Jamie Baker
Active member
Thanks for the suggestions and I really appreciate the tip on the leg under the lens! I did not think of that!
Table-top tripod/head recommendation.
- Thread starter Jamie Baker
- Start date
If you would like to post, you'll need to register. Note that if you have a BCG store account, you'll need a new, separate account here (we keep the two sites separate for security purposes).
Jamie Baker
Active member
I’ve learned this lesson too with full size tripods.
Steve W
Well-known member
Manfrotto make something similar
Let us know what you decide on and how it worked out.
As your set-up is only somewhat front-heavy for a lens without a tripod mount (think 105mm macro, 24-120 or 24-70 f/2.8 for more front-heavy lenses), you might not have noticed immediately, but you might have noticed sooner it or later, especially if you have the camera at an odd angle where the weight is not evenly distributed. One solution if this does become a problem is a longer rail plate if you do not have a dedicated plate on your Z6. This will allow you to adjust the load balance (but it is another thing to pack).
--Ken
jwr50
Member
Gitzo makes a small, carbon-fiber tabletop tripod as well. Gitzo and RRS are both "top-of-the-line" tripod manufacturers, in my view. Probably worth considering both to see which one suits you better. Which head you pair with the tripod may be an even more important consideration than the tripod itself.
Agree about Gitzo quality. My 3 full size legsets are Gitzo. Indestructible. My only concern about the mini Gitzo is the head, and as you mentioned, the head is more important than the legs. I admit that I have never seen nor touched the G, but I’m a bit leery about its head. No ball? In apparently tightens using that horizontal knurled ring while the RRS and the Leica have dedicated knobs for adjusting a decent diameter ball. I know how robust both the rrs and L ballheads are. Rock solid. The G lists weight capacity at 6.6 lbs. Rrs is more and with the Leica - I could probably support my filled roller bag camera case. Just saying….
Well, there is "lesser expensive" and then there is "lesser expensive." For a table tripod and ballhead I really cannot see the need to pay a very significant premium for Gitzo or RRS gear. If we are talking about cheaper equipment in this area, the brands that come up are Benro, Leofoto, Oben, Sunwayfoto, and maybe Sirui. Their equipment is not going to collapse or otherwise give up the ghost during your lifetime of reasonably normal use. My assumption here is that this is an area of tripod/support that is used "now and then," not as constantly as a regular tripod with say, a very long lens. In this latter situation sure, spend the big bucks to get the best. But for a tabletop tripod, why? The difference in price we are talking about here is more than "a couple of bucks." It's a whole lot of money that I, for one, would rather spend elsewhere.
Of course, the cheaper brands mentioned here are in every case Chinese manufacturers. I don't want to open that can of worms, but I suppose for some people there are issues involved with making purchases from these companies. But the truth is that Chinese companies are well along on that learning curve towards making and even designing really good, even premium photographic gear.
Doug Greenberg
Calson
Well-known member
I have gotten a lot more value out of using short tripods that could go up to 30 inches in height. A table top tripod is fine for some very limited situations, but 12" is not enough for most macro or landscape photography. There is nothing produced by RRS that I cannot find better designed and selling for less. It is like when people buy a Rolex watch even though it is far less accurate than a $20 Timex watch. RRS as with Gitzo has become a status symbol for photographers.
Jamie Baker
Active member
I love both those company’s products! Looking at spending a little less for this use. Thank you for taking the time to make a recommendation.
Jamie Baker
Active member
I’m thinking the same as you, not going to spend the money for top of the line. I’m leaning towards Leofoto, Benro or SmallRig.
John Navitsky
Well-known member
ohi. my ranger showed up today
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
John Navitsky
Well-known member
a few thoughts about the smallrig and ranger
the smallrig has sturdy legs, but they are not adjustable which means you have limited positions that will be stable with a heavy camera. it comes with a (small) ball head w/integrated arca qd. while this is nice they include this, it's not really heavy duty enough for a full size camera. the upside tho, is even though this is a mini tripod, you can unscrew the provided ballhead and put a different one there.
the leofoto is a hugely nicer setup. i got mine with the self leveling head. depending on what you're doing, you may or may not even need to add a ballhead. for what i'm doing right now, i just attach a rrs arca qd clamp to the tripod and the self leveling thingy gives me enough adjust ability
the smallrig has sturdy legs, but they are not adjustable which means you have limited positions that will be stable with a heavy camera. it comes with a (small) ball head w/integrated arca qd. while this is nice they include this, it's not really heavy duty enough for a full size camera. the upside tho, is even though this is a mini tripod, you can unscrew the provided ballhead and put a different one there.
the leofoto is a hugely nicer setup. i got mine with the self leveling head. depending on what you're doing, you may or may not even need to add a ballhead. for what i'm doing right now, i just attach a rrs arca qd clamp to the tripod and the self leveling thingy gives me enough adjust ability
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
OldMan
New member
I've scanned this thread quickly, but I don't think anyone has mentioned my favorite TTT: Oben CTT-1000. It is very sturdy, has three-section legs, folds to a length of 10 inches, and weighs about 1 lb. It has a very capable ballhead built in and a 6-inch extension rod. Without the extension, it has a maximum height of about 15 inches.
Reno
New member
I've used a number of the "table-top" tripods over the years and now only use a Platypod: lightweight, easy set-up, can be used anywhere...the tripod police don't bother with the Platypod as they often do with tripods of any size.
MikePapple
Well-known member
I have Leofoto 253C with Acratech pano head. With the legs fully extended my camera is mid-thigh, but can also get close to the ground with legs spread out. Can carry Sony A1 with 200-600mm lens. Good if you need to go hiking (up a mountain) and take landscapes.
Len Cohen
Member
I am surprised no one has mentioned the Gorilla. I have had excellent use from it
OldMan
New member
I have a PlatyPod and wanted to like it. I bought it for ground-level photography but found it far too fiddly to set up and get right. I much prefer the Obem tripod I referenced in Post #39.
Roy
Well-known member
I often use a clamp for a tripod head that saves desk space and is very stable.
Andoer MFC-60 Heavy Duty Photography Desk Tree Clamp ...
Johan Schmidt
Well-known member
All excellent suggestions above, however if you're in any place in Paris where there are security guards (e.g. Louvre) anything that has 3 legs no matter how small is going to draw attention from tripod police. The newest Platypod sets up really quickly, very sturdy and has a small footprint for those long exposure bracketing shots in dark interiors .
Jamie Baker
Active member
Thank you, I’ll check it out!
Jamie Baker
Active member
Very interesting! Since you really can’t have too much photographic equipment I might add one of these in addition to a small tripod.
Jamie Baker
Active member
Thanks for the recommendation! I’m definitely checking out Leofoto’s products.
Jamie Baker
Active member
I have a small one of these, and have used it with smaller cameras, but I might need the next size up for the set up I’m looking at using it for. I’ll check out the larger ones. Thank you
Jamie Baker
Active member
- Status