Tripod - £400, hit me (not literally)

Just a note on the max folded size - when I went to Iceland I wanted to take my tripod, and realized that as the center column (with head attached) could be easily removed from the legs - removing the center column meant the max length was now just that of the legs (though obviously the width was greater, as the column / head was adjacent to the legs, rather than enclosed by them.
May be worth considering, as it potentially increases your choice of what you could take.
 
niko said:
SIRUI T-2205X cracking tripod add head of your liking
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I was considering a travel tripod, didn't proceed as it wasn't really essential but this Sirui seemed like a strong choice and it's well within the quoted budget.

They also do snap locks although maybe not of this exact model.
 
A shame it's out of budget, or the current Gitzo Traveler GT1545T would probably be ideal. It closes down to 42.5cm, and is surprisingly tall and rigid for such a small and light tripod. It's also available as a kit, GK1545T-82TQD, with a matching head that fits between the folded back legs without adding to the closed length (this is how I bought it).

£589 from SRS, £599 from Park or Amazon for the kit:

https://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk...1-Traveler-Carbon-eXact-Tripod-with-Ball-Head

Photospecialist have the legs alone for £512; at most other dealers they aren't much cheaper than what you can get the kit for.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Naturally I would like a Gitzo but unless they are on some special offer I don't think they will be in budget.
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The first link I sent still hasn't garnered any bids. Yes it is much more then the £140 I paid for my G1550T but it is a newer and slightly better tripod + folds short enough for your requirements. Not long to go so check it again before it goes.
 
Raymond Lin said:
I cannot go over the 45cm folded length, that is a dealbreaker since I would like to use this in future trips and sometimes I just take the carry on.

Thanks for the suggestions, there are quite a few which i will look into. Naturally I would like a Gitzo but unless they are on some special offer I don't think they will be in budget.
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Since when has that stopped you?

And you know that whatever you buy now, you'll be getting the Gitzo sooner or later anyway ;)
 
You could do a lot worse than this https://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/carbon_fibre/flm_cp26travel_tripod/24337_p.html

FLM make excellent tripods in germany, ten year warranty and the build quality is excellent.
The four leg section version replaced my Gitzo 3 series when I wanted something better suited to travelling
They are going to be on the speed graphic stall at the NEC show, definitely worth considering
 
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So... impression

Manfrotto - feels big when folded and for its folded size at my limit, it doesn’t extended as much as it should be
Benro - the guy either clueless or they don’t have something that fit spec and their locks are massive!
3 legged thing - don’t feel very well made as the others
Gitzo - tick all the boxes but price...
 
Retune said:
A shame it's out of budget, or the current Gitzo Traveler GT1545T would probably be ideal. It closes down to 42.5cm, and is surprisingly tall and rigid for such a small and light tripod. It's also available as a kit, GK1545T-82TQD, with a matching head that fits between the folded back legs without adding to the closed length (this is how I bought it).

£589 from SRS, £599 from Park or Amazon for the kit:

https://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk...1-Traveler-Carbon-eXact-Tripod-with-Ball-Head

Photospecialist have the legs alone for £512; at most other dealers they aren't much cheaper than what you can get the kit for.
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HoppyUK said:
Since when has that stopped you?

And you know that whatever you buy now, you'll be getting the Gitzo sooner or later anyway ;)
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So this happened :p My other one is REALLY small compare to any other tripod.

O4If4wb.jpg


It fits ! (and it is 42.5cm so 45 would really be the max and very tight.

4IRhjhh.jpg
 
Very pretty! 4 sections as well (better than 5) - you might be poorer but I think you will be very happy in the long run.
 
Retune said:
It is, for ground level shooting etc. What's the baby tripod?
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It's call the Redged TSC-525K.

Weight 1kg
Folds to 30cm (so it fits inside regular messenger bags or laptop bags)
Has a removable leg to make a monopod

The only downside is it only extends max to 1050mm.

Overall it makes a great tripod to stick it in the bag and can actually forget about it. Being 1kg it really is nothing so it's been my holiday tripod.
 
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Excellent.

Those new Gitzo heads are also very good considering their size and of course fit perfectly inside the Traveller's folded legs (y)
 
I was wondering what had happened to your Redged. It's a pity they went out of business.
 
Only 150% of the stated budget...
 
Snapsh0t said:
I was wondering what had happened to your Redged. It's a pity they went out of business.
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I think for the money, the size and its feature the Redreg is a wonderful tripod. Shame they are out of business but I think there are others who make something very similar out there now.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Well it wasn’t on the must be criteria in point 1 and 2? :p

Lol
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Nowadays there are some great looking alternatives out there, many of which I like, but none (that I have tried) measure up. If you need a "Traveller" type tripod then you have the best, end of!
Enjoy it.
 
johnf3f said:
Nowadays there are some great looking alternatives out there, many of which I like, but none (that I have tried) measure up. If you need a "Traveller" type tripod then you have the best, end of!
Enjoy it.
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I saw a few yesterday and I think I could have bought a few that fits the criteria but each have a little bit that I didn’t like from them and tbh the Gitzo isn’t perfect either :- the centre column base should have a hook for a bag and the feet could have been a hybrid spike/rubber, both features found in my Redreg. Plus for the money it really should come with a bag! (The more I look the more I am impressed with this little Redreg)

The quality seems ahead of the others but it does come with a price tag and it should last and will be quite a while before I get another.
 
Try twisting it, try tapping it with a longish lens in live view - you will see what you paid for!

As to the feet? I converted a couple of my Gitzo tripods to have spiked/rubber feet after having my 3 series go walkabout at a frozen Welsh waterfall (SGWD GWLADUS). Never taken the rubber caps off since! Luckily I spent next to nothing.
 
johnf3f said:
Try twisting it, try tapping it with a longish lens in live view - you will see what you paid for!

As to the feet? I converted a couple of my Gitzo tripods to have spiked/rubber feet after having my 3 series go walkabout at a frozen Welsh waterfall (SGWD GWLADUS). Never taken the rubber caps off since! Luckily I spent next to nothing.
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I found a replacement hook online but it sticks out, bought a bag from WEX and I'll live with the rubber feet..
 
An inch or so of car inner tube cut so it's a rubber band can be wrapped round the centre column to allow a bag to be hung for extra stability. A tiny bit of a fiddle but probably worth it.
 
Nod said:
An inch or so of car inner tube cut so it's a rubber band can be wrapped round the centre column to allow a bag to be hung for extra stability. A tiny bit of a fiddle but probably worth it.
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Might stop the tripod from blowing away but the bag-hanging thing is an over-rated trick for reducing movement of the head/camera on a blustery day ;)
 
HoppyUK said:
Might stop the tripod from blowing away but the bag-hanging thing is an over-rated trick for reducing movement of the head/camera on a blustery day ;)
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To be fair, I have never missed my Manfrotto not having a hook. It's not really the kind of photography that I do so it will be fine, I am just being picky.

Portraits, cityscapes where it needs to be high enough to get over some barriers.

Bag arrived today from WEX, nice quality but should've been included with a £600 (or £900 RRP) tripod but it's done.

This tripod doesn't render my other 2 tripod useless though which is good, each have their advantages, neither the carbon fibre can have its centre column removed and then inserted at 90 degree angle facing down which is quite useful in some product photography shots.
 
Raymond Lin said:
I found a replacement hook online but it sticks out, bought a bag from WEX and I'll live with the rubber feet..
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Not yet found a use/need for a hook. However we are all different! Just a thought but wouldn't a bag swinging under the tripod on a windy day cause more vibration than it damps down? When it's windy I just set up my tripods lower down, seems to work for me.

Let us know how you get on with the new toy :)
 
johnf3f said:
Not yet found a use/need for a hook. However we are all different! Just a thought but wouldn't a bag swinging under the tripod on a windy day cause more vibration than it damps down? When it's windy I just set up my tripods lower down, seems to work for me.

Let us know how you get on with the new toy :)
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For similar reasons, I've never really found a bag much help. But I did once use the hook to anchor the tripod to the ground for star trails. Used a guy rope and peg. Not exactly much use for 'run and gun' but did help on that occasion as it was bit breezy but the tripod was rock steady with a bit of tension on the rope.
 
I did similar in Iceland - even with the legs splayed wide, the tripod was in danger of being blown away! I had the rig set up looking at a particular bit of coast and was sat beside it upright, with a foot through a loop on the hook. Ultimate stability wasn't the aim - I just wanted to be able to sit up straight and fire the shutter with a cable release!
 
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