Compact Tripod
 

Last summer while passing through Munich before hitting the Alps, I came across a photo shop that had a compact tripod set up in the store window.

I immediately grabbed the last two that he had because the shop owner told me they were discontinued. I'd like to know if anyone out there knows of the following tripod brand and model. Are they out of business? Are there others out there that compact? I sold the other one to my friend that toured Africa over the winter, so I am down to one unit now. I travel alone, so a tripod is a must.

The tripod is made by SUSIS, model 107, 8 section. Dimensions are 11.5" collapsed and a full 46" extended. It has a ball swivel head instead of the usual bulky head with adjustment handle. It is extremely light weight and as a result, not super sturdy in winds, but you can't have it all.



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Alex

Alex's BMW Motorcycle & Global Touring Page http://www.ott.igs.net/~ace

Your tripod sounds pretty cool. If you carry a lite camera, I would also reccommend the MINI-TRIPOD HT-111. I'm not sure who makes it but I purchased two on eBay for $8.00. The tripod stands 5 inches high and has three bendable legs to balance your camera on almost any surface. I just checked and they are still for sale here. Pefect for overlanding.

I regularly see these mini tripods with the bendable legs in photo supply stores. They are as compact as you can get.

They are fine as long as you have something to put them on such as a pic-nic table or motorcycle, in which case, the motorcycle won't be in the photo.

Having used my SUSIS tripod for two Alps tours now, I only found one drawback due to the design. After about 100 uses, some of the legs tend to stiffen or seize up. I now carry a very small spray can of Exxon spray lube with me and use it to both clean and lube my tripod.

The tripod legs disassemble and can be cleaned easily. The reason for the seizing becomes apparent upon cleaning. The main upper 8th section of each tripod leg are made of aluminium tube and the latter 7 sections are chrome plated steel or brass. As the 7th section slides into the aluminum tube, it slowly scrapes away at the aluminium creating tiny filings.

A minor drawback considering the compact size and advantage of the overall length.



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Alex

Alex's BMW Motorcycle & Global Touring Page http://www.ott.igs.net/~ace

UPDATE - Another compact tripod
 

I recently bought a Manfrotto 714SHB compact tripod with ball head.

This unit is a ideal for motorcyclists that want a full size tripod that is both solid and compact at 35 cm collapsed. It also comes with a nice shoulder bag.

Check out the specs: Manfrotto 714SHB Tripod

Try googeling "micro tripod"... another tip, use googles immage finder to seek out your site, much easier.

I've bought one of these, probably no more than 3-4 inches tall, but works superbely. It has a pen clip which is also very useful. It is small and light enough to fit in your shirt pocket.

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thum...cro_tripod.jpg

Pedco Tripods
 

Hi there

Whilst I have never used one, they look pretty good
Click here for their webiste

They have quite a collection too :)

For heavier gear
 

Just in case anyone is looking for a tripod that can support heavier gear (SLR + tele-zoom, or for night time photography in rough/windy conditions), try the Gitzo Mountaineer range, or most other Gitzos (preferrably carbon fibre).

They're not cheap but worth every penny – the last tripod you'll ever buy! Their latest ones, I heard, are even small enough to fit inside aluminium panniers.

Bjorn

DIY tripod
 

After looking at some camera related projects on the blogs of bodge-paradise MAKE magazine I found a few more or less usefull camera mounting systems (handlebar1, handlebar2, don't know how they handle vibration), I stumbeld on this practical quick DIY project tripod, based on a japanese gadget

http://www.jakeludington.com/images/...ounted.v15.jpg http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c...c_1908_4311193

enjoy !

I have a Velbon travelling tripod which folds down to under 12 inches and extends to normal tripod dimensions, which supports my Canon 5D with a 100-400mm lens with no problems and is easily carried in my panniers ...cost was around £50.00.

I also have a ram mount on the handlebars, which is good enough to use for when I can't be bothered pulling out the tripod and require some stability (when stationary).

http://www.midnightphotos.co.uk/user...ull/6/3586.jpg

Any chance you could post the model number and a link to it on the Velbon web site?

Manfrotto 714shb
 

Having recently returned from a 6 week tour using this tripod, I can say that it is first rate. Very versatile and easy to use. No problems with it whatsoever.

It's the Velbon Ultra Luxi F

http://www.velbon-tripod.com/ultra_maxi.htm

Thanks for posting the link to that tripod as well as to similar tripods in that line.

BTW, that tripod works out to 15.3" collapsed according to the link.

I was looking at the Velbon "ball head" model prior to deciding on the Manfrotto. I prefer ball head tripods...a bit less bulky that a pan head tripod.

This is a good thread.

I'm looking for something ultra everything..:)

Strapped on the rear, easy to access, use, repack and go on. Maybe a semi waterproof, lightweight draw string bag...

The manfrotto's are great tripods. just too expensive for something that'll get treated quite roughly on the bike, hence the Velbon that I bought.

Ultra everything
 

Hi Lone Rider,

If you'd like to take "ultra everything" literal, do a google search on "jobi gorillapod".

I haven't tried it, but it looks ok. Maybe a bit gimmicky but it might work out alright for reasonably lighweight gear. They do an SLR version as well – though I doubt it'd take a pro tele-lens.

Cheers
Bjorn

Check this out:
http://monsterpod.us/

;)

Bjorn

Here's my submission for consideration - Cullmann Magic 2
http://www.cullmann-foto.de/en/produ...lpods/2722.htm

This one fits flat under the cover of my 35L Touratech case, between lid and the soft bag insert. Easy to get to, its protected same as your other gear.

Certainly different and interesting.

I take it the two upper leg mounts rotate 120° to either side to form the "tripod"? Do they come to a "stop" or can the leg positions be located at any position in the 360° circle?

The telescoping leg sections seem to be locked by a threaded ring instead of a cam lock. Do I have that right?

For others in the "inch" world, the length equates to 16.2" collapsed and 56.7" extended.

New Manfrotto Tripod
 

Manfrotto seems to have added another compact tripod to its line.

Identical to the Manfrotto 714SHB Tripod, the new Manfrotto 715SHB Tripod has a Quick Release feature that adds a mere 1.5 cm (0.6") to the already short collapsed length. All other dimensions, fully extended, etc, are increased by the same amount.

Note that load capacity has decreased to 1 Kg from the 2.5 Kg of the 714SHB. This is due to the Quick Release feature.

I finally got around to snapping a pic of my Manfrotto 714SHB tripod with an Olympus C-5060 Wide Zoom mounted.

This is how little room it takes up in my GiVi E52 Maxia top case....

http://edelweiss.smugmug.com/photos/...46_3paqF-L.jpg

I usually leave the two attached and just slip them into the supplied Manfrotto case and under the straps while underway.

Bought one of these for when I'm walking. It's small enough to go in a bag, but big enough to take a reasonably heavy set up if used with care. Probably ideal for those lightweight 'hybrid' cameras, and it also has a separate screw plate that can be left on the camera all day, so it's pretty quick to set up.

Hope this helps.

These Benro Mefoto tripods are very popular these days in Turkey,
I didn't bought one yet but I saw and studied one in shop,
very compact and high quality ones..

http://Media.The-Digital-Picture.com...rans-Group.jpg

I've got a Vanguard Alta+ 225 CT which I LOVE. It is "compact" at about 13" I believe....but it is carbon fiber, so extremely light. I used it on my trans-africa trip last year and it held up quite well. I was able to mount a DSLR and 100-400mm L series lens (probably 5 lbs or so total weight) with no problems. It was easy to store and not bad to carry around. It costs around $250, so it isn't cheap, but it was much better than a lot of the similarly sized aluminum models. I think the height was around 42" or so. So, it wasn't ideal if you are trying to take a ton of portraits, but that was never my aim...also I have an articulated screen, so that made shooting a lot easier. Great tripod for a traveler though.

Hi Guys,
My 2 cents. But first a question to ask yourself is: What camera and lens combination am I using. (you dont really need brand/model but do need weight/length). Tripods and heads are weight rated, If you try and put a pro-DSLR with 600mm f4 lens on most pods it will collapse (or at least slip).

So what ever you do get the weight ratings correct.
I shoot a d300swith 70-200m f2,5 (eg HEAVY).
and have gotten away with

bogen manfrotto 190cxpro4 carbon fiber tripod
Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 4-Section Carbon Fiber Tripod Legs 190CXPRO4

It is expensive but will handle a pro kit and is small.
I coupled it with a
Trek-Tech- MagMount PRO-
Must-have Tripod and Monopod Accessory | Trek-Tech | Magmount Ball Head

this kit gives me 7kh of stability for about a kg of weight

I love the gorillapods.. the are great if you think of them as a bean-bag alternative..
here is a review (note it is also couple with a ball-head they are horrible with out the head)

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...slr-zoom-33868

I've purchased this
Zipshot Compact Ultra Light 44" Traveller Tripod FOR DSLR DV DC Spring Open Legs | eBay

Basically 300grams weight, legs out of aluminum tent poles. Not suitable for heavy cameras as you would expect, but if you are using a small camera and after weight reductions , this is it. The ball head is a little rough. The legs should be spread out after assembly - the extra tension make the thing steadier. $50 with postage to OZ, so cheap enough.

susie tripod
 

hi, I know this is made out of west Germany and I have one ball head :thumbup1: I am looking for the further information about manufacture as well. anyone ?:eek3:

GOOD SUPPORT, FITS IN LUGGAGE - £120 approx
 

I'm an ex-pro, now keen amateur and can recommend another Cullmann, the
Cullmann Concept One 622T.

It's small enough to pop into a top box or pannier at 36cm folded, really useful height range of 23-136cm, QR ball& socket head with panning base, it's reasonably beefy and well-engineered. Add a decent camera strap and it's easy to carry too. Cullman do a carbon version if you need to go lighter than 1.4Kg. For windy days there's a centre-column hook to hang weight from - I take a stuff sack to fill with rocks etc.

An excellent, ultra-light travel tripod I've used on motorbike tours (along with Olympus micro 4/3s cameras) for the past few years, is the Vanguard Nivelo 204BK. Its got a neat, 'one-twist' unlock/lock system for the legs and weighs just 0.6Kg! Folded, it's the same length as the Cullmann but has a slimmer silhouette. Max height is 125cm and it has an integral, non-pan head so it's not as versatile. I'm surprised to see it's still available from Amazon and other places for about £65.

Have anyone looked at the Sirui UltraLight T-025X + C10X, I like the idea about the 700g + ballhead, but I'm not 100% sure about the stability.

I's 2x the price of it's baby bother (T-005), but lighter...