! The three-section version of this one will likely be my next tripod. really amazing product, super light, super sturdy, and IMO, very reasonably priced.

I am with Todd go for a 3 section not a 4 section. Since you said that you will be hiking etc go for something lighter, and maybe shorter than you would normally use for road side shooting IMO.

This absolutely sold me on my tripod. Be sure and watch the whole thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_j89SKONHc/

After a lot of research and review reading I found a demo Induro C113 Carbon Fiber tripod on KEH for $150. Looks like they are now even cheaper. So far I really love the tripod. It is super light and so far with everything I have put on it, incredibly stable. http://www.keh.com/camera/Tripods-Tripods-Legs/1/sku-TR439991076120?r=FE. With it I use an Acratech V2 ball head. If you are going to play in the dirt I have not found one that is more durable and resistant to the abuses of Nature Photography.

Morris, I wonder if that vid was actually put together by Manfrotto or if it was put out by some fan-frotto. Hopefully the latter, as I'd hate to think a major company put something out there with that many spelling and/or grammatical errors.

I've very intrigued by the new 4-section FEISOL Tournament Tripod CT-3442 Rapid
http://www.feisol.net/feisol-tournament-tripod-ct3442-rapid-p-31.html

Thoughts anyone?

Well, I just happen to own this little gem (not the Rapid version, though). Have had it for nearly two years now and absolutely love it! It's ultra light and tough as hell. I had it in the deep mud of a water soaked slot canyon and it was no worse for wear after a cleaning. It doesn't come with a center column, which I didn't want anyway.
I'm sure the Rapid version is even better! Todd C.'s endorsement says a lot, IMO.
One minor nit is that the rubber 'feet' can come off too easily. This may have been fixed with the Rapid version, or a touch of white glue does the trick without permanently locking them on.
I've coupled it with a lightweight PhotoClam PC36N ballhead, which has never come close to failing me and is the right size to allow one to fold the legs back 180° over the ballhead. Works with a Kirk or Acratech or Really Right Stuff L Plate.
The only minor nit with that head is that you have to have the part that locks the camera down on the ballhead pointed away from you or you'll hit your teeth on that part when looking through the viewfinder.
I purchased both at Really Big Cameras, where Kerry's customer service is second to none.

John, do you own the 3 leg or 4 leg version?

I've owned a FEISOL and PhotoClam head for a little over a year now and couldn't be happier.

The C-3442 only comes in a 3 leg configuration.

The CT-3442 is the 4 section version, the CT-3342 is the 3 section. So I'm assuming you own the CT-3342?

I guess we're seeing things differently here, Jason.
I own the CT-3442 and count each leg that extends using the screw clamps as one leg.
Three clamps...three legs.

In my first reply I used the wrong terminology; leg when should have been section. In my second reply I used the correct terminology. The CT-3442 is officially listed as a 4 section tripod, meaning each leg is divided into 4 sections when extended. The CT-3342 has 3 sections which some people prefer for more stability due to not having a tiny 4th section diameter. What are your experiences with the stability of the 4 section tripod, especially the small 4th section?

So far, so good. I do try not to use the last section of legs in order to gain more solid stability in windy weather, but it's performed quite well fully extended. There's a certain amount of sacrifice involved in making ultra-light hiking tripods, and I'm convinced the CT-3442 works as well as any of the other brands in this category.

I am very happy with my Feisol and would highly recommend them.

I just looked up the specs on the tube diameter and it's 19mm on the last section of the 4 section CT-3442. That's only 1mm smaller than the 3rd section on my 055XPROB so I think I'll go with the 4 section CT-3442 over the 3 section CT-2242 due to it's smaller packing size.

I switched from Manfrotto to Feisol and Photoclam about 3/4 months ago and am very happy. I have the CT-3441 model which is cheaper if you're on a budget, but in hindsight would spend the extra $ for the RAL (or anti rotating leg, whatever it is). Tripod is light, with this model you can actually flip the legs upside down so the camera sits on the ground if you want (you'll be shooting upside down which you can flip back around in PS later) which is great if you're in tight spaces like a slot canyon. I had tons of sand/mud from my last trip and was able to take all pieces apart and clean easily. I'm very hard on my tripods and this has been great thus far (knock on wood). Plus, Kerry at ReallyBigCameras is a pleasure to work with. Photoclam has been great using with a Kirk L Bracket also. I would purchase a ballhead cover separately as well in hindsight. Good luck!

I really appreciate all help and feedback everyone. Once I'm able to sell enough of my camera gear to raise the funds I'll be purchasing the Feisol CT-3442 and Photo Clam PC36NS from Reallybigcameras. It's more than I originally wanted to spend but I'm a sucker for paying more for quality if it's worth it.

Looks like you already came to your decision Jason but I was also going to chime in in support of the Feisol CT-3442 and PhotoClam ballhead. I also shoot an A900 and I originally bought a PC-36NS but after about 6 months decided I wanted a bigger ball and bought the PC-44NS. The PC-36NS was sufficient to hold the combo, but it seemed to me that the combo of the A900 and a heavy lens kept the PC-36NS from being as smooth as I'd like. The flip side of that though is that with the PC-44NS on the CT-3442, when you reverse the legs, you can't get all three together. You can get two together and the other is pretty close, but you can't totally reverse the tripod. I think the PC-40NS is probably the best compromise there. Please don't take that as an indictment of the PC-36NS, I just felt that when fully loaded it wasn't as smooth as I hoped.

If you ever plan on shooting in a sandy environment, make sure you get a tripod with shift locks rather than the spin systems that Feisol and my old Slik (which was the first casualty of the dunes) have--sand get in there too easily and destroys the threads---end o' tripiod.

Thanks, I'll make sure not to take the Feisol there. My Manfrotto 055XPROB has already survived a couple trips to the dunes and much worse.

Jason,

You've already got your answers, but I've been using a set of Feisol 3342 legs for a little over a year now, paired with a long-time Acratech ultimate ballhead. I'm using a sony 850 on it, but nothing more than the 70-300G for long/big lenses. It's a very nice setup for backpacking, hiking, and traveling. Quite light, relatively strong, relatively tall.

My only complaint is that the rubber leg tips seem to fall off too easily. Feisol sent me a replacement set for free... which I put on with a little rubber cement.

Ok, one more question. Thoughts on the PC-40NS vs the Pro Gold II QR w/ knob driven clamp?

I just put my order in with ReallyBigCameras

Photo Clam Pro Gold II QR
Feisol CT-3442 w/ RAL

I'll be interested to hear about what you think of the Pro Gold II ball head.

Haven't had a chance to test it yet but I ordered it last saturday and received it Monday! I'm really impressed so far with the little playing I've done with it around the house. I hope to have a full review up soon.