Gear & Comparisons
Travel tripod: carbon vs aluminum
Is a carbon travel tripod worth twice the price for a mid-size mirrorless body? Weight, stiffness and wind.
What it is for
Blue hour on the Boylan bridge, the waterfalls at Hanging Rock and the occasional long exposure on a trip. The Z6III with the 24-70mm f/4 weighs about 1.3 kg.
The difference
A carbon travel tripod saves roughly 400 grams and damps vibration faster in wind, which matters on the Outer Banks. Aluminum is cheaper and does not mind being dropped on rocks.
Decision
Carbon, a five-section model that folds to under 40 cm so it fits in a daypack side pocket. The weight saving is what makes it come along at all.