Carrying a Tripod

[Ektagraphic]

Hello- I was wondering if anyone here has come up with a comfortable way to carry a tripod for a whole day of shooting. I will be doing some traveling in DC and I don't really want to just carry my tripod as ususal. I would like to free up my hands. I may be getting a new slightly more compact tripod that can probably fit right in my backpack.....

 

[Ian Grant]

I bought a Slik Swift Pro II that fits inside my back-pack (also sold as a Calumet), very useful for places where no tripods are allowed, although its nominally a Digital model it happily holds my TLR and Crown graphic or Wista and is designed to carry a reasonable weight.

Ian

 

[werra]

I attached some belt to the center column and head with just cable ties, works OK. With Graphic attached I carry the whole shebang hanging on the shoulder like a rifle, camera downwards. Balanced and quickly accessible.

 

[jerry lebens]

As an assistant, I spent many "happy" hours schlepping a tripod and camera through the bogs of Ireland for a highly acclaimed photographer - learning the trade.

Did I mention the freezing rain? No? It was coming in sideways...

Consequently, I believe in kharma.

Buy the biggest, heaviest, most awkward, tripod you can find and then get someone else to carry it...

Best Wishes
Jerry

 

[coigach]

As an assistant, I spent many "happy" hours schlepping a tripod and camera through the bogs of Ireland for a highly acclaimed photographer - learning the trade.

Did I mention the freezing rain? No? It was coming in sideways...

Consequently, I believe in kharma.

Buy the biggest, heaviest, most awkward, tripod you can find and then get someone else to carry it...

Best Wishes
Jerry

Great stuff - you made me laugh and brightened up my day...!

Cheers,
Gavin

 

[Steve Roberts]

Buy a tripod case. Mine came from Jessops, though that's not much help to you in the USA, but I bet there's something available. Jessops had several sizes, categorised by length and with the width increasing accordingly. The one I have fits my Slik 88 very nicely and has a shoulder carrying strap. I've said somewhere before on APUG that in the field of video a tripod case is the norm and we wouldn't buy a tripod or leave the building without one, yet in still work tripod cases seem to be the exception despite making life a lot easier, protecting your tripod and providing yet another place to carry a few bits and pieces.

Steve

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I prefer a shoulder strap myself. Manfrotto tripods usually can use the Bogen/Manfrotto strap that screws to the top and has a loop that goes around the legs. With my Gitzo I usually use the Kinesis strap, which should work with any tripod.

When you set up the strap, be aware that many tripods are better balanced for carrying with the head down rather than up near your shoulder.

 

[removed account4]

i use a shoulder strap too ...
i think it is bogen or maybe berlebach
... it comes in handy ...

 

[wruzin]

If you plan on using a tripod in the Washington, DC, check out the local laws regarding tripod use. I understand that tripod use in most of the popular tourist areas is forbidden. Hope that this helps you with your plans, and have a great time in DC. It is an amazing place.

 

[Rick A]

How about getting a decent monopod. Most places dont quibble about using them, they can be quite steady if used correctly, and very light weight.

 

[largeformat pat]

I use a camera strap, place a strap around the base with a fastener and loop the strap around the top and bottom. I use a small vehicle tie down strap at the base.

 

[phaedrus]

Another vote for a shoulder strap. I made mine out of a disintegrating camera bag's wide nylon webbing shoulder strap. Make a loop around the collar beneath the tripod head and another loop around the bottom of the tripod legs where the clamps are. A heavy wood tripod carries comfortably if you haven't got that bony a back.

 

[benjiboy]

As an assistant, I spent many "happy" hours schlepping a tripod and camera through the bogs of Ireland for a highly acclaimed photographer - learning the trade.

Did I mention the freezing rain? No? It was coming in sideways...

Consequently, I believe in kharma.

Buy the biggest, heaviest, most awkward, tripod you can find and then get someone else to carry it...

Best Wishes
Jerry

LOL, that came from the heart Jerry, he could do what one of my friends does when he buys a tripod, he takes his wife with him to the shop to see if she can carry it

 

[jeffreyg]

Manfrotto has a couple of straps to hold tripods over the shoulder.

 

[jfdupuis]

I use a shoulder strap. I went to the army's surplus and got a nice army green wide strap that match the color of my Domke bag. There is a clip on the head side of my Manfrotto and I have a loop that goes around the legs. The setup is very comfortable and it's very well balanced with the shoulder bag.

 

[jcorll]

I know Tamrac has a nice tripod carrying attachment for their bags. It fastens on with Velcro. I would assume that if your bag has an open loop, you could get it and fasten it on. Might be a little obvious but it's worth a try.

 

[Shadowtracker]

Made my own strap for my Manfrott - it's a studio tripod but the only one I have, so I use it for everything. I like the idea of getting a gnome to carry it for me though; wish I had dressed my child up that way when she was young and then have her carry it for me, she would have gotten stronger and I would have been smarter for it.

 

[John Koehrer]

I use a travel golf bag that I got at a thrift shop for a couple of bucks. It works with my Manfrotto 3001 all the way to a Gitzo Studex.. Padded shoulder strap & it's flexible enough to put in a small stuff sack.
Most of these are rigid, I just lucked out finding this one.

 

[darkosaric]

As an assistant, I spent many "happy" hours schlepping a tripod and camera through the bogs of Ireland for a highly acclaimed photographer - learning the trade.

Did I mention the freezing rain? No? It was coming in sideways...

Consequently, I believe in kharma.

Buy the biggest, heaviest, most awkward, tripod you can find and then get someone else to carry it...

Best Wishes
Jerry

I wish you can give grade to posts here in apug. This one is great

 

[Mike Crawford]

As an assistant, I spent many "happy" hours schlepping a tripod and camera through the bogs of Ireland for a highly acclaimed photographer - learning the trade.

Did I mention the freezing rain? No? It was coming in sideways...

Consequently, I believe in kharma.

Buy the biggest, heaviest, most awkward, tripod you can find and then get someone else to carry it...

Best Wishes
Jerry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DYje57V_BY

 

[bsdunek]

Adorama has one for $12.95. There are others in the same price range and up. Dead Link Removed

 

[monodave]

I use a climbers karabiner through one of the gear loops on my rucsac shoulder strap then hang the tripod by the neck of the head from this. Secure the legs with a strap to waist belt or put in the rucsac wand pocket. Alternatively I have a karabiner clipped to my camera case strap D ring (a Lowepro toploader, actually a Specialist case, on a shoulder harness on the front), tripod neck clipped to this as for rucsac system then put one of legs behind shoulder harness strap. The tripod sits across the top of the toploader case. This is very secure and I ski and snowshoe over mountains with my Gitzo Mountaineer tripod using this system. Hope this helps. Dave

 

[removed account4]

How about getting a decent monopod. Most places dont quibble about using them, they can be quite steady if used correctly, and very light weight.

monopods are good ...
i have almost bought one of those
straps that you stand on, and it is attached to
the tripod socket. it creates tension ...
from what i have read they work VERY well ( and are cheap! ).

 

[Curt]

Anyone mention CF tripods, they can be small and light and support a full load.

 

[Ektagraphic]

How about getting a decent monopod. Most places dont quibble about using them, they can be quite steady if used correctly, and very light weight.

Have a top of the line Manfrotto monopod and I love it and use it often but I will probably be going well into the night and will have 5 sec. + exposures....I am getting a new Manfrotto tripod and ball head for the trip that weighs 5 lbs...