How to Benefit the Most from a Travel Tripod

Photography is not a stationary activity. In almost all cases, you must travel to find the subject matter that matches with your compositional vision. When you do travel for photography – whether it’s to the neighborhood park down the street or across the globe to an exotic or backcountry location – a tripod should always be included among your gear.

Of course, a tripod can be cumbersome to carry, so it’s important to choose one that is specifically designed and manufactured for travel. This often requires a compromise between weight and sturdiness: a lighter weight, so it is easily carried in a bag or attached to its exterior, and stability, so it will keep your camera steady even when the center column is fully extended or your shooting in windy conditions.

There are two parts to the weight factor of a travel tripod. First are the materials with which it is manufactured, with carbon fiber reducing the weight more than aluminum alloy. Second is the tripod’s rating for camera weight. Among Canon DSLRs, the entry-level EOS Rebel T5i with the 18–55mm IS STM lens weighs just 1.25 lbs. (580 g) while the top-of-the-line EOS-1DX with the EF 70–200mm f/2.8L lens attached totals 6.75 lbs. (2,020 g). Obviously, the stability issue is more critical for the professional than the beginner DSLR photographer.

An excellent example of a travel tripod that will accommodate both Canon DSLRS (and others of similar weight) is the Sirui T-0X Series from Argraph. The T-005X is the better choice for the DSLR beginner or hobbyist/enthusiast, as its load capacity is 8.8 lbs. (4 kg). Serious amateurs and professionals will undoubtedly prefer the T-025X with its load capacity of 13.2 lbs. (6 kg), plus it’s made with carbon fiber, reducing its weight to 1.7 lbs. (800 g) compared to the aluminum alloy T-005X that still weighs a quite light 2.2 lbs. (1 kg).

Compactness is also an important quality of a travel tripod since you want to be able to carry it in a camera bag or have the option of strapping it to the outside of a bag. Almost any kind of backpack is designed to accommodate a tripod, but if you have to carry it separately, either on a harness system or over your shoulder, then you want it to fold to a very small size. Both the Sirui T-005X and T-025X fold to just 12.2 inches (310mm), creating a compact package that will be ready when you need it, but won’t be a nuisance wherever you travel. The Sirui T-0X Series includes a Carabiner Clip to make it easier to carry and weighted objects can be hung from it to create even more stability.

You must also pay close attention to the leg design of a travel tripod. Again, a bit of a compromise is necessary, in that you need enough leg sections for a wide choice of tripod heights, but also not too many that might reduce stability. Sirui’s T-0X Series of Tripods strikes the perfect balance, as both the T-005X and T-025X are designed with 5 leg sections, but with relatively thick leg diameters, from 10mm to 22mm. With all 5 legs extended, the maximum height of either tripod is 48.6” (1,213mm), and then when the center column is extended the maximum height reaches 54.5 inches (1,391mm). These Sirui tripods also include an automatic leg angle lock mechanism for each leg and you can choose from three different leg angles when you must use it on uneven terrain.

The versatility of the center column is another feature of a travel tripod to consider seriously. The center column of both the Sirui T-005X and T-025X tripods is removable and when you do, you can spread the legs and reduce the height to just 4.1 inches (105mm) for low-angle views for landscape, nature and macro photography as well as convenient tabletop use.

Finally, a travel tripod needs a high quality ballhead, so you won’t miss subject matter in motion or to capture all a series of images for a spectacular panorama. All the Sirui T-0X Series of Tripods includes the aluminum alloy C10X Ballhead with a fully anodized surface. It only adds .4 lbs. (200 g) to the overall weight.

Both the Sirui T-005X and T-025X tripods come with the TY-C10 quick release plate, a custom soft case and a set of tools. The T-005X is available in red, blue and black. All these tripods include Sirui’s 6-year US warranty when purchased from an US authorized dealer.

For more information, visit http://argraph.com/Sirui-T0X-Tripod-Model-Series.html#top2.