Im finally heading to the Dolomites next month and I am super hyped to get some landscape shots with my Olympus OM-D E-M5 III! Since the MFT system is so small I really dont want to carry a massive tripod that weighs more than my whole camera bag lol. I've been doing a ton of research and I am pretty much stuck between the Peak Design Travel Tripod - the aluminum one cuz the carbon is just way too pricey for me right now - and the Sirui T-025SK.
My logic was that the Peak Design is so sleek and fits in a water bottle pocket which is huge for hiking but then I saw the Sirui is actually lighter? It is like only 1.8 lbs or something crazy. But then the PD seems more stable for long exposures of those alpine lakes and waterfalls I want to hit. I also looked at the Manfrotto Befree Live but it felt a bit bulky compared to the others when I saw it at the shop.
Budget is around $350 max since I spent way too much on lenses lately. Im mostly worried about wind stability since it gets breezy up in the mountains. If I go with the Sirui am I sacrificing too much height? Or is the Peak Design just paying for the brand name? I keep switching back and forth every ten minutes and my flight is in three weeks so I really need to pull the trigger soon...
> I'm mostly worried about wind stability since it gets breezy up in the mountains. In my experience, wind is the real killer for MFT setups. I've tried many travel legs and the Peak Design Travel Tripod Aluminum 5-Section is way more reliable than the ultra-light Sirui. The Sirui T-025SK Carbon Fiber Tripod with B-00K Ball Head is great for packing, but it can be shaky in a gust. Tbh, the PD's stability is worth the extra weight for those mountain shots.
I'd suggest Benro MeFoto RoadTrip Pro Aluminum or Vanguard VEO 3GO 235AB Aluminum. The Benro is sturdier than the Sirui; I've had rigs tip in mountain winds, so be very careful.
No way, I literally just dealt with this yesterday. Small world.