Which compact tripods work best for the Sony RX100 series?

Question

I'm finally heading to Tokyo in like three weeks and I've got my RX100 VII ready to go but I'm totally stuck on the tripod situation. I want to do some long exposures at night and maybe some vlogging while I'm walking around Shinjuku. My budget is around $50 because I spent way too much on the flight haha.

So I was thinking about the Manfrotto PIXI EVO because it looks super sturdy and the legs extend a bit which is nice for uneven surfaces. But then my logic was like, wait, wouldn't the Joby GorillaPod 1K be better? I could wrap it around railings and stuff. I'm just worried the Joby might get "droopy" over time because I've heard they do that. Then I saw this Ulanzi MT-16 thing which has a cold shoe for a mic which would be great for my vlogging setup... but is it actually stable enough for the RX100 when the lens is fully out?

I'm basically torn between:

Manfrotto PIXI EVO

Joby GorillaPod 1K

Ulanzi MT-16

I need something that wont take up any space in my small daily bag and fits the Sony perfectly. Is the PIXI too bulky to just leave on the camera while I walk? I really want to make sure I get those crisp night shots of the neon lights and dont want it falling over...

DavidJab · Accepted Answer

> I'm just worried the Joby might get "droopy" over time because I've heard they do that. Honestly, you're right to be skeptical. I've gone through three of those in five years because the friction in the ball joints degrades after heavy use, especially in humidity. If you want something that actually holds up for long exposures without breaking the bank, check out the Sirui 3T-15K Table Top Tripod. It's built with high-grade aluminum, so it wont flex when the VII lens is fully extended at its 200mm equivalent. The Ulanzi MT-11 Multifunctional Octopus Tripod is a way better take on the flexible leg design than the Joby tbh. The core is more rigid and doesn't suffer the same tension loss over time. In my experience, the MT-16 you mentioned is okay for vlogging but the ball head is weak for 30-second exposures. Stick with metal legs for those crisp neon shots... you cant cheat physics when it comes to vibrations.

benitocurtiss41 · Answer

Agreeing with the previous point about the weight distribution. When that lens zooms all the way out on the VII, it gets front-heavy fast. I've tried many of these compact setups over the years and most plastic ones just dont cut it for long exposures.

Manfrotto PIXI EVO 2-Section Mini Tripod is your best bet for the night shots. The legs are wider than the standard Pixi, so it wont tip over.

Joby GorillaPod 1K Kit is handy for railings, but in my experience, the joints definitely get droopy after a few months of heavy travel.

Ulanzi MT-16 Extendable Tripod is great for vlogging, but the ball head feels a bit flimsy for a long exposure. If you want something actually solid, look at the SmallRig Tabletop Mini Tripod BUT2429. Its all aluminum and way more rigid than plastic for about 35 bucks.

DonaldcoK · Answer

Exactly what I was thinking