Good Tripod for Travel

jamesward93

jamesward93

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Hi

I am off to Kuala Lumpur and Borneo in a couple of months and of course will be taking the camera with me. I have a tripod but its quite heavy and bulky. Can anyone recommend a decent lightweight tripod that would fit in a suitcase or hand luggage?

Thanks in advance
 
jamesward93 said:
Hi

I am off to Kuala Lumpur and Borneo in a couple of months and of course will be taking the camera with me. I have a tripod but its quite heavy and bulky. Can anyone recommend a decent lightweight tripod that would fit in a suitcase or hand luggage?

Thanks in advance
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I was meant to be going to Japan (now cancelled) but asked this same question. The general consensus was go for a Gorillapod (maybe the SLR Zoom one if its a DSLR camera).

Traditional tripods can rarely be taken into the plane as hand luggage so you have to risk them in the hold (which can lead to damage). Gorillapods are small, light and easy to use.

OK, there will be situations where they are not ideal but for travel, they would be my recommendation.

I'm sure others have differing opinions etc
 
I have a gorillapod. It's certainly worth having if the choice is between that or no tripod. I do fancy something more tripod like though. I've been looking at these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/VELBON-ULTR...TF8&coliid=I2K49DS1WQO9UK&colid=1DJZGITP4EOYT

Will only take 1.5 kg but that should probably be enough for most SLR's and a wide angle.

20cm collapsed size and extends to just shy of 0.5m. Maybe worth a look.
 
Velbon Ultra Luxi range are pretty good, i've got the Luxi F which is reasonably stable and straps to my bag easily enough

All about compromise and can't expect it to be as solid as the old Manfrotto I also own, but wouldn't be lugging that about on my hols and definitely not on a plane or strapped to my rucksack
 
I have a manfrotto extra light one - the head is heavier than the legs!!! worth going in and trying some out to see which one fits you best
 
john-oh said:
Depends on your budget but this one is one of the smallest/lightest 'proper' tripods I could find. :
http://www.feisoleurope.com/new-feisol-traveler-tripod-ct3441sb-rapid-with-cb30c-ball-head-p-37.html

Because it is short when collapsed it can be fitted in your hold luggage with no problems.
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A brilliant piece of kit. I have a bloooo one :D The C-3441B blue.

Sometimes I fit it into a suitcase and sometimes I strap it onto the outside of my rucksack-type camera bag.
 
This gets you back to the old :

CHEAP / LIGHT / STABLE

Pick any two :shrug:
 
Hmm i really cant decide, to be fair the Feisol is far more than i am willing to pay but thanks for the suggestion.

I like the Idea of the Giottos as when folded it will fit in my hand luggage and looks a decent bit of kit with ball head included, but the fact i already have a decent manfrotto one makes me feel its a bit excessive. Maybe i could sell the manfrotto......?

The other option i have is a cheap £10 from amazon that i can throw away before flying home. Obviously i am aware that this may not be the most stable tripod in the world but its light, will fit in hand luggage and is cheap cheap cheap. I will just remember to keep the camera strap around my neck!! disposable tripod!

decision decisions decisions
 
I'm in KL right now :) The first bit of advice is buy one when you get here. I picked up a Benro Travel Angel in Penang for £78. Same thing on Ebay UK would have cost around £130.

I also looked at a couple of Manfrottos before deciding on the Benro both of which were 30% cheaper than the UK. It's a bit odd as pretty much all other camera related gear is much more expensive than the UK especially bags :eek: but tripods are good value.

Oh and if you do decide to buy one when you get here, haggle on price. One of the Manfrottos I was looking at was marked up at 500 ringit and he offered it to me for 300 ringit without haggling too hard. The Benro was also marked up at 500 ringit but I got it for 380 ringit in the end.

There are small camera shops everywhere. The Malaysians seem to have bit of an obsession with DSLR's, everyone seems to have one!

Have a good trip.
Simon.
 
Do people really take tripods in hand luggage?

I've been told off for taking a monopod as it could be used as a club - presumably a removable centre column has the same risk?

Would be gutting to have to leave your tripod at the airport!
 
My Benro Travel Angel at 38cms folded including head, comfortably fits in my average sized suitcase.
 
Llamaman said:
Do people really take tripods in hand luggage?

I've been told off for taking a monopod as it could be used as a club - presumably a removable centre column has the same risk?

Would be gutting to have to leave your tripod at the airport!
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Thats a fair point, i will email the airline and see what they say about it
 
It's not just the airline - you may not get as far as the gate if airport security don't like it (which is more likely than the crew at the gate getting stroppy - they only tend to care about hand luggage size).
 
jamesward93 said:
well according the list of banned items a tripod should be ok

Prohibited Hand Luggage Items

I would also image that a bottle of spirits bought in duty free would do more damage than a small tripod ;)
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It doesn't say a tripod is ok - it's just not specifically excluded. A tripod may be viewed as being a 'blunt object' which are not allowed.
My personal experience (in a US airport) is that a monopod was not OK. Luckily it wasn't confiscated but I was told not to do it again. A tripod may have the same issue - especially if the security guy spots a removable column or leg.
Of course, the next time I flew I put my monopod in my hold luggage - where the handlers broke it.
 
I have a manfrotto tripod that I carry inside my hand luggage bag and never had any problems with it.
I'm flying every 2 weeks to different places in Europe, and that I remember, I only have to open the bag 2 or 3 times to show it.
Not sure if the security is more tight where you are flying to though...

But Gorillapod is also a good choice.

Enjoy your vacations and good pictures.
 
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