Mini tripod suggestions please

I'm going to Hong Kong again in April, and this time I would like to take a mini tripod. Any suggestions anyone? I've done a search here and read through a dozen or so of the results threads but it wasn't much use to be honest. Just people talking about £400 Gitzo Traveller mini tripods (and Stefan talking about $2500 tripods :roll.

I'm looking for something small, tabletop tripod / gorillapod sized. It wouldn't be for long lenses, the heaviest lens I will use it for is probably the Sigma 10-20 or Tamron 17-50.

I read an interesting mini review of Clamperpods, and would probably have given them a try, but cannot find them in the UK.

Whatever I end up getting it will see limited use - I doubt I will use it for much else apart from a couple of long exposure shots which I have in mind - both of which will have railings and trees and things available for me to clamp onto.

Has anyone had any experience of the clamp/tripod things on ebay? Like this one?

How about Gorillapods and the various knock-off versions? I've read somewhere that they are great for compact cameras, but not so hot for dslrs due to weight.

I use the GorillaPod SLR zoom. Very solid. You need a decent head (so take whatever tripod head you have). It's not a substitute for a tripod but its added versatility more than makes up for it.

I've even used it as a mini-monopod, resting it on a wall to add a bit of stability.

Look up the Slik Mini Pro range, there are assorted versions but all share common parts. Tiny, solid, and not stupidly expensive. I've even put an MX and K 85-210mm zoom on mine without it falling over, not bad with a long lens weighing the best part of a kilo.

I would probably go for the ballhead now rather than the pan head mine came with, if Slik sold the heads separately I'd change it but I think the Red Snapper ballhead on my big tripod might be a bit much for the Slik legs!

Another vote for the Gorillapod SLR zoom - Seriously, don't worry about it's ability to support an SLR plus lens, it deals with my gripped K7 and a 17-70 SDM just fine. The other huge advantage is they weigh next to nothing, important when travel baggage weight is an issue

Ditto. I use a Gorillapod SLR zoom with a K20 and 16-45, & put my normal tripod head on it. Good for wrapping around railings, seat backs etc. where a normal tripod wouldn't work.

Leica or the similar Minolta and Polaroids.
They crop up now and again on ebay SH.

I had one of the 'clamp/tripod things' and I would not recommend it. It was very unstable (even with a small compact camera) as a tripod, the ball head did not stay in place, and the first time I used the clamp it just cracked as it is just made from cheap plastic.
I got now a Gorilla Pod as well which is nice and stable and for a small clamp that I keep always in my bag, I use one of these.
If you get a clamp make sure it is made from aluminium or steel, stay away from the plastic clamps (in particular the ones with a plastic thread).

Thanks folks. Looks like I will be getting a GorillaPod!

I've bookedmarked your clamp Smutje, will think about that one.

One really important word of advice!

Unless they've changed the box the tripod adaptor (1/4" - 3/8") is hidden away in the packaging and very easy to throw out. They must have had hundreds of complaints about this over the years so it may have been resolved.