Travel Tripod and/or monopod suggestions

kickstart

kickstart

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I have an upcoming trip to Equador and the Galpagos islands. I'll be shooting a mixture of wildlife and landscapes and was considering taking a monopod with me.
I don't want to lug a load of gear with me and I doubt I'll have a lot of time to set up complicated landscape shots.
I'll mainly be using a 5DMkIV with 70-300L F4 (with a tripod ring fitted) for wildlife and a 16-35 L F4 for landscapes, also a 24-106L F4 on an 80D as back up and handheld GV's

The old Redsnapper monopod I have is a bit big and heavy so I was thinking of a smaller Carbon monopod.

I've looked at the Manfrotto MM290C4, which seemed well made, stable and a sensible size.
https://www.parkcameras.com/p/9370013B/monopods/manfrotto/mm290c4-290-carbon-fiber-4-section-monopod
Currently at a fairly attractive price.

The other option which caught my eye was the K&F concept TC2834 or TC2534 - these allow one leg to be converted to a monopod
https://www.kentfaith.com/carbon-fi...inches-ball-head-4-sections-load-capacity-8kg

https://www.kentfaith.com/carbon-fi...8cm-ball-head-professional-dslr-travel-tripod
Fairly good reviews such as this:
https://digital-photography-school.com/review-kf-concept-tc2534-tripod/

Or finally the Three legged Thing tripods:
The Billy is nice but more expensive choice
https://www.3leggedthing.com/store/billy
The Corey is more affordable, but heavier
https://www.3leggedthing.com/store/corey

I don't want a big heavy tripod (even though this may be better) so if replies could keep this in mind it would be great.
Does anyone have any experience with these, or alternatives?
 
take a look at Sirui. How upcoming is this trip?
 
Not until April... just soon enough to be very excited!
Siri - Any particular model?
 
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kickstart said:
Not until April... just soon enough to be very excited!
Siri - Any particular model?
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I would recommend getting down tot he Photo shop at the NEC. most manufacturers will be there with a wide selection of their products to try and gauge relative weights / functions
 
We went to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands a few years ago. I don't think I would have found time to set up a tripod when being escorted round the islands or even if it would have been permissible. I don't recall too much in the way of landscapes and you certainly wouldn't need a tripod for the wildlife. We did a mixture of jungle, city trips and the islands and I was hand held all the time. It was a wonderful trip that we'll never forget, you will enjoy it.
 
footman said:
We went to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands a few years ago. I don't think I would have found time to set up a tripod when being escorted round the islands or even if it would have been permissible. I don't recall too much in the way of landscapes and you certainly wouldn't need a tripod for the wildlife. We did a mixture of jungle, city trips and the islands and I was hand held all the time. It was a wonderful trip that we'll never forget, you will enjoy it.
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Thanks, that helps me decide, I think just a monopod is the way to go...
 
jamesev said:
Have you ever found the big foot has stripped the thread in the bottom pod section?
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No problem like that, its the genuine Gitzo item and did it up tightly with a spanner, guessing yours did?
 
tijuana taxi said:
I have one of these http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=556818 and one of these stuck on the end for better stability http://photovideo.com.au/gitzo-g1220130b-foot-p-4213.html?osCsid=jf3ie7fn3b1utbof0608gggqk7

Not getting much use these days and might be tempted to part with it, you need something decent to put the kit you described on
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Let me know if you want to sell it, I might well be interested. The main issue is how small it packs down...
 
kickstart said:
Let me know if you want to sell it, I might well be interested. The main issue is how small it packs down...
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Will do, just had a measure out of curiosity and its 53cm or just under 21ins in old money
 
tijuana taxi said:
How strange, used them on tripods too and never had a problem, maybe just a rogue one you had
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if you twist the monopod the thread can come untightened and wobble which after much use can strip the thread.
 
jamesev said:
if you twist the monopod the thread can come untightened and wobble which after much use can strip the thread.
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Blue Loctite is your friend, use it on my ball head Arca clamps for the same reason, as in when you rotate the camera the clamp doesn't undo.
 
footman said:
We went to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands a few years ago. I don't think I would have found time to set up a tripod when being escorted round the islands or even if it would have been permissible. I don't recall too much in the way of landscapes and you certainly wouldn't need a tripod for the wildlife. We did a mixture of jungle, city trips and the islands and I was hand held all the time. It was a wonderful trip that we'll never forget, you will enjoy it.
Click to expand...
Yes, it's almost thirty years since we went but I do remember being rushed around the islands with little time to settle for photography. The light was generally pretty good anyway - it is on the equator - so additional support wasn't often needed.
 
I've plumped for the Manfrotto Carbon monopod. It's light, small enough and might help when we are in the cloud forest in Ecuador so I think it will be worthwhile taking it.
 
Anyone know if the Gitzo Big Foot can be fitted to other brands of monopod, for example the Sirui range? I really like the look of the Sirui P-324/424 but the foot on the Gitzo range looks a good idea...
 
Son_of_Thor said:
Anyone know if the Gitzo Big Foot can be fitted to other brands of monopod, for example the Sirui range? I really like the look of the Sirui P-324/424 but the foot on the Gitzo range looks a good idea...
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My P424 has a retractable spike so it is not practical (as far as I know) to fit any other type of foot - this has yet to be an issue for me.
 
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