MeFoto Travel Tripod

[PaulWog]

I'm just about ready to pull the trigger on this tripod: Amazon.com : MeFoto Travel Tripod Kit, Titanium (A0350Q0T) : Camera & Photo

It seems to offer the best compromise between weight, size, price, and stability. I want my first tripod to be very portable (that means it has to fit in a backpack and not weigh *too* much). I'm aiming for the $100-mark or thereabouts. The gear I will be using is the D5200, and the heaviest lens I'll be using is the 70-300 VR (widest will be the 10-20 Sigma). Purpose is landscape photos, night photos, etc. This is at $150 + free s&h on the Canadian end of Amazon.

To keep threads down, I'm also looking at this polarizer filter (and I'll be getting three stepdown rings, 77-67, 77-58, 77-52). Again, trying to keep price-to-performance up: Tiffen 77mm Circular Polarizing Filter 77CP B&H Photo Video

Any objections, or better alternatives for the same price bracket?

 

[Derrel]

I looked at multiple MeFoto tripods in-person at PPS...they have wonderful design and engineering, but my concern is that a small,light, hugely multi-section leg system, like that is simply not going to be stable enough for night-time work where exposures are long, or you'll want to stack a zillion images. You mention a compromise: my feeling is that the compromise is worst on stability on not just this specific tripod, but this entire size/class/design of tripod. Sure, for basic, single, regular exposure time shots [meaning NOT long, timed exposures, but instantaneous exposure times like 1/500 down to 1/30 or so let's say], it'll probably hold the camera in one place under good conditions. But add in the slightest breeze over a timed exposure, and I expect that this thing will move around enough to cause less than optimal results.

Moving to step rings...that means you'll be shooting with a FLAT filter, and no lens shade in most cases, right? Under some conditions, that could cause undesired flares or ghosts, depending on the light source's location. I dunno...I am just NOT keen on "sharing" my polarizer among every lens, and a 77mm polar on a 52mm thread lens is a major PITA. I have multiple polarizers, and use the one that's right for each lens size. Added over decades, I have 77,72,67,62,52 polars. I have not yet added a 58. To me, the hassle of 77 polar stepped wayyyyy down to 52mm is not worth the economizing. And I really do think that with a lens shade on, the Tiffen polars are fine. I shot some images at the Oregon Coast last month with a Tiffen 62mm polarizer, an ancient linear one, and it was perfectly fine. Of course, I also had a screw-in lens hood that was designed for the lens too...

 

[Monday]

^based off what he said maybe this is a good compromise not as compact but seems like a much more sturdy option

Amazon.com : MeFoto A1350Q1T Roadtrip Travel Tripod Kit (Titanium) : Electronics

 

[PaulWog]

Thank you for the input Derrel. That brings me back to browsing my options yet again, but I'm glad I didn't buy the wrong thing.

Monday, that's an interesting suggestion. I took a look at that MeFoto tripod, and I can't find what makes it more stable/sturdy for long exposures than the other one I linked. If you (or anyone reading this) has any input on that matter, I'd appreciate it.

I've taken the $5-per stepdown rings out of my shopping cart and put in all Tiffen filters from B&HPhotovideo. One is $17, one is $19, one is $20, and the 77mm is $36. That's $92.92 for a 4-set of Tiffen polarizing filters. I'm considering if I need all 4 immediately.

 

[Derrel]

How about buying a tripod that you can wear on a sling, like a rifle, or lash to your pack? SOmething with 3-section legs, let's say?

I agree with the idea of buying four identical-brand Tiffen polarizers. The reduction in the extreme HASSLE factor alone is worth the $92. The last thing you want to do is dink around swapping one polarizer and four different step rings....I mean, jeeze...what a hassle! Plus, you lose the ability to mount all your lens hoods because the 77mm size is ALSO stepped down to the 67mm diameter of the 70-300VR, and is just being bought as a "future" size... I know a lot of people insist that Tiffen polarizers are not good enough, that B+W at $159 a pop are a necessity...I don't believe that's true. ALso, when you must RELY on a step-ring, then there's the issue of losing one or forgetting one, and needing to remove rings to put on lens caps, and just, basically a circus of hassles. Just buy the right sizes for the lenses you want to be able to use with ease.

 

[tirediron]

Just by all 77mm lenses. Problem solved.

 

[PaulWog]

So I read a ton of reviews, and I decided to get the Mefoto Roadtrip (aluminum) tripod.

Here's what my thought process was:

I googled and youtubed for a good 2 hours. I found a thread on TPF from two months back about the roadtrip/globetrotter tripods, and some other threads on the web. I found lots of reviews on YouTube (half of them appeared to be sponsored but most felt genuine). I came to the conclusion after much reading that the construction quality of Mefoto tripods is very good. Since the price-point is $200 for the roadtrip model, and $210 for the globetrotter model, I stopped considering any other tripods.

The globetrotter I was certain would hold up to long exposures given the reviews, but I wanted to figure out if the roadtrip would be fairly similar on that front. The reason why I decided to go with the road trip is: It's 2cm shorter when folded up (initially I thought that was insignificant so I was leaning toward the larger globetrotter), but the roadtrip takes up a lot less volume in a backpack as well. It's also a full 1lb lighter than the heavier globetrotter, which is significant considering the other things I might be carrying with me. Also, after viewing reviews, the globetrotter and roadtrip seem to meet a build construction level that is basically the same. Also, given the gear I'm using, I think I've chosen the right tripod for me.

 

[jsecordphoto]

My buddy has one of those mefoto tripods, they are extremely light and portable...good for hiking, but they aren't very stable at all. I was just about to buy one but got the vanguard alta pro 263 instead. I'm happy I did, its a little heavier and it sucks on long hikes sometimes, but its stable as hell. The bag it came with makes it easy enough to carry too.

 

[sonicbuffalo]

You made the right decision to get a Roadtrip. It even converts to a monopod. Can't beat that with a tripod.

 

[PaulWog]

You made the right decision to get a Roadtrip. It even converts to a monopod. Can't beat that with a tripod.

I'm excited to get it in. Ordered gold. The girlfriend wanted me to buy pink or purple. Color was an easy decision. Hahaha

 

[PaulWog]

I just received the Mefoto Roadtrip now.

My first impressions without taking photos with it yet are:

pros -
- feels solidly built
- colors, paint job, metal, and plastics (every material) feels very good
- everything appears uniform, even, and nothing appears to rattle or be loose
- even more compact than I expected (perfect for backpacking), weight is about what I expected

cons -
- The globetrotter's final leg extension is the thickness of the second-to-last leg on this tripod. I can see why the globetrotter would be useful for a bit more stability. Nevertheless, added width, height, and weight in the backpack would make a big deal especially if I take this on a flight.
- The leveling bubble is dinky. They could have included a vertical and horizontal alongside the circle one. That would have made for a really complete product.
- I will be adding little sharpied notches (measured out) on the final leg section of all three of the legs in order to get a measured half-way point. This will be so that I can extend the final leg section only halfway and quickly snap each of the three final sections into halfway position without an issue.

I'll post back once I get to take some shots with the tripod.

 

[Monday]

I just received the Mefoto Roadtrip now.

My first impressions without taking photos with it yet are:

pros -
- feels solidly built
- colors, paint job, metal, and plastics (every material) feels very good
- everything appears uniform, even, and nothing appears to rattle or be loose
- even more compact than I expected (perfect for backpacking), weight is about what I expected

cons -
- The globetrotter's final leg extension is the thickness of the second-to-last leg on this tripod. I can see why the globetrotter would be useful for a bit more stability. Nevertheless, added width, height, and weight in the backpack would make a big deal especially if I take this on a flight.
- The leveling bubble is dinky. They could have included a vertical and horizontal alongside the circle one. That would have made for a really complete product.
- I will be adding little sharpied notches (measured out) on the final leg section of all three of the legs in order to get a measured half-way point. This will be so that I can extend the final leg section only halfway and quickly snap each of the three final sections into halfway position without an issue.

I'll post back once I get to take some shots with the tripod.

Glad you got the roadtrip over the one you originally posted. If you think stability is bad on the roadtrip it is about 3x worse on the original one you posted.