Honestly, for the ZV-1F, you want something cheap but sturdy. Ive tested the Ulanzi MT-08 Extendable Mini Tripod and Handle and it is the best value under 20 bucks, but the SmallRig Tabletop Tripod BUT2664 Aluminum Alloy is way more stable for vertical shots. It only weighs 130g which fits your 3L sling perfectly. Save your cash and skip the Manfrotto; it doesnt extend. The SmallRig is basically a tank for the price.

I saw this earlier and wanted to drop some data points from a budget perspective. When you are shooting vertical on the ZV-1F, the center of gravity shifts quite a bit, so you need a tripod with a wide base-to-height ratio to prevent tipping. If you want to save money without sacrificing technical reliability, I highly recommend checking out the Ulanzi MT-16 Extendable Tripod and Ball Head. Specs-wise, it weighs about 170g and has a max load of 1.5kg, which is plenty for your setup. The cool thing about the MT-16 is the integrated cold shoe on the side. This lets you mount a mic or a small light without buying an extra bracket, saving you another 15 or 20 bucks. Tbh, the build quality is surprisingly decent for a hybrid mount. Another sleeper pick for pure stability is the Andoer Mini Tabletop Tripod Aluminum Alloy. It is basically a clone of more expensive low-profile bases but costs way less. Check these specs:

• Weight: Approx 150g
• Load capacity: 10kg
• Material: CNC Aluminum It doesnt extend, but it is so low to the ground that your camera basically wont tip even in high winds or when tilted 90 degrees for TikToks. It fits perfectly in a 3L sling bag because it folds flat. Just make sure to pair it with a cheap ball head if you need the tilt. If you are on a budget, these two offer the best spec-to-price ratio right now.

If you are doing vertical video on the ZV-1F, you need to prioritize the leg spread and payload rating to handle the offset center of gravity. I would skip the basic PIXI and go for the Manfrotto PIXI EVO 2-Section Mini Tripod MTPIXIEVO-BK. It has two leg angles and a 2.5kg payload capacity, giving you much better stability at a 90-degree tilt compared to the entry level version. If you want something even more robust for long-term travel, look at the Leofoto MT-03 Spider Desktop Tripod. It is CNC-machined from 7075 aluminum, weighs only 162g, but supports a massive 5kg load. It folds down to 145mm which is perfect for a 3L sling. Technical tip: when shooting vertical, always align one tripod leg directly under the lens. This moves the balance point back over the center of the tripod base to prevent tipping.

Man, I feel the pain on the 3L sling struggle. I once spent a whole month backpacking with a setup that I thought was tiny, but every single tripod I tried either snapped at the ball head or just felt like cheap plastic junk after three days in the dirt. It is honestly so frustrating how many of these compact options are basically toys. I have a whole drawer of broken legs and stripped screws... it gets expensive when you have to keep replacing gear because the travel stuff just isnt built for actual travel. Are you planning on using this mostly on flat surfaces like cafe tables, or do you need it to survive being shoved into rocks and sand during your solo trip? Also, how heavy is your total setup once you add a mic or a light to that ZV-1F?

Hey! Jumping in because I have spent way too much time obsessing over tiny travel setups lol. Honestly, I went through a whole phase where I was basically building my own franken-tripods because I could not find anything that fit my tiny bag but did not fall over the second I tilted the camera vertical. I used to swap out parts from different sets and even used heavy-duty gaffer tape to reinforce the joints on my favorite lightweight legs just to make them survive a month in Europe! It is such a struggle to find that sweet spot between toy-like plastic and something that is actually durable. Quick question tho, how tall do you actually need this thing to get? Like, are you mostly doing desk-height TikToks or do you need to be able to set it on a park bench or the grass and still get a good angle? Knowing if you need that extra reach would change things a lot!

Noted!

Noted!