Travel Tripods

[beancaker]

Looking for a compact travel tripod for the likes of city breaks. Giottos Vitruvian 9255 looks well made, and seems lighter and more compact than the equivalent Manfrotto.
Anyone out there using one? Any real advantage (apart from a small weight loss) in going for the cf 8255 version?
Thanks in advance.

PS D300 + 18-200

Edited by beancaker on Wednesday 18th December 16:11

[LongQ]

beancaker said:

Looking for a compact travel tripod for the likes of city breaks. Giottos Vitruvian 9255 looks well made, and seems lighter and more compact than the equivalent Manfrotto.
Anyone out there using one? Any real advantage (apart from a small weight loss) in going for the cf 8255 version?
Thanks in advance.

PS D300 + 18-200

Edited by beancaker on Wednesday 18th December 16:11

Yep, I have one with the MH5310 ball head. Bought it 2 years ago for a trip to Australia. Good travelling kit although I tend to use my bigger Giottos when not travelling light. Partly because it will more easily take the bigger and heavier kit and partly because it is quite a bit higher, as one might expect.

The legs are, quite small diameter tube but function well - better than one imagines looking at them extended at the smaller end.

I don't find I often invert the central column or set up the mono-pod feature but then I suppose they are not things one expects to do a lot - not fond of monopod use but I have others anyway.

I think the weight capacity in the spec is about right. The Ball head is very capable for its size.

I have no idea about the weight of your combination but I have used a Canon 400D/Canon 600D body and a 70-700 DO lens (which alone weighs about 1.2kg iirc ) with no problems. I think I had a 70-200 f2.8 IS II on it as well with acceptable results considering its weight and size and my likely lack of attention to the niceties of quality tripod work.

The carbon version might be work considering if you often fly hand luggage only. Could make it easier to pass any weight inspections though I have little personal evidence of such things being checked.

Nice kit, IMO.