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Cheryl Machat Dorskind

Hamptons Photographer | Photo Instruction

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Lightweight Tripods

By cherylmachatdorskind

To create great photos you’ll often need a tripod. Manufacturers have added some panache to tripods making them almost a fashion statement. I  have created a list of lightweight tripods for all camera models. Price tag, manufacturer, portability, and style were considered as I compiled this list.

In addition to price point, consider the weight of the tripod, the height — both the collapse size and maximum extended size, along with portability. Also, do not forget to account for the weight of your camera and the lens to make sure the weight is below the load capacity I provided. 

For DSLR cameras and many mirrorless cameras:

Davis and Sanford Traverse Carbon TR654C-36 

For still photographers, this tripod is the most economical model around. $170

Screen Shot 2015-10-06 at 2.15.27 PMWeight: 3.25 pounds

Folds down: 18.5 inches

Maximum height: 65 Inches

Load Capacity: 12 pounds of gear

Arca-Swiss quick release

Ball Head with level
Carrying bag 
 
 

Manfrotto 190 Go! Aluminummanfrottogo

$190 + $89 (BallHead)

Twist and lock legs allows you to open and close the sections all at once with one turn of the wrist

Weight: 3.75 pounds

Maximum height: 57.48

Load Capacity: 15.4 pounds

Folds down: 17.1 inches 

You will need a ball head for this tripod. I recommend:

Manfrotto 496RC2 Compact Ball Head with RC2 Quick Release

Screen Shot 2015-10-06 at 2.11.47 PM

MeFoto RoadTrip

   mefoto      mefoto monopod                                                                                  

$199 (aluminum)  $349 (carbon Fiber)

With 12 colors to choose from – you can customize the model with interchangeable leg colors. Available in titanium, blue, chocolate, gold, green, hot pink, and orange.

Maximum height: 61.6 inches

Minimum Height: 15.4 inch

Load Capacity: 17.6 pounds of weight

Weight: 3.6 pounds (aluminum) Carbon fiber 3.1 pounds

Inner column can form a monopod

Arca-Type Quick-Release

Converts to Monopod

Spiked feet (great for tough terrain)

Joby Gorillapod SLR-Zoom Flexible Mini Tripod w/ BH1-01EN Ball Head

 

gorilllapod with ball head

Weight: 1.21 pounds

Max Weight Load: 6.6 pounds

Maximum Height: 11.7 inches

Minimum Height: 4.7 inches

Folded Length: 12.5 inches

Quick release with bubble level

For deluxe Point and Shoot and Bridge cameras

Joby GorillaPod Hybrid Flexible Mini with Ball Head – Grey/Black

 

Screen Shot 2015-10-06 at 2.02.20 PM

For small lightweight point and shoot cameras, and Bridge cameras weighing less than 2.2 pounds. Useful in environments where a tripod would be difficult to use or carry. Terrific for unconventional self-portraits (think placing the tripod on a rock, a fence, a lamp post).

Weight: 6.4 ounces

Max Weight Load: 2.2 pounds

Maximum Height:10.1 inches

Minimum Height: n/a

Folded Length: 10.1 inches

Quick release with bubble level

For Smart phones

Joby GripTight Gorillapod Stand for Smartphones (Black/Charcoal)

smart phone joby
 
If you already have a tripod and want to mount your smart phone that is 2.1-2.8 inches wide:

Joby GripTight Mount for Smartphones

joby smart phone mount reg
Joby GripTight Mount XL for Smartphones
 
For smart phones 2.7 to 3.9 inches wide:
Jopby smart phone mount xl
All the products include links to BH Photo where I have been purchasing my camera equipment for a very, very long time. As an educator, I take product recommendation quite seriously and put a lot of time and effort into finding the products that I would purchase myself (or already have). If possible, I would appreciate your using my links, as I get a tiny affiliate fee for the time and care I put into my product recommendations.
Have fun shopping and if you thinkI have left off a noteworthy product, I’d love to hear about it.
~Cheryl Machat Dorskind

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Filed Under: Gear, iphone6, Photography Tagged With: Davis & Sanford, Gorillapods, Joby, manfrotto, photography equipment, photography gear, tripods

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About Cheryl

Professional photographer Cheryl Machat Dorskind is a three-time best-selling author and newspaper columnist, an international mentor, a photo educator and adjunct Full professor, a workshop and online instructor, a speaker, and an acclaimed “New York Times” fine-art photographer and handpainter.

She is a member of the American Society of Media Professionals (ASMP) and Canon Professional Services and profiled on Museo.

Learn with Cheryl

Team up with internationally noted fine art mentor Cheryl Machat Dorskind and expand your photographic vision. She is the perfect mentor for the visual artist searching for creative, technical, and marketing direction.

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