Travel Tripod for Landscapes

Need tripod reccomendations;
Got a trip planned for Barbados, where I intend to do night work and lots of daytime seascapes. The problem is my Gitzo is too big for my luggage(3 section legs) so I'm looking for a travel tripod without spending tons of money.
At first I thought the Velbon Ultra Rexi, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/743062-REG/Velbon_ULTRA_REXI_L_Ultra_REXi_L_Aluminum.html

might do it if I don't extend the legs much, but now am wondering if its sturdy enough for the D3s and 17-35.

Any ideas?

I bought the Gitzo Ocean Traveler, and love it, but it's really expensive. I replaced the aluminum head that comes with it with a RSS BH-30, and the set up is ideal for working around saltwater, very compact and light.

Wayne..
Just a thought, can you rent what you need in Barbados?

Don

Sure looks like a winner, but expensive indeed.
I've already got the 3541LS, and don't want to sink that much into a travel tripod. Whatever I buy will get my spare Markins ballhead, though. My thinking is if the salt water eventually eats it no big deal at a cheap enough price. But as I mentioned, it's got to be stable.

Don, I don't know, but in fact a friend there has offered to loan me one. But I don't feel like sinking his tripod in saltwater every day.

Manfrotto CXPRO4 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/584477-REG/Manfrotto_055CXPRO4_055CXPRO4_4_Section_Carbon_Fiber.html

It's very sturdy and it fits into my carry-on luggage.

Good point Wayne.
I hadn't thought about environmental issues.
Good luck.

Don

Outside your budget, but for reference on weight support capabilities look at the Gitzo GT1541T carbon fiber legs and RRS BH-30 head. I have that combo and it easily supports a Nikon D2X with either an 80-200 f/28 or 300 f/4. It's a tiny little lightweight tripod, but plenty skookum for gear lots heavier than yours. If the others you're looking at support similar weight, you're golden.

I just pulled the trigger on a Gitzo GT1542T Traveler. I went round and round researching less expensive tripods, but because stabilty is my main concern here, as has also been pointed out by those who posted in this thread, I kept going back to Gitzo.
The great thing is that Amazon has it for $610.65 and with the Gitzo rebate of $40 it brought the final price down to $570.65

I think you'll be a happy camper. It's light, but I stow a small mesh stuff sack in the case with mine. Any time the wind gets tough or I feel the need for extra stability, I hang the bag from the hook at the bottom of the column and add weight- maybe a lens, or maybe some rocks.

Good thought, Hank. I'll get one, because where I intend to shoot in Barbados there's lots of wind(east coast). Just hope the mesh sack doesn''t begin to swing.

Here's another stunt I use on soft ground-

Carry a tent stake and piece of line (I use parachute cord) in your tripod case. When conditions call for it I push the tent stake into the ground right under the center column and use the line to synch it tight. I've also use the tent stake on rocky ground, simply by adjusting the cord the right length so the head of the tent stake is lifted an inch off the ground when it's laying on its side. Step on the stake and draw the line tight. Viola!

I just pulled the trigger on a Gitzo GT1542T Traveler.

Too bad - I was thinking about a travel tripod myself, and I was hoping you'd find some kind of unknown one for me that was cheaper! Oh well... the Gitzo is out of my price range... so I'll keep looking.

David, here's a couple I was looking at, esp the Feisol CT-3441T. http://www.feisol.net/feisol-traveler-tripod-ct3441t-rapid-p-107.html?osCsid=aeircocs9j6tn6fuqf6rtnlan1

The other was the Benro C2190 http://www.adorama.com/BEC2190T.html

I nearly purchased the Feisol, but because of finding the Gitzo at the price I did I went there. (great resale value for if and when).

For others who have come to this thread late, I too needed a small but sturdy tripod to fit into a suitcase. After trying several different ones I ended up with a Benro Travel Angel A-269. This thing folds up to about 16 inches! I use my AcraTech head on it. It's aluminum so it's just a bit heavier than CF, but it's certainly no concrete block. Very sturdy--I shoot my 4x5 on it with no problem. It has enough height to keep me from breaking my back too. I think I paid $170 for it, and consider it quite a bargain for what it does. It is available in CF too, but that's several hundred dollars more and really not that much lighter. I bought it because of the new airline hassles, and the tripod has done all I need it to do. My "regular" tripod is a Gitzo 1325. While the Benro is not on the same level, it's good enough that I'm happy with it, for the price.


Kent in SD

...it's good enough that I'm happy with it, for the price.

And that's priceless, especially if it's only going to be used for a few days or weeks a year. At that price and size, though it will be a very reasonable addition even for those who don't travel. Carry it as a spare, leave it in your car all the time, mount a strobe on it in challenging situations, loan it to friends or fledgling photo students. While I'm reluctant to loan out my Gitzo or leave it bouncing around in the truck, the Benro would probably have been a better investment for me because I would find more uses for it overall. And the savings could be put to other uses.

Dang, I've just about talked myself into buying one!!

I may have been talked into it as well. I still have my larger Manfrotto for when I need it, and this would be nice for a couple of trips a year.

I'm also looking at this one, the "3 Legged Thing" Adrian. It's a newer British company, but I've heard a couple of good things about them. It doesn't come with a ballhead, which I like, since it's a little cheaper and I'll probably still use the head I have. It has a little higher load rating too. (B&H has the spec wrong, btw. It's about 16.5" folded, not 12".)

Then there are the Sirui, which I've only read things about, but seem good for the money. They're even more compact, with higher load ratings, which actually makes me wonder. I'm sure there's no standard for load ratings amongst manufacturers. They seem too cheap to be true too - but maybe cheap enough that it's worth a shot.

So I think I'm down to :

Benro Travel Angel A-2690 : $200
3 Legged Thing Adrian : $172
Sirui T-1005X : $117

Anyone know anything about 3 Legged Thing or Sirui?

The Velbon carbon tripods are solid. I have the 630 with an Acratech head. The GEO 640 should fit a in 22" suitcase and the 540 definitely will.

As an 80 year old white haired photo professor with a questionable heart, I never use my 8x10 and Majestic any more, almost never use my Calumet Wide field 4x5, but nowadays its either digital or my Galvin 23, 21/4x31/4 with roll film and I can use either with the same tripod.

Lynn.