Is there a very small but robust tripod?

Question

During my trips when I do landscape photography, I often can't take my tripod. It's too big and too heavy. If the weight can be managed by buying a more expensive one, the size remains a problem.

There are plenty of very small tripods for sale, but they are intended for light point and shoot cameras, and will be inappropriate for a 1 Kg (25 oz.) DSLR with a lens like a 0.5 Kg (19 oz.) Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II. For example, the Cullmann mini-tripod 50004 has a carrying capacity of 0.5 Kg (19 oz.) and seems unstable enough to carry the camera with such lens.

Is there a small tripod for heavy DSLRs, taken in account that:

• I understand that it will not be possible to use with with heavy and large lenses like a 1.5 Kg (55 oz.) Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II,

• I have no intent to use the tripod in windy conditions,

• It may be expensive,

• It must be max. 30-35 cm. (12-14 in.) collapsed,

• It doesn't have to be large when expanded,

• Every of the three legs has to expand separately, so the tripod can be used on a non-flat surface like rocks or grass,

• I don't expect this to be an excellent product which can replace a real tripod in any condition, but rather a light alternative to use when bringing the real tripod is not possible,

• A monopod is not a solution.

Answer

I think you want to be lookin' at the Joby GorillaPod lineup. The SLR-Zoom model (see also this question) holds up to 3kg, is 9.8" (by 2.4"x2.4"), and the three legs can be "extended" — or in this case, weirdly twisted — individually. It's also relatively inexpensive, but you'll pay extra for a ballhead (recommended!).

They also have larger and smaller models.

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