Comments on: The Best Travel Tripod, Part 2

By: Joe Pankchuck

Joe Pankchuck — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:01:15 +0000

Great post. I really enjoy it! looking forward to more.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:31:31 +0000

August 21-26

First time in BC (currently living in PEI), so we’re going to be true tourist and attempt to see as much as possible and hopefully get some good photo opportunities.

By: David

David — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:00:22 +0000

When will you be in Vancouver? I’d love to have a coffee or a pint of beer if I’m home when you visit.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:38:27 +0000

No worries, I was actually just curious if any of the readers had experience with one.

I would rather the Gitzo as well but as I’m currently planning a trip to Vancouver, I usually leave the tripod home because I like to travel really light. (I do pack a gorillapod but it only goes so far)

I’m currently hung up on the folded length to fit it in my carry on luggage. The Gitzo is 17″ which is pretty good, but the Giottos is impressive at 13″

By: David

David — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:13:41 +0000

You’re right – I read 5.5 lbs. Clearly I need a break, a coffee, or a smack on the head. Possibly all three. You’re right 1.5 lbs is much lighter. Have to go brush up on my reading skills now…

Ok, I took a better look – 5.5lbs is the max load. You know, for the money I think I’d still rather shell out $200 and get the Gitzo tabletop tripod, which has a max load of 8.8 lbs and gives me a little more confidence in it’s beefiness. I’d happily spend the extra $100, not for the half-pound weight difference but for the sturdiness.

Still, thanks for pointing this one out Stephen – it’s worth a look for the budget-conscious, for sure.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:25:28 +0000

Heavier by a pound? Isn’t it 1.5lbs?

I actually have the Manfrotto 190Pro and it works good until it’s time to travel light (almost 4lbs and folds to 22″). My priorities then switch to folded length. 1.5lbs and 13″ seems pretty good if I can live with the shorter maximum height.

I have never used a Giottos either.

By: David

David — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:58:56 +0000

Stephen – I think it depends what your priorities are – my current Gitzo (the G1298) weighs less than 3.5 lbs, but goes to 58 inches with the centre column in use. So the Giotto you suggest is heavier by a pound, and shorter by more than half. The only advantage is the price – $90 is pretty cheap. So cheap, in fact, that I’d worry about the quality. But I have no experience with Giotto, so I couldn’t really say.

The Manfrotto 190 is 3.5 lbs, extends to 57″ with the centre column, and costs $98 dollars. Seems a better bet to me. It’s not as compact, but I worry more about weight than I do about inches.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:41:46 +0000

Any thoughts on the Giottos GB-1060?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=418177&is=REG

It’s half the price of the Gitzo, weighs a bit more and only extends to 23″ but it can collapse to a folded length of 13″

By: David

David — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:08:33 +0000

Good wisdom Brad. I have two tripods I love – both pricey Gitzos. Buy quality once instead of junk three or four times and then caving in and buying quality anyways, that’s my motto (it’s a long one, I know)

But for travel – particularily this round-the-world, 7-countries-in-30-days trip, well, to be honest I just don’t want to lug a tripod I know I will only use a couple times.

Both sets of sticks I own are composite – one Carbon, the other Basalt – so the foam tubes are less needed – and as for carrying it around – one word: strap.

By: brad

brad — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:42:24 +0000

I read an article a while ago that said buy a good tripod once, and it’s the last tripod you’ll ever need. I followed that intention with a Manfrotto 055 and their nifty joystick head. It isn’t what you would call a ‘travel tripod’, but that doesn’t stop me from carting it along anywhere I think I might need it. Besides, there’s a certain confidence it instills (especially when approaching, for example, a growling dog) that a lighter tripod just can’t match.

Oh, one tip: I’ve added foam tubes (~$1.50/ea at Princess Auto, of all places), and that makes carrying it by hand or on shoulder much more comfortable. Especially helps on chilly nights when the legs are frosting up. (Hey man, I’ve suffered for my art!)