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Help me pick out a good tabletop tripod
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Dec 27, 2017 20:04:49   #
Ernie Misner Loc: Lakewood, WA
 
I'm looking for a small but sturdy tabletop tripod. Actually I would be using it mostly for ground level shots and flower closeups. Needs to be able to support a D810 and Tamron 90 lens at least. Thanks for your input!

PS - This one looks like a possibility: https://www.adorama.com/sunt1a11t5.html

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Dec 27, 2017 20:11:45   #
rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin
 
Sirui 3T-35K tripod and ball head - about $65. Very well designed and manufactured. Very sturdy lightweight aluminum.

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Dec 27, 2017 20:18:06   #
BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England
 
Ernie Misner wrote:
I'm looking for a small but sturdy tabletop tripod. Actually I would be using it mostly for ground level shots and flower closeups. Needs to be able to support a D810 and Tamron 90 lens at least. Thanks for your input!

PS - This one looks like a possibility: https://www.adorama.com/sunt1a11t5.html

I don’t think that one is what you want. Look at th3 Really Right Stuff pocket pod. It is about $120 at B&H. RRS makes quality products.
Bud

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Dec 27, 2017 20:29:49   #
Ernie Misner Loc: Lakewood, WA
 
rjaywallace wrote:
Sirui 3T-35K tripod and ball head - about $65. Very well designed and manufactured. Very sturdy lightweight aluminum.


Thanks a bunch! I'm definitely taking a look!

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Dec 27, 2017 20:54:35   #
Ernie Misner Loc: Lakewood, WA
 
WF2B wrote:
I don’t think that one is what you want. Look at th3 Really Right Stuff pocket pod. It is about $120 at B&H. RRS makes quality products.
Bud


Wow, looks super sturdy and I am familiar with the RRS quality. Looks like they have some legs here for $80 also: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1307693-REG/really_right_stuff_tfa_01_basic_pocket_pod.html

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Dec 27, 2017 21:44:13   #
jcboy3
 
Ernie Misner wrote:
I'm looking for a small but sturdy tabletop tripod. Actually I would be using it mostly for ground level shots and flower closeups. Needs to be able to support a D810 and Tamron 90 lens at least. Thanks for your input!

PS - This one looks like a possibility: https://www.adorama.com/sunt1a11t5.html


I have the tripod and extension tube. This would be a good set. But I would add a nodal rail slide so you can balance the camera/lens; otherwise the lens sticking out can make the setup a bit tippy. Add a panoramic rotator and you can do quality panoramas.

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Dec 27, 2017 22:05:00   #
rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA
 
Ernie Misner wrote:
PS - This one looks like a possibility: https://www.adorama.com/sunt1a11t5.html


The Sunway looks unstable and cheap.

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Dec 27, 2017 22:42:09   #
jcboy3
 
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
The Sunway looks unstable and cheap.


The Sunway is the same collapsed length as the RRS, but is 2.5" high when the legs are deployed. Not as low as the RRS by about 1", but that only amounts to 0.25" difference in the base, so it's not really that different in terms of stability. The extender does decrease stability, but you don't need to use it; it just adds flexibility. However, that is why I recommend adding a nodal rail slide so the camera and lens can be balanced better.

For a truly innovative travel mount, I recommend the RRS travel clamp.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1300992-REG/really_right_stuff_travel_clamp_kit_with_bc_travel_clamp_kit.html

I used it to mount my camera outside a hotel window in China for a spectacular panorama.

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Dec 28, 2017 06:23:07   #
Cletus Loc: Mongolia
 
I have a bunch of them because I have gadget neurosis ... and I enjoy cool design ... and because even the expensive ones are cheap, used, if you do daily eBay buy-it-now searches for a week or two.

In general: Almost all of them work well if your camera/lens (or phone, if you shoot with it a lot) is not too big/long and weighs no more than a couple pounds. If you want one for longer lenses, or heavy rigs, you need to shop very carefully. And probably spend more.

My favorites are the Leitz or Leica table tripod ...

https://www.amazon.com/Leica-Tabletop-Folding-Cameras-14100/dp/B0000AGAWB/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1514459943&sr=1-1&keywords=leica+table+tripod

and the Manfrotto Pixi Mini, which comes in several versions ...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D76RNLS/ref=sxr_sxwds-rbp_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3346373162&pd_rd_wg=LVDwE&pf_rd_r=1VWC6HVTHWG0SEDYZDFG&pf_rd_s=desktop-rhs-carousels&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B00D76RNLS&pd_rd_w=31HOx&pf_rd_i=leica+table+tripod&pd_rd_r=89212142-3707-4108-bbf6-f87bdaa559d8&ie=UTF8&qid=1514459943&sr=1

The Leitz version, a design that dates back to at least the 1950s, is strong enough to mount a bazooka. The Manfrotto is strictly for lighter rigs (reportedly, up to DSLR size) and shorter lenses. Amazon offers lots of inexpensive but decent mini ball heads and quick-release gizmos.

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Dec 28, 2017 06:43:41   #
LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field
 
Look no further. Wood is the way to go: The mini is an ideal tabletop tripod.
https://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=produkte&kategorie=1&sprache=english

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Dec 28, 2017 08:51:41   #
Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH
 
Cletus wrote:
I have a bunch of them because I have gadget neurosis ... and I enjoy cool design ... and because even the expensive ones are cheap, used, if you do daily eBay buy-it-now searches for a week or two.

In general: Almost all of them work well if your camera/lens (or phone, if you shoot with it a lot) is not too big/long and weighs no more than a couple pounds. If you want one for longer lenses, or heavy rigs, you need to shop very carefully. And probably spend more.

My favorites are the Leitz or Leica table tripod ...

https://www.amazon.com/Leica-Tabletop-Folding-Cameras-14100/dp/B0000AGAWB/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1514459943&sr=1-1&keywords=leica+table+tripod

and the Manfrotto Pixi Mini, which comes in several versions ...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D76RNLS/ref=sxr_sxwds-rbp_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3346373162&pd_rd_wg=LVDwE&pf_rd_r=1VWC6HVTHWG0SEDYZDFG&pf_rd_s=desktop-rhs-carousels&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B00D76RNLS&pd_rd_w=31HOx&pf_rd_i=leica+table+tripod&pd_rd_r=89212142-3707-4108-bbf6-f87bdaa559d8&ie=UTF8&qid=1514459943&sr=1

The Leitz version, a design that dates back to at least the 1950s, is strong enough to mount a bazooka. The Manfrotto is strictly for lighter rigs (reportedly, up to DSLR size) and shorter lenses. Amazon offers lots of inexpensive but decent mini ball heads and quick-release gizmos.
I have a bunch of them because I have gadget neuro... (show quote)

Be careful to choose a tripod that will actually hold your gear. The Manfrotto Mini is only rated for 1Kg, which is just over 2.3 Lbs. Don't forget to include the weight of any head you add to the mini tripod in the total weight calculation with your camera body and any of your lenses.

I do have an older Manfrotto full sized tripod that I've had for almost 20 years. I have nothing against Manfrotto. I like my older tripod because of it's stability and durability, but not it's physical heavy weight.

You might be better off with a full sized tripod that can splay it's legs out flat. I recently received a GoPlusTravel1 tripod with a Vanguard PH-113V head. The center post will come up and out and tips over sideways and becomes a slide rail. You can get down close to the ground, and move your camera sideways on the rail to line up at different left or right orientations without moving the tripod. The relative lighter weight of this tripod as compared with my older Manfrotto will make it my walkabout tripod going forward.

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Dec 28, 2017 09:36:06   #
Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH
 
LoneRangeFinder wrote:
Look no further. Wood is the way to go: The mini is an ideal tabletop tripod.
https://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=produkte&kategorie=1&sprache=english

Interesting tripod line.

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Dec 28, 2017 10:18:48   #
fotogk Loc: Tuftonboro, NH
 
Platypod small compact light weight holds my ff nikon and a 70-700 f2 glass

https://platypod.com

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Dec 28, 2017 10:24:33   #
Dossile
 
I have the previous version of the RRS tabletop/travel tripod. It rests nearly flat and easily holds my Nikon D800 with a 16-35 or 28-300 lense solid as a rock. I have taken nighttime cityscapes all over the world resting on a street garbage can, park bench, or pavement with excellent clarity. I carry it folded in the side water bottle pocket of my standard backpack. When I travel overseas, I only use carryon luggage, so my carbon travel tripod isn’t practical because of size.

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Dec 28, 2017 10:34:54   #
Mundj Loc: Richmond TX
 
Ernie Misner wrote:
I'm looking for a small but sturdy tabletop tripod. Actually I would be using it mostly for ground level shots and flower closeups. Needs to be able to support a D810 and Tamron 90 lens at least. Thanks for your input!

PS - This one looks like a possibility: https://www.adorama.com/sunt1a11t5.html


Here are two suggestions, first the Vanguard Altra Pro offers legs that will go almost flat and a removable center column that can also pivot. https://www.vanguardworld.us/photo_video_us/products/tripods/alta-pro-264ab-100.html#go-sectionTop

The second is a Platypod https://platypod.com/

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