Bruce T Loc: Michigan

My travel tripod is a K&F Concept S210.
One of the legs can be removed as a monopod…you will need an 3/8 to 1/4-20 adapter. The tripod leg fits into the side pocket of my camera bag.

DJCard Loc: Northern Kentucky

I agree. Easy to carry on hikes.

lerrad Loc: Marietta, GA /Suches, GA

I like mine too! It easily supports my d810 and Leica SL2 with any lens. I have the aluminum version.

gwilliams6

I have a couple different size travel tripods from Sirui, both waterproof and carbon fiber and love them. I am sure you can find one the right size and weight for your needs. I have Manfrotto monopods and one larger Manfrotto heavy-duty tripod .

FYI, Sirui tripods won two comparison tests of travel tripods conducted by DPReview
https://store.sirui.com/collections/tripods

Cheers and best to you.

rlovaglio Loc: Augusta, Maine

Like you, I was looking for a lightweight tripod for travel. I have a heavier one for working from the vehicle that is pretty damn solid. I found the Befree that combined strength, weight and price. I find it holds my Canon 80D with the Canon 100-400 with 1.4 extender satisfactorily and better than I expected. I insist on lever locks and that was a requirement for me, gloves and cold weather in Maine. I intended to purchase the RRS light weight ball head but found the ball head on the Befree to be satisfactory. So no RRS purchase for this tripod.

I told a buddy about it and he purchased one and is quite satisfied.

Manfrotto Befree Advanced Travel Aluminum Tripod with 494 Ball Head (Lever Locks, Black)

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

One comment from a class I took a few years ago with an experienced instructor and published photographer. There is always a lot of discussion around whether to choose a carbon fiber or aluminum tripod. His observation was this...there is absolutely no denying that carbon fiber tripods are very serviceable and are substantially lighter than their aluminum equivalents. They are not unbreakable, however. If you break a leg on a carbon fiber tripod, however, the strong likelihood is that you are out of business for a tripod. With an aluminum tripod, it is more likely that a leg or section will bend. When that happens, it is quite likely that the damaged leg can be straightened enough that the tripod can still serve as a camera support, even if some or all capability for adjustment is lost.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I really jave not heard any horror stories about carbon fiber legs breaking on any quality tripods, have you?

gwilliams6

Larry, folks went to carbon fiber tripods because they aren't as susceptible to variations in temperature like in cold or hot weather which can freeze, stick or loosen adjustments as metals expand and contract.

What the experts say:
"Carbon fiber tripods are stiffer, lighter, more weather/corrosion/scratch resistant, and in general, stronger than aluminum. "

"Lower Thermal Conductivity – Carbon fibre is easier to handle in extreme cold temperatures than aluminum. Carbon fibre cannot corrode – Corrosion is not an issue with the main tubing of carbon fibre tripods."

From tripod maker Sirui which makes both carbon fiber and aluminum tripods and monopods:
"Advantages of carbon fibre tripods
Stiffer and more rigid – Carbon fibre has a much higher stiffness to weight ratio, which means a carbon fibre tripod of comparable tubing sizes to its aluminium counterpart will have better vibration absorption and be better when environmental factors like wind and water flow need to be considered.

Lighter – Carbon fibre is lighter while still being stiffer and stronger than aluminium. This makes it perfect for photographers who need to consider the weight of their gear when traveling, hiking or carry their equipment for longer periods of time.

Lower Thermal Conductivity – Carbon fibre is easier to handle in extreme cold temperatures than aluminum.

Carbon fibre cannot corrode – Corrosion is not an issue with the main tubing of carbon fibre tripods. There may be other metal elements used such as leg clamps to be aware of in some tripods though."

In an indoor setting maybe it makes no difference, but I will never go out in the field with an all metal tripod or monopod ever since carbon fiber ones were available. But yes it is technically possible with severe external impact to crack a carbon fiber tubing, but I know no fellow pros that have had a carbon fiber tripod crack or snap on them, and I haven't had one crack or snap even after years of heavy use around the world. .

Cheers and best to you.

gwilliams6

In cold weather or very hot weather, a carbon fiber tripod will be easier and more comfortable to handle than an aluminum one, trust me.

Cheers and best to you.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Yep. The only downside is cost. Carbon fiber tends to be much more expensive then aluminum. One thing I believe no one has mentioned is that carbon fiber tripods generally use carbon fiber just for the leg tubes. The rest of a carbon fiber tripod is usually made of aluminum.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Yes. That instructor suffered a failure while photographing volcanos in Hawaii for National Geographic. Sharp volcacic rock apparently scored a leg which unexpectedly broke later. I also heard a story about some storm chasers who broke one while loading a car to get out of the path of a tornado. Dont know those guys. Might never have happened.

I'm not saying to not get a carbon fiber tripod. Just be aware that carbon fiber is not indestructible and does require some care in handling. If it does fail, the failure mechanism is very different from that of aluminum.

gwilliams6

Sirui, which makes both aluminum and carbon fiber tripods and monopods, warns that aluminum can bend while carbon fiber is structurally stiffer. In my experience I have bent aluminum tripods, but I have never bent any of my carbon fiber tripods.

From Sirui:
https://sirui-photo.com.au/carbon-fibre-vs-aluminium-tripods-which-is-best/#:~:text=In%20cold%20conditions%20carbon%20fibre,stiffer%20than%20comparable%20aluminium%20tripods.

(start quote) "Carbon Fibre vs Aluminium Tripods : Which is best?
Should I buy a carbon fibre tripod?
Carbon fibre tripods tend to be much lighter in weight than comparable sizes and models of aluminium tripods, which makes them great for those who travel, hike and walk long distances, and for those who tend to carry their camera gear around for longer periods of time. Carbon fibre also has a much higher stiffness rating than aluminium – so when comparing tripods of similar tubing sizes, carbon fibre has far better vibration absorption from environmental factors such as wind and flowing water, and is less likely to bend or flex.

Under normal usage conditions similar sized carbon fibre tripods will be more durable than aluminium tripods. Carbon fibre does not corrode, but cracks in the tubing can occur through heavy impact, droppages or increased pressure being applied to the legs and other tubes. In cold conditions carbon fibre has lower thermal conductivity which makes them easier to handle when the temperature does drop in those cold winter months.

Carbon fibre is more expensive to produce than aluminium, leading to higher prices when purchasing carbon tripods. Over the years as carbon fibre has become more common and cheaper to produce, costs have come down on tripods. But not all carbon fibre is created equal though. The manufacturing process of carbon fibre can vary greatly between manufacturers, with the strength and durability being dependant on the direction of fibres in the tubing, the modulus of the fibres (stiffness rating) and the ratio of polymer or resin / fibres being used. Carbon fibre is typically a combination of polymer or resin reinforced with fibres of carbon. Cost savings can be made during the manufacturing process of carbon fibre by making a lower quality product.

For those who want the ultimate in strength, weight savings and long term durability carbon fibre tripods such as those in our Sirui tripod product range will provide a stable, secure platform for your expensive camera gear for many years to come!

Advantages of carbon fibre tripods
Stiffer and more rigid – Carbon fibre has a much higher stiffness to weight ratio, which means a carbon fibre tripod of comparable tubing sizes to its aluminium counterpart will have better vibration absorption and be better when environmental factors like wind and water flow need to be considered.

Lighter – Carbon fibre is lighter while still being stiffer and stronger than aluminium. This makes it perfect for photographers who need to consider the weight of their gear when traveling, hiking or carry their equipment for longer periods of time.

Lower Thermal Conductivity – Carbon fibre is easier to handle in extreme cold temperatures than aluminium.

Carbon fibre cannot corrode – Corrosion is not an issue with the main tubing of carbon fibre tripods. There may be other metal elements used such as leg clamps to be aware of in some tripods though.

Disadvantages of Carbon Fibre Tripods
More expensive than aluminium – Due to the complex manufacturing process carbon fibre is more expensive to manufacture than aluminium.

Impacts can cause damage – External impacts and pressure can cause carbon fibre tubing to crack

Should I buy an aluminium tripod?
Aluminium tripods have been on the market for longer than carbon fibre tripods and is quite often the manufacturing material used in more economical tripod product ranges. Aluminium is cheaper to manufacture and produce than carbon fibre, and this tends to reflect in the pricing when choosing a tripod. Aluminium is more flexible, softer and less durable than equivalent sized carbon tubing. The aluminium alloys used in tripods are also more prone to corrosion if the outer layers of the tubing get damaged or scratched.

Sirui W-2004 Aluminium Tripod
Aluminium tripods like the Sirui W-2004 tend to be cheaper but heavier than comparable sized tripods.
Aluminium tripods tend to be heavier when comparing tripods of similar sizes against carbon fibre models, which may make them a less attractive option when weight is a serious consideration to your photography needs (such as for travel photography or for overnight hiking). For beginner photographers and those just starting out who may be looking for an economical option, those who rarely use a tripod or even in situations like studio photography where the tripod doesn’t need to be carried too far, aluminium tripods could provide the stability your camera needs to capture those shape images!

Advantages of aluminium tripods
Cheaper than carbon fibre – Aluminium is cheaper to produce than carbon fibre, which means a cost saving when purchasing aluminium tripods.

Less likely to crack due to impacts – Aluminium tripods are less likely to crack due to heavy impact, droppages or increased pressure being applied to the legs and other tubes. But aluminium is less malleable than carbon fibre which means the tubing is more likely to bend under stress.

Disadvantages of aluminium tripods
Heavier than carbon fibre – In comparable sized tripods, aluminium is heavier than carbon fibre. This makes them less stable when weight is a serious consideration for your photography needs.

High thermal conductivity – Aluminium tripods can be very cold and uncomfortable to handle in lower temperature conditions. This can also lead to reduced functionality in leg clamps as metal can expand in colder temperatures.

Corrosion can occur – Aluminium tripods are typically made from an aluminium alloy, and any scratches or damage to the outer layers can lead to corrosion and rust to build up.

Less rigid / more flexible – Aluminium is far more flexible and provides less vibration absorption / resistance to carbon fibre. You will notice this especially in entry level and cheaper tripods. " (end quote)


Yes carbon fiber costs more, but for this longtime pro and most pros I know that work outdoors, the benefits of carbon fiber outweighs any disadvantages. All my aluminum tripods are just collecting dust as backups in my storage, while my carbon fiber ones are working for me as I travel and shoot all subjects around the world.

It is ultimately your choice. I have made my choice.

Cheers and best to you all.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

Not wanting to start a "Richard" measuring contest here. I had been considering a $650 Peak Design tripod for hiking. About the time I was going to pull the trigger, I came across a kickstarter program from a company called Heipi. They had what looked like a very unique travel tripod design with lots of innovations. I ended up jumping on the Kickstarter and got one go these for $299 (Current retail is $399, still $259 less than the PD.)

Here is a pretty good comparison video:

https://youtu.be/j-ZJAHqhewU

Here is a summary chart I made - note, probably the BIGGEST advantage with the PD is the warranty. If that is the most important and it's worth an additional $250, then the PD wins, n o question. Otherwise...

(Download)