Should I bring my tripod on my trip?

TheDreadPirateRobins · Aug 12, 2008

It looks like you've got a Spotmatic in there. I also shoot Spotmatic, and have often just taken the camera body, an extra light meter battery for the TTL meter, and my 55 mm lens, and lots of film. Sometimes, I take an old knit cap that I can squish into a camera support (replacement "tripod") and a cable release. If all I want is the low shutter speed release I often use the timer so that I don't move the camera during the shot. I find I am far more likely to take pictures on a trip if I am not worn out from carrying too much gear.

All that changes, of course, if I am driving somewhere and taking the tripod and extra lenses in the trunk (boot) is no worry and no extra hassle.

TheDreadPirateRobins · Aug 12, 2008

As far as church interiors, I found that my shyness about taking pictures while other people are quietly worshipping, as well as the usual bans on flash photography and tripod use, had me buying one of their postcards anyway, which I know was not an ideal situation and has probably kept me from taking some nice photos. This is when when I go even more analog and just sit in a pew somewhere, pull out the sketchbook and a pencil or some Conte crayons and sketch what it is that interests me.

Markok765 · Aug 12, 2008

I wish my meter was still working in my camera. I may look for a tabletop tripod/beanbag. I think I'll use most, if not all of my stuff during the trip. Even when going downtown for photography, I don't take anything out [ie flash, spotmeter] because I'm just used to having everything in there.

arigram · Aug 12, 2008

Markok765 said:
Why can't I carry that on the street and the camera in my hand? The weight is pretty light [it's a lot lighter than the bag I bike around with every day.] It feels pretty comfortable. I use a flash occasionally.

Do whatever is comfortable to you.
Most street photography is done with a small, simple camera with one lens because the style requires visual discipline, speed and diplomacy. Having a backpack, putting it down, taking one lens, swapping it with another, metering with the spot and all that will slow you down a lot and might cost you a good photograph.
Professional photoreporters use two-three bodies, many lenses and long telephotos because they are paid to deliver an image, any kind of image, with any means necessary. But they have nothing to do with you.
You have to learn your equipment and achieve a certain visual discipline, find your style and your approach.
One way is to use a lot of gear and settle at the ones you use the most. It might be confusing though. Another way is to pick the least you need to create a photograph with. Have in mind that the greatest photographers of all times usually used one lens. Maybe two at the very most in certain occasions.
If you feel like carrying everything with you, go ahead. It might help you finding out what you really need to create your photographs with.

Markok765 · Aug 12, 2008

I probably won't be switching lenses or metering, but I won't get back to the hotel until night, so I may need to carry it.

Thanks a lot Ari! Most of the time I'll be using a 35mm lens and body, but the extra stuff isn't heavy, and I can carry my ipod, DS, phone, films, paper, and other stuff in the bag too.

DWThomas · Aug 12, 2008

I'm sure everybody has a different idea about this question. It also depends on your specific traveling style. I found in relatively quick trips (one to two weeks) and with other family members, my photography tends to be relatively casual. As such, I have normally taken one good camera with a modest zoom and maybe one fast prime, plus a backup -- maybe a point and shoot -- so I can still do something if the main unit conks out. That is, a minimalist approach.

I had a little tiny plastic tabletop tripod which I never used, and no other gear. In churches I was able to rest the camera on my arm on the back of a pew or side of a column, etc. The bulk of my European travel has been in Italy, where I found many churches and museums do not permit photography inside. Outside in the major tourist cities -- Rome, Florence, Venice -- it's often pretty crowded to be messing with tripods.

I found traveling light with few choices to make to be somewhat liberating. Obviously if I was planning a book on Renaissance architecture, I would need a different approach.

My 2 cents

DaveT

Paul Howell · Aug 12, 2008

I spent 10 years as a working PJ in Southern Europe and Africa and only carried a table top tripod (sometimes), I found that a second body and a good flash to be much more useful than a tripod . I could shoot in low light by steading my camera on a fense or wall, even a parked car. To shoot in a chruch or museum with a tripod you often need to get permission well in advance.

removed account4 · Aug 12, 2008

marko

do you really take all this stuff, and a tripod with you
when you wander the streets where you live ?
wow ...

john

Markok765 said:
Ari, what do you think about this setup for the trip:
Pentax body
35mm[general street shooting]
55mm[low light lens]
105mm[portraits]
Spotmeter[I can't guess exposure indoors or in low light]
Small Metz flashgun[indoor/portraits with bounced flash]
films
Olympus stylus epic [for non-serious photos]

Photo:

Markok765 · Aug 12, 2008

jnanian said:
marko

do you really take all this stuff, and a tripod with you
when you wander the streets where you live ?
wow ...

john

Sometimes, especially quiet mornings. The bag is only 5LB or so.

Les · Aug 12, 2008

I agree that you should take either a table top tripod or a small, lightweight small tripod with you. leave it in the suitcase or your room when out for a day of "street" photos but you will have it if you want to do low light or night images. I always take a tripod. I have an Indura carbon tripod that is light and opens to about 5 feet without extending the center column, plus a very light ball head without any projecting handles to get in the way. For a day out with the tripod it goes inside my daypack which is a lightweight bookbag that does not look like it has camera gear inside. This is a good idea under any circumstances and I use it even at home when out for a day. If you are traveling with a spotmeter you are a serious enough photographer to have a tripod with you. Enjoy the trip.

BrianShaw · Aug 12, 2008

MattKing said:
In Europe, I used a monopod that fit easily on the outside of my bag.

Ditto. Worked great -- multiple times!

Markok765 · Aug 12, 2008

I would use a monopod if i found one with a ballhead.

Bob-D659 · Aug 13, 2008

BHPhoto have 10 different models of those.

mrtoml · Aug 13, 2008

I recently came back from a trip to Malta (2 weeks). I found that the best thing was to take as little camera gear as possible and use my backpack to carry film. There was nowhere on the islands I visited that sold black and white film and colour film was extremely expensive. No-one had even heard of rollfilm. If you need to carry film on flights then it has to go in your carry on bags - so then you need to put your camera into the hold.

Having said that I carried a medium format Mamiya 7ii in my Lowepro Trekker backpack with 2 lenses - the rest of the pack was full of film. I packed a small Nikon FG in my cargo baggage with lenses. No tripod. I ended up using the Nikon with a 35mm prime and 75-150mm zoom for almost all the street work and it fitted easily in a small Lowepro bag on my belt. I also packed some of my clothes in a selection of small Lowepro camera bags inside my suitcase to use when I arrived. I didn't carry the Trekker backpack around when out and about.

For the more serious stuff I used the Mamiya handheld with fast film (Delta 3200, XP2 rated 800 and HP5). It worked well and I have just started printing the results. Everything looks fine, but next time I will take a small travel tripod for the Mamiya as there were shots that I missed because of this - I just got one that weighs less than the camera and is only about 16" long when folded up. I don't think a tripod is needed for a 35mm camera unless you are using slow film, but a small, cheap travel tripod will not be much trouble if you are worried about it.

Markok765 · Aug 13, 2008

Bob-D659 said:
BHPhoto have 10 different models of those.

I don't really have any money right now, plus shipping time is slow.

arigram · Aug 13, 2008

Markok765 said:
I don't really have any money right now, plus shipping time is slow.

Exactly!
Spend your money on film and your time releasing the shutter.
Don't waste your time with gear you don't need.

Markok765 · Aug 13, 2008

I'm getting 40 rolls of film when I get to paris!

Ian Grant · Aug 13, 2008

Don't miss out on the superb photo galleries in Paris. Try this link, all my info on Paris is in the UK but Photography is extremely popular in France, so there's always a lot on.

Ian

fotch · Aug 13, 2008

When you need a tripod, you need a tripod. I have several monopods, with ball heads, and they are ok for what they are, but no substitute for a tripod.

Given a choice, I would rather have a light weight tripod than some substitute such as a clamp, monopod, bean bag. They all work and sometimes work fairly good. However, a mini tripod might be better than no tripod and give you more options.

I have an old mini Vivatar tripod that easily fits in a pocket or bag. Sturdy, no, with smaller cameras, better, way better, than nothing. My favorite is a well made Cullmann light weight aluminun tripod, about 20" that extends to about 50" and weighs about1.5 lb.

The thing is, while I always been in more situations without a tripod, and took pictures anyway, they seldom are as good as they would of been if I had a tripod, any tripod, with me. JMHO

arigram · Aug 13, 2008

fotch said:
The thing is, while I always been in more situations without a tripod, and took pictures anyway, they seldom are as good as they would of been if I had a tripod, any tripod, with me. JMHO

You used a tripod with street/documentary photos with 400 and 3200 asa film?

ChrisC · Aug 14, 2008

arigram said:
You used a tripod with street/documentary photos with 400 and 3200 asa film?

While Marko said his style will be street/documentary stuff, this also sounds like his first trip to Europe, and as such I'll bet you dollars to donuts there will be night scenes he'll want to capture, as Europe at night is a more photogenic beast than North America.

If he has a tripod small enough to fit in his check in luggage, there's really no reason not to take it, because if this very well is his first trip to Europe, regardless of his style, there will be scenes he'll want to capture at night (and in saying that, he should think about a roll or two of some slower films to match).

arigram · Aug 14, 2008

ChrisC said:
If he has a tripod small enough to fit in his check in luggage, there's really no reason not to take it, because if this very well is his first trip to Europe, regardless of his style, there will be scenes he'll want to capture at night (and in saying that, he should think about a roll or two of some slower films to match).

I don't object to that. Trust me I know about European cities by night. The thing is that Marko only has one full size tripod. He has no time or money to buy a good monopod. Marko, you can get a cheap tripod or monopod in Europe though, or the tiny tabletop tripods that are sold everywhere as they cater more to amateurs and tourists. If you can't find one at an one-hour photo shop at home, you will definately find them on your travels.
My suggestion still stands about having as less gear as possible to have as much freedom of movement as you can. Atleast for me, I find blurry, underexposed, dark street photos much more interesting than controlled but lifeless set ups. Plus you will be using fast film, fast lenses and a flashgun. Oh, yes, try to avoid using the flashgun as much as possible or atleast get a bounce like the LumiQuest. Spontaneity, "happy mistakes" and fluid compositions is what street is for me.

Markok765 · Aug 14, 2008

Is my tripod heavy? It weights 3KG/6.6LB with ballhead.

BrianShaw · Aug 14, 2008

No it isn't. But it is bulky... or at least bulkier than if you didn't bring it with you.

I'm with Chris, "If he has a tripod small enough to fit in his check in luggage, there's really no reason not to take it,"

You have a lot of good advise and opinion... now do what is right for you!

Markok765 · Aug 14, 2008

I think I won't bring it. I can borrow a good one from someone I know in Paris if needed, and the only thing I would use it for are night shots and interiors of churches.

Night shots: I too agree with Ari "I find blurry, underexposed, dark street photos much more interesting than controlled but lifeless set ups."

And they probably won't allow a tripod indoors in most places.

Brian, is it average weight vs other professional tripods, or what?

Should I bring my tripod on my trip?

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