Transporting a Tripod

Marc

Marc

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I have just bought a Manfrotto 190XPROB tripod and 804RC2 head and I may have the opportunity to do a shoot in Paris in November so I would want to take the tripod with me.

The question is, what is the best way to transport it? (Would be travelling by plane). It came with an MMBAG80P Tripod Bag. Would it be safe just to put this in with standard check in luggage? Obviously the cameras and lenses would come with me as hand luggage.

Cheers
 
I'm putting mine in the hold luggage, and taking my camera bag on board with me when I go to France tomorrow, if that's any help??
 
You won't be able to check it as hand luggage anyway, it gets classed as a possible weapon.

Personally I would only check a tripod inside a hard case.
 
wrong! i got my tripod through to and from Menorca! :p think it was just luck though! even though i did ask at each end!
 
Have recently returned from holiday and had my tripod inside my suitcase surrounded by the softest items of clothing.
It travelled a treat...........just a shame I never bloody used it when I was over there
:lol::lol::lol::lol:
 
fabs said:
I meant as hold luggage. I wouldn't be able to have it as hand luggage anyway as I'd have the camera bag. Where would you get a hard case for a tripod?
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By hard case I meant suitcase.
 
I always let mine ride in the hold on it's tod, just tied together well.

I have started to worry lately though that it could hurt the plane. ;)
 
I've let mine ride in the hold, right in the middle of my (already stuffed) bag.

I've also taken it on as hand luggage, strapped to my camera bag. I think all the camera equipment validated it as a tripod, not a weapon, and the fact that it didn't have the head on probably helped.
 
fabs said:
I meant that I wouldn't be able to carry them both.:)
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I did both the tripod and my over shoulder bag for my body and lenses! or habve i missed the point again
 
dazzajl said:
I always let mine ride in the hold on it's tod, just tied together well.

I have started to worry lately though that it could hurt the plane. ;)
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It's more a case of the baggage throwers sorry handlers crushing or stealing it.
 
travelled to belfast and to hannover with a vinten tripod (so a bit more weight) that went into the hold and came out okay which tbh did suprise me lol. If you can pack it in the hold bag surrounded by soft items to avoid it being dented.
 
i am gonig to start sticking mine in the hold to be honest. (im sure if its in a bag and you get them to stick fragile stickers in it, it will be fine!
 
PsiFox said:
It's more a case of the baggage throwers sorry handlers crushing or stealing it.
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Neither are really much of a worry for me I guess. If it's nicked the insurance will cover a new one on site or rental and I doubt it's ever going to come off worse in a fight with a thrower. :D

Although, saying that. I do have a neotec thingy with a pistol grip head that I doubt would take well to a trip in the hold. I'd be happy enough with it in a suitcase though, even a soft one. Mind you, I'd have thought that a bag with a tripod hidden in could cause an alarm in xray???
 
dazzajl said:
Neither are really much of a worry for me I guess. If it's nicked the insurance will cover a new one on site or rental and I doubt it's ever going to come off worse in a fight with a thrower. :D

Although, saying that. I do have a neotec thingy with a pistol grip head that I doubt would take well to a trip in the hold. I'd be happy enough with it in a suitcase though, even a soft one. Mind you, I'd have thought that a bag with a tripod hidden in could cause an alarm in xray???
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Only if you put some batteries with wires running around it with a few bottles or dense tubes.
 
PsiFox said:
Only if you put some batteries with wires running around it with a few bottles or dense tubes.
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dense tube = tripod legs
wires= 322RC2 head with remote shutter

lol things could get interesting.
 
well i went to Tenerife last week got back friday i took my camera and kit in my camera bag as hand luggage and my tripod which is the same as yours i bubble wrapped it and used elastic bands to hold it in place then covered it in cloths in my luggage and it was fine.
 
why wrapp them if they are going in the suitcase or am i missing something again! Grrr
 
33L said:
why wrapp them if they are going in the suitcase or am i missing something again! Grrr
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yup the skills of the bagge throwers are legendary.
 
33L said:
i am gonig to start sticking mine in the hold to be honest. (im sure if its in a bag and you get them to stick fragile stickers in it, it will be fine!
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Fragile stickers have allegedly a similar reaction as a bull and a china shop in my experience.
 
I bought a cheapish one when i was on holiday in Thailand, and i did use it quite a bit, it cost about £29 and held a D300 with grip and a 18-200mm lens without any real problem, when i was coming home i posted it to myself, it got to me about 2 days after i got back :thumbs:
 
I recently just returned from Turkey from my tripod. I packed it in my suitcase and wrapped clothes around it. It took the travel well and went undamaged as I used it once or twice after.

Then a few days into the trip I go for a half an hour walk to this temple and start setting up the pod there and it turns out the platform thingie snapped off. I couldn't remember where and when but I had to have knocked it somehow.

So...basically, I'm pretty confident that the tripod will get past (in full health) air travel in checked luggage with clothes wrapped around it. But do be careful how you handle it outside the suitcase.

And really consider if you'll be needing it for a majority of your shots or if a mini/desk tripod (or any other sturdy object found on location) won't suffice. All in all, I used my tripod once or twice and potential uses (once it was broken) came out to be maybe 8 more times. Honestly, it wasn't worth for me bringing it to Turkey. My minitrop saw more action.
 
when my tripod is packed in the case its surrounded by clothes and i use a hard case. Bare in mind that my tripod (for travel) is cheap and plasticy. it survives well wothout makign an effort to make sure its comfortable for the trip!
 
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