RJM Loc: Cardiff, S Wales, UK

After doing a lot of research and looking, I eventually bought the Sirui carbon model.

Really light and strong at about 800g (no ball head) it is high enough for me at 5'11" and folds small for carrying. Even comes with a shoulder strap. I bought it with the GU10 ballhead. I'm more than happy and even now I haven't seen a model I fancy more. It has a hook at the base you can attach a bag to anchor it down. Has all you could want in a tripod - and travel friendly to boot.

here's the specs........



Model Number: T-1205X
Product Type: Travel Tripod
Section: 5
Maximum Height: 130.5cm
Maximum Load: 10kg
Closed Length: 40cm
Weight: 880g

SIRUI TX-series tripod is the perfect compact traveler’s companion. With its easy folding design, it can be reversely folded into a more compact size that will fit with one of the recommended SIRUI ball heads in the traveling case. The T-1204X, for example, weighs about 0.8 kg, but can support up to 10 kg of photographic equipment and stay very sturdy at the same time. The tripod also comes with a short center column that you may use interchangeably with the main center column for low-height shooting. Two adjustment settings are available that click in place automatically to lock the angle. A high-quality padded traveling bag accompanies the tripod, as well as a 6-year warranty against manufacturing defects.



Here's a link......

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/221370744670?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

One of my first tripods, only $60 at Best Buy. Since then I've bought sturdier, heavier, more expensive tripods but this is what gets used the most.


http://www.manfrotto.us/compact-5-section-aluminum-photo-video-kit-with-qr

Jcmarino

Have you looked at the "3 Legged Thing" they fold to 11" and are light weight for travel. Might be a little over kill for what you need but they are very neat tripods and can do amazing things from shooting inches off the ground to becoming a monopod.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Here is a link to my travel tripod.I love it. It's not cheap though...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/903226-REG/3_Legged_Thing_3lteddieblack_3LT_X2_1_Eddie_AH2_Kit.html

promfh Loc: Redwood City, CA, USA

I have had a similar experience with the Dolica! I've used it for about a year now. It's fine for a "mid-weight" (D5300 + 70-300) camera. I have used it with my 300mm f/2.8 with the factory 2X (about 10 lbs.) and that was about all the load it could safely handle.

Mine came from Costco as well. They seem to be a good source for this product.

jteee Loc: Montana

I have the SLIK Sprint Mini II which you should take a serious look at. I use it with a full frame camera, and although it stretches it to it's limits, it has worked really well. Has all the bells and whistles of much larger tripods.

billwassmann Loc: Emerson, NJ

Get a good solid tripod but forget the camera! They're too expensive and delicate to take outdoors.

caljr Loc: Indiana

I have 3 tripods but when I travel I take a Slik sprint mimi 2, it works great for my Fujifilm X-E1 with a 18-55 zoom. You can remove the ball head (SBH-100DQ) and that makes it 12" collapsed. With the head on it is 14" collapsed. It reaches about 45" and gets down to about 6" and has a quick release ball head.

rstrick2 Loc: Beverly Hills, FL

Check Out ME-FOTO, http://www.mefoto.com/
I bought the global tracker and am pleased with it. It can fold up and attach to my backpack, and it supports the weight of my 500mm Len

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

The Me-Foto are 3 Legged Thing knockoffs... 3 Legged Thing now has a lesser expensive line. Here is a link & a chance to win one... ( http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=54d0d1c0d784e3b0c7106a93d&id=0b2b226e46&e=b132b1ae9a )

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

The MeFOTO and 3 Legged Thing are great options for me---thanks. The only drawback that I can see with them is weight. The version less than 2 lbs has a max height of 24". I was hoping for 48".

My hiking/climbing occasionally includes over 5,000ft. of elevation gain. I know it sounds nit picky to want something under 2 lbs., but every ounce matters. So far the Promaster XC522 Tripod meets my needs best.

Thanks for all the great recommendations. -Mark

TheDman Loc: USA

I struggle with the same issue. I carry my gear on long-distance hikes, and want the lightest tripod I can find that is still stable and can fit in my backpack. I get irritated though with small tripods, as I often can't make the same shot I saw at my 6'3" height with a 4-foot tripod.

So far my best compromise has been the now-defunct Velbon El Carmagne 540. Rock-solid, folds down small... 3.7lbs though. There's a stability limit to height/weight ratio. Too tall and too light means lots of flexing and swaying.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Thanks... I've considered a more sturdy tripod, and I realize that by meeting my criteria of 48" high and less than 2 lbs it might be less than ideal for a full sized DLSR. However, my intended use is with a small point-and-shoot camera (Canon S110).

Gosh, 1 liter of water weighs more than 2 lbs. I generally take more than 3 liters on some hikes. Unfortunately, after 4hrs and 5,000 feet, water is more valuable than the photos I can capture with a good sturdy tripod. :-)

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Mark,

A few posts back I tried to point you to one at B&H that exceeds ALL your criteria. It is a half pound lighter than your goal, it collapses to two tenths of an inch shorter than your goal, it extends to 8.5 inches longer than your goal and supports camera weights 26 times more than your half pound S110.

It gets 4.5 out of 5 stars in 29 reviews.

For the fun of it, I left out the link to see if you would bite! You didn't, so here is the link:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/917559-REG/sirui_bsrt025x_t_025x_carbon_fiber_tripod.html

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Sorry... actually, I did look at your suggestion. Thank you. And although I said money was no object, it is $100 more expensive than the XC522. Is a hundred bucks worth 3 oz. ? Perhaps. Again, if I were using this with my DLSR, it would be a definite winner.

Having said this, I still haven't purchased anything yet, so I may change my mind and go for your suggestion, but as of right now, I'm leaning towards the XC522. The XC522 model can also be used as a mono pod. I don't see this feature with the Surui. Yet, carbon fiber is definitely the bomb over aluminum.

Again, thanks for your suggestion.