Author Topic: Is there a good travel tripod that can handle FF camera with Telephoto Zoom? (Read 5724 times)

bobkeenan · « **on:** March 29, 2011, 19:15 »

I wrote another little post to my blog about my experience with a Benro Travel Angel.

You can read it here:
http://www.bobkeenanphoto.com/benro-travel-ange-c0691tb00-reviewed/

The short version is that it was great a couple years ago with a smaller dslr and kit lens but it's not doing the job with my current set-up. Like a Canon 5DMkII, and a 70-200mm f2.8... sometimes with a tele-extender.

Anybody have any good experiences with a travel tripod that can fit in a normal size suit case (does not have to be carryon)?

--
Bob Keenan
http://www.bobkeenanphoto.com/

Phil · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2011, 19:46 »

Hi,

I had the travel angle with a rrs head and found it did a good job with a900 and 70-400mm. Never had a major problem with the legs like you report, just the occassional needs tightening a bit more. Not the rock solid performance of a 5kg tripod, but for the weight I was happy. I lost it late year

and being broke but needing a tripod I picked up the triopo version of the same thing from linkdelight for $179 + post for the 1.2kg carbon pod (so slighter lighter) and a ball head.

The twists on the legs dont feel as solid as the benro and the plate on the top of centre column is certainly cheaper (I have benro short column still (which fits this one) so can compare

. But then the price is cheaper.

I put to the test the other week and took pics of white water kayaking with the a900/70-400mm and then some 15 second images of a waterfall with the a900 and 24-70mm (about 2.5kg I think), Took a little work to get the tension right for movement for the kayaking images, but for both sets it worked well.

However when I got it out of the box, I looked at the plates and remembered that I got rid of the benro head I was using with the tripod before the benro angle because I could never get stability and often had slight slippage in the plates. I still have the RRS plates and L-bracket so use them and haven't use the one that came with the new pod.

Overall, when I expected garbage, I have a decent working pod and head. It is a compromise weight vs stability - I know I wont get the stability of a heavy pod but this is lightweight enough to carry all day and will do the job I want it do (including 15 sec exposures). I will probably buy myself another rrs 40 head for christmas as they are seriously nice

bobkeenan · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2011, 17:52 »

I just don't trust the Benro travel angels any more. But.....

I posted the question yesterday looking for advice on what is a good travel tripod for a FF camera with larger lenses like a canon 70-200mm f2.8. I took the responses, did a bunch of research, and ordered one today. The Gitzo GT2541. It will be my first Gitzo so I am looking forward to that. If you want to see the spreadsheet I came up with you can see it here:

http://www.bobkeenanphoto.com/?p=1518

If you have this tripod let me know what you think of it pls.

kaycee · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2011, 01:33 »

I really like my carbon REDGED tripod....I have this version TSC-428 Ultimate Travel Tripod Carbon http://redged.nl/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=8&category_id=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=12

With a nice sturdy ballhead of the same brand.

There are better ones of this brand released over the years but still love my little travel tripod.

traveler1116 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2011, 05:12 »

Sorry didn't read your blog yet but I had a travel angel and one of the leg locks stopped working after about 8 months with not too heavy use, had to get rid of it. The stability also isn't very good for video or telephoto, it's just too bouncy but for night time wide angle shots it's ok. I didn't really trust the twist locks before I got it and it turned out that they didn't hold up well at all. For what it's worth I have a Bogen now which is much heavier, longer, and stable.

bobkeenan · « **Reply #5 on:** April 07, 2011, 12:43 »

Got a Gitzo GT2541. Just came in the mail. Its a lot bigger and heavier than the benro....but its still pretty carryable. And it is rock solid steady. I think I am going to like it.