Compact Ultralight Tripod and Head Setup at Workable Height under $150: Marsace XT-26S + Highlights

[hiepphotog]

I am always on the lookout for a functional, lightweight, and compact setup, especially when it comes to a support system. Zodiacphoto has conducted a thorough three-way comparison between the Heipi, Benro Cyanbird, and Peak Design—definitely worth checking out. After exploring numerous options, I'm eager to share what I believe could be a fantastic find.

Let's dive into a quick overview of the specs. The Marsace XT-26S boasts an eccentric tube design, ditching traditional leg locks for friction locks, significantly reducing its weight. Weighing in at a mere 21.2 oz (600 grams) without the head, it's truly a featherweight. In comparison, the Benro Cyanbird is around 742 grams, Heipi 1070 grams, and Peak Design 1196 grams—all with center columns.

Notably, the Marsace is the only eccentric tube design with 28mm top tubes (likely resulting in a more rigid tripod) and a compact, column-less apex. The Heipi has a 26mm top tube and a larger folded girth than the Marsace. Achieving a compact folded length of 13.7” (347mm), it requires 6 sections; Heipi, Peak Design, and Benro have 5 sections each, but the Marsace's last section has the same diameter as the Heipi’s. A comparison shot next to my Gitzo, RRS, and FLM drives the point home.



Another notable feature is the 24-degree primary leg angle, compared to the 22-degree of the Benro and Heipi and 23-degree of the Peak Design. For an ultralight tripod, every stiffness advantage counts. For the max height without raising the center column, the Marsace matches the Peak Design, with a height taller than both the Benro and Heipi.

Now, onto the Highlights S2QX, the lightest ball head with a 20mm ball size that I could find, weighing in at a mere 2.8 oz. (80 grams). Other mini ball heads I came across, like the RRS BPC-16 and Leofoto MBC-20, have similar or smaller ball sizes but significantly higher weights. The Highlights head features a panning base sharing the same lock with the main ball and a functional Arca Clamp. Despite my attempt, I couldn't manage a reverse mount.

In the field, the eccentric tube design took a bit to get used to, but I quickly adapted. The key is using the right amount of force and double-checking every 2 sections for tightness before setting up the camera. It's not a race for me, so the slightly slower setup time isn't a drawback. Due to the friction lock design, extending and collapsing the legs requires more resistance than the conventional tripod. There are no spike feet, making it suitable for a day hike. The clever ¼” accessory ports incorporated into the spider-leg joints are excellent for space and weight saving. The angle tabs aren't auto ratchet but still easy to control. In practice, the tripod feels sturdy enough for its purpose. The Highlights head securely holds my Sony A9 and GM135 at any angle, making it perfect for my ultralight setup. In short, at a price of less than $150 (I paid around $120 for my combo during the recent sale), this offers excellent performance value.



--

Hiep Phan

Explore Hiep Phan’s 362 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[ja_sln]

Quite interesting. I'm looking for a lightweight tripod sturdy enough for a Fuji X-S20 + XF150-600 lens (around 2,2 kg) for bird photography. Would it be able to accommodate a small fluid head ? Thank you.

 

[smw6230]

hiepphotog, I'm curious. How is that FLM 47GX treating you? Any (short) review. Is it on par with their previous CB ball head offerings?

 

[hiepphotog]

Quite interesting. I'm looking for a lightweight tripod sturdy enough for a Fuji X-S20 + XF150-600 lens (around 2,2 kg) for bird photography. Would it be able to accommodate a small fluid head ? Thank you.

Although I don't have the said set-up, this tripod should be more rigid than the Heipi. And people are using similar long telephoto zooms on the Heipi. I also do not see any problem with putting a fluid head on it.

 

[hiepphotog]

hiepphotog, I'm curious. How is that FLM 47GX treating you? Any (short) review. Is it on par with their previous CB ball head offerings?

Here is the review I posted on the new FLM 47GX: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4731038

While I have not used the previously CB series, this GX series performs extremely well next to other top tier ball heads. The main highlights of this series are the zero-drift locking and lightest weight in the ball size class. Other features are about inline with other top-performing ball heads. It can also be mounted in reverse (as in the picture) to get a top panning without the added weight/bulk. The real let down for me is the lack of a separate friction control.

--

Hiep Phan

Explore Hiep Phan’s 362 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[smw6230]

hiepphotog, I'm curious. How is that FLM 47GX treating you? Any (short) review. Is it on par with their previous CB ball head offerings?

Here is the review I posted on the new FLM 47GX: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4731038

While I have not used the previously CB series, this GX series performs extremely well next to other top tier ball heads. The main highlights of this series are the zero-drift locking and lightest weight in the ball size class. Other features are about inline with other top-performing ball heads. It can also be mounted in reverse (as in the picture) to get a top panning without the added weight/bulk. The real let down for me is the lack of a separate friction control.

Thanks. Really appreciate that.

 

[bpatient]

Now, onto the Highlights S2QX, the lightest ball head with a 20mm ball size that I could find, weighing in at a mere 2.8 oz. (80 grams). Other mini ball heads I came across, like the RRS BPC-16 and Leofoto MBC-20, have similar or smaller ball sizes but significantly higher weights. The Highlights head features a panning base sharing the same lock with the main ball and a functional Arca Clamp.

Thanks for posting this.

When I searched for the tiny Highlights ball head I found this comparison of the S2QX with two slightly heavier (and, nominally, slightly stronger) mini ball heads:

https://www.giantpygmy.net/studio/?post=product-innorel-b19-mini-ballhead-3kg-load

I ended up purchasing the 66 gram Andoer MT-04 head, which seems like it might work for me as an ultra-light head--and because it seemed worth a try at three dollars and twenty-five cents including tax and shipping. I'd likely pair it with a ca. 33 gram arca-swiss clamp if the MT-04 can handle my light-weight hiking kit, which usually includes only sub-400 gram lenses.

By way of comparison:

My daughter likes to use an old 113g Gitzo G-075 head on her Sirui T-024X as a hiking tripod; the pair total 790g, and (with a chopped center column and leg stops filed to ca. 25 degrees) is relatively stable. The 99g Andoer+clamp might replace the little Gitzo, which (with it's tiny steel ball) clamps down pretty well but is a bit fiddly.

I also happen to have the 190g Sirui C-10X head that was supplied with her tripod. It holds my camera and short lenses OK. The $35 Sunwayfoto knock-off the the RRS BPC-16 is adequate if I don't breathe on it--apparently it's not as strong as the original. My other ball heads are quite a bit heavier.

 

[ja_sln]

Quite interesting. I'm looking for a lightweight tripod sturdy enough for a Fuji X-S20 + XF150-600 lens (around 2,2 kg) for bird photography. Would it be able to accommodate a small fluid head ? Thank you.

Although I don't have the said set-up, this tripod should be more rigid than the Heipi. And people are using similar long telephoto zooms on the Heipi. I also do not see any problem with putting a fluid head on it.

Thank you for your answer. My only concern now is whether 35mm base can accommodate a larger head. I am thinking about a Flexshooter Mini with a diameter of 54 mm. Would it cause a stability problem ?

 

[hiepphotog]

Quite interesting. I'm looking for a lightweight tripod sturdy enough for a Fuji X-S20 + XF150-600 lens (around 2,2 kg) for bird photography. Would it be able to accommodate a small fluid head ? Thank you.

Although I don't have the said set-up, this tripod should be more rigid than the Heipi. And people are using similar long telephoto zooms on the Heipi. I also do not see any problem with putting a fluid head on it.

Thank you for your answer. My only concern now is whether 35mm base can accommodate a larger head. I am thinking about a Flexshooter Mini with a diameter of 54 mm. Would it cause a stability problem ?

Ideally, you want the apex to be just as big, or bigger than the base diameter of the tripod head. But unless you place the center weight far out, a smaller apex would not experience any significant instability. You have to look at the RRS TFC apex to see how small the apex is.

Additionally, for bird photography, and I assume you meant BIF, you only need a tripod that can handle the weight since you will constantly move that camera around for the shots.

 

[ja_sln]

Quite interesting. I'm looking for a lightweight tripod sturdy enough for a Fuji X-S20 + XF150-600 lens (around 2,2 kg) for bird photography. Would it be able to accommodate a small fluid head ? Thank you.

Although I don't have the said set-up, this tripod should be more rigid than the Heipi. And people are using similar long telephoto zooms on the Heipi. I also do not see any problem with putting a fluid head on it.

Thank you for your answer. My only concern now is whether 35mm base can accommodate a larger head. I am thinking about a Flexshooter Mini with a diameter of 54 mm. Would it cause a stability problem ?

Ideally, you want the apex to be just as big, or bigger than the base diameter of the tripod head. But unless you place the center weight far out, a smaller apex would not experience any significant instability. You have to look at the RRS TFC apex to see how small the apex is.

Additionally, for bird photography, and I assume you meant BIF, you only need a tripod that can handle the weight since you will constantly move that camera around for the shots.

TQC-14 has 41mm diameter, which is still small. I guess I won't be doing much BIF with the tripod anyway (but it could change). I would like to take mainly birds on perchs with slow shutter speed without blur due to the pressing of the trigger button. My current Sirui T-025SK is way too fiddly for that purpose leading to no difference with handhelding.

I am still wondering whether to go for this tripod with such a small apex. It is perfect otherwise, and I didn't find any equivalent (stiffness, lightweightness, no center column, price ...)

 

[hiepphotog]

Quite interesting. I'm looking for a lightweight tripod sturdy enough for a Fuji X-S20 + XF150-600 lens (around 2,2 kg) for bird photography. Would it be able to accommodate a small fluid head ? Thank you.

Although I don't have the said set-up, this tripod should be more rigid than the Heipi. And people are using similar long telephoto zooms on the Heipi. I also do not see any problem with putting a fluid head on it.

Thank you for your answer. My only concern now is whether 35mm base can accommodate a larger head. I am thinking about a Flexshooter Mini with a diameter of 54 mm. Would it cause a stability problem ?

Ideally, you want the apex to be just as big, or bigger than the base diameter of the tripod head. But unless you place the center weight far out, a smaller apex would not experience any significant instability. You have to look at the RRS TFC apex to see how small the apex is.

Additionally, for bird photography, and I assume you meant BIF, you only need a tripod that can handle the weight since you will constantly move that camera around for the shots.

TQC-14 has 41mm diameter, which is still small. I guess I won't be doing much BIF with the tripod anyway (but it could change). I would like to take mainly birds on perchs with slow shutter speed without blur due to the pressing of the trigger button. My current Sirui T-025SK is way too fiddly for that purpose leading to no difference with handhelding.

I am still wondering whether to go for this tripod with such a small apex. It is perfect otherwise, and I didn't find any equivalent (stiffness, lightweightness, no center column, price ...)

Personally, I do not believe it would be a problem for the perched bird shots. This Marsace is significantly more stable than that Sirui. If you can get one from the US with a good return policy, that would solve it. I doubt any tripod in this class would have a 54mm base diameter.

 

[ja_sln]

Quite interesting. I'm looking for a lightweight tripod sturdy enough for a Fuji X-S20 + XF150-600 lens (around 2,2 kg) for bird photography. Would it be able to accommodate a small fluid head ? Thank you.

Although I don't have the said set-up, this tripod should be more rigid than the Heipi. And people are using similar long telephoto zooms on the Heipi. I also do not see any problem with putting a fluid head on it.

Thank you for your answer. My only concern now is whether 35mm base can accommodate a larger head. I am thinking about a Flexshooter Mini with a diameter of 54 mm. Would it cause a stability problem ?

Ideally, you want the apex to be just as big, or bigger than the base diameter of the tripod head. But unless you place the center weight far out, a smaller apex would not experience any significant instability. You have to look at the RRS TFC apex to see how small the apex is.

Additionally, for bird photography, and I assume you meant BIF, you only need a tripod that can handle the weight since you will constantly move that camera around for the shots.

TQC-14 has 41mm diameter, which is still small. I guess I won't be doing much BIF with the tripod anyway (but it could change). I would like to take mainly birds on perchs with slow shutter speed without blur due to the pressing of the trigger button. My current Sirui T-025SK is way too fiddly for that purpose leading to no difference with handhelding.

I am still wondering whether to go for this tripod with such a small apex. It is perfect otherwise, and I didn't find any equivalent (stiffness, lightweightness, no center column, price ...)

Personally, I do not believe it would be a problem for the perched bird shots. This Marsace is significantly more stable than that Sirui. If you can get one from the US with a good return policy, that would solve it. I doubt any tripod in this class would have a 54mm base diameter.

Thank you for all your input. I'm in France and unfortunately Amazon does not sale it.

I'm torn between this one and Artcise CS60C which is way heavier (1,22kg), longer (50cm without any head) but thicker (29/25/22/18mm) and has a 57mm base plate.

There is also a good compromise with the Ranger LS-255CEX but way pricier (420 €). I could easily buy the other two for that price and choose according to the shooting situation (BIF or still birds/landscape).

 

[hiepphotog]

Quite interesting. I'm looking for a lightweight tripod sturdy enough for a Fuji X-S20 + XF150-600 lens (around 2,2 kg) for bird photography. Would it be able to accommodate a small fluid head ? Thank you.

Although I don't have the said set-up, this tripod should be more rigid than the Heipi. And people are using similar long telephoto zooms on the Heipi. I also do not see any problem with putting a fluid head on it.

Thank you for your answer. My only concern now is whether 35mm base can accommodate a larger head. I am thinking about a Flexshooter Mini with a diameter of 54 mm. Would it cause a stability problem ?

Ideally, you want the apex to be just as big, or bigger than the base diameter of the tripod head. But unless you place the center weight far out, a smaller apex would not experience any significant instability. You have to look at the RRS TFC apex to see how small the apex is.

Additionally, for bird photography, and I assume you meant BIF, you only need a tripod that can handle the weight since you will constantly move that camera around for the shots.

TQC-14 has 41mm diameter, which is still small. I guess I won't be doing much BIF with the tripod anyway (but it could change). I would like to take mainly birds on perchs with slow shutter speed without blur due to the pressing of the trigger button. My current Sirui T-025SK is way too fiddly for that purpose leading to no difference with handhelding.

I am still wondering whether to go for this tripod with such a small apex. It is perfect otherwise, and I didn't find any equivalent (stiffness, lightweightness, no center column, price ...)

Personally, I do not believe it would be a problem for the perched bird shots. This Marsace is significantly more stable than that Sirui. If you can get one from the US with a good return policy, that would solve it. I doubt any tripod in this class would have a 54mm base diameter.

Thank you for all your input. I'm in France and unfortunately Amazon does not sale it.

I'm torn between this one and Artcise CS60C which is way heavier (1,22kg), longer (50cm without any head) but thicker (29/25/22/18mm) and has a 57mm base plate.

There is also a good compromise with the Ranger LS-255CEX but way pricier (420 €). I could easily buy the other two for that price and choose according to the shooting situation (BIF or still birds/landscape).

The Leofoto is less stable than this Marsace. CEX also has a built-in leveling base, not needed if you use a flexshooter.

If you are willing to put up with the 1.22kg weight, I say wait for the Marsace MT-24s (end of December). It has a few more improvements for even better stability; the old Marsace MT-2543S already has many features to be more stable than the majority of the Chinese-made tripods out there: wider leg angle, T700 Toray CF tube (US made material) with filament winding technique, optimized last section thickness, etc. I'm just not sure about the base size of it. FYI, Marsace is an OEM while Artcise is a rebrand if that matters.

 

[georgehudetz]

Quite interesting. I'm looking for a lightweight tripod sturdy enough for a Fuji X-S20 + XF150-600 lens (around 2,2 kg) for bird photography. Would it be able to accommodate a small fluid head ? Thank you.

Although I don't have the said set-up, this tripod should be more rigid than the Heipi. And people are using similar long telephoto zooms on the Heipi. I also do not see any problem with putting a fluid head on it.

Thank you for your answer. My only concern now is whether 35mm base can accommodate a larger head. I am thinking about a Flexshooter Mini with a diameter of 54 mm. Would it cause a stability problem ?

Ideally, you want the apex to be just as big, or bigger than the base diameter of the tripod head. But unless you place the center weight far out, a smaller apex would not experience any significant instability. You have to look at the RRS TFC apex to see how small the apex is.

Additionally, for bird photography, and I assume you meant BIF, you only need a tripod that can handle the weight since you will constantly move that camera around for the shots.

TQC-14 has 41mm diameter, which is still small. I guess I won't be doing much BIF with the tripod anyway (but it could change). I would like to take mainly birds on perchs with slow shutter speed without blur due to the pressing of the trigger button. My current Sirui T-025SK is way too fiddly for that purpose leading to no difference with handhelding.

I am still wondering whether to go for this tripod with such a small apex. It is perfect otherwise, and I didn't find any equivalent (stiffness, lightweightness, no center column, price ...)

Personally, I do not believe it would be a problem for the perched bird shots. This Marsace is significantly more stable than that Sirui. If you can get one from the US with a good return policy, that would solve it. I doubt any tripod in this class would have a 54mm base diameter.

Thank you for all your input. I'm in France and unfortunately Amazon does not sale it.

I'm torn between this one and Artcise CS60C which is way heavier (1,22kg), longer (50cm without any head) but thicker (29/25/22/18mm) and has a 57mm base plate.

There is also a good compromise with the Ranger LS-255CEX but way pricier (420 €). I could easily buy the other two for that price and choose according to the shooting situation (BIF or still birds/landscape).

The Leofoto is less stable than this Marsace.

I'm curious - why do you believe that is true?

Also, I have the FLM C3PO-S4 II as well, and find it quite rigid. How does it compare to the Marsace from a stiffness/stability standpoint?

If you are willing to put up with the 1.22kg weight, I say wait for the Marsace MT-24s (end of December). It has a few more improvements for even better stability; the old Marsace MT-2543S already has many features to be more stable than the majority of the Chinese-made tripods out there: wider leg angle, T700 Toray CF tube (US made material) with filament winding technique, optimized last section thickness, etc. I'm just not sure about the base size of it. FYI, Marsace is an OEM while Artcise is a rebrand if that matters.

 

[hiepphotog]

Quite interesting. I'm looking for a lightweight tripod sturdy enough for a Fuji X-S20 + XF150-600 lens (around 2,2 kg) for bird photography. Would it be able to accommodate a small fluid head ? Thank you.

Although I don't have the said set-up, this tripod should be more rigid than the Heipi. And people are using similar long telephoto zooms on the Heipi. I also do not see any problem with putting a fluid head on it.

Thank you for your answer. My only concern now is whether 35mm base can accommodate a larger head. I am thinking about a Flexshooter Mini with a diameter of 54 mm. Would it cause a stability problem ?

Ideally, you want the apex to be just as big, or bigger than the base diameter of the tripod head. But unless you place the center weight far out, a smaller apex would not experience any significant instability. You have to look at the RRS TFC apex to see how small the apex is.

Additionally, for bird photography, and I assume you meant BIF, you only need a tripod that can handle the weight since you will constantly move that camera around for the shots.

TQC-14 has 41mm diameter, which is still small. I guess I won't be doing much BIF with the tripod anyway (but it could change). I would like to take mainly birds on perchs with slow shutter speed without blur due to the pressing of the trigger button. My current Sirui T-025SK is way too fiddly for that purpose leading to no difference with handhelding.

I am still wondering whether to go for this tripod with such a small apex. It is perfect otherwise, and I didn't find any equivalent (stiffness, lightweightness, no center column, price ...)

Personally, I do not believe it would be a problem for the perched bird shots. This Marsace is significantly more stable than that Sirui. If you can get one from the US with a good return policy, that would solve it. I doubt any tripod in this class would have a 54mm base diameter.

Thank you for all your input. I'm in France and unfortunately Amazon does not sale it.

I'm torn between this one and Artcise CS60C which is way heavier (1,22kg), longer (50cm without any head) but thicker (29/25/22/18mm) and has a 57mm base plate.

There is also a good compromise with the Ranger LS-255CEX but way pricier (420 €). I could easily buy the other two for that price and choose according to the shooting situation (BIF or still birds/landscape).

The Leofoto is less stable than this Marsace.

I'm curious - why do you believe that is true?

Also, I have the FLM C3PO-S4 II as well, and find it quite rigid. How does it compare to the Marsace from a stiffness/stability standpoint?

The Leofoto tripod goes with a 5-section design with a 25-mm top tube, while its counterpart, the Marsace XT-26S, opts for a 6-section configuration featuring a larger 28-mm top tube. Despite similar end sections, the Marsace gains an advantage due to its larger top tube, influencing torsional stiffness significantly—remember, the stiffness is proportional to the fourth power of the tube radius. Adding to the Marsace's strengths is its 24-degree primary leg angle, surpassing the Leofoto's 23-degree angle and contributing to about a 10% increase in stiffness. Both tripods likely share the same carbon fiber material. I also assume the friction locks would not have any significant impact on the stiffness.

Shifting focus to the FLM C30P-S4 (I have one myself, showed in the group shot), it strategically adopts a "tweener" size, featuring a 30mm top tube compared to the 28.5mm tube on RRS. This choice allows FLM and PMG to match the stiffness of Gitzo and RRS models while maintaining a slightly narrower primary leg angle. The Marsace XT-26s would not be comparable to the FLM: 6-section vs. 4, 28mm vs. 30mm, etc. Now the upcoming Marsace MT-24S might be a different story.

 

[georgehudetz]

Quite interesting. I'm looking for a lightweight tripod sturdy enough for a Fuji X-S20 + XF150-600 lens (around 2,2 kg) for bird photography. Would it be able to accommodate a small fluid head ? Thank you.

Although I don't have the said set-up, this tripod should be more rigid than the Heipi. And people are using similar long telephoto zooms on the Heipi. I also do not see any problem with putting a fluid head on it.

Thank you for your answer. My only concern now is whether 35mm base can accommodate a larger head. I am thinking about a Flexshooter Mini with a diameter of 54 mm. Would it cause a stability problem ?

Ideally, you want the apex to be just as big, or bigger than the base diameter of the tripod head. But unless you place the center weight far out, a smaller apex would not experience any significant instability. You have to look at the RRS TFC apex to see how small the apex is.

Additionally, for bird photography, and I assume you meant BIF, you only need a tripod that can handle the weight since you will constantly move that camera around for the shots.

TQC-14 has 41mm diameter, which is still small. I guess I won't be doing much BIF with the tripod anyway (but it could change). I would like to take mainly birds on perchs with slow shutter speed without blur due to the pressing of the trigger button. My current Sirui T-025SK is way too fiddly for that purpose leading to no difference with handhelding.

I am still wondering whether to go for this tripod with such a small apex. It is perfect otherwise, and I didn't find any equivalent (stiffness, lightweightness, no center column, price ...)

Personally, I do not believe it would be a problem for the perched bird shots. This Marsace is significantly more stable than that Sirui. If you can get one from the US with a good return policy, that would solve it. I doubt any tripod in this class would have a 54mm base diameter.

Thank you for all your input. I'm in France and unfortunately Amazon does not sale it.

I'm torn between this one and Artcise CS60C which is way heavier (1,22kg), longer (50cm without any head) but thicker (29/25/22/18mm) and has a 57mm base plate.

There is also a good compromise with the Ranger LS-255CEX but way pricier (420 €). I could easily buy the other two for that price and choose according to the shooting situation (BIF or still birds/landscape).

The Leofoto is less stable than this Marsace.

I'm curious - why do you believe that is true?

Also, I have the FLM C3PO-S4 II as well, and find it quite rigid. How does it compare to the Marsace from a stiffness/stability standpoint?

The Leofoto tripod goes with a 5-section design with a 25-mm top tube, while its counterpart, the Marsace XT-26S, opts for a 6-section configuration featuring a larger 28-mm top tube. Despite similar end sections, the Marsace gains an advantage due to its larger top tube, influencing torsional stiffness significantly—remember, the stiffness is proportional to the fourth power of the tube radius. Adding to the Marsace's strengths is its 24-degree primary leg angle, surpassing the Leofoto's 23-degree angle and contributing to about a 10% increase in stiffness. Both tripods likely share the same carbon fiber material. I also assume the friction locks would not have any significant impact on the stiffness.

Interesting; that all does make sense. However, I do wonder if the traditional friction locks offer better damping than this new style.

Shifting focus to the FLM C30P-S4 (I have one myself, showed in the group shot), it strategically adopts a "tweener" size, featuring a 30mm top tube compared to the 28.5mm tube on RRS. This choice allows FLM and PMG to match the stiffness of Gitzo and RRS models while maintaining a slightly narrower primary leg angle. The Marsace XT-26s would not be comparable to the FLM: 6-section vs. 4, 28mm vs. 30mm, etc. Now the upcoming Marsace MT-24S might be a different story.

Yes, that is what I would expect with the FLM. I put some rather heavy astro tracking devices & FF large aperture lenses on top of mine and have been very happy with it. Although, when shooting a 600mm lens at landscape shutter speeds, I wish it had a little more stiffness and/or damping. A two-second shutter delay is barely adequate when using the normal shutter button, although using the touch screen, or, of course, a smartphone removes the problem. BTW, you can back the three plastic screws on the base out a little - like a quarter turn - and then your tripod head registers more positively on the cork rather than the ends of the screws, thereby improving damping.

 

[hiepphotog]

BTW, you can back the three plastic screws on the base out a little - like a quarter turn - and then your tripod head registers more positively on the cork rather than the ends of the screws, thereby improving damping.

What a tips, thank you! I think the 30-mm top tube size could be ideal for a do-it-all one tripod. Though the RRS TFC-24 is only about 120 grams heavier, and quite compact as well.

 

[bpatient]

Adding to the Marsace's strengths is its 24-degree primary leg angle, surpassing the Leofoto's 23-degree angle and contributing to about a 10% increase in stiffness.

Regarding stiffness versus primary leg angle:

Have you considered the simple fix of filing the leg stops to increase both the leg angle and stiffness?

Stability can be increased by adjusting the leg angle on many tripods to taste in only a few minutes by filing the metal stops. I did this on a Gitzo Mountaineer and a tiny Sirui, which both use a leg angle adjustment that seems like that of the FLM tripod that you mentioned. The result is markedly increased stability at the expense of just a bit of height, as discussed at thecentercolumn.com

"Wider leg angle results in better tripod performance. . . . For example, lets consider two hypothetical tripods that are otherwise identical except one has a leg angle of 22.5 degrees, and the other is at 25 degrees. The data above shows that the second one would be roughly 15% stiffer in the yaw direction, which is the weakest and therefore the most critical direction of motion. Using a little trigonometry, we can see that this second tripod would only be 2% shorter than its 22.5 degree sibling. That’s a trade off I would happily make."

 

[hiepphotog]

Adding to the Marsace's strengths is its 24-degree primary leg angle, surpassing the Leofoto's 23-degree angle and contributing to about a 10% increase in stiffness.

Regarding stiffness versus primary leg angle:

Have you considered the simple fix of filing the leg stops to increase both the leg angle and stiffness?

Stability can be increased by adjusting the leg angle on many tripods to taste in only a few minutes by filing the metal stops. I did this on a Gitzo Mountaineer and a tiny Sirui, which both use a leg angle adjustment that seems like that of the FLM tripod that you mentioned. The result is markedly increased stability at the expense of just a bit of height, as discussed at thecentercolumn.com

"Wider leg angle results in better tripod performance. . . . For example, lets consider two hypothetical tripods that are otherwise identical except one has a leg angle of 22.5 degrees, and the other is at 25 degrees. The data above shows that the second one would be roughly 15% stiffer in the yaw direction, which is the weakest and therefore the most critical direction of motion. Using a little trigonometry, we can see that this second tripod would only be 2% shorter than its 22.5 degree sibling. That’s a trade off I would happily make."

Honestly, I've been pondering that quite a bit. Figuring out the best method to not only hit the specific angle I'm aiming for but also maintain consistency across all three legs has been a bit tricky for me. Could you share your approach? I'd really appreciate it.

Based on my own tests, even the older Gitzo Carbon 6x can rival the stability of RRS tripods with the Markins tripod hub, set at a 25-degree angle.

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Hiep Phan

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[bpatient]

Honestly, I've been pondering that quite a bit. Figuring out the best method to not only hit the specific angle I'm aiming for but also maintain consistency across all three legs has been a bit tricky for me.

Well, I didn't need a specific angle--I just wanted to increase it. I think the two tripods both ended up at about 27 degrees* at the first position stop according to a protractor. Since (1) I use the tripod mostly outdoors rather than on level surfaces, and (2) I can use a ball head to level the camera, I wasn't too concerned about exactly equalizing the modifications to the legs, but I got close. My daughter's spindly little Sirui T-024x benefited greatly, but my old Gitzo 1127 was already pretty solid--but it's better now.

As to technique: I just leveled the tripod (on a flat surface, with a bubble level on the ball head) then filed a bit on one leg stop, then on the other, etc. until it look, and ed good and the bubble level was centered.

*FWIW, according to the centercolumn.com, the RRS TVC-23 first leg angle setting is 26.5 degrees. That tripod looked good in the tests reported there, and wider might be even better.** The Gitzo started out at 24 degrees, while the Sirui was pretty tippy at 22 degrees.

**https://thecentercolumn.com/2018/05/19/tripod-stiffness-vs-leg-angle/