I totally get where youre coming from. Carrying a full-sized rig with an RX100 feels so wrong, but you definitely dont want to risk your gear on those cheap plastic legs that sag. I've seen too many people regret those flimsy ones when their camera ends up on the pavement. Reliability is everything when you're shooting night shots near stone ledges or railings. For my RX100, I eventually settled on the SmallRig Tabletop Mini Tripod with Ball Head BUT2664. It is made of aluminum so it feels way more solid than the plastic Manfrotto options. It fits easily into a 3L sling and the ball head actually lets you swap to vertical mode without it slipping during a long exposure. It's much more stable than the basic PIXI model for 5-second shots. If you have a bit more in the budget and want the absolute best for uneven surfaces, look at the Leofoto MT-03 + LH-25 Mini Tripod Kit. It's basically a pocket-sized tank. The legs have these extra folding sections that let you prop it up on uneven rocks or weird urban geometry much better than a standard tripod. It's CNC aluminum and feels like itll last forever. One thing to remember tho... always keep your hand nearby if it's windy. Even a sturdy mini tripod can get tipped if a gust hits that small footprint. Better safe than sorry when you're shooting long exposures near a ledge!

I have spent way too much time looking for the perfect RX100 companion, so I totally get the struggle. If youre serious about night shots and long exposures but want to keep that 3L sling bag footprint, you really need to look at machined aluminum instead of plastic. I personally swear by the Leofoto MT-03 Spider Desktop Tripod paired with the Leofoto LH-25 Low Profile Ball Head. This setup is basically the gold standard for compact setups. The legs have these clever folding sections (the spider part) that allow you to adjust each leg to different angles. This is huge when youre trying to balance on an uneven stone ledge or a curb. Since its all metal, there is zero flex or sagging, even if you bump it slightly during a 10-second exposure. For those metal railings you mentioned, another solid choice is the Joby GorillaPod 1K Kit. While you mentioned bad luck with generic flexible ones, the 1K is built much better and the ball head actually holds the RX100 in a vertical orientation without slipping. The ability to wrap the legs around a fence or a signpost opens up angles you just cant get with a traditional tripod. Just a tip tho: if you go with the Leofoto, the LH-25 head has a drop-notch that allows for 90-degree vertical tilting easily. It feels much more premium than the Manfrotto PIXI and fits better in tight spots because the legs are thinner when folded.

Wait really?? Thats actually super helpful. I always thought it was the other way around.

Can confirm this works. Did the same thing on mine and its been solid ever since.