Jump to content

Travel Tripod


Recommended Posts

I use this combo https://www.manfrotto.us/gitzo-tripod-kit-traveler-series-1-4-sections for my SL and smaller cameras. It's compact enough to fit into a carry-on bag, and light enough to carry around at destination. It's the first tripod I've had in a long time that I don't think twice about about taking on a trip, and gets a lot of use.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, Chuck Albertson said:

I use this combo https://www.manfrotto.us/gitzo-tripod-kit-traveler-series-1-4-sections for my SL and smaller cameras. It's compact enough to fit into a carry-on bag, and light enough to carry around at destination. It's the first tripod I've had in a long time that I don't think twice about about taking on a trip, and gets a lot of use.

Thank you Chuck!

Link to post
Share on other sites

I use the RRS TQC-14 with column http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/TFC-14-Mk2-TQC-14-Mk2-Tripods?quantity=1&custcol61=8, plus the BH-30 head http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/BH-30-Ballhead. No problem to use this relatively light and small combo with the S (although I use a larger, more heavy tripod when I can). The Manfrotto/Gitzp looks nice as well.

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm with Helged ..... I use a TQC-14c with an Arca Swiss P0 ballhead plus their quick release attachment. 

That's fine for anything except bad weather or splashing about in sea/rivers ...... when I take my bigger RRS TVC-3X 

Edited by thighslapper
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello Greg,

Welcome to the Forum,

For many years I used a full size tripod with a ball head for all kinds of things when I was in the field.. A ball head, or 1 of its derivatives, is the most practical tripod HEAD in the field. In a studio or for some sort of still life situation you might use some other type of tripod head.

I came across a Leitz medium sized, large ball head (Leitz large ball heads have varied in size over the years.) which was & still is in pretty much new condition even though it is probably over 60 years old & has been used extensively. These ball heads are built to last pretty much forever if you respect them when you use them.  And they hold well with a LIGHTLY tightened turn of the handle. Even with a 135mm F4, Tele-Elmar & the camera turned to a vertical position & the camera baseplate attached to the ball head. Just remember that like with a full sized tripod: To adjust the ball so that the center of gravity of the camera/lens combination (Not the lens alone.) is over the longest leg.

I decided to & did build my own tabletop tripod which would be similar to a Leitz tabletop tripod. But it is cosmetically challenged. I added soft, non-marking slippers (Important) & a cable release (Kodak #1).

I found that this combination more & more replaced a full sized tripod for some of the same reasons that Leicas & cameras like them replaced Speed Graphics:

A small tabletop tripod can't do everything that a full sized tripod can but the more that you use it, the more ways you find to use it. And it is easier to have with you & it is easier to use. So much so that I don't even take a full sized tripod to much of anywhere with me anymore. Not even much for still life's anymore. 

You can use a small solid table tripod, with soft, non-marking slippers, with a large ball head & a cable release: Against a wall (Even a white painted wall when it has soft, non-marking slippers.). Or inside (Or above.) a door frame. Against a rock. Or a tree. Or on a car with the engine turned off. And: Even on the top of a table. 

It quickly collapses & comes apart to fit into an actual pocket. And the more you use it:The more ways you find to use it.

Best Regards,

Michael

Edited by Michael Geschlecht
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Michael Geschlecht said:

Hello Greg,

Welcome to the Forum,

For many years I used a full size tripod with a ball head for all kinds of things when I was in the field.. A ball head, or 1 of its derivatives, is the most practical tripod HEAD in the field. In a studio or for some sort of still life situation you might use some other type of tripod head.

I came across a Leitz medium sized, large ball head (Leitz large ball heads have varied in size over the years.) which was & still is in pretty much new condition even though it is probably over 60 years old & has been used extensively. These ball heads are built to last pretty much forever if you respect them when you use them.  And they hold well with a LIGHTLY tightened turn of the handle. Even with a 135mm F4, Tele-Elmar & the camera turned to a vertical position & the camera baseplate attached to the ball head. Just remember that like with a full sized tripod: To adjust the ball so that the center of gravity of the camera/lens combination (Not the lens alone.) is over the longest leg.

I decided to & did build my own tabletop tripod which would be similar to a Leitz tabletop tripod. But it is cosmetically challenged. I added soft, non-marking slippers (Important) & a cable release (Kodak #1).

I found that this combination more & more replaced a full sized tripod for some of the same reasons that Leicas & cameras like them replaced Speed Graphics:

A small tabletop tripod can't do everything that a full sized tripod can but the more that you use it, the more ways you find to use it. And it is easier to have with you & it is easier to use. So much so that I don't even take a full sized tripod to much of anywhere with me anymore. Not even much for still life's anymore. 

You can use a small solid table tripod, with soft, non-marking slippers, with a large ball head & a cable release: Against a wall (Even a white painted wall when it has soft, non-marking slippers.). Or inside (Or above.) a door frame. Against a rock. Or a tree. Or on a car with the engine turned off. And: Even on the top of a table. 

It quickly collapses & comes apart to fit into an actual pocket. And the more you use it:The more ways you find to use it.

Best Regards,

Michael

Thank you for the welcome and your insights Michael, I will take a look at those!

Link to post
Share on other sites

3 sizes for me, depending on need and transport ease... Leica tabletop, decades old (handy as chest pod), RRS TQC-14 and RRS TVC-24L (with BH-30 and BH55 heads).  The Arca P0 head, which I’ve tried, is also superb.  My wooden pods from large format days are long gone.

In most cases, though, I now prefer handheld photography.

Jeff

Edited by Jeff S
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...