LIGHT Tripod System for an Old Guy

[Michael Erlewine]

LIGHT Tripod System for an Old Guy

It threatens spring here, eventually, and with the advancing light each day, I want to get out in the woods, but I am getting old and can’t (or don’t want to) carry heavy equipment.

I would like suggestions on the lightest carbon-fiber tripod, the lightest locking head (not ball heads), and of course some kind of Arca clamp.

Right now, the best I have is a Gitzo G 1228 Tripod, the Arca-Swiss Monoball PO, and an Arca (tiny-thin) clamp, with a total weight of this system (minus a camera) is 4.187 lbs. (1.899 KG).

Any suggestions welcome. Don’t bother with ball-head suggestions. I have plenty and don’t use them. I also have the Burzynski ball-head (which does lock), but that is too heavy for this project. This project being getting me in the field.

[MEPER]

Could it be something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/AOKA-Compact-Lightweight-Capacity-Travelling/dp/B07PJ6RTHX

......they all seems to have kind of mini-ball head. If Arca clamp is a requirement and it must not be a small ball head?

[Michael Erlewine]

Could it be something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/AOKA-Compact-Lightweight-Capacity-Travelling/dp/B07PJ6RTHX

......they all seems to have kind of mini-ball head. If Arca clamp is a requirement and it must not be a small ball head?

That tripod is only 15" high. I need at least 60".... and the ability to screw on whatever non-ball head I want to use.

THanks

[MEPER]

Ok.....Gitzo makes a traveler like this:
https://www.gitzo.com/us-en/tripod-traveler-series-1-4-sections-gt1545tus/

....it goes to just above 60" with column up.....probably difficult to find something lighter......

[Akira]

What do you mean by "locking head"?  I cannot think of any kind of head lighter than those of ballhead type.  Also, could you specify the heaviest (or the most demanding) possible camera/lens combo you would mount on the system you are looking for?

The Gitzo GT1545TUS MEPER recommends (2.33 lbs) and Acratech GPSS ballhead (0.85 lbs) makes a total of 3.18 lbs kit.

[pluton]

The lightest Gitzo Series 2 3-way pan head (with your own added Arca clamp) would probably be a good match for this lightweight Traveler pod. No good for long lenses or high winds, of course.

[Michael Erlewine]

What do you mean by "locking head"?  I cannot think of any kind of head lighter than those of ballhead type.  Also, could you specify the heaviest (or the most demanding) possible camera/lens combo you would mount on the system you are looking for?

The Gitzo GT1545TUS MEPER recommends (2.33 lbs) and Acratech GPSS ballhead (0.85 lbs) makes a total of 3.18 lbs kit.

Yes, the Gitzo GT1545T tripod seems to be the lightest tripo that I would consider using. As for heads, I say NO ball heads please, light or not. Don't use them or than the Burzynsk, which I do us, but it is heavy. I have all kinds of ball heads, but they all sag or not "lock" where I want them to.

[Akira]

Yes, the Gitzo GT1545T tripod seems to be the lightest tripo that I would consider using. As for heads, I say NO ball heads please, light or not. Don't use them or than the Burzynsk, which I do us, but it is heavy. I have all kinds of ball heads, but they all sag or not "lock" where I want them to.

Thank you for the clarification.  But any heavier head on a light tripod like GT1545T should make an unstable, top-heavy combo, and it could be challenging to frame, because the whole rig will be wobbling during the framing and focusing.

The series 2 pan/tilt head Keith recommends can be nice but is almost twice as heavy as your A-S P0.

[Michael Erlewine]

Thank you for the clarification.  But any heavier head on a light tripod like GT1545T should make an unstable, top-heavy combo, and it could be challenging to frame, because the whole rig will be wobbling during the framing and focusing.

The series 2 pan/tilt head Keith recommends can be nice but is almost twice as heavy as your A-S P0.

The Arca-Swiss Monoball PO is not too heavy or bulky, I don't plan to do much focus-stacking in the field, so it will do. I can always take one of my geared-heads, which is what I prefer.

Now, for lenses. I told myself that with all the lenses I have, I can get used to using the FTZ adapter, but as I should of guessed, I would rather use the new S lenses. Now, any idea for lenses? I have the 70-200 s, but that is heavy. I don't care much for the 24-70, f/4 lens yet I keep taking great pictures with it. Go figure, as they say. I might use that.

[Snoogly]

Take a look at the Punks Corey

https://www.3leggedthing.com/corey

A review
https://youtu.be/CypJgqd-uWk

It’s hard not to like!

[Ashlandish]

The Center Column might be a good resource: https://thecentercolumn.com.

[Michael Erlewine]

I hear you. Thanks.

I have a number of RSS tripods.

For this use, I feel the Gitzo GIGT1545T Carbon Fiber Traveler Series 1
60.2” (8.6’)
Weight  2.34 lb

Is less expensive and will do the job, with the Arca PO Monoball (which locks) and an Arca-Swiss Clamp.

I picked up Gitzo GIGT1545T for $400, used. I won't use the center column, but just the short column.

[Erik Lund]

For ultra light tripods it's super difficult to find a rigid solution.
I guess the weight issue is during transport therefore I suggest looking into how to transport the tripod in an ergonomic way, an appropriately padded strap for instance.

[Michael Erlewine]

For ultra light tripods it's super difficult to find a rigid solution.
I guess the weight issue is during transport therefore I suggest looking into how to transport the tripod in an ergonomic way, an appropriately padded strap for instance.

I understand. I have looked around and the Really Right Stuff TFC-14 MK2 Series1 Ultralight Carbon Fiber Tripod (47.2"), which weighs 2.47 lb / 1.12 kg is about the best I see. Even that has four sections, and I like three sections. It is expensive and I don't like that.

I have bought, but not received a copy of the Gitzo GIGT1545T Carbon Fiber Traveler Series 1
60.2” (8.6’) Weight  2.34 lb. It is four sections and probably not very sturdy. On that I might try the Ara-Swiss Monoball PO. I don't like the feel of it, but it is not too heavy and not bulky.

I see that these new mirrorless cameras have in-camera stabilization, but I feel that is laziness for my work. I like a sturdy tripod, a geared head (Cube), and so on. At the same time, since I am going to be 80 this year, I don't like to haul heavy equipment far... as I used to do. Your idea is a good one, make the hauling of heavier but more sturdy equipment less arduous by distributing the weight or buffering it somehow. No doubt I will try that.

In the meantime, I will play with these more spindly setups and see how that works out. And I am amazed at how good some of the new iPhone photos can be. For illustrative work, they are perfect to haul around. For my kind of photography, not so much.

All of this is just me fidgeting before the coming of spring. Meanwhile, I am all out of plants and it keeps snowing here... a lot.

So, I do still life... some. THis is the Nikon Z7 II with the Nikon Noct95 lens.

[Erik Lund]

Looking forward to your findings!When I evaluate a tripod I extend the legs fully, then I do a check of how flexible the setup is by grabbing the top and bend and or twist it, then collapse the leg sections gradually by an inch and repeat the test, it's quite obvious to feel the difference as to how much you need to collapse the legs to obtain more stability or rigidity, often collapsing a leg section an inch helps a lot.
Yes most three leg section solutions are more stable than four. Same goes for column extension if the tripod has a column.
I then mark the legs for maximum extended stabile height use.