Mini tripods are handy little gadgets. Even if you have a compact camera, they're useful. It's the one way you can count on to hold your camera steady for a really sharp picture, whether it's for still photo or video.
There are all kinds of mini tripods out there. Some are kind of junky, and too flimsy to do much. Others do a decent job, and some are outstanding. I think the Slik Mini-Pro III Tabletop Tripod in one of the better mini tripods.
It is lightweight, and quite compact and easy to carry around. It's specifications are as follows:
- Weighs 0.75 lbs. (330 grams)
- Central column at lowered height is 7.9 inches (200 mm)
- Central column at maximum height up to 8.46 inches (245 mm)
- Closed tripod length is 8.1 inches (205 mm)
Although this is a small tripod, it is sturdy and can hold cameras up to 3 pounds in weight. That gives it a wider range than most mini tripods.
It also has a suction cup on the bottom of the main column. This allows the tripod to be affixed to a glass surface, usually a window. That makes it even more flexible in terms of getting a good picture from any angle. This only works for cameras 10 ounces or less, however. Larger cameras pull too much at the suction and it can come loose.
One other way to use this little tripod is as a chest pod. Instead of putting the tripod on the ground or a table, for instance, you use your chest as the stabilizing surface. The center column must be pulled up at least one inch, the legs spread out, and the feet placed against your upper chest. The camera is adjusted then so you can either see the LCD screen or through the viewfinder. This is particularly helpful when you are outside and don't have a good place to put the tripod.
For an all around economical, well-built mini tripod, the Slik Mini-Pro III Tabletop Tripod is an excellent choice.
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Ravelli APLT2 50 Light Weight Aluminum Tripod With Bag and Free Mini Wire Leg Tripod $7.69 The Ravelli APLT2 is a very light tripod but it still extends to a height of 49 inches. With a weight of just over 1 LB (1.15LBS) you will not be weighed down, this tripod is constructed of aluminum legs and a hard plastic head. It has the ability to change the cameras orientation from portrait to landscape. The legs have rubber feet for stability on different surfaces. The legs have 3 extendable ... |
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Slik Mini-Pro V Tripod with 2-Way Pan/Tilt Head $28.95 The SLIK MINI PRO V table-top tripod has a 2-way pan head with a pan handle to make moving a camera easier. The two stage legs can be extended about 1.25 inches for added stability with heavier cameras. A compact traveler, the SLIK MINI PRO V is less than 8 inches long when packed up and weighs less than a pound. Like the other tripods in the MINI PRO line, the SLIK MINI PRO V has a suction cup a... |
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Manfrotto 709B Digi Table Top Tripod with Ball Head (Black) $25.00 A compact, lightweight, table-top tripod perfect for a wide range of digital photographic applications. The Digi-Table-Top tripod was developed to maximize the superior imaging capabilities and versatility of generation, compact digital cameras.It sets up in seconds to form an exceptionally stable shooting platform that can be used virtually anywhere, indoors or their. It sports a handsome bright ... |
