Travel tripod for Sony RC10 iv - don't wan't to spend too much

[Bogmonster]

Hi,

Just bought a Sony RX10 IV - that is a 1.1KG camer with a 600mm zoom. Not had much time to play yet but I want a travel tripod but I know I won't use it much. It could be used at all focal lengths but only long exposures at wider angles I expect. I already have a heavy Manfrotto something that is sturdy but heavy and not suitable for travel. Stuff I want:

£200'ish price.

Smallish pack size - expecting a 4 section design, 5 sections sound too compromised stability wise.

Ball head probably.

Preferably lever lock but not essential.

Shorter tripod is OK, can use a flip out screen if required and I am not beyond kneeling down.

Best I can find at the moment is:

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www.aliexpress.com

Will this be OK, is the quality too horrid?

Ant other suggestions that might be better?

BM

 

[Bogmonster]

Also I looked at a Leofoto LS-324C but with head this will cost a bit more.

BM

 

[Bogmonster]

Another option is:

Loading…

www.aliexpress.com

but I can't find any reviews. Certainly looks good for the price.

BM

 

[DigitalScott]

HI BM. I am looking for a travel tripod also (hiking really) and I have a Sony a6300. I think all of your choices are over-built for your needs. You don't need something to hold 12kg; something that can do that weighs a lot (1.77kg from your first option). I think the Leofo LS-224C might be great for you. Going up from that is the Leofo LS-254C. Both of those have 4-section legs. If you get something with 5-section legs, you can always leave the bottom section retracted for greater stability. Another one to consider is the Benro SLIM, but I think it has some features cut out of it to keep the price down.

Good luck in your search.

 

[Bogmonster]

Oh, wow, I had ruled it out as being too weedy but I know very little about such things. It is certainly light. Although the RX10 IV is not heavy, with the lens zoomed out there is quite a lot overhang from the tripod mount point. If I can get away with something so light I guess the Manfrotto Befree carbon fibre is also an option or the MeFOTO Road Trip? I do like the idea of light though, not one for lugging a lot of kit about.

BM

 

[Bogmonster]

I did dig out a really old Velbon Ultra Luxi SF tripod that I had years ago. There is no plate on the head, it screws straight in. I also found a crappy pan and tilt head, no idea where the plate is. I bought it ages ago for a compact. To my surprise it does actually hold the camera but it is not rugged. Still, I actually own it already. There is an extra extension tube for the centre column but I think that makes it very wobbly. Maybe I just use that until I find the right thing?

I still have a rather large Manfrotto tripod - probably an old 055 of some description that I can dump in the car.

BM

 

[Bogmonster]

Well, I expect I am going to be told I have made a mistake. I have bought a Vanguard VEO 235AB. It is quite light 1.4kg. It folds down small but unfortunately has 5 segments. Has a 6KG capacity which should hopefully hold up my 1kg camera. The reviews I have found have been largely very positive. Now onto the price. £99 from Clifton Cameras with a £40 voucher bringing it down to £64 delivered. If I have made an error it will only be a cheap one I didn't want to spend much as I don't think it will get much use.

BM

 

[Bobthearch]

Well, I expect I am going to be told I have made a mistake. I have bought a Vanguard VEO 235AB. It is quite light 1.4kg. It folds down small but unfortunately has 5 segments. Has a 6KG capacity which should hopefully hold up my 1kg camera. The reviews I have found have been largely very positive. Now onto the price. £99 from Clifton Cameras with a £40 voucher bringing it down to £64 delivered. If I have made an error it will only be a cheap one I didn't want to spend much as I don't think it will get much use.

BM

Seems to me like you made a good choice.

Even zoomed out at the maximum length, your camera isn't very especially heavy or long. It's practically nothing compared to a pro-grade DSLR with a 600mm lens...

Be sure to get a remote shutter release so you're not touching the camera when it's on the tripod.

 

[JimResnikoff]

I have the VEO 265 AB which is quite similar. I've had no issues with it holding a full frame Camera, with a grip attached and a 70-200. It fits on my backpack and its always with me. While certainly not the best its not bad for what it is.

 

[D Lynch]

https://thecentercolumn.com/latest-posts/

I recently learned about this site reading a post here on dpreview. It may help you choose a brand you might not have considered.

Consider buying used. In fact, many good tripods are sold cheaply at garage sales.

kijiji. craigslist. Other sources...

 

[NancyP]

Channeling Ellis Vener.....

A very compact stabilization item is the Platypod aluminum "cheeseboard" (sheet with taps and holes) plus small ball head. This cheeseboard has adjustable removable padded feet, has slots through which you can insert strapping to attach it to a railing or such, has variety of 1/4" and 3/8" taps and 1 3/8" bolt with 3/8 to 1/4 adapter, so you can attach either a 3/8 threaded head or 1/4 threaded head. Basically this is a ground pod that can be strapped to railing, trees, set on top of car hood, etc. I have used the larger Platypod for 7D2 and 15-85 mm zoom, attached to balcony flat-top railing, camera operated by wired remote shutter release. If you strap it to stuff, you may need a "sticky" silicone pad (kitchen accessory, etc). The accessory kit is useful to have, though you may have components already if you do flash work (3/8 F to 1/4 M riser with broad support base, for ball head , 3/8 F to 1/4 F tall spigot for flash, 36" strap, silicone rubber pad, bag).

https://platypod.com/ USD $100.00 for large (13 oz), $60.00 for small (3 oz, comes with 20" strap), $30.00 for accessory bundle. plus cost of small or full sized ball head

Somewhat along the same line, if you use a walking stick, you can attach a bolt to the top and add head and camera. Instant monopod! Alternative, especially for cane (if you can stand without it) is to put a Manfrotto "SuperClamp" (or imitator), with appropriate lighting hexagonal-base stud and ball head, on the cane when you need it. This may result in a lower than desired viewpoint for the camera when installed on a hip-high cane. It isn't a tripod, so you could take it into places that forbid tripods. SuperClamp fits tubes 0.51" to 2.17" in diameter, per specification. Don't do this on collapsible hiking poles, only on thicker aluminum or wood. People into lighting know the SuperClamp - borrow from a friend and try it.

https://www.manfrotto.us/super-clamp-w-stud USD $30.00 plus cost of small ball head

There's the 1/4" eye-bolt and string trick. This weighs "nothing" and costs "nothing" (one eye-bolt, some string from the local hardware store), and is not a "tripod" when in use - which makes it handy in situations where tripods are forbidden. String should be slightly longer than 2 times the height from the floor to your eye. Thread the string through the eye loop, and tie. When you want to get a little extra stabilization, install eyebolt into tripod socket, put one foot in the string loop, pull to tightness height (should be at viewfinder height). You get an additional degree of constraint.

https://www.boltdepot.com/Wire_eye_bolts_(w__nuts)_Stainless_steel_18-8_1_4-20.aspx USD $1.97 plus price of ball of string.

None of these are going to give great stabilization for camera at 600 mm setting.

 

[NancyP]

Sirui K20X or G20X, K10X or G10X - come with a quick release clamp and camera plate. Ks have 2 spirit levels, Gs do not. Ks may be sturdier, also. Benro IB1 or IB0 might be worth looking at, as well. These come with QR clamp and plate, and are USD$110.00 and under.

 

[Bogmonster]

Well, if the 265AB can hold up your FF camera I am sure the 235AB will hold up my little camera. I did look at the 265AB but it didn't have the big discount. I think if I was going to get more use out of it I might have gone upmarket but I don't think I will. Still, if this does not work out I can sell on the bay and probably get my money back - seeing as I got such a good price.

I see there is a bag also made my Vanguard that is designed to fit their travel tripods in a bottom compartment, The older VEO 37 version is still available at a reasonable price. I guess my camera will fit in that bag. Might be the neatest solution.

BM

 

[Richard B99]

Oh, wow, I had ruled it out as being too weedy but I know very little about such things. It is certainly light. Although the RX10 IV is not heavy, with the lens zoomed out there is quite a lot overhang from the tripod mount point. If I can get away with something so light I guess the Manfrotto Befree carbon fibre is also an option or the MeFOTO Road Trip? I do like the idea of light though, not one for lugging a lot of kit about.

BM

If you don’t like the overhang thing and poor balance when on a tripod then you might want to consider adding a nodal rail slide.







Allows you to balance up by clamping ball head to the end of the slide. Does, of course, add a bit of carry weight but feels much happier on the tripod.

 

[Bogmonster]

I bought a Vanguard VEO 235AB tripod because it packed small and I got a very good deal. However, it does have a major design flaw. To pack it away the centre column is raised to full height and is then spun 180 degrees between the legs. To allow this the shoulder of the tripod is a 'C' shape with a cutout to allow the column to be rotated. This whole assembly can't be tightened up adequately and the column has too much movement in the shoulder. It is probably not a big issue with wide angle or a well balanced load but with telephoto and offset load the whole contraption has a tendency to droop after tightening the head. I don't think the issue is the head, I think it is the column moving in the shoulder as the offset weight of the camera is loaded up. You can minimize the problem by orientating the cutout in the shoulder to the side of the camera rather than front or back where and then there is less droop. Still, it is not a great design in my amateur opinion. The Sony RX10 is hardly a heavy weight camera, I would not want to use the tripod with something with a more offset load.

I have it now and I will make do but I would not buy again. A solution where you remove the column and insert it upside down to pack away would be a bit more cumbersome but I am sure could be much more rigid and easier to manufacture.

BM