good travel tripod recommendations please.

Eoghan

Eoghan

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Hi all,

we are off on our hols soon and am looking for a suitable travel tripod. We are going to New York for two nights then sailing back to the UK on the QM2 for 6 nights. as you can imagine there are going to be several good photo opportunities through the day and at night.

I am considering the gorilla pod and a ball head as its small and pretty practical but wonder if there is any other system thats available to me.

as we are flying out, size and weight will be a factor. i could buy in the states, but prefer getting it before we travel so i know i have it and can plan my shots straight away - our hotel is literally spitting distance from times square.


thoughts and opinions please - or have i just answered my own question?

thanks

Eoghan
 
My father has one of these, I've borrowed it once or twice and found it to be very easy to carry and set up. The central column can be set to the horizontal position if you want to get the camera lower down. I'm thinking about asking if I can take it to South Africa with me later this year.
 
You may wish to rethink and plan for your first day in New York to be wandering around B&H :D

My next Tripod will be Manfrotto's 190CXPro3 as it appears to strike a great balance between weight, rigidity, functionality and price. Oh you'll need a head also.
 
You'd struggle with a gorillapod unless you can find something to attach it to, like a lamp post or bench, exactly at the point where you want to take your shots from. Otherwise, all your shots will be taken from about 12 inches off the ground. That said, I've got exactly that set up (ball and gorilla), and have used it in places where I think they might be funny about 'professional equipment', so it does have it's uses.

If you want to borrow mine (just the gorilla, I use the ball on my big tripod unfortunately), PM me! :D
 
candlestick said:
You'd struggle with a gorillapod unless you can find something to attach it to, like a lamp post or bench, exactly at the point where you want to take your shots from. Otherwise, all your shots will be taken from about 12 inches off the ground. That said, I've got exactly that set up (ball and gorilla), and have used it in places where I think they might be funny about 'professional equipment', so it does have it's uses.

If you want to borrow mine (just the gorilla, I use the ball on my big tripod unfortunately), PM me! :D
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Hi Candlestick,

I'll be wanting to do mainly night shots at the top of the ESB in times square and onboard ship, so i'm guessing there will be plenty of places to secure it to...

and thank you for your kind offer, but I think i'll just buy one. i can see there might be other uses for it for me down the line.


I have been thinking about the traditional tripod, but have a niggling feeling about it... think it might be a bit too cumbersome for what i want to use it for.

thanks for your replies and opinions

Eoghan
 
What about a Manfrotto Modo tripod and the associated bag?

Seems ideal for lightweight togging, I'm not sure that I would have been better off getting one of these at xmas, though you should check whether the bag meets carry-on regulations.
 
NorthernNikon said:
What about a Manfrotto Modo tripod and the associated bag?

Seems ideal for lightweight togging, I'm not sure that I would have been better off getting one of these at xmas, though you should check whether the bag meets carry-on regulations.
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I bought one of these from jessops last year, took it back the next day, as the head could not hold the weight of my 40D and sigma 18-200mm lens, not very sturdy either.
 
For my lightweight tripod I have a Slik 613 CF and a Manfrotto 484RC2 ball head, in total it weighs in at 1Kg.

It does fine for trips when you may need a tripod but don't want to carry a full size one, it's plenty stable enough my 5D and 70-200 f/2.8 but if you really want rock steady a full size tripod will be better.

The legs were £130 and the head £40
 
scott1979 said:
I bought one of these from jessops last year, took it back the next day, as the head could not hold the weight of my 40D and sigma 18-200mm lens, not very sturdy either.
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Interesting and disappointing at the same time. I may still look at one, afterall I'd at most be putting a D300 with 20mm lens on, but what attracted me was the ability tocarry tripod and kit covered on my back.
 
we are off on our hols soon and am looking for a suitable travel tripod. We are going to New York for two nights then sailing back to the UK on the QM2 for 6 nights. as you can imagine there are going to be several good photo opportunities through the day and at night.

I am considering the gorilla pod and a ball head as its small and pretty practical but wonder if there is any other system thats available to me.

as we are flying out, size and weight will be a factor. i could buy in the states, but prefer getting it before we travel so i know i have it and can plan my shots straight away - our hotel is literally spitting distance from times square
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No mention of cost as a requirement !

The dip in the pound value will have increased the price lately - I'm glad i got mine when I did !
 
OK... first of all if you are travelling your tripod has to be light and small... most supposed travel tripods are not small enough... but that is normally because they have chosen to go for the ballance of stability/ weight on the side of stability. I dont blame them for that... However... I have found a great wee tripod i've used on many forgien trips (Peru and inca trail/ NYC 3 times/ Denmark/ Austria/ Canada/ USA Rockies) now and it has always performed well, within its own limitations that is... It's ok as long as you dont have a huge telephoto on and its not too windy. I rarely use it at full extent... but for its weight and size its extension is empressive...

Its the Veblon digital series....

http://www.velbon.co.uk/newvelbon/pages/digitripods.html

I also carry an ultrapod II when travelling...

http://www.ephotozine.com/shop/product33.html

Now as for taking a tripod about in NYC... You have two issues... first the sidewalks are so so busy and setting up a tripod does draw alot of attention if you dont find yourself a quieter space. Secondly... you are not allowed a tripod at the top of the ESB... if you have never been up... even if you where the top does not lend itself to their use due to the nature of the barrier round the viewing deck stopping people jump off. You need to poke ** camera through the gaps... which are big enough so dont worry... but you struggle to get any sort of fixing... I've only managed previous with the ultrapod... The night is def the best time to go up the ESB... so so much more quiet and nicer pics... the daytime can often be fairly drab and lifeless skys at this time of year... and i'd imagine too bright in the summer afternoons. One tip though... go to the top of the rockafeller centre early in the day... views are better and your photos include the ESB!

M
 
i have a velbon ultra maxi

very light, very small, sturdy enough to cope just about.

it supports my 300 f2.8 with a little faith and using a remote shutter. realistically it can handle a body and walkabout lens no worries. just as long as you remember it's a travel tripod.

http://www.velbon.co.uk/newvelbon/pages/ultramaxim.html
 
john-oh said:
No mention of cost as a requirement !
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We're travelling on the QM2... there is no cost requirement!

Mark,

thanks for the info about NYC and tripods... I think the gorilla pod + head might be the the solution. I hadn't thought on monopods, but for night shots and shots on the boat a tripod would be better.

I think one of the wifes colleagues told us about ESB at night and the rock during the day... not sure about getting up for the sun rise though! although the slight time difference will get us up that little bit earlier i think.

Again, thanks to all for your input.

Eoghan
 
How about a Velbon Sherpa 600R?
 
Nifkin said:
How about a Velbon Sherpa 600R?
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Thats quite large at 650mm closed for travel... I have one and took it once with me to NYC... just could not be bothered carrying it about! Not heavy though I'll give it that... and im unconvinced about the stability at full extension....

As for the velbon ultra... it is good but stability is not great... but for what it is... its a great lightweight travel accessory... however after three years mines has broken at a fairly critical point... and the part is only made of plastic... so I question the build quality a little as that part should have been more robust... I've contacted velbon for a replacement and got a snooty email back saying I could not get a spare and would need to replace my tripod.

I will be but not with a velbon...

Thinking of going for a SLIK AM340... A bit bigger at 450mm closed but hopefully a bit more stable and durable!

M

Oh another tip for NYC... small park at night between Brooklyn and Manhatten bridge... Ultimate place for NYC skyline shot... and quioet and safe... brooklyn is a changed place!
 
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