Beyond the table top: 5 mini tripods reviewed

Outside of macro work, what are the best uses for these? When you decide to walk out the door with one, are you just hoping to find a suitable surface to sue them on? I like there size, but when I picture choosing this as the option to go with, I struggle to find the right situation.

I'm curious as to why the MeFoto Daytrip was omitted from this roundup. It gets great ratings on all the merchant websites and meets all the criteria DPR established for the group.

I received mine a couple of days ago and I have to say it's a sturdy little tripod.

Fantastic article - been looking to pick one of these up.

What about the all-time classic: the Leica tabletop tripod (14100) and Leica tall ballhead (14110)?

http://en.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/Technical-Equipment/Tripod-Accessories/Tabletop-tripod

This actually provides amazing stabilization when braced against one's chest:

http://www.ronmartblog.com/2014/01/drastically-improve-your-handheld-shots.html

Note that you need the tall Leica ballhead in order to move the camera far anough from your chest.

I stuck a generic narrow (1 in wide) Arca-Swiss compatible QR clamp (screw drive, not lever clamp) on the top of the ballhead, which is the cheapest part of the rig by far.

I bought the tripod, ballhead, and clamp on eBay, the first two second hand, which reduced the cost. Given that these items are made by Leica, they're built like tanks, so even very old examples probably work fine.

I wouldn't go anywhere without my Leica tripod and my Canon PowerShot S110 in a belt pouch; DSLR and Manfrotto tripod live at home until needed.

My two favorite tabletop tripods are not listed.

#1 - Really Right Stuff
#2 - Manfrotto

I use the manfrotto tabletop. works a treat.

I have used a Leica table tripod for 40 years. Very sturdy, very simple. It also works well as a chest support (with a ball head). Can also be pressed against a wall, a pillar or whatever for support. Maybe not the cheapest (like anything branded Leica) but it will last for the rest of ones life. Given its design, I can't see how it can possibly wear out.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/30592-REG/Leica_14100_Table_Tripod.html

One I never see reviewed is the Pedco Ultra-pod 1.
The first of these I got from REI backin the 1980's they're tiny when folded and have a velcro strap that you can wrap around fence railings, tree brances, or hiking poles.

Of all the mini-tripods I see reviwed including the ones here, it still is the one I keep with my hiking gear. Going on 30 years I've never seen the need to upgrade.

http://www.industrialrev.com/ultrapod-i.html

No mention of the UltraPod II, or similar designs. About 4 ounces and very versatile...strap it to a tree trunk/fencepost/street sign, strap it onto a found stick to use as a monopod (or..yawn...selfie stick), or just sit it on a table, log, rock, car hood, etc. Although I have mounted a D200 with 70-300 on it, it's probably more suited for smaller, lighter cameras. Under $20 it's a "why not".

Hello,
My name is Ari, I'm the distributor for FLM in the USA and Canada.
I first want to applaud the excellent work work Mark Banas has done here, it's incredibly thorough and articulate.
The weight of the CP10-A1 is indeed 277g (0.6 lbs.) and the B&H website should soon reflect that.
Also, the other option for a ball head with the CP10-A1 is the CB-32F; it will not only fit onto the table tripod, but uses a much more sophisticated friction system, same as the one found on all of our pro heads. It also has a separate pan knob.
Thank you

The Berlebach Mini Tripod, with levelling head is nothing but superb:
http://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=details&id=98&sprache=english

I bought the big brother of this tripod, which is OK, but that isn't as outstandingly rigid as this little fella, which weighs about two pounds.

So when my wife was looking for a small tripod, I recommended this one, then an unknown entity, and I was proved right. Extremely sturdy, and isn't ice-cold to hold even when its frost outside!

And it doesn't cost a lot, either (B&H got them as well).

Best ever was the Minolta mini tripod TR-1 from about 1984. Not many around but worth grabbing if you can.

Great review, have been thinking about getting something like this for a while now.
Just to decide which :-)

The DPREVIEW weight data on "FLM CP10-A1 w/ CB-24E" seems wrong: both B&H and www.flm-gmbh.de show the weight of CP10-A1 at 1 lb. But DPREVIEW stated the legs weigh 5 ounces (140g) . That is a big difference. Can someone confirm this please?

BAH! Mini tripods are for those with low testosterone counts. My venerable Velbon VGB-3--which I purchased new in 1978--hunkers down to roughly 30cm and extends to 152.4cm and is built like a tank rules all these mini to micro pods.

Sure it's massive, but that's just what the aging photographer needs. At 2.1KG it is a beast. But that beast will likely withstand anything that ma nat. can dish out.

I sold all of my film cameras circa 2003, but the old Velbon is the only piece that I have retained from the late 1970s.

Stress tests? My old Velbon has had the ignominy of a 77KG human plunked his plump derriere upon the unit and the Velbon could be heard laughing.

"Selfie stick?" You have a std. tripod mount and the VGB-3 will accommodate.

Photographers get tarred with the brush of 'physical specimen wannabes,' but start toting the Velbon and you may rapidly dispel such fripperous name calling . It's heavy and it works. Stop carping about your load and carry. We need manly old timers.

I would have liked to see at least one review of a proper tripod designed for an iPhone/Android phone that could perhaps also double as a selfie stick.

I really appreciate and enjoy these accessory reviews.

But I'm a bit underwhelmed by the lack of rigor in the testing. Whatever happened to the stress tests from the other ball head reviews and tripod reviews? :-P

And it's amazing how this Mr. Banas left out RRS again ... ;-D

I know most serious photographers won't like this but... my Zipshot is 13" long, weighs 10.5 oz. Takes my Sony Nex 7 with ease, raises up to 42" and costs about $40. For my hectic traveling style where I sometimes need a near full size tripod and have to grab a shot quickly it's perfect. For those who demand ultimate stability and like to fiddle, it won't be.

That FLM is almost as expensive and has a similar folded length to the sirui t-025x. It is a lot lighter (sirui weighs 1.5lb), but with the sirui you can get almost as low (half an inch off) and have a usable size tripod for when you don't have a table to hand. I think carrying the extra pound is worth it for the added flexibility.

I have two tripods, the sirui t-025x and a BENRO C2682T. The Benro is seeing less and less use with my D800 because the Sirui can hold just about anything.

I think the Gorillapod is the only one here that really makes sense as a useful product. Maybe other people have different definitions of useful, though.