There has been a lot of talk about the Leica tabletop tripod, but there is another more flexible solution if you want more than the Leica offers.

I use the Gitzo Classic Table model (G 0011) with a small FLM Centerball head. It is not much bigger than the Leica, is much more adjustable, and costs almost the same. I have found it more useful, but somewhat less attractive than the Leica. It also requires more fiddling with prior to use...

-- Kevin Baker (kevin@thebakers.org), April 14, 2002

Answers

the most pocketable and still very sturdy tripod tabletop tripod is the monix one. it is very adjustable and comes with a cable release screwed into one of its legs. it is small enough to fit in EVERY camera case. and it is much cheaper than the leica one!!!

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), April 14, 2002.

this is how it looks like:

and

that is the cable release:

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), April 14, 2002.

Yes, the Minox table top tripod is very sturdy, Inspite of the fact that it is only 5 oz in weight, it can support a SLR plus zoom handily.

Minox tripod takes up very little space in your camera bag.

I have two Minox tripods, one older model, one newer model.

stefan's pictures show the newer model.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), April 14, 2002.

the minox tripod is sturdy enough to hold my mamiya TLR medium format camera, so it will do for that flimsy leica.

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), April 14, 2002.

I have no doubt that the Minox tripod can hold a camera, even a MF TLR, with a centre mounted tripod screw. But is the ball really sturdy enough to hold an end mounted camera like the Leica M?

I will never sell my Leitz table top with large ball, but if the Minox is really strong enough I would not mind at all to buy one as a really portable alternative. I like the design and the fact that the cable release is also 'built in'. I am just seriously worried about that small ball and how well you can tighten it without using excessive force.

Ilkka

-- Ilkka (ikuu65@hotmail.com), April 14, 2002.

All the really small table top tripods such as the Minox have one big disadvantage - you cannot use them on your chest, and they are usually very fiddly to set up. This is the trade you make - usefulness versus size. I personally think that the Leica TTT and the large ball head is perfect - but it is reasonably large and bulky.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.