Late to the party but I went through this exact same struggle last year after switching to the a7C line. Honestly, I’ve spent way too much money over the decades trying to find "the one" and I’ve been lowkey disappointed by most of the hyped-up "innovative" designs. Like, I really wanted to love the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod that was mentioned, but after a windy night in the Sierras, the leg flex literally ruined my long exposures. It’s slim, sure, but it felt like a wet noodle in a breeze... kinda frustrating for the price. Anyway, I’ve basically been trial-and-erroring my way through different brands to find something that actually holds up without weighing me down. Here is how my journey went with a couple of alternatives I tested: 1. Leofoto LS-224C Ranger Series Carbon Fiber Tripod with LH-25 Ball Head
- **My experience**: This became my go-to for hiking. Because it has no center column, the stiffness is actually insane for its size. It fits inside my 20L bag without even trying.
- **The downside**: Unfortunately, the lack of a center column means youre stuck at a lower height. Tbh, my back was killing me after a few hours of low-angle shooting. 2. Sirui AM-225 Carbon Fiber Tripod with B-00K Ball Head
- **My experience**: I tried this for city travel cuz it’s ridiculously light—well under 2 lbs. It handled my a7C II and the 40mm prime like a champ.
- **The downside**: I had issues with the leg locks getting gritty after just one beach trip. Not as durable as I expected for the long haul, which was a bummer. Basically, I’ve learned that the more "features" a travel tripod has, the more stuff there is to break. Simple is usually better for stability... gl!

Honestly, I've had a different experience when it comes to these "revolutionary" travel tripods. I know the hype is real for those slim folding designs, but i think they're lowkey overpriced for what they actually deliver in the field!! Since you're rocking the a7C II (what a GREAT camera btw, I'm obsessed with mine!), you want something that stays stable on a windy cliff without being a total pain to setup... I've found that the "fancy" designs often trade too much stability for that slim profile. If you want something that's gonna last and actually hold a long exposure, I'd suggest going with a more traditional carbon fiber build. It might not look as "techy" as the Peak Design, but it's sooo much more reliable!! Check these out:
- Slik PRO CF-634 Carbon Fiber Tripod - This is my favorite hiking companion! It weighs less than 2 lbs and is rock solid. Seriously amazing value.
- Leofoto EB-36 Ball Head - I pair the Slik with this. It's super smooth and the locking power is fantastic for the size.
- Sirui T-025SK Carbon Fiber Tripod with B-00K Ball Head - If you need it to basically disappear in your 20L bag, this is the one. Basically, you definately dont need to drop $450 to get a pro-level setup. I love saving money where it counts so I can spend more on lenses lol. gl with the hiking trips! 👍

ngl i’ve been falling down a total gear rabbit hole lately trying to find the best specs for my a7C II and it’s honestly kind of exhausting lol!! i’m still pretty new to this but i’ve been digging into market data from 'The Center Column' which is an incredible resource if you like technical data because they actually test tripod stiffness in a lab with sensors and everything... you should definitely look at their charts before you spend $400 because it really shows which brands are just marketing hype and which ones actually hold steady in the wind! basically i’ve been comparing a few 'underdog' brands that fit your 20L backpack requirement and sub-3lb weight limit: * Sirui AM-225 Carbon Fiber Tripod - this thing is super compact because it doesn't have a center column and iirc it uses 10-layer carbon fiber for better vibration damping??
* Slik PRO CF-634 - i've seen technical reviewers rave about this because it's only like 2.1 lbs but still surprisingly rigid for long exposures. i'm still trying to figure out if more leg sections are always worse for stability though... i've heard 4 sections is the sweet spot but i'm not 100% sure?? let us know what you end up going with!!!

ngl reading this thread just makes me feel so seen but also so frustrated lol. I went through three different travel setups in the last year alone trying to find something that actually works with my a7C II and it has been such a total money pit. I spent way too much on that one super hyped boutique carbon fiber tripod everyone raves about, and then took it out to the coast for some sunset shots. It was a total nightmare... even with my lightest prime lens, the whole thing was vibrating like a tuning fork in a light breeze. I ended up with a folder full of blurry shots and just felt so defeated. Then I tried a cheaper compact model from a big mainstream brand and the leg locks literally jammed after one day at the beach. Its so annoying because we buy these small cameras to stay light, but it feels like every tripod out there is either a heavy beast or basically a wet noodle. I dont even know what to believe anymore because the premium ones feel just as flimsy as the budget ones once you actually get them out in the wild. I am honestly just exhausted from the trial and error at this point... it just feels like a losing game tbh.

> I’m mainly shooting with the FE 20-70mm f/4 G... fit inside a 20L camera backpack For your situation, Ive had issues with those super expensive brands... not as good as expected. **Peak Design vs Ulanzi vs Benro**
- PD: Slim but the leg locks are *annoying*
- Ulanzi: Great price but feels a bit cheaper
- Benro: Way sturdier for wind Id basically just go with any carbon fiber from Ulanzi for that a7C II. Its the best value imo. gl!