Tripod for Fuji X-T1

[oldfashioned1536]

What does everyone use as a light, easy to travel with tripod with the X-T1? The two I am currently looking at are the Platypod Pro and a Gorillapod. What do you all recommend?

[erwiurewurwehu]

I have a Gorillapod and I just can't become friends with it. The legs are always the wrong way and it's not very stable. I would probably go with something like this now: http://www.mefoto.com/products/daytrip.aspx

[CRAusmus]

3 Legged Thing "Rick".

[Larry Bolch]

Traveling light, I generally carry a monopod with a ball head. When shooting, if there is something to lean against that will gain me a couple of stops. When traveling by vehicle, then I carry a substantial tripod—as well as the monopod.

 

In both cases, I would strongly suggest shopping in person. A long time ago, I was given a quite expensive tripod and everything about it was wrong. I could not return it nor get rid of it without setting off a terrible row, and the thing would not wear out. Eventually, the marriage DID wear out and I went tripod shopping and the tooth grinding ceased.

[MrThePlague]

I have a little Mefoto A1350 "Roadtrip" tripod that's pretty awesome as my travel tripod. They do have a slightly smaller model, and models available in carbon fibre (if you want to go that route), but I think the A1350 is a pretty good compromise for the price.

[Lumens]

I use a light Sirui travel tripod.  I find travel tripods are not as stable as I would like, but are MUCH easier to carry around.  I have a camera bag I carry my gear in.  If I hang that bag from the center post I get the stability I need.  I would not recommend a travel tripod for a full size (weight) DSLR, but they work great for my XT-1

[Tom H.]

Gitzo GT1541 Traveller with a Markins ballhead. It's very small and light. And sturdy enough to even carry a fully loaded Hasselblad V series or larger DSLR. It's the only one I have.

 

I have a Gorillapod and I hate it, never use it. Worst birthday gift ever

[milandro]

Despite owning a gorillapod I only have it “ just in case” and I’ve yet to use it for anything. I doubt it would ever be anything else that that.

 

I own a Manfrotto 190 SHB with a Beike arca compatible ballhead, and that would be my lightweight tripod for general purposes.

 

The other sturdier tripod I have has seen very little use and mostly in the studio and it is a wooden Hama Omega Pro L26 made by Berlebach which I am now selling

 

http://www.fuji-x-forum.com/classifieds/item/84-hama-omega-pro-l26-ash-wood-tripod-made-by-berlebach/

[Robert_P]

Just one tripod? Lol. I use many different tripods. Depends on how I'm traveling, and what I'm taking with me. If car is used I take a full sized carbon fiber tripod with me. If the trip involves a lot af walking then I thake my mefoto. Th only time I take a monopod is when I'm shooting long lens stuff with my canon gear.

[cug]

Regarding Gorilla Pod: I have a GorillaPod Hybrid here and as a tripod it's he biggest piece of shit I have in my photography equipment. And I have quite some bad stuff from old days ... As a "thingie to mount a flash in whacky places" it's actually quite nice. 

 

To make it short: I would NEVER EVER (anymore) consider a GorillaPod for the camera. Get something with stiff legs and a ballhead, you're much better off in most situations. 

[darknj]

Regarding Gorilla Pod: I have a GorillaPod Hybrid here and as a tripod it's he biggest piece of shit I have in my photography equipment. And I have quite some bad stuff from old days ... As a "thingie to mount a flash in whacky places" it's actually quite nice. 

 

To make it short: I would NEVER EVER (anymore) consider a GorillaPod for the camera. Get something with stiff legs and a ballhead, you're much better off in most situations. 

 

I would agree with you on DSLR, but with an X-T1 camera and nothing like those F2.8 lenses, the Gorillapod does an "Okay" job. Plus I like being able to put the camera at unusual places.

 

It's not the greatest tripod ever but it's small, convenient and still practical to use for some quick and dirty shots.

 

I had some fun with the pod last December with a long exposition shot in the city:

 

 

25 sec exposition with the Gorilapod on a bridge with X-T1 and 10-24 lens @24 and F16

[milandro]

 I haven’t found, yet, a situation in which I had to use the gorilla pod but I haven’t done much traveling lately. 

 

When traveling you have basically two philosophies clashing. One is, take everything you MAY need and the other is take the bare essentials and make do with what you have.

 

So you have those with heavy backpacks loaded with all the things that one may or may not use and a heavy tripod and the others with various degrees of bare essentials. 

 

I am afraid that I belong to the “ others”.  ^ Nice example of the typical use of a gorillapod.

[Mgjnet]

As others have noted you usually end up with a few tripods - like bags their isn't a perfect all rounder.

 

I use a classic manfrotto (hangover from dslr days) with my XT1 and a few different heads when I want rock solid e.g macro work.

 

But for every day I use Giottos memoire 50 which is light, compact and has the arca mounting so quick to mount camera as I don't have to take Fuji extra grip off. Feature wise is got 90% of the three legged thing's and build quality is great and it's about 1/4 of the price.

[Morgo]

I don't have a specific tripod for my XT-1 yet but I'm planning on buying one of the smaller RRS tripods. Choice is between the TQC-14 and TVC-24. I'm leaning towards the latter.

[rnoerachmad]

This's mine: 

SIRUI T-025X Carbon Fibre Tripod and Ballhead C10

with 

SIRUI 3T-35K Table Top Tripod

 

love them both while traveling coz it's very light

[Guest Ridgeback]

MeFoto Road Trip. And the cool thing is ... it doesn't only work with Fuji cameras but with all my cameras including the Rolleicord and its Rolleifix tripod head

[Vidalgo]

A month ago I got Sirui A-1005 aluminium tripod with Sirui Y-10 ballhead. That A-model is new, but basically it's a bit upscaled T-model. Y-10 is simplified K-10, same but without dedicated tension control knob.

I got it for home use, but this tripod also good for travel: 1.5kg total, 36cm folded. Mounting plate goes to 118cm without extending by central column, and steadiness is good enough for my X-T1 with a lense of medium size. Small shake is dampened at 1-2sec or so. At full height EVF of camera goes to 158cm, a bit less steady position but usable.

 

I keep Gorillapod as a table tripod and sometimes use it outdoor when I want to be lightweight as much as possible. With a simple ballhead like Sirui Y10, it have weight below 500gr (legs they are 240gr only), hard to beat, other useful feature is it can be allowed for cabin bag because the legs are not made from metal.

[Jon406]

I have a Manbily AZ 310 tripod, and for travel will be getting the gorilla pod for the sake of traveling and what it can do.

[Flavius]

Gorilla Pod seems to be either hated or loved... I love my Gorilla Pod Hybrid. Light weight and very versatile. Limitations should be clear - no heavy weight lenses, bulb exposures possible, depending on favourable circumstances.

But at that weight and size more likely to stay in the bag than bigger ones. Of course it is necessary to have a "real" traveller tripod and a heavy duty one. Same as with bags - you will never get the perfect one. And you will have all the lust to eagerly keep on searching for it

[Guest Ridgeback]

Hmm ... the Gorilla Pod keeps popping up.

I'm still on the fence about it. Several times I was tempted to buy one but every time I see those legs wound around something I get visions of limp string puppet limbs. So up to now I have resisted getting one.

Maybe I ought to rethink this ... for the umpteenth time

[darknj]

Hmm ... the Gorilla Pod keeps popping up.

I'm still on the fence about it. Several times I was tempted to buy one but every time I see those legs wound around something I get visions of limp string puppet limbs. So up to now I have resisted getting one.

Maybe I ought to rethink this ... for the umpteenth time

 

I went and just got mine at one point, even if I don't use it as often as my Manfrotto, I still enjoyed it the times I took it out with me and know that I was going to use it.

 

There are plenty of flaws on it, but the practicability and the small form/weight of it does have its appeal. I can put it up in many places and since the X-T1 is relatively small and light, you are not at all limited in its usage, please, it can serves as a very rudimentary camera rig, it's not perfect but still better than handheld.

[erwiurewurwehu]

I have a Gorillapod and never got along with it. Not enough height. I would probably get a small regular tripod.

[nielsgaastra]

I recently bought the ballhead for my GorillaPod, that made a huge difference in the usability. At first I hardly used the little tripod, with the ball head is it a serious substitute for my larger tripod (which I never pack when travelling, because of its size).

[Guest Ridgeback]

I recently bought the ballhead for my GorillaPod, that made a huge difference in the usability. At first I hardly used the little tripod, with the ball head is it a serious substitute for my larger tripod (which I never pack when travelling, because of its size).

 

Did you buy a Joby ballhead or did you get one from a different company? And which GP model do you have? What camera do you use it with?

[Vidalgo]

Joby ballhead is pure crap.