Giottos MT-9261 Aluminum

A sturdy aluminum tripod capable of holding up to 10 pounds (camera and lens) by our estimate (the manufacturer claims a lot more).

Collapsed length is 24.5 inches, maximum extension to 63 inches. It has 3-section, multiple-adjustable twist-lock legs, built-in bubble level, carrying case and shoulder strap.

A good general purpose, sturdy tripod that is heavier but less expensive than lava or carbon fiber tripods.

Please Note: This item is a tripod only. Its is not a tripod with ballhead. If you don’t have a tripod head you will need a tripod head also, or you may prefer to order a tripod/ballhead combination.

Specs

Maximum height

62.8 inches with center post fully extended

Collapsed height

24.5 inches

Weight

5.5 pounds

Leg Sections

3

Max Load

10 pounds

We carry a lot of tripods. Here’s a comparison between each of them (from lowest to highest load carrying capacity) to help you pick the tripod that’s right for you.

Giottos MT-7370 is a versatile, lava fiber tripod. Its lava fiber composition makes it light, strong, and rigid (stiff in comparison to carbon fiber, but just as light). It is perfectly suited to nature or macro photography. The MT-7370 rises to 68 inches with a fully extended center column. It is a sturdy tripod allowing for big lenses, featuring a three-section leg and spiky rubber feet. Realistically capable of handling about 12 pounds.
Giottos MT-9261 is a great, sturdy general-purpose-oriented aluminum tripod. It features a three-section leg, and it is heavier but less expensive than lava or carbon fiber tripods. A professional SLR camera and this tripod work well together. Realistically capable of handling about 15 pounds.
Velbon El Carmagne 640 – Heavy Duty Carbon Fiber offers a load capacity of 25 pounds in a lightweight carbon fiber package. It can also be set up in an instant using the quick release locks. The Giottos tripods we carry are sturdier, but are much heavier. If your passion is wildlife shooting, then this is the tripod for you. Realistically capable of handling about 15 pounds.
Novoflex Quadrapod has 4, not 3 legs. A four-leg system provides greater load carrying capacity, of course, but more importantly provides much greater lateral stability for working on uneven ground, higher winds, or when there’s a lot of twisting force (rapidly panning a supertelephoto lens, for example). Realistically capable of handling 25 pounds.
Induro CT313 Heavy Duty The heaviest capacity legs we carry that also has a center post. Not quite as sturdy as the Gitzo 353S1, but very close and it has a center post that gives it a bit more height when you need it.
The Gitzo 353S1 Heavy Duty is for when you need to use the big guns. It features an impressive load capacity rating of 39.6 lbs (think big camera and supertelephoto lens).

Still looking for more information on tripods? Check out our article titled Choosing a Tripod.