Smallest and lightest "real" tripod?

[psartman]

The best tripod is the one you have with you. I'm obsessed with ultra-compact, ultra-light gear, and I've tried a LOT of tripods in recent years. After having owned the Peak Design and my most recent favorite Marsace XT-15, this Oben CQL-13 is the one I will be taking in my travel kit.

It is not for heavy cameras or extreme conditions such as high winds or extra tall positions, but it is quite steady for regular use. I use it with my Sony mirrorless full frame with 20-70 lens. The legs extend and retract quickly and securely with the no-collar twist and pull system that I prefer.

The ball head was a surprise- really good quality and low-profile design. The tripod has a more narrow leg angle than some (21 degrees) which increases height but reduces stability. Same with the rather narrow trapezoidal center column. I would not hesitate to do time exposures with the column not extended, and with a weight on the bottom hook.

At under 1.5 lbs, less than 14 inches long (with QR head tilted to side), and less than 3 inch diameter, this is the smallest and best compromise I've found for a "real" (not tabletop) tripod. While not as tall, It's 1.3 lbs lighter and 2 inches shorter when packed than the Peak Design. To me, that's a significant difference. Load Capacity: 13 lb

• Working Height Range: 5 to 51.1"
• Folded Length: 14.5"
• 2-Way Ball Head with Arca-Type QR
• 5-Section Carbon Fiber Legs, Twist Locks
• Weight: 1.5 lb

With B&H EDU discount it's a great bargain at $109.45, their reg price is around $150 (list price around $260).

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1765443-STUD/oben_cql_13_compact_carbon_fiber.html

 

[Fazal Majid]

Interesting. Since it's similar to the CT-2331, likely half the weight and likely half the stability of the Gitzo GK1545T, but probably on par with the Peak Design, and a reasonable trade-off.

Travel Tripod Rankings

This rankings page only includes tripods that considered to be travel tripods. These are characterized by some combination of small folded size (shown as Volume below), light weight, and the manuf…

thecentercolumn.com

I assume you are the "Paul" who reviewed it on B&H. What materials are those red knobs and leg locks made of, plastic or metal?

 

[psartman]

Interesting. Since it's similar to the CT-2331, likely half the weight and likely half the stability of the Gitzo GK1545T, but probably on par with the Peak Design, and a reasonable trade-off.

https://thecentercolumn.com/rankings/travel-tripod-rankings/

I assume you are the "Paul" who reviewed it on B&H. What materials are those red knobs and leg locks made of, plastic or metal?

That's me. It's quite different from the CT-2331- different leg locks, 5 leg section, shorter folded, and shaped instead of round center column. Probably not as stable, but I don't have any way to test that. The red parts are anodized metal, probably aluminum. The whole thing is quite nicely finished.

 

[ZodiacPhoto]

I've never had a tripod with this type of leg locks.

Can leg length be adjusted, or they only work when fully extended? How does the mechanism work? Do you trust it?

Perhaps, just for 3/4 lb. more, it worth looking at Benro Cyanbird: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...fs20proc_cyanbird_carbon_fiber_5_section.html

With it, you don't have to use quotation marks around the word "real" ;-)

 

[psartman]

I've never had a tripod with this type of leg locks.

Can leg length be adjusted, or they only work when fully extended? How does the mechanism work? Do you trust it?

Perhaps, just for 3/4 lb. more, it worth looking at Benro Cyanbird: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...fs20proc_cyanbird_carbon_fiber_5_section.html

With it, you don't have to use quotation marks around the word "real" ;-)

The legs can be individually adjusted. Yes, I trust the leg locks. It took some getting used to, but I actually find them more secure than twist collar locks, they have a satisfying click when locked. There are several tripods like the Benro that are .75 lb heavier and 3-4 inches longer when closed- Peak Design and all the others it inspired. For me, the savings in size and weight makes a difference. Yes, it's a real tripod, no quotes about it.

 

[RacingManiac]

This is my current favorite:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BKG8YFVX/

I was using this previously but the new leg locking method was what sold me to get a newer one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KD181B3/

I did end up putting a ball head to it though.

 

[wiz105]

What about the Heipi 3-in-1 travel tripod? I have one, and it's pretty compact and light weight. Plus you get the benefit of the center column pulling out and giving you a mini tripod.

 

[Rod McD]

Hi,

I share your interest in light tripods (I'm a hiker) and have a small forest of them at home that range from a Gitzo to table top models. Thank you for the tip, and it does look like good value.

I just recently bought the Sirui AT-125 which looks remarkably similar in leg and leg lock design. The Sirui column is a two-part circular one. The bottom of the column unscrews to allow ground level shooting. Sirui market it with their small B-OOK ball and pan head. I don't know if they all come out of the same factory, but the theme is certainly spreading. They are indeed great for travel.

I too have noticed that some recent tripods have been made with a narrower leg angle. It makes them appear taller for a given packed size and weight (no doubt for marketing) but at the expense of stability. This is a bad trend. My Manfrotto 'Big Carbon' Traveler blew over in fairly modest wind - too easily. (I caught the camera on the way down.) When I looked at this event carefully, I found that my Gitzo Mountaineer and the Manfrotto are very similar in height, but that the Gitzo's leg tips are 1200mm apart at full extension and the Manfrotto's are 900mm apart. That's a huge difference, and makes the Gitzo far more stable, though heavier. Another tripod metric to look for and consider.....

Regards, Rod

 

[psartman]

What about the Heipi 3-in-1 travel tripod? I have one, and it's pretty compact and light weight. Plus you get the benefit of the center column pulling out and giving you a mini tripod.

THat seems like an innovative design, but it's twice the weight and three inches longer collapsed.

 

[psartman]

Hi,

I share your interest in light tripods (I'm a hiker) and have a small forest of them at home that range from a Gitzo to table top models. Thank you for the tip, and it does look like good value.

I just recently bought the Sirui AT-125 which looks remarkably similar in leg and leg lock design. The Sirui column is a two-part circular one. The bottom of the column unscrews to allow ground level shooting. Sirui market it with their small B-OOK ball and pan head. I don't know if they all come out of the same factory, but the theme is certainly spreading. They are indeed great for travel.

I too have noticed that some recent tripods have been made with a narrower leg angle. It makes them appear taller for a given packed size and weight (no doubt for marketing) but at the expense of stability. This is a bad trend. My Manfrotto 'Big Carbon' Traveler blew over in fairly modest wind - too easily. (I caught the camera on the way down.) When I looked at this event carefully, I found that my Gitzo Mountaineer and the Manfrotto are very similar in height, but that the Gitzo's leg tips are 1200mm apart at full extension and the Manfrotto's are 900mm apart. That's a huge difference, and makes the Gitzo far more stable, though heavier. Another tripod metric to look for and consider.....

Regards, Rod

I looked into the Sirui (I've owned a different model, good quality and value). I think the shaped inner column on the Oben makes a big difference in packability, the maximum diameter is only 3 inches. The models with reverse pack legs are significantly wider. This is one of several design innovations from Peak Design that have been thankfully been incorporated by others. The Oben center column is skinny (as is the PD) compared to the Marsace.

This, combined with the narrower leg angle, probably makes it slight less stable. I haven't used it much in the field yet, but I'm pretty sure this will be an acceptable compromise for its minimal size and weight. Of course, the question for serious photographers is- why bother to bring a tripod at all if you're not going to get sharp photos? I think the key is to know the limitations, and how to properly use it. For me this means- use a small-ish camera and lens (in my case, a Sony A7RIV and 20-70mm f/4), use my camera bag as a weight on the hook, use a 3-second delay for time exposures, and avoid the center column if possible. You can't expect anything but a large heavy tripod to work in windy conditions with a long, heavy lens.

 

[Rod McD]

Hi,

I share your interest in light tripods (I'm a hiker) and have a small forest of them at home that range from a Gitzo to table top models. Thank you for the tip, and it does look like good value.

I just recently bought the Sirui AT-125 which looks remarkably similar in leg and leg lock design. The Sirui column is a two-part circular one. The bottom of the column unscrews to allow ground level shooting. Sirui market it with their small B-OOK ball and pan head. I don't know if they all come out of the same factory, but the theme is certainly spreading. They are indeed great for travel.

I too have noticed that some recent tripods have been made with a narrower leg angle. It makes them appear taller for a given packed size and weight (no doubt for marketing) but at the expense of stability. This is a bad trend. My Manfrotto 'Big Carbon' Traveler blew over in fairly modest wind - too easily. (I caught the camera on the way down.) When I looked at this event carefully, I found that my Gitzo Mountaineer and the Manfrotto are very similar in height, but that the Gitzo's leg tips are 1200mm apart at full extension and the Manfrotto's are 900mm apart. That's a huge difference, and makes the Gitzo far more stable, though heavier. Another tripod metric to look for and consider.....

Regards, Rod

I looked into the Sirui (I've owned a different model, good quality and value). I think the shaped inner column on the Oben makes a big difference in packability, the maximum diameter is only 3 inches. The models with reverse pack legs are significantly wider. This is one of several design innovations from Peak Design that have been thankfully been incorporated by others. The Oben center column is skinny (as is the PD) compared to the Marsace.

This, combined with the narrower leg angle, probably makes it slight less stable. I haven't used it much in the field yet, but I'm pretty sure this will be an acceptable compromise for its minimal size and weight. Of course, the question for serious photographers is- why bother to bring a tripod at all if you're not going to get sharp photos? I think the key is to know the limitations, and how to properly use it. For me this means- use a small-ish camera and lens (in my case, a Sony A7RIV and 20-70mm f/4), use my camera bag as a weight on the hook, use a 3-second delay for time exposures, and avoid the center column if possible. You can't expect anything but a large heavy tripod to work in windy conditions with a long, heavy lens.

Indeed, they all have their limits...... There have been days where my Gitzo Moutaineer would also have been blown over, but for my weight on it. The other problem that emerges is wind driven vibration - forced harmonic vibration of the legs. I suspect there's a wind level where hand-holding may be better in reasonable light than a tripod - 90kg of human dampens the vibrations more than CF.

Cheers, Rod

 

[hiepphotog]

IMO, this design on the Oben you reviewed here and many others is the current best design for featherweight functional tripods. I am using the Marsace XT-26S cause I don't need the height and it is the only 28mm-class tripod in this design.

 

[psartman]

IMO, this design on the Oben you reviewed here and many others is the current best design for featherweight functional tripods. I am using the Marsace XT-26S cause I don't need the height and it is the only 28mm-class tripod in this design.

I was not aware that the XT-26S had six section legs. I think I would still miss the center column, I find it useful for fine-tuning the height.

 

[Baseballdad15]

Would this tripod be good for video? If not, which travel tripod for video would you recommend?

 

[psartman]

I don't shoot video, so I'm really not qualified to say. In any case, I'd think you'd want to use a video head, not the ball head it comes with.

 

[Rod McD]

Hi,

I participated in this thread earlier and recently came across a drawback to these tripods with the locking device at the foot.....

I bought the Sirui AT125 tripod with similar legs to the tripod described by the OP. I'd still have no hesitation taking it for general travel - as in travel to other cities, etc.

However, I recently tried it in a forested area of a local national park - taking images of fungi. It's midwinter here, and the ground was mud, mush and dead leaves from fall. I needed to adjust leg angles for sloping terrain and obstacles on the forest floor - and there's the problem...... To make small changes to the tripod's height or the angle of any leg(s), the lock is at the tip of the leg - down in the mud and the mush. It's not a great solution for sandy, muddy, grubby, wet or snowy conditions.....

For wild conditions, I think I'll take a tripod with the locking clamps or collars up the leg and not at the tip.

Regards, Rod

 

[hiepphotog]

Hi,

I participated in this thread earlier and recently came across a drawback to these tripods with the locking device at the foot.....

I bought the Sirui AT125 tripod with similar legs to the tripod described by the OP. I'd still have no hesitation taking it for general travel - as in travel to other cities, etc.

However, I recently tried it in a forested area of a local national park - taking images of fungi. It's midwinter here, and the ground was mud, mush and dead leaves from fall. I needed to adjust leg angles for sloping terrain and obstacles on the forest floor - and there's the problem...... To make small changes to the tripod's height or the angle of any leg(s), the lock is at the tip of the leg - down in the mud and the mush. It's not a great solution for sandy, muddy, grubby, wet or snowy conditions.....

For wild conditions, I think I'll take a tripod with the locking clamps or collars up the leg and not at the tip.

Regards, Rod

Hi Rod,

Actually you can grab each leg segment and a twist would unlock them, but I imagine it could be slippery if wetted.

 

[Rod McD]

Hi,

I participated in this thread earlier and recently came across a drawback to these tripods with the locking device at the foot.....

I bought the Sirui AT125 tripod with similar legs to the tripod described by the OP. I'd still have no hesitation taking it for general travel - as in travel to other cities, etc.

However, I recently tried it in a forested area of a local national park - taking images of fungi. It's midwinter here, and the ground was mud, mush and dead leaves from fall. I needed to adjust leg angles for sloping terrain and obstacles on the forest floor - and there's the problem...... To make small changes to the tripod's height or the angle of any leg(s), the lock is at the tip of the leg - down in the mud and the mush. It's not a great solution for sandy, muddy, grubby, wet or snowy conditions.....

For wild conditions, I think I'll take a tripod with the locking clamps or collars up the leg and not at the tip.

Regards, Rod

Hi Rod,

Actually you can grab each leg segment and a twist would unlock them, but I imagine it could be slippery if wetted.

Hi,

Thanks. It depends a bit on how many sections you have extended. I was close to the ground with little or no extension, and in squelchy, muddy, ground, so still had to use the end knob. I also suspect that the bottom is prone to getting mud into the telescoping sections.

On reflection, the best tripods for mud and water are the "upside down tripods" - tripods with the fattest leg section at the bottom forming a sealed unit. They've been made in the past, but I can't currently see any on e-Bay under that term. Not even a used one.

I've got one that I converted years ago from a normal aluminium Manfrotto Art 190. I had ruined two Manfrotto tripods photographing on salt lakes in Australia. The combination of salt and sand getting up onto the telescoping sections scores and corrodes the insides and made using them a nightmare. I bought a new Art 190, removed and reversed the legs, putting the thinnest sections at the top. I had a machinist make up 1) three small sleeves placed on the end of the thin sections to take their diameter up to the fat section diameter (to fit into the leg clamps at the hub) and 2) three sealed bottom fittings that I epoxied onto the new bottom ends (originally the top ends). It looks a bit weird, but works well, and it's robust. Unfortunately old Manfrottos are quite heavy in comparison to modern CF tripods, so it sits buried in the closet.

Cheers, Rod