Everyone's favorite subject - Which Tripod?
I searched for a post by Todd about his new favorite 'pod but couldn't find it, so I decided it's time for a new one!
I really like my Manfrotto carbon fiber 055-3. It's pretty light and stable with the 3-section legs. I like the center column that can be positioned horizontally for low/odd angle shots, but dealing with the center column for regular low angle shots is a pain (disassembling it). Also, with 3 sections it's too long to fit in my motorcycle bags or a carry-on suitcase.
So I'm considering another tripod for backpacking/travel that would be lighter, shorter (compressed), with no center column. What models should I look at? Of course stability is key!
Kalin,
Feisol was the tripod Todd recommended I believe. I think it was back in February if I remember correct. I ended up going with the traveler and have been very happy. I'm 5'11 and think it's fine. I originally had the tournament, but sent it back because the Vanguard Ball head I had was too small to fully rotate my 7d in portrait. Nice and compact. Fits nicely in my carry on when I travel and I can secure it to the outside of my back pack without issue. I think they have different options for center columns.
www.feisol.net. I thought the service was great, btw.
I believe that Todd's favorite tripod is the Fiesol CT 3442 (or something similar). I bought one after seeing his recommendation, along with many others. It is quite light weight, affordable, has no center column (which I wanted), and works well for backpacking (I do not mind that it is not terribly compact because it is so light). I, however, am not a big fan. Unless you only take photos from the road, the darn thing gets mucked up very easily and it takes forever to clean. One of the collars has already failed on my version and I have only had it for six months. The feet were also gone within the first few uses. I am hard on my gear, but I expected a lot more based on the reviews. I liked my old Induro a lot more and wish I would have spent the money on a Gitzo.
Thanks so far, everyone. CAZ also mentioned the Induro's.
Sarah, thanks for the field info. I've lost the feet on my manfrotto several times - what a pain. Just the other day on Independence Pass in the trundra skree, two came off a couple of times. Luckily I was able to retrieve them. The first time I lost a foot between rocks in the Virgin Narrows in Zion. I used tape on that leg for a long time until I happened to find a foot in the desert on a hike one day (serendipity!). So having solid/permanent feet is a consideration. I'm also somewhat hard on tripods. I haven't had to clean my manfrotto despite water, sand, and snow in all the joints/clamps.
I used a Manfrotto 3021 for several years. Decent but heavy and not as stable as I would like for heavy equipment (like my 4x5). I moved to a Gitzo 1325 which is FAR superior. This is a fantastic tripod for big lenses, wind, large format, etc. This is my default tripod. I believe the 3541 is the rough equal to the 1325. I sold the Manfrotto.
I also have a Feisol 3401. A light, small, good CF tripod. I use it for longer hikes, travel by air (carry on sized), and even strap it to my bicycle for when I want to photograph and ride. After three years with it-no complaints (other than the rubber feet will fall off-glue them on). It is a little too lightweight for big stuff and it is no Gitzo in the wind, but it s a decent tripod I really like for lightweight.
Some friends have the Feisol 3472 which is super nice. Works well with big glass and very light.
I have seen some of the other models but I think the best choices from Feisol are either the 3401/3301 (small, light, cheap) or the big 3472 type models.
Personally if I was in the market for an awesome tripod for any camera setup and travel, I'd look at Gitzo. Cost more but just plain better. For lightweight travel and to spend a little less -a Feisol. To put it in math- Feisol is 95% as good at 50% of the price.
I hear good things about Induro, but FYI, I understand they are really Benro's that are a private label brand for the MAC Group.
And yet another happy Feisol CT-3442 owner. If you have the right ballhead, then the legs fold back over the ballhead making a compact 19 inch package.
A bit of white glue on the 'feet' and that small problem was solved.
Count me as another happy Induro owner, mine has been great for the last 18 months. I went with an Al model, since I am a cheapskate -- still way lighter than my old-school Manfrotto that I had.
I have had my Fiesol 3401 for 1.5 years now, but my experience is similar to Sarah on this one. I wont say it is not a great tripod for the price, but is it an amazing tripod in general, not in my opinion. I too am hard on my tripods and expect them to handle all kinds of situations, being in sand, water, mud, salt water etc. The rubber feet fell off the tripod in the first couple months. It now gets gunked up and I have to clean the thing every month, which is quite the pain. I wouldn't recommend using the center column without completely still conditions either, because it is not the most sturdy. I generally almost always weigh the entire setup down with my pack if I can. My next purchase is a Gitzo, I am just trying to figure out which model....
I've been happy with my Induro. I've only experienced one problem and you were with me when I repaired that in the field (at the Citadel) pretty easily. No problems since. Recommend.
Another voice here for Induro. I've got a C014 for my travel/backpack tripod and it's been fantastic. Quick to set up and very stable for it's tiny size. When my Manfrotto Carbon One finally dies I'll be replacing it with an Induro.
Posted by Tom Stermitz on July 9, 2011 at 10:54 AM
I bought a mid-large Induro, the C213, and have been happy with the construction and quality. But, it is not a back-packing tripod.
Just looked at BH, the Induro CT014 almost matches the Gitzo GT-054 in features, except that it weighs 2.1 pounds at $299 vs 1.7 pounds at $539 for the Gitzo. $240 is a lot, but is it worth a half pound? Maybe I could live with the extra weight for travel; for back-packing the difference means one less lens.
I use two carbon fiber tripods for different kinds of hiking. Ones bigger, ones smaller. If I'm doing less than 2 miles and 1000 ft of elevation gain I use the Manfrotto 055cpxpro3. If the hike requires more elevation gain and distance I use the Manfrotto190cx3. I've never used anything else, so I can't compare. All I know is that I'm incredibly happy with both of them and quite possibly will never buy another brand or make.
Gitzo for me! I have a closet full of other brands that just don't cut it. Spend the money on a Gitzo and don't look back. I should have done this years ago and saved myself money in the long run.
I couldn't agree more with Bob...but then again, it might be different for those of use shooting wildlife and placing large heavy lenses on them. Gitzo for me also with arca-swiss ballhead for the heavy stuff.
Posted by Art Escobado on July 10, 2011 at 1:27 PM
The performance of a Gitzo 5 series in a Gitzo 3 series spec. Some will find it pricey. I love it and though it's neither here nor there, it gets a lot of compliments and questions. I consider this my Icon Shooter setup. Nothing too far from the car-less than 5 miles. I'm going to get a hiking setup too.
If people are still reading this, or come back to it later...
I'm addicted enough that I have more than one CF tripod. I have a Feisol 3442 for hiking and backpacking, and a Gitzo 3541xls for stuff nearer to the car. I'm 6'4" and don't like center columns; neither of these two tripods have them.
I haven't had any issues with the leg locks that Sarah mentions above about the Feisol, but the rubber tips on the end do indeed come off easily. It seems to be a "feature" so that you can put in spikes if you want to. Like John Mumaw, I put some dots of rubber cement on mine and worry about it less now. It does seem to be a known issue with Feisol (the company, I mean); when I sent them an email about it, the sent me a pack of four (!) replacement tips with no questions asked. Even at my height, the 3442 goes high enough not to be too much of a problem. It's very lightweight, and relatively light compared to its strength. Unfortunately, they've "updated" it with anti-rotating legs and now want a bunch more money for it.
The Gitzo 3541 is a totally different beast. Unless you already know you need one, I wouldn't recommend it. But it goes higher than my head, and is remarkably sturdy if you don't use the lowest leg extensions. It's so tall that even with the lowest sections completely unused, it's still "normal" tripod height or slightly better. Why so tall? Well, I wanted to do a stitched panorama of Mesa Arch with no sky between the middle ground and the bottom of the arch, and nothing else did it... I suspect that if I wasn't 6'4" myself, I would have talked myself out of it. But now that I have it, I like it. I do seem to be in the minority of people who prefer the freely-rotating style of legs rather than the new anti-rotation feature.
Bret Edge has a blog post detailing his frustrations with a Flashpoint tripod, if you're tempted by the lower end.
I love my Feisol ct3442, I have been extremely hard on it from snow and ice to saltwater and mud without any of the issues the others listed. A good cleaning will help any tripod though.
Discussion
19 repliesI searched for a post by Todd about his new favorite 'pod but couldn't find it, so I decided it's time for a new one!
I really like my Manfrotto carbon fiber 055-3. It's pretty light and stable with the 3-section legs. I like the center column that can be positioned horizontally for low/odd angle shots, but dealing with the center column for regular low angle shots is a pain (disassembling it). Also, with 3 sections it's too long to fit in my motorcycle bags or a carry-on suitcase.
So I'm considering another tripod for backpacking/travel that would be lighter, shorter (compressed), with no center column. What models should I look at? Of course stability is key!
Thanks in advance!
Feisol was the tripod Todd recommended I believe. I think it was back in February if I remember correct. I ended up going with the traveler and have been very happy. I'm 5'11 and think it's fine. I originally had the tournament, but sent it back because the Vanguard Ball head I had was too small to fully rotate my 7d in portrait. Nice and compact. Fits nicely in my carry on when I travel and I can secure it to the outside of my back pack without issue. I think they have different options for center columns.
www.feisol.net. I thought the service was great, btw.
Sarah, thanks for the field info. I've lost the feet on my manfrotto several times - what a pain. Just the other day on Independence Pass in the trundra skree, two came off a couple of times. Luckily I was able to retrieve them. The first time I lost a foot between rocks in the Virgin Narrows in Zion. I used tape on that leg for a long time until I happened to find a foot in the desert on a hike one day (serendipity!). So having solid/permanent feet is a consideration. I'm also somewhat hard on tripods. I haven't had to clean my manfrotto despite water, sand, and snow in all the joints/clamps.
I also have a Feisol 3401. A light, small, good CF tripod. I use it for longer hikes, travel by air (carry on sized), and even strap it to my bicycle for when I want to photograph and ride. After three years with it-no complaints (other than the rubber feet will fall off-glue them on). It is a little too lightweight for big stuff and it is no Gitzo in the wind, but it s a decent tripod I really like for lightweight.
Some friends have the Feisol 3472 which is super nice. Works well with big glass and very light.
I have seen some of the other models but I think the best choices from Feisol are either the 3401/3301 (small, light, cheap) or the big 3472 type models.
Personally if I was in the market for an awesome tripod for any camera setup and travel, I'd look at Gitzo. Cost more but just plain better. For lightweight travel and to spend a little less -a Feisol. To put it in math- Feisol is 95% as good at 50% of the price.
I hear good things about Induro, but FYI, I understand they are really Benro's that are a private label brand for the MAC Group.
Hope that helps.
A bit of white glue on the 'feet' and that small problem was solved.
Just looked at BH, the Induro CT014 almost matches the Gitzo GT-054 in features, except that it weighs 2.1 pounds at $299 vs 1.7 pounds at $539 for the Gitzo. $240 is a lot, but is it worth a half pound? Maybe I could live with the extra weight for travel; for back-packing the difference means one less lens.
http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-055CXPRO3-Section-Magnesium-Castings/dp/B001GIPR5S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310232804&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-190CX3-3-Section-Carbon-without/dp/B0015MCPKU
The performance of a Gitzo 5 series in a Gitzo 3 series spec. Some will find it pricey. I love it and though it's neither here nor there, it gets a lot of compliments and questions. I consider this my Icon Shooter setup. Nothing too far from the car-less than 5 miles. I'm going to get a hiking setup too.
I'm addicted enough that I have more than one CF tripod. I have a Feisol 3442 for hiking and backpacking, and a Gitzo 3541xls for stuff nearer to the car. I'm 6'4" and don't like center columns; neither of these two tripods have them.
I haven't had any issues with the leg locks that Sarah mentions above about the Feisol, but the rubber tips on the end do indeed come off easily. It seems to be a "feature" so that you can put in spikes if you want to. Like John Mumaw, I put some dots of rubber cement on mine and worry about it less now. It does seem to be a known issue with Feisol (the company, I mean); when I sent them an email about it, the sent me a pack of four (!) replacement tips with no questions asked. Even at my height, the 3442 goes high enough not to be too much of a problem. It's very lightweight, and relatively light compared to its strength. Unfortunately, they've "updated" it with anti-rotating legs and now want a bunch more money for it.
The Gitzo 3541 is a totally different beast. Unless you already know you need one, I wouldn't recommend it. But it goes higher than my head, and is remarkably sturdy if you don't use the lowest leg extensions. It's so tall that even with the lowest sections completely unused, it's still "normal" tripod height or slightly better. Why so tall? Well, I wanted to do a stitched panorama of Mesa Arch with no sky between the middle ground and the bottom of the arch, and nothing else did it... I suspect that if I wasn't 6'4" myself, I would have talked myself out of it. But now that I have it, I like it. I do seem to be in the minority of people who prefer the freely-rotating style of legs rather than the new anti-rotation feature.
Bret Edge has a blog post detailing his frustrations with a Flashpoint tripod, if you're tempted by the lower end.