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Looking for a lightweight travel tripod. I have a budget of about 80$. It has to be fairly compact, so that it will fit in the bag (about 22", 56cm) and no more than 2.5lb (1.14kg). And of course it has to be stable ;o)

hmm, your requirements are quite impossible to match.
Cheap, stable, lightweight, and compact don't go together well.
Cheap means usually not stable and/or heavy.
Compact often means either unstable or expensive (or so small as to be useless).
Lightweight almost always means VERY expensive unless you opt for unstable and/or extremely small and thus useless.

I've seen different tripods that comes close to fit my demands, like some slik tripods. Just need some recommendations... The demands are just guidelines! I know I won't be able to fit 'em all, but there must be some that come close. It doesn't have to be Manfrotto quality... Just don't wan't the tripod to tip over when I mount the camera!

just something to keep in mind, the lighter the tripod, other than carbon types, the heavier the camera needs to be.

as another viewer suggest,your requirements are going to be diffiuclt to connect.
Under these conditons, just buy what fits your pocket book and weight.

jonas,

i've gone through a number of tripods so maybe i can help. my first "decent" tripod was the slik 300DX carbon fiber. it is (was at the time anyways) one of the least expensive ones out there. has 4 leg sections (and stands at around 5 feet) and closes down to 22" sans head. fits in most suitcases so it's very nice for travelling. also has retractable spiked feet and comes with a "net" that attaches to all 3 legs. the net is handy in that you can place camera gear and/or rocks on it to weigh it down and make it more stable. i would say it's a good starter choice, however, beware. there is a reason why it's cheap. the bonds (carbon fiber to plastic leg releases) are weak and over time will come unglued. which led me to my current tripod; a gitzo 1227LVL.

the gitzo is not cheap by any means but it is most definitely worth the investment. it is sturdy as can be. just as tall as the slik and colapses to 22" as well. it has a removable hook at the bottom of the column that you can use to hang items (like your camera bag) to stabilize it. i have taken the "net" from the slik and added it to it as well since i can use it to place filters and lenses while i shoot. it has some drawbacks however. no spiked feet (although i suspect there must be a way of adding them) and price (over $500). they do have a no questions asked lifetime warranty tho.

it's a tough call with tripods. the useful, well-built ones will cost you an arm and a leg but they will last you forever. if you go the cheap route, you will find yourself in the same quagmire i did. going through tripod after tripod (ive had 3 others btw). each more expensive than the last. i could've saved a huge chunk of change had i bit the bullet and coughed up for the gitzo on day 1. something to think about.

also, my recommendation to you would be to avoid proprietary quick-release heads. most top-line heads use the arca-style quick release system. get a head that uses this system so you will not have to buy new camera and lens plates every time you upgrade heads. quick-release plates are not cheap at all and you'll be better off in the long run getting a "universal" quick-realease system.

let me know if you have more questions. i'll be more 'n happy to help.

take care,
tom

Hi, Jonas,

You have specified the weight of the tripod, but did not mention the weight of the camera.

For light-weight camera, you can try Velbon MAXi 343E. It is very compact, weighs 2lbs, supports 4.5 lbs (2 kg), comes with a ballhead already on it and costs between $70 and $80 mail-order.

For small gear, it is a stable and light traveling tripod.

Its main disadvantages are the need to extend central column to reach full height, increasing risk of camera vibration; and a non-adjustable (fixed) leg angle.

Depending on what you do, these may or may not be an issue.

Beyond that, you will most likely need to look at carbon-fiber. These are light, but are much more expensive.

Another option for you might be a monopod. Check out Feisol on e-bay, they have a nice carbon-fiber monopod for about $80.00, sans the head.

D.

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