Travel Tripod

Travel Tripod

By Anne Ahira

Photographers generally like to take their favorite past time on the road with them. This means they generally find themselves in need of a travel tripod, something lightweight and extremely portable but that will be sturdy enough for their equipment. There are all kinds of travel tripods on the market today and here we will look at a few varieties.

Spider Mini Travel Tripod

This little travel tripod may not suit every need, but it is so cute and practically free if you shop on Amazon that it simply had to be mentioned. You probably will not win any awards for pictures taken with this tripod but hey, it is still a nifty device.

Features

• Tripod holds compact 35mm and digital cameras
• 5 inches long
• Weight- less than two ounces
• Holds camera steady at any angle
• Indoors or out
• Usable on virtually any terrain
• Adjustable, flexible legs
• Comes with a lifetime warranty
• $1.25 Amazon price
• Cute

Vanguard Tourist

For the individual looking for a bit more tripod, there is the Vanguard Tourist Travel tripod. This is actually a full size tripod built for traveling and catching those great moments.

Features

• Ball head
• 6-section, 19mm tubular legs
• Radial leg brace with knob
• Maximum height 50″
• Folds to 13″
• 3 Way Panhead Movement
• Quick Shoe
• Bubble Level
• Gear Elevator
• Brace Lock
• 6 Sections
• Spiked Feet
• Tripod Bag
• $58 Amazon price for used model

The Vanguard travel tripod is a little more tripod for the money. It is important to note however that this is still a lightweight travel tripod and will not stack up well against heavier units that are more expensive.

That being said this is a great tripod for the price, it comes to you completely lubricated and ready to go, has lockable axes for panning horizontally or vertically and quick release shoe.

The one thing that is lacking on this travel tripod is the smooth motion head you find with ricier models. This of course is only a problem if you were thinking of using it with a video camera, still photographs will come out nicely.

Benro TRA168

Finally, there are the heavier duty models such as the Benro TRA168 travel tripod. This unit is built for reliability, durability and stability. That means it will naturally be a little heavier than the above two models.

Features

• 4 section legs
• Includes single action ballhead
• Calibrated panning base
• Dual quick release locking system
• Offers two leg-angle settings
• Improved dust and moisture resistant rubber leg lock design
• Removable rubber feet
• Optional stainless steel spike feet
• Retractable spring-loaded hook
• $159 Amazon price

This solid well-designed travel tripod is still light and compact enough that you will have no excuse to leave it behind. It comes with a very nice canvas bag convenient for any outdoor adventure.

Overall

Whatever your needs are you can bet there is a travel tripod just right for the occasion. Whether you want a tiny spider tripod or a heavy hitter for more security, they are easy to find.

Remember to always check the manufacturer’s specifications for maximum weight limit on any tripod before you use it; it would be a shame to watch an expensive camera crash to the ground on an inadequate tripod.

Here's Travel Tripod Selections:

Sunpak 620-020 2001UT Travel Tripod with Extra Qui...	Customer Review: At first I was skeptical in buying this product because I really wanted a tall and sturdy tripod. My main concern is also with the fluidity of the panning and tilting features of the tripod since I will be using a videocam with it. Anyway, I bought ... Read More	(48)
Polaroid 50" Photo / Video Travel Tripod Includes ...	Customer Review: I paid very little for this on special. With free shipping or Amazon Prime (I forget) it was really inexpensive. Well made for a lightweight stand for a point and shoot or small video camera. I like the quality.... Read More	(1)
Sony VCTMTK Travel Tripod for Compatible Sony Came...	Customer Review: Sony continues to put out great products that last almost a lifetime. The travel tripod works well with our camera, is light and easy to travel with or stick in your purse. Worked out amazingly well for our holiday gatherings. My boyfriend didn't eve... Read More	(20)
Slik Tabletop Travel Tripod...	Customer Review: This tripod is well made and convenient in terms of size and use, but I feel that it doesn't really support my camera as well as I hoped. I have a D80 with the 18-135mm lens and it takes a little adjusting to have it positioned so that it won't topp... Read More	(12)
Digital Concepts TR-60N Camera Tripod with Carryin...	Customer Review: I bought this about two years ago and it was a great deal...or so I thought. I used it with a Canon XSi. It is very light (flimsy) but has great features for a cheap tripod. The main problem is that the metal screws on the adjustment pegs tear this t... Read More	$24.99 (284)