Mini-tripods group photo

Novoflex Microstativ

Pros: very lightweight

Cullmann Magnesit Copter

Can be used for cameras or flashes, also acts like a stick handle when folded

Manfrotto Pixi

Actually better than its bigger brother the Pixi EVO (more stable and easier to screw in)

Manfrotto Modo Pockets

Meant to be attached onto the base plate of compact cameras and left there

Joby GripTight Micro

Tiny but serviceable folding micro-tripod with a ballhead and smartphone adapter.

Leica Laser level tripod

Meant for the Leica Geosystems cross-type laser level, with strong magnets to attach to metallic beams. Surprisingly effective for photo use as well, despite the mediocre ballhead.

FLM CP-10 carbon fiber legs

With a ballhead harvested from a Leofoto Chinese RRS Pocket Pod knock-off (nice ballhead and clamp, terrible legs). Much lighter than the Novoflex BasicBall, comparable in height if not in load, the screws connecting the legs to the platform make it very easy to adjust the leg angle.

RRS Multi-Clamp with BC-18 Micro Ball Clamp and flat surface adapters

Not a tripod, but very effective when attached to barriers, tree branches and the like where lugging a full-size tripod is impractical.

Novoflex BasicBall

Incredibly stable tabletop tripod, here with a comically large Acratech Ultimate Ballhead mounted to it, although the BasicBall is every bit the equal to the Acratech in stability. The optional leg extensions are below and double the leg length. Sadly it seems to be discontinued

Minox pocket tripod

In its folded state, basically the size of a pencil

Minox pocket tripod

In its ready state. The nesting legs make it incredibly compact, but the micro ball head tension is set by tightening the largest leg, and despite the knurling the lack of grip makes it very hard to tighten the ball fully. They would do well to follow Novoflex' lead and add a tapped hole on the largest leg so one of the smaller legs could be screwed into it for leverage, or alternately a stepped ballhead like Leica's to make slippage less of an issue.

My tabletop photography setup

Not exactly a tripod, but the combination of a Manfrotto Superclamp, a Manfrotto 244RC variable friction Magic Arm and a Hejnar Photo FM244 Arca-Swiss clamp (that replaces the Manfrotto QR clamp) makes for a very versatile setup

Manfrotto SuperClamp with its quick-release mechanism

Allows putting the Magic Arm in and out very quickly. The Impact brand knock-off sold by B&H is superior, though, as it has a steel, not plastic lever, and ratcheting action that allows easier tightening in cramped spaces like this one.

ReallyRightStuff TFA-01 Ultra wPocket Tripod with BC-18 Head

Gitzo Traveler Mini

In the classic Noir Decor finish. Two leg angle settings, the ring around the head locks the ball, very robust.

Dovo 6-inch

Made in Solingen, Germany

Slice by Karim Rashid

A triumph of form over function, very uncomfortable handles

Allex S-120 (slim), S-165 (small) and S-185 (medium)

Made by Hayashi Cutlery in Seki, Japan. Designed in 1975, won the Good Design award. I have owned the stainless steel one with black handles since 1985

Kyocera ceramic

Made in Japan

Mcusta Damascus

The cutout between handles is in the shape of a sakura cherry blossom flower

Japanese copper-plated steel scissors

Tajika Haruo Ironworks, Ono City near Kobe, established 1928. Takeo and Daisuke Tajika, third and fourth generations of this family business forge, shape and sharpen each piece by hand.

Engineer PH-55 Tetsuwan

They look like Gundam figures, but Engineer makes serious precision tools.

Toribe kitchen shears

Made in Japan

Gingher 5-inch pocket scissors

Made in Italy

MAC precision scissors

Made in Japan

OLFA multipurpose

Made in Japan

Klein electrician's scissors

Made in USA

Fiskars titanium nitride coated shears

One edge is micro-serrated. Safety lock and cushioned handles, will cut through almost anything.

Fiskars snips

Another pair of tough shears from Fiskars

Mundial thread nippers

Made in Brazil

Dahle extra-long office scissors

Made in Germany

Plus Fitcut Curve Teflon-coated with cushioned handles

Made in Japan. The shape of the blades is supposed to ensure optimal 30-degree cutting angle as the cut progresses.

Leatherman Raptor medical shears

Made in USA. Meant for EMT and first responders

Muji pocket scissors

Won't cut anything tougher than suet. Mostly useless.

Sun-Star sliding pivot

The sliding pivot doesn't seem to offer much if any compound leverage, and the holes in the blades are somewhat mysterious.

Joseph Joseph 2-in-1 kitchen scissors

Nice color, but very unpleasant to use.

Slice ceramic scissors

Meant to be somewhat child-safe

Premax blunt-tip office scissors

Made in Premana, near Lake Como, Italy

Kai dressmaking shears

Made in Seki, Japan

Kyocera ceramic kitchen scissors

Made in Japan

Ernest Wright scissors

Hand-made in Sheffield, England. https://vimeo.com/98953952

Neto scissors, design by Antonia Campi

Reissue of the 1958 Italian classic by Phi of Switzerland

Blackened Tanebasami scissors

Handmade by Ikenami Hamono, Tanegashima, Japan

Allex hardened steel shears

The offset blades make this ideal for cutting blister packs

Knipex electrician's shears

Carl XScissors

more info in this Nikkei article

OLFA multipurpose Limited Edition

Black is always in style...

Allex S-200

With a larger finger loop than the other Allex

Nakabayashi SAKUtto-cut

With curved blade for an easier cut, safety sheath, padded elastomer handles and hollowed blades to reduce sticking

Nogent France folding pocket scissors

Henri Belligné HB 520 model 6842, family-owned business since 1620, some of whom were official cutlers to the King of France. Very high quality hand-ground blades, unlike most pocket scissors.

Saboten harvesting scissors

Meant for pruning grapes or other thin branches

Leatherman Squirt S4 multitool with scissors (discontinued)

My keychain EDC (everyday-carry) tool. The scissors are far more useful than pliers in everyday use, I don't know why Leatherman discontinued it

True Utility key-ring scissors

Same blade size as Leatherman Squirt S4 scissors, but far less useful because of limited handle leverage

Folding scissors from a Japanese dime shop

The spring is plastic, once can infer how durable they are expected to be.

Premax office scissors

Made in Premana, near Lake Como, Italy

William Whiteley Wilkinson Black electricians' scissors

Handmade in Sheffield, England since 1760

William Whiteley Exo scissors

The blades are welded to the handles. Laser-engraved

William Whiteley Wilkinson Black paper scissors

Meant for wallpaper

Kutz 14-inch long-nose paper scissors

Almost preposterously long

Engineer PH-56 high-performance scissors

Capable of cutting Kevlar, made in Japan

Slice 10545 ceramic shears

Whiteley 9-inch paper scissors

Teflon-coated, made in Sheffield, England

Tools to Live By mini scissors, gold finish

(very well) made in Taiwan

Plus Fitcut Premium with titanium nitride finish

a TiN finished version of the Fitcut

Allex cardboard scissors

With heavy stainless steel blades up to the challenge

William Whiteley Aura Rose Gold

Lovely coppery shade

William Whiteley Workmasters

High-leverage scissors for tough cutting jobs

Nogent HB 520 Ciseaux Rouennais

Made in Nogent, France. Scissors made in Rouen were known for their rounded tips. The quality is quite disappointing compared to the folding scissors. HB 520 is a trading house, it stamps other makers' wares, and in this case quality standards were not met.

Xshears

Heavy blades, a new brand competing with Leatherman for the premium EMT market. Made in Taiwan.

Clauss 18518 detachable kitchen scissors

Sadly discontinued. The very heavy-duty blades detach for easy cleaning. Somewhat crude, however, made in China.

3 Claveles kitchen scissors

Made in Spain.

Canary PS-6500H corrugated cardboard scissors

Made by Hasegawa Cutlery, Seki, Japan. Also good for opening blister packs

Canary and Allex compared

The Allex and Canary are made by different cutleries in Seki, but share a certain design DNA. Perhaps there is a subcontracting agreement between Hasegawa and Hayashi?

Slice ceramic rolling cutter

Designed to cut gift wrap paper. Doesn't work very well.

Muji folding pocket shears

At least these lock together without the need for a cap

Midori Portable Multi-Scissors

Midori means green in Japanese. Has the fitcut curve in a smaller blade.

Raymay Swingcut

With fluorine coating

Kokuyo Clippy

Non-stick scissors with a special deep-carry sprung clip

Nakabayashi Hikigiri Slim

With fluorine coating. Made in China, sadly.

Hightide Penco Small Scissors

Japanese brand, with buttoned carrying case

Zencix Trisquole Scissors

Unique Japanese scissors cum templates.

Zencix Trisquole Circle

Zencix Trisquole Triangle

Zencix Trisquole Rectangle

Plus Fitcut scissors

This cheaper model omits the guard

Tres Claveles 9-inch office scissors

Made in Spain

Facom 980 straight shears

Very tough