After Three Tripods, On the way for new ?

From the 4 characteristics for a tripod: size, weight, stability and price you can only pick 3 of them at a time....

 

My last tripod was the Sirui A-1005 in Aluminium. For compact length and weight. The carbon version was only just lighter and not worth the extra to me. The included Y-10 ball head is just OK. The leg twist locks are not as smooth as Manfrotto BeFree but I wanted the screw off leg to monopod option.

Now that Manfrotto have a travel version with a removeable leg I think I would lean that way. Mind you the heads on the BeFree are only just OK as well.

For a really god head on a travel tripod I think you will have to pay a lot of money.

I also have a BeFree with the lever locks on the legs. It is better built, but more expensive and does not fold down as small, and mine does not have the removebale leg.

For the money I paid the Sirui A-1005 in Aluminium for me was a good compromise for travel.

 

I had similar "problem" last year as I was searching for new tripods.
I wanted one for travel - light, small but still capable and one bigger and more capable, especially for macro.
In the end I bought only the bigger one - Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT but I still want to buy the lighter one for which my choice was/is Rollei C5i Carbon (1.3 kg).
Now they have even smaller (1.1 kg) and similarly capable model Rollei City Traveler XL but it has not "monopod mode" of older C5i.

 

I don't know how thick your wallet is but nothing worth its salt is cheap anymore; I bit the bullet years ago and bought a Gitzo mountaineer which is CF and made for backpacking... feather light, stable and QUALITY. Between the Gitzo and the awesome Fotopro CF, all bases are covered.

 

Forget the small SIRIUs if you need a stable tripod.

I would have a look at the 100x or 200x SIRUI line ...

If you have enough money, go for the carbon tripods.

I own two Velbon tripods which I like but if I had to buy a new one, I would opt for the SIRUI 2205E.

• "E" because I like the "easy" fastener style.
  
• "2205" it is compact enough for my backpack but very stable.

 

I'll just add that in my limited experience with shopping for tripods, with "travel" sized models, you often do not gain as much in terms of weight savings when going from Aluminum to Carbon but you pay a fairly hefty price premium all the same. It seems only the normal (non-travel) sized Tripods do you really gain a decent weight reduction moving to the carbon models.

 

RRS & Gitzo make light,compact, STABLE tripods - the best.

RRS is better; costs more; is harder to find used; owner is anti-LGBT

Gitzo is plenty good for most of us; is easier to find used; has poor parts/service in the US

Sirui is not all that bad really...

So, decide on your priorities and take your pick - I have 3 or 4 Gitzos, an old Benbo (not benro) and ballheads from RRS, Markins, AcraTech & the original Arca-Swiss

 

I have a Sirui t-025x and find it to be very nicely made. I'd agree it isn't the most stable, but with some weight hanging on the underside point it is pretty good.

I use it occasionally with an e-m1.1 and 40-150/2.8 and have had no stability problems. Only in a strong wind do I find it isn't as rigid as a burlier tripod; however the weight added in a bag as noted and/or not using the full leg extension (only extend 2 or 3 of the 4 sections) makes a huge difference.

If you're willing to have a waist'ish height tripod in windy conditions there is nothing so light and small but still a 'real' tripod. And if your tripod technique is good (remote release, delayed shutter) there will be no problem.

All that said most of the time I just use a Joby Gorilla Pod which is smaller and lighter still and super flexible.

 

The thing about tripods are, 1) no one tripod can do it all, 2) each type has pros and cons, and 3) any tripod will have compromises, some more than others.

With that said, I have several, each for a different application. Video, Hiking, quick setup small, and lightweight compact. Each will be best for what it does. And Arca Swiss types for the various heads, except for the video head.

As for Sirui, I use a very similar tripod called Feisol CT3342 Tripod. Does well for heavy heads and cameras, lightweight, 3 section (fast), and a decent price. Not the smallest but very light for its payload, and stable. The compromises are: not as durable as Aluminum, Long, because of the flat base it's wide at the spider.

Hope this helps.

 

A tripod I Won,t recommend is my pro Manffroto, fully extended it is 7 feet high and weighs 10 lbs. There is no model number on it but it will stand up in a gale.

 

Go with 2 tripods... I did the same.
A 3LT Billy for travel (yes, there may be lighter, way more compact tripods, but I HATE expanding hundreds of leg sections! 4 is my bearable maximum, and actually a stretch already). It's stable enough, head is ok, clamp too, big improvement over my old meFoto, no more wobbles.
And a monstrous FLM CP30L3 Pro with a big and heavy FLM Head for "not travel" use. Well, actually it's not that heavy for it's size, without head I think it's 1700g. 3 leg sections, quick to set up and rock solid. I climb mountains with it, but won't ever take it on a flight. FLM also has a new lineup, may be interesting. Not as expensive as Gitzos or RRS, and very good quality.

I'd recommend both tripods.