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Sorry- I know its another tripod question but I'm stumped.

I'm talking about gitzo or Benro 057/8. (or maybe Manfrotto 724B or 728)

I went to photo shop studio in Sydney today who have a whole bunch of Benro's. They have the m157 for $170 (as alluded to in another post) but I really wanted the 258. For those that dont know its a 4 section carbon with a decent capacity and height for $310. While trying to decide which to get I really figured out my current tripod is fine (manfrotto 190) and really want a small tripod as most of my photography I walk for a few hours, as well as wanting a small travel tripod for OS. Monopod is out as i like long exposures of creeks/rivers and low light.

What has been your experience with these ultra compact/ultra light tripods?

The m058 figures are- Weight- 1.1kg, Folded height- 480mm, height (unextended centre)- 1175mm, and max weight 4Kg.($240 I think)
I am also thinking of the aluminium version with similar numbers but a max capacity of 2.5 Kg ($120)

My only reservation is that the final tube diameters are soooo small.
I tend to use my 10-22 alot so it wont have too much weight on it.

Please help me!!!

Robert

Robert,

if you are going to go lightweight, I would recommend you get a three section tripod. It will actually be more stable, a bit lighter and will extend higher. The only advantage that a four section has is that it folds down to a shorter length.

Then your question about the m057 or m157. You have about 300g difference. Will that make a difference to you when you are bushwalking? If it does, go the m057, if you don't mind the extra 300g, you will gain extra height and a more stable tripod.

I ended up getting the equivalent of the m157, a C127. It is a great little tripod, similar in specs to the C157 and not far from the M157. After having carried my C127 on numerous bush walks, I would choose the same today, ie C157, if I had to get a new one.

Cheers,

André

Hi.

I know what you're looking for, and whatever you land up with will be a compromise (sorry) There is a tradeoff between compactness and stability that is very hard to avoid. It's also important to consider the tripod head and fittings, weight can be saved here, but the tradeoff is usually dollars for the same stability, although I did read a review somewhere (maybe photo.net) that tested heavy ballheads on light tripods and came to the conclusion that the extra mass up there was an entirely bad idea.

My hike tripod was bought in HK, it's a Gitzo lightweight carbon, 3 sections. Like you, I looked at the 4 section, and I didn't really like what I saw in terms of flex of the whole arrangement with the fourth section extended. I found a 3 section one that squeezed into my midsize rolling luggage and went with that. At the time, I didn't spend much time considering tripod heads, so just bought a Manfrotto midi ballhead that was ultimately too heavy and eventually I saved up enough cookies and bought one of the Markins Q3 heads (beautiful). The whole tripod runs 1.5kg with head, and it straps to the side or back of my pack anytime I'm out multiday.

I haven't had a chance to look at the Benro tripods, but I've heard good things, and also for Feisol. I do know that if you want Gitzo, Hong Kong is the place. I bought mine at Tin Cheung's, his website has been updated I see and it has a lot of Gitzo on it. I don't know if Gary's mob sell Gitzo, but I'd be surprised if they didn't. There is no way I would have bought what I have at Aussie prices.

Hope that helps..

Michael