What are the best travel tripods for Nikon mirrorless cameras?

Question

What are you guys actually using for a travel tripod with your Nikon Z bodies that doesnt suck? Ive been a DSLR shooter forever and used my old heavy Gitzo for everything but I just picked up a Z8 for a trip to Iceland and Im realizing my lightweight travel gear is totally failing me. I tried my old Benro today and the Z8 with the 24-70 f/2.8 S is just too front heavy... the ball head keeps creeping down during 30 second exposures which is gonna ruin my aurora shots if I dont fix it.

I leave in exactly twelve days so Im kind of in a rush here. I need something made of carbon fiber that can actually handle the wind near the coast but still folds down small enough to fit in my Shimoda pack. I looked at the Peak Design one but Ive heard mixed things about the legs being a bit thin for a heavier mirrorless setup like the Z8 and I really dont want to risk it with the wind out there.

Budget is around $600 max

Needs to be Arca-Swiss compatible

Height needs to be decent so Im not hunching over

Is there anything better than the Leofoto or maybe a smaller RRS? Im worried about the vibration dampening on the cheaper brands. What is the best balance of weight and stability for these specific Nikon lenses?

EdgeEcho · Accepted Answer

Re: "Ive been geeking out on tripod specs lately..." - honestly, the Z8 is heavy, so be careful with thin travel legs. Stick to the Feisol. I would suggest the Feisol Tournament CT-3442 Carbon Fiber Tripod because it lacks a center column, which is way better for Iceland wind.

Pair it with a Sirui K-30X Ball Head to stop lens creep.

You might want to consider a stone bag for ballast.

Make sure to avoid extending the thinnest legs in gusts.

IonImpulse · Answer

Try Leofoto LS-284C Carbon Fiber Tripod. Use Leofoto LH-40 Low Profile Ball Head too. Tbh the low gravity design stops Z8 creep and stands up to nasty winds.

NanoNavigator · Answer

Ive been geeking out on tripod specs lately and you definitely need to focus on leg diameter for a setup that heavy! For a Z8 with the 24-70 f/2.8, you really shouldnt go thinner than 28mm for the top leg section. You should check out the Benro Tortoise 34C Carbon Fiber Tripod because it is basically a stability monster. It doesnt have a center column which is amazing for keeping the center of gravity low and reducing that annoying vibration you get in high winds. The Benro GX35 Low Profile Ball Head is a fantastic pairing for it. Low profile heads are the secret to stopping that creep because the ball sits closer to the tripod apex, reducing the leverage your heavy Nikon glass has over the locking mechanism. The torque rating on this specific head is massive so it wont budge during those long exposures. If you are worried about the Iceland elements, another incredible option is the Sirui ST-224 Waterproof Carbon Fiber Tripod. It has these specialized waterproof twist locks that are an absolute lifesaver when you are shooting near sea spray or waterfalls. It uses a triangular center column design that makes it pack down way tighter than a standard round one, so itll fit your Shimoda pack perfectly. Both of these are way more stable than the Peak Design for a pro body like the Z8. You definitely need the extra rigidity for those coastal gusts!