One solution for traveling with a tripod
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008
I’m a tripod user. Not all photographers are but there’s something about shooting with a tripod that I like. I’ve got a longer post on tripods brewing but in answering a question on flickr this morning I realized that there is a solution to a problem that’s been bothering me for a while: How to go into a place like New York City and not lug around my full size tripod.
I have a great full size tripod (Induro C214) which serves me well for most situations. However, with head it weighs about 4 pounds and it’s close to 2 feet in length collapsed with the head attached. I can strap it onto the back of my pack but it’s definitely cumbersome and to carry it around all day for a few night shots is a drag.
I’ve been wracking my brains for another solution to having stability for a few shots that need it but not so much gear and I think I might have found it.
I have both a Bogen tabletop tripod and an Ultrapod II. This one (Bogen) is lower to the ground and sturdier:
The problem with using tabletop tripods is that unless you place them on a mailbox or car hood or, in the case of the Ultrapod, velcro them to something above waist height, it’s nearly impossible to see through the viewfinder without getting down on the sidewalk. This may not be something one wants to do in a city like New York.
Still, the tabletop tripod is a bit low, even for the angle finder. Induro also makes a model of tripod legs which is a nice compromise between a table top and a full size light weight tripod: A012 Alloy 6M A-Series Compact 2-Section Tripod Legs that weigh less than 2 pounds with a head and collapse down to about 15 inches with a head.
Between the angle finder and these legs I think I may have found a possible solution to carying support around a place like New York without having so much gear that it gets in the way or breaks my back.
An experiment is in order it seems.
Richard, thanks for writing well about one of the dilemmas of traveling with tripods. I like your idea about exploring the city with the tabletop tripod and a compact Induro tripod. That should work great. The angle viewer is something I’ve wanted to try for some time. It can be useful for taking candid photos on the street, as the great street NYC photographers Ben Shahn and Helen Levitt sometimes did, starting in the 1930’s. The angle viewer allows you to stand a bit off to the side, sighting away from the subject the lens is aimed at.
Gary, ah, multiple uses, that makes it even more attractive. First step, get the angle finder and see how it works with tabletop tripods. Then maybe longer legs if needed.
Hi Everyone,
Sorry for spamming, im just copy/pasting and interesting conversation richard and i had over gmail just for the benefit of seeing certain things like we discussed.
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Dilip: I brought a new Manfrotto 682B Self Standing Monopod. I fired a few test shots and it seems to be doing quite well.
See here…
http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/cache/off/pid/2372?livid=107|117&idx=119
If not you may purchase it i think it would be a good value add to mention it on the post, it would be a good perspective to the problem.
I was at a bar last sunday and i managed to get a few good shots of wine glasses and liquor bottles. I had my tripod but i could not set it up at the bar table because of it being large/heavy/cumbersome (eventhough the one i have is a lightweight series from manfrotto) and i think this monopod could have helped better.
I will go home tonight and shoot some images of the monopod and post something. This self standing monopod is quite sturdy when you attach the tripod like legs to the bottom. Worked great on the 24-70 at bulb mode. I’m yet to try the 75-300 or the 100mm.
I intend to visit a couple of villages to do some farm/fields kind of outdoor photography. I guess that would be the ultimate test.
Richard: Dilip: Wow, thanks, that’s great to know. I figured those would be a
bit wobbly and the center post being so long would accentuate the
wobble. Are you sure yours will hold still in a breeze?
I’d love it if you’d post that link in a comment on the post, better
from you as a user than from me.
Thanks bud, let me know how it continues to work for you, I might have
to get one too.
Dilip: I agree,
I have not used the Canon 75-300 lens on it yet but the Sigma 24-70 is almost thrice as heavy as the former and it was okay.
The advantage of having this self standing tripod is that the legs on the base make if very sturdy and you dont really need to press any lock/lever with your foot, like you do with other monopods to keep the leg in place.
Especially say, if you are indoors and monopod column/leg dont stick to a place on smooth wooden or marble floors and keeps slipping, these pseudo legs are real handy, in fact i took my hand off the camera and monopod and did some self timer shots and remote shutter shots as well. I’m not sure this would really work in a highly windy situation.
I think using a heavier head makes things better for me. I have quite a heavy ball head (Manfrotto 486RC2) and it seems to stabilize the column more compared to the inexpensive gear head (282RC, i think) that is recommended with the monopod.
The Only shortcoming i see is if you want the legs you have to unscrew the shoe of the monopod column and reverse it and screw it back on, it does not retract back. Oh well, i guess thats asking for too much but there is a rumour a successor to this monopod due 2009 will have it and also a button push retraction mechanism so you dont have to unclip and unlock levers to extend the column.
Richard: Dilip:
Great discussion, copy/paste it to comments so others can learn from you…
Also, maybe take a picture of your rig in action with a second camera,
I’ll be happy to blog it as an alternative. Let me know.
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So what im doing right now at 12 midnight is shooting pictures of my new monopod. I will post a blog in the next few days and cross link here so that we can have another round of brainstorming :D
Just to add, the angle finder L is awesome. I borrowed one from Captain Suresh (http://flickr.com/photos/wildhiss/) and had major fun with it.
I did get mud on my face eventually but i did not have to put my face down.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dilipm/440648963
Thats one good shot i managed with the Angle finder. Just that its a bit too expensive to buy. Maybe i would find cheaper OEMs from sigma or tamron. I need to look.
The single most advantage on using a Angle finder is that you can literally put the camera down or cradle it on your hand by making a pillow out of your had. You have almost no shake even for long exposures if you hold your breath and slow down a bit. I find it hard holding my breath so i usually carry like 2 or 3 very small Himachal Pradesh apples and bite into one of them. It helps to arrest breathing and shake.
Thanks Dilip, I’ll be anxious to see your pictures of this setup.
Manfrotto 682B - Self Standing Monopod