What's your Fav tabletop tripod?

[GeneW]

For SLR and TLR shooting I use a full-size tripod a lot, particularly when I'm using long lenses or doing macro work. But when I use my rangefinders, I usually shoot hand held. It's a free, liberating feeling after tripod work.

Sometimes though, with RF, I like to shoot in dark places or want to get myself in the picture. For this I like carrying around a small tabletop tripod. For many years I used a curious little one, a Velbon Auto-Pod, with retractable feet and a little ball head. I either find something to rest it on, or I plant the feet into my chest and can usually get reliable 1/15s shots using it this way.

This past year the Velbon head has started slipping and won't hold a camera steady any more. I looked around for a replacement and noticed there are now lots of tabletops on the market. Many are inexpensive (as was my Velbon) and look pretty cool.

But I decided to treat myself. I've always admired the Leica tabletop tripod. So simple, so sturdy and firm, and such a lovely, simple, and effective bit of engineering. It cost more than it should, natch, but I figure it's probably the last tabletop tripod I'll buy. Couldn't find one in any of the stores in Toronto so I ordered it from B&H and it arrived today. What a treat!

Got me thinking... How many of you carry a tabletop tripod? What kind do you use and recommend? Any special usage tricks you'd care to share?

Gene

 

[back alley]

i'm almost embarrased to admit i never use a tripod.
i had a very nice gitzo for years (got a good deal on it) but never used it - so i sold it.
i also still have a monopod (manfrotto) that i used to use with long lenses on my slr when i shot concerts. it's pretty much retired now since i sold the slr's.
i have a cheapie table top tripod that i used to carry with me but never used and it sits at home now.
sorry, i have no tips to offer.

joe

 

[wierdcollector]

Just traded a still-in-the-box Lietz tripod plus two Leitz ball heads as part of a deal for a Yashica FR1 and two lenses. Now I have two generic tabletop folding tripods. Just never use them myself. I've got my ball head Manfrotto, a Slik, an old Vivitar plus a couple I can't even identify so I really didn't need the Leitz.

 

[Doug]

Hi -- I admit to seldom using a tripod; and then mostly for night photos. I used to have a small many-segmented one that was very wobbly extended, best used as a table-top, but it's long gone now.

What I did use more (and still may have around somewhere, hadn't thought of it for a long time!) was a nicely-made German shoulder brace of vinyl-coated heavy alloy "wire" that folded out of the way and attached to the tripod screw. Good for steadying slower shutter speeds. Seems to me the brand might be BEWI.

My photos tend to be spontaneous, and I'd often find even a tabletop tripod an impediment. I have been thinking of a combined walking stick and monopod, though.

Here's a tripod shot of the midsummer "Van Gogh moon" at sundown over my home valley.

 

[bmattock]

Nice photo, Doug! I use a couple of tripods on a fairly regular basis, but when I go out street shooting, no tripod, like you. I also have a monopod, it is nice for my big heavy Fujica G690 rangefinder, that thing weighs a ton! My bronica SLRs also need tripod support...

I have a Slik-brand tabletop tripod, it's no great thing, but it is stable and works just fine - can't even recall when/where I got it. I have been using it with my digital camera to take pictures of my rangefinders to post my camera reviews lately. Very handy for that, and the first use I've really put the thing to.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Rich Silfver]

I'm a tripod user when shooting MF but hardly ever when using 35mm camera these days (unless I want to take photos that include myself...).

I used to use a beanbag quite a few times years ago. I found it to be much more versatile than a table tripod especially when the surfaces around me were uneven. It was also great to dampen vibrations when leaning against a car door, helicopter window, etc.

Not sure where it is these days.

 

[Stu :)]

I too don't often use a tripod with 35mm. But a use a Linhof tripod for 4x5 all the time, which normally means the car is usually not more than 50m away.
My Canon EOS 500 has got this grip called GR-80TP which also doubles a tabletop tripod. Not a bad little number until you start putting non-consumer lenses on it (e.g. 100mm macro or a Tamron 14mm), then the whole unit just keels over.
However I picked up a baby tripod at Dick Smith (our version of Radio Shack) on sale. It weights less than half a kilo, folded it's a tiny 33cm long, extended it's just under 100cm and surprising stable. The best thing about this tripod is that when velcro'd to the strap on my Canonet's leather case, I forgot it's there. However it's only down side is it's got a tilt&pan head on it. I'd love to work how to get one of those miniature Linhof or Cullman ballheads on it.

Stu 🙂

 

[oftheherd]

I have a cheapie ball head table top tripod I got at Ritz, that I carry for when it might be advantageous. The one I liked best had ridgid metal legs inside that came out the bottom. On the handle, it also had a mechanism that became a clamp to place it on car windows or pipes. That one finally gave out. Wish I could find another. That was handy! For my regular tripods, I have a small Velbon (much under rated tripods in my opinion), and a Mamiya for my MF and LF cameras.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I carry with me a cheapie Hakuba table tripod with a small ball head. I've put on it my Nikon SLR, my Contax G1 and tested it with my Leicas... and it's been a good, reliable and very portable piece of equipment. But it's very small. Fully extended it goes to maybe one foot tall.

Now, I've only used it in my crude attempts at self portraits. Lately I figured out that, in order to increase DOF and make sure the composition is more or less decent, I'll set the tripod, focus the camera on its head, place the camera carefully on the tripod, compose and shoot... after taking my place on the chair. Big drawback with current Leicas: no self timer.

Oh, well, that's what the old, reliable cable comes in to the rescue! 😛

 

[r-brian]

I have a little UniPod tripod, one of those little black plastic tripods whose legs kind of nestle together when folded. It has a double, reticulating head held together with a single bolt and wing nut. It actually works ok. It has a velcro strap which you can use to attach it to a post or small tree. I've done this with a point and shoot camera when my wife and I went snowshoeing. I've also used it with my nikon and a 80-200 f2.8 with 1.5x teleconverter and shoot off the roof of a car and hung it over the car window. Again, it worked pretty good. It weighs next to nothing, maybe 8" long by 1" in diameter when folded and easy to slip in your back pocket if needed.
For serious photos, I have a Bogen 3021 with a Bogen 3001 for lighter use. I believe in the John Shaw philosophy of "If a picture is worth taking, it's worth taking with a tripod." But again, I don't do much candid photography.

Brian

 

[znapschatz]

My tabletop tripod is a Polaroid knockoff of the Leitz with ball head. I don't know the actual manufacturer, but it is a well made, sturdy piece that was discontinued
decades ago. It helps steady the camera under slow shutter speed conditions when there is something like a railing or a wall to brace it, sometimes my chest (good for slight help around 1/15th or 1/8th sec.) I used to carry it everywhere, but seldom anymore. When folded it looks too much like a handgun, so I have reluctantly stopped carrying it as a "street" accessory.

Recently I acquired a Velbon Mini tripod which weighs a mere trifle and folds almost small as the tabletop. It sets up and takes down fast, and I think it will do, but the jury is still out. I still believe that, in general, a tripod easy to carry is not fully suitable for steadiness. OTOH, as an older guy I am getting more interested in lightweight gear.