Tripods getting their feet wet....

RedRobin

RedRobin

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I have a Manfrotto MT293C4 compact lightweight carbon tripod and often photograph Dragonflies. Consequently I may be in a situation where I could achieve a better shot by dipping my tripod in shallow water. Obviously placing the carbon in water is not a problem and neither are the plastic components but what about the metal screws etc? - Wouldn't they be inclined to rust?

Does anyone know or have any experience, please?

:)
 
A very old trick id to put bin liners on the legs, secure with cable ties. Not elegant, but practical and cheap
 
Put it away damp and then it is likely to have problems but if it dries off first it should be fine. I've got a good old metal one and that's been in 3ft of sea water on more than one occasion with no problems in four years, it gets a thorough wash down with fresh water as soon as I get home and then dried mind you.
 
Re Chappers John's post:
A more elegant way would be to use small strong clear plastic bags as bin liner plastics tend to tear easily. But a great idea - Thanks! (y)

They would only be needed on the bottom foot section rather than the whole extended leg.
 
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Big Andy said:
Put it away damp and then it is likely to have problems but if it dries off first it should be fine. I've got a good old metal one and that's been in 3ft of sea water on more than one occasion with no problems in four years, it gets a thorough wash down with fresh water as soon as I get home and then dried mind you.
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....So I need to buy a hair dryer? I'm divorced and my daughter has now fled the nest and so inspite of me having long hair I don't have a dryer!
 
RedRobin said:
I have a Manfrotto MT293C4 compact lightweight carbon tripod and often photograph Dragonflies. Consequently I may be in a situation where I could achieve a better shot by dipping my tripod in shallow water. Obviously placing the carbon in water is not a problem and neither are the plastic components but what about the metal screws etc? - Wouldn't they be inclined to rust?

Does anyone know or have any experience, please?

:)
Click to expand...


I have a 20 year old Manfrotto 190QCB.. alloy, not carbon fibre. It's been in rivers, the sea, dropped down mountains, kicked, scuffed, left out in the rain.. generally abused as a working tool should be. It's just fine, and I still use it to this day.

Screws and fittings may corrode eventually, yes... mine haven't. If it gets salt water or sand on it, I rinse it off and dry it when I get home.

Stop being so precious.. they're tools.. use it and stop worrying about it. Same goes for cameras and lenses. :)

Chappers said:
A very old trick id to put bin liners on the legs, secure with cable ties. Not elegant, but practical and cheap
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You can be arsed doing that? It's alloy tubing... it ain't gonna melt! Just get the damned thing wet and dry it off when finished.
 
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Pookeyhead said:
I have a 20 year old Manfrotto 190QCB.. alloy, not carbon fibre. It's been in rivers, the sea, dropped down mountains, kicked, scuffed, left out in the rain.. generally abused as a working tool should be. It's just fine, and I still use it to this day.

Screws and fittings may corrode eventually, yes... mine haven't. If it gets salt water or sand on it, I rinse it off and dry it when I get home.

Stop being so precious.. they're tools.. use it and stop worrying about it. Same goes for cameras and lenses. :)
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This really ^
Mine is always in rivers, lakes, the sea, being dropped, chucked in the boot, rolling around in the back of the van etc.
I don't even rinse mine off when I get home, it works perfectly, though that's mainly my laziness.
 
:plusone:

Left salt water wet, it'll die but a good rinse in fresh water and left with the legs extended to dry, you shouldn't have any problems. If my allow tripod gets wet legs, I rinse/dry then give the legs a quick wipe down with a WD40 moistened rag. Tend not to get the CF tripods wet - not out of preciousness, just that I have an alloy one so use that (as a cheaper and older option).
 
Pookeyhead said:
I have a 20 year old Manfrotto 190QCB.. alloy, not carbon fibre. It's been in rivers, the sea, dropped down mountains, kicked, scuffed, left out in the rain.. generally abused as a working tool should be. It's just fine, and I still use it to this day.

Screws and fittings may corrode eventually, yes... mine haven't. If it gets salt water or sand on it, I rinse it off and dry it when I get home.

Stop being so precious.. they're tools.. use it and stop worrying about it. Same goes for cameras and lenses. :)
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....Thanks, David, you have confirmed what I hoped - That Manfrotto tripods are durable in the real world.

However, I don't abuse any equipment or tools I use.
 
I either pick up brolly bags when I'm in Japan or get them sent over. Work a treat and extends the life of the tripod.
 
Think you will be ok, used CF sea fishing rods for many years and wiped dry then quick spray with WD40 kept the metal fittings in good nick
 
A serious question - does WD40 have any effect on carbon fibre?
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Not in my experience, rods lasted well, bike frames and fittings are also now made of CF which also frequently come into contact with WD40 type substances.

Only thing that ever knackered one of my fishing rods was shutting/crushing it in the car door, that was a far thinner freshwater type too.

Personally think the biggest danger is cheaply made CF which might have structural integrity doubts. Only ever bought the good quality stuff such as Easton, vital when you are talking about mountain bike handlebars.

Unsure how that relates to tripods, but coincidentally on another thread I did mention that durability is still untested in most of the recent entrants to the market.

Not life endangering I know, but still wouldn't be good seeing a couple of grands worth of camera gear go crashing to the deck
 
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My Vanguard aluminium tripod has been in the sea, in rivers, in sand, mud and whatnot.

No worries. Just use it. Life's definitely too short to spend time worrying about whether your tripod likes getting its feet wet or not.
 
never managed to break a tripod as yet - i used to have a Manfrotto 055 that was in very good condition (and I knew the previous owner made good use of it), I even did a shoot in a swimming pool where just the head and the top couple of inches were out of the water - I think the clean did it some good :)

if by any chance you notice the screws starting to rust then just clean/replace them, i can't remember ever cleaning a tripod (splashing it around in the water to get the mud off is as far as close as it gets)

don't hold back, enjoy using it, and if by some remote chance you get a problem then post on here and we'll help you find a fix :)

...thinking on it, I did break a monopod once - lesson learned, a monopod is not a light sabre and I shouldn't be playing star wars at my age!
 
Thankyou everyone :thumbs: - Nothing but good quality information posted.

As a result I need not be concerned at all and especially as I never go into seawater. River estuary water might have a saline content but nothing which a quick tap water rinse won't wash away after a session.

I shan't be using covers whether specialist Drypods or not - Another thing to get in the way and mess about with.

I have plenty of faith in Manfrotto products and their carbon quality.
 
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