sooo i stumbled upon this and honestly, i have been down this same rabbit hole for years. i’ve used the Sony a7C II Mirrorless Camera with those exact lenses and finding that balance between portability and stability for long exposures is tricky. ngl, most travel tripods are too flimsy for the coast, but there are some solid workhorses out there. in my experience, the secret isnt just the weight of the tripod, it is the leg diameter and the center column design. a center column basically acts like a sail in the wind, which is why i often prefer designs that let u remove it or skip it entirely. if ur shooting long exposures by the water, u really need a way to anchor the rig. here is what i recommend based on testing way too many of these things over the years:

• Peak Design Travel Tripod Carbon Fiber - this is basically the gold standard for fitting into a 20L daypack. it folds up so tight there is literally no wasted space. it has a weight hook at the bottom which is CRITICAL for wind. just hang ur bag there and it stays put.
• Leofoto LS-224C Carbon Fiber Tripod with LH-25 Ball Head - this is a sleeper hit. it has no center column, so it is lowkey way more stable than taller tripods. it is super light but the build quality is pro-level. i’ve used this on windy cliffs and it holds up great for the price.
• Ulanzi & Coman Zero Y Lightweight Travel Tripod - really impressive for how thin it is. it is kinda like a more affordable version of the peak design but with a different head design that some people actually prefer. anyway, if u go with carbon fiber, just remember to use that hook for stability! most people forget and then wonder why their shots are blurry lol. but yeah, hope that helps u narrow it down stuff. gl!

sooo i just saw this thread and i totally get the struggle... i went through this last year when i got my a7c ii and realized my old gear was way too bulky for a 20L daypack. honestly, i have been down this same road and spent way too much time obsessing over weight vs price. over the years, ive tried many different setups but for the a7c series specifically, you really want something that feels balanced without being a literal anchor. i found that focusing on brands that offer carbon fiber at a lower price point was the way to go for my budget. in my experience, i dont always need the brand name hype to get a sharp long exposure, as long as the legs are stiff enough. tbh i remember hiking up a coastal trail with a cheap aluminum one and it was a total disaster because of the vibrations, so i definitely think carbon is worth the extra cash if you can find a deal. i've cycled through a few that actually worked well for my journey:

• Sirui T-025SK Carbon Fiber Tripod with B-00K Ball Head is what i eventually landed on because it folds down so small but still feels premium.
• Leofoto LS-224C Ranger Series Carbon Fiber Tripod is another one i used for a while; its super light and doesnt have a center column which actually helps with stability in the wind.
• Vanguard VEO 3GO 204CB Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod is a solid value choice if you want something that includes a smartphone adapter too. one quick tip: if it gets windy by the coast, just hang your camera bag from the center hook to add some mass. it basically turns a light travel rig into a rock-solid station without adding weight to your hike! anyway, hope you find something that works for ur setup... cheers!

jumping in here as someone whos broken way too many cheap tripods in the field. honestly if youre doing long exposures on the coast you need something that actually locks down tight. most ultra-light ones just fail when the wind picks up. id look at the Gitzo Traveler Series 1 Carbon Fiber Tripod. its the industry standard for a reason. expensive yeah but its a buy-once-cry-once situation. the stability to weight ratio is basically unmatched for travel gear and it fits in a 20L pack easily. another solid option is the Heipi 3-in-1 Travel Tripod. i like it because the design is super rigid and it doesnt have that annoying center column wobble. plus you get a removable mini tripod for low angle stuff which is handy. basically just make sure whatever you get has a hook on the center column so you can hang your bag for extra weight. that helps a ton with those windy coastal shots. dont forget to turn off steady shot on your a7c ii when its on the legs tho!

in my experience ive used that a7c combo for a while now and its realy pretty great. whats your budget tho, and are you looking for a built-in ball head or something taller??