Recommended travel tripod

rick.osgood

rick.osgood

Senior Member
I am researching various tripods and would appreciate feedback on a few I have looked at. First, my criteria:

1) Lightweight as I am buying this mostly as a travel tripod
2) Good quality ball head. Pan and tilt handles would be preferred. No creep with D7100 and longer lens (70-300)
3) Center post can be reversed for macro photography
4) Option: Can be converted to monopod when needed.
5) Budget $200.00 or so

I am finding tripods with a variation of the criteria I am looking for but none (based on reviews) that meet all of them. Here are the models I am looking at so far:

Dolica LA600 Pro 60-Inch Aluminum Alloy Traveler Edition Tripod (Black)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NOEH4FS/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

Manfrotto BeFree Compact Travel Aluminum Alloy Tripod (Black)
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...o_mkbfra4_bh_befree_compact_travel_photo.html

MeFoto RoadTrip Aluminum Travel Tripod Kit
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/used...cHLJtvuoVHBoCa5bw_wcB&c3api=1876,52248989522,

Dolica zx600B103
Dolica ZX600B103 60" Carbon Fiber Tripod and Ball Head — Dolica

I would like to hear from anyone who owns one of these models. Any pros or cons? Did you change the head?
I would also like to hear recommendations for different brands/models/options.

Thanks in advance
 
W

weebee

Senior Member
I've heard a lot of good things about the MeFoto road trip. I have the Day trip model and find it to be a very handy tripod. It goes everywhere with me. So I would assume the roadtrip one would have the same excellent build quality and sturdiness as the day trip model I have. As for pan/tilt heads I don't have much experience with them.
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I have a MeFoto Roadtrip around here somewhere... It's a dandy tripod but it does come with limitations (as I imagine all tripods of this variety do). What that means is I've learned I can't use the MeFoto for long-exposure shots: those thin little legs that make it a joy to carry about just don't have the same degree of stability as my far-heavier Manfrotto 190XPRO3. If you want to use weights to stabilize the Roadtrip out in the field, you might have a better experience. For everything else, the MeFoto Roadtrip been fine. Overall it's a very well made tripod.
 
C

crashton

Senior Member
I have a MeFoto Roadtrip in aluminum. It does have limitations, but for my mirrorless kit it works well. The one you've linked weebee looks very much like the Roadtrip, plus it is carbon. If I didn't already have my MeFoto I'd be buying that one.
 
csgaraglino

csgaraglino

Senior Member
Rick, your question can't really be answered without knowing a couple of things:

1. Will this be your main tripod, or only used for travel?

2. What will you primarily be shooting when using the tripod?

3. Do you need full size or compact?
 
R

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
Rick,

I've owned the MeFoto Roadtrip (aluminum) and the GlobeTrotter (carbon fiber). I've used both with my D7100 and big lenses like the 24-120mm/f4, 16-35mm/f4, and 55-300mm. I've not had problems with either one, and they both addressed the needs you have listed.

I've since sold the Roadtrip, but the GlobeTrotter is still my go-to for travel tripods. The only reason I picked the GlobeTrotter over the Roadtrip was because I had the GT in carbon fiber already, and wanted to reduce weight. The RT I purchased while on a road trip, stuck in a hotel high above the Las Vegas strip, and I wanted to do some long exposure night shots of the strip. No problem with the D7100 and large lens.

That said, I have a larger Manfrotto 055 that I use when at home.
 
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