Hasta La Gadget!

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Carbon fiber makes for the ultimate tripod: light weight, good at damping vibrations. But some cost $500-plus. The Manfrotto 732CY is an exception: It’s just $200 street, $230 with a ball head (a variant sold by Best Buy). It’s small (17 inches closed) and light (2.1 pounds). It works well so long as you don’t ask it to hold rock-steady in extreme conditions a heavy camera and lens. It’s best for a consumer or prosumer digital SLR and a normal lens or moderate telephoto lens, or a good point-and-shoot. The most important thing: The Manfrotto 732CY is so light, I found myself carrying it far more often than my family heirloom Leitz Tiltall that weighs in at six pounds.