MeFOTO Backpacker S Lightweight 54.7" Aluminum Travel Tripod/Monopod w/Case, Twist Locks, Dual Action Ballhead w/Arca Swiss Plate for Mirrorless/DSLR Sony Nikon Canon Fuji - Aluminum Black (BPSABLK)

The reason I got this tripod(and kept it) is it's dominance in the niche market of ultraportable tripods. Other competitors include the Dolica TX570B150SL which I also bought and tested. While the 2 tripods are very similar in design and function, I will give the edge to Mefoto on the strength of its compactness, and solid design. Here are some of the pros and cons as I observed:Pros- ingenious folding design takes up about 12" almost an inch shorter than the Dolica. It will fit in my backpack sideways, even within its own bag (I use a Lowepro 22L hatchback camera backpack). No worries getting this tripod thru TSA with your carry on bags!- ball head has solid feel in hand, requiring minimal twisting effort to secure your rig- has detaching baseplate for quick on/off setup, I am able to get everything out of my bag and start taking pictures in 60secs- bubble level in landscape mode (none in portrait mode)- telescoping legs with quick lock/unlock mechanismCons- thumb screw attachable baseplate rather than flip level turn screw (dolica wins here)- poor anti-drop lock device, (Dolica has a release button such that must be pressed to detach camera, which is much safer design)- cost, a bit pricier but then again, you get what you pay for.5 starsUpdate 7/15/2014:This weekend I hiked Yosemite's Half Dome (18 miles, 5000 foot climb) and brought this baby along with my Canon EOS Rebel t4i and 18-135mm walk-about lens. Here is the field report:I must say the weight is impressive. I was able to ascend the cable portion of the peak without ever feeling that weight was holding me back. The tripod gripped the granite fairly well, but I do notice some jitter with strong wind. It's good enough to snap portraits but longer exposures (greater than 1/2 sec will be a little a little blurry). Still, not bad at all. It was also a full moon that night so I did a 4 minute exposure at F3.5, ISO100 of the Yosemite Valley under moonlight with this tripod. You would swear it was daytime except for the stars in the picture...gorgeous!Overall, I am very happy with the tripod, mostly because I like its compactness and it's performance given that size. Of course you can't have both, so you have to pick which feature is most important to you

I ordered the Backpacker S for a trip to Yellowstone. I was delighted with how small a form it folded into. It is easy to carry inside a small backpack - it doesn't need to be externally attached. The compact size allowed me to fly without any check-in luggage. It is convenient to carry around and whip out when needed.I found the Backpacker S to be stable enough for my purposes - I am an enthusiast. I value portability and convenience over technical superiority. The carbon fiber is very strong and light. Many have warned that you should be cautious on a windy day or with a heavy camera. I would have to agree - be sure to attach some weight to the hook. It would have been nice if mefoto designed it to have a 3rd leg angle. The Backpacker S can be in an upright position and in a very low position. Having an intermediate option would provide additional stability for when the photographer values stability over tripod height.Still, it's a great tripod, great price, and it gets the job done!

I've been through several tripods in the past few years. I finally came across this one after being recommended by the Strobist blog. In short, I am extremely satisfied with the diminutive size, ultralight weight, and durability of this tripod.In long, here's a bit of a comparison of the tripods I've used over the years (and why the Strobist's recommendation to just start off by buying a really good tripod holds true):When I first started with photography about four years ago, I purchased the cheapest tripod I could find, the $25 Vista Explorer: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V7AF8E/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000V7AF8E&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=OOAE2WZGH75GOMM3It's light, has clamp locks and a level and an adjustable center column. Features check. What it didn't have was strength. If you wanted your camera anything but level, its plastic clamps would slowly slip (shooting on an intro-level dSLR - would probably be fine with a point and shoot). It was a great tripod....until I started taking photographs for real, and needed a tripod where I could let go of my camera for more than 5 seconds. Also, no ability to pan the camera!So, I got the $70 Dolica Proline: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DIKUYE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001DIKUYE&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=K3PYY4E3AAHTRKT4Better. This tripod lasted me for a solid year of trustworthy functioning - until, one day, it got blown over in a wind storm, and the legs bent. Did I mention this one was still made of plastic? It was also awkwardly designed, with the pan handle extending out of the carrying bag (unless you really wanted to unscrew it every time you put it away)Fast-forward to this Mefoto, whose durability has survived drops and falls, and whose portability lets me stick it in a backpack and ditch the extra carrying case. It's made of metal, so I'm expecting it to last much longer than either of my previous tripods...It might cost twice as much as my Dolica, but it's on track to easily last at least twice as long!

Good value. Easy to take in backpack...gave as a gift. They love it.

This Backpacker Classic tripod is one of the shortest folded lengths of all the popular travel tripods and this was the main reason for my purchase. Build quality and finish are both excellent and the tripod is a delight to use with its anti-rotation twist locks and soft rubber grips. the compact head is smooth, easy to use and Arca compliant.There is a problem with the design though and that is the fixed centre column. It can't be lowered or raised or detached and that is less than ideal for those hoping to use the tripod on a table, do ground-level work or just keep the camera as stable as possible during long exposures. MeFOTO also have their new Backpacker S model at a lower price which is a tiny bit longer but does have an adjustable centre column and more usable max height. Benro make MeFOTO tripods and their own Tripster Series 0 is similar to the Backpacker S but has the rubber twist grips of the Backpacker Classic with the adjustable centre column of the Backpacker S. The legs on these two models fold slightly closer thanks to the slimmed down head so the overall folded size is similar to the Backpacker Classic.The Backpacker Classic is a really nicely made item but it seems a little pointless when there are better options within the same product line.

I have to admit that I did return this tripod only for the reason that it was a little too heavy for travel work. That's shame because the product just oozes with quality.

il treppiede me foto backpacker compatto con 5 piedi in alluminio è piccolo, vivace, poco ingombrante, leggero ma funzionale. consigliato.

I needed a small and lightweight tripod and the MeFoto is fantastic, I ordered red and it looks great. Sturdy, very well made and suitable for someone upto about 165cm tall (5'5"). Because I use the Manfrotto quick-release plates, I replaced the head with a small Manfrotto ball head to suit. The tripod comes with an Area-swiss type plate and a well made ball head, with spirit level.