Should I bring my tripod on my trip?

[Markok765]

It's a 30 day europe trip. I'm not sure if I would use it enough to warrant having it. Also, it would hinder some photography such as street and doc photos.

What do you guys think?

 

[Colin Corneau]

Better to have it, and not need it ... than need it and not have it.

If you're unsure and able to, maybe buy one there?
It also depends on how you plan to cart it around...could make the difference between taking it and not.

 

[Markok765]

If I were to bring it, I would carry it in hand probably, while walking around the city. This would limit me in shooting spontaneous photos.

I'm trying to pack light. My kit for the trip is Pentax SLR, 35,55,105 lenses, spotmeter, filters, film, and flash. Only 5LB with the bag.

 

[MattKing]

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

Matt

 

[kcc008]

I bought a small "travel tripod" a few months ago to take on several trips, and it has worked out really well. The one I went with was a Dead Link Removed. It is small enough that it fits through the belt loops on my fairly small camera bag, and adds little bulk to the whole kit (I use the shoulder strap to carry the bag so this works very well). I don't think I would travel without it now that I've become accustomed to carrying it.

KC

 

[pcyco]

hallo

how long are you staying there? you must not take it all the time with you. try both ways.

Better to have it, and not need it ... than need it and not have it.

this is also my way of thinking. and think for photos in old churches etc. or in the night!!

buy some belts and try to fasten it outside your camerabag.

--------------
thomas

 

[Vaughn]

I would consider a very small table-top pod...something that might even fit into your kit. I checked B&H's website and they have a large selection from $14 to $150 and many designs. Most seem to be able to hold up a few pounds.

Just something you can set on a wall to take night shots, or for those times you want to close the lens down for some depth of field. It would give you more flexibility.

Vaughn

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Take one of those small $15 mini tripods as suggested and it won't get in the way, and it won't be too heavy, but when you need a still shot, you have it.

 

[P C Headland]

It's worth taking something, as there are a lot of low light photographic opportunities.

A mini pod is a good compromise, especially something like a gorilla pod (the ones with the bendy legs).

I had a small plastic tripod that had a velcro strap - perfect for anchoring to lamposts and the like. It would hold an SLR with prime or small zoom.

 

[ChrisC]

Even if you take it with you, it doesn't mean you have to take it everywhere with you. I went on a couple of month long Europe trip 4 years back and packed mine in my suitcase as check-in luggage. It spent most of the time in the hotel room, but I grabbed several night time shots that obviously would have been impossible to get without it.

I'd take it. If you see something during the day that could be photo worthy at night, just go back out with it later on and use it as an opportunity to do some night time photography. Even if you come back home having only used it twice, surely that's worth the space that would have otherwise been filled by a few more items of clothes that you probably wouldn't have worn anyway.

 

[arigram]

Ask yourself if you really, really need it.
If you are doing street and doc photography a tripod is useless and really a hindrance.
Especially with a 35mm camera.
Have in mind that airlines don't like tripods and will force you to check it in, so unless you have a special tripod padded bag or space in your luggage, be prepared for some good abuse on your tripod. Also, many places, many indoor places where a tripod would be useful do not allow them.
Don't bring a tripod.
If, for some strange reason (50 asa film landscape on a cloudy day), you get the need for a tripod, get a really cheap one from a local one-hour photo shop and deal with it on the way back.

 

[munz6869]

I just came back from Norway & Switzerland, and took a Manfrotto 190 and their tiny travel tripod... aaand hardly used them ever, 'cos like any travel, there's just too many interesting things to see and do. Also, it was really sunny, so hand held with the Crown Graphic was no problem at all. That said, I did use them for a couple of indoor pics...

Marc

 

[Markok765]

I'm shooting Tri-x and T-max 3200.

 

[removed account4]

don't worry about the tripod, leave yours at home ... get a beanbag.
as ari said you can find a cheap tripod there if you need it.
you can probably hand-hold down to 1/15S with out a problem.
if you absolutely need something, you can pull the beanbag out of your back pocket.

have fun!
john

 

[jpeets]

Depends on what you are shooting.

Unless you are shooting exclusively "street" shots, I'd pack something in the way of a support. The last few trips to Europe I have taken along a Manfrotto 190, which fits inside my suitcase.

Lots of European cities have very narrow streets where everything is in shadow, and unless you are shooting in the middle of the day, it can be surprisingly dark. I travel with my Pentax 67 (just for the workout!) and handheld shots are impossible in my experience. I like architectural detail so the tripod was crucial.

To tote the tripod, I hot a strap that attaches top and bottom, and has a neoprene piece that rests on my shoulder. With the tripod on my back, I honestly did not notice it. A carbon fiber unit would be even handier .......

In any format, I basically no longer shoot without a tripod. Period.

 

[JOSarff]

Marko:

Take it.

 

[Ian Grant]

There's another consideration. If you were going specifically to take photographs, with a plan & purpose you'd take the best you can. But that's not your primary purpose so find something small & light that will fit in or strap to a backpack, leaving your hands free.

Ian

 

[arigram]

I'm shooting Tri-x and T-max 3200.

If you're shooting these films, then what do you need the tripod for?

 

[Markok765]

I'll be going with my family, so I don't want to hinder them. Sure, I'll miss a few shots, but I can make up for it with the versatility of a light system that doesn't slow me down.

 

[Markok765]

If you're shooting these films, then what do you need the tripod for?

Hmm. I don't know. Maybe some large indoor shots?

 

[arigram]

Hmm. I don't know. Maybe some large indoor shots?

If you are going for a documentary/street look, with 400 and 3200 films, then I don't think the tripod will be of any assistance. Plus, you seem to have missed my comment on how many indoor places do not allow tripods. If you really want to use support use the other kinds that people suggested such as beanbags, mini tripods and monopods. The largest of them, the monopod will fit in your luggage with ease and will not pose any trouble being carried around.

But, the best of advice I can give you, is FOCUS your photography.
Don't bring any gear you have just on the possibility that it might have some use. You have already chosen street/doc as your style and two films that compliment it. If you are going to take a few architectural/landscape photos do it in that style, do it as a Magnum photographer would for example. Include people, look for spontaneity and interesting angles.
A tripod not only would be a hassle but it would go against that kind of style. Sure, people here have their cameras glued to the three legs, but that's THEIR style of photography, not yours. They might use heavy cameras. They might use slow film. They might focus on static city/landscapes. They might want every little shadow detail to show. But that's not your style from what you tell us.
My advice is to bring one camera, one prime lens and the film you mentioned and go out on the street and take photos. You do not need any more gear.
On my trips I used to bring the Hasselblad with one lens (I have four), one back (I have three) and that's it. I almost never used the shutter release cord, never brought a tripod (I have two, one carbon) or a monopod (two, one carbon) and never carried a flashgun. Too much hassle, too much weight, too distracting. Try out equipment on your street, not across the world. When travelling, focus and bring only what you know. That is why I got the Rolleiflex for travelling and street photos. One lens and nothing else is all you need.

 

[Markok765]

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:

 

[bdial]

Ari has some excellent advice here.
At least half of the occasions were I might need a tripod, I don't have it for one reason or another. There are lots of ways to work around not having a tripod. Think of it as a creative opportunity.

 

[arigram]

I don't know Marko, it looks like too much stuff. For one, you can't carry that on the street. Sure, you will be able to leave most at the hotel, but it seems like you are planing to haul that backpack with you at all times. Not a great idea, especially considering that a backpack is not for quick changing of gear.
I still believe that one of your lenses will be more than enough and the spot meter is too much.

Tell you what. If you can't bring just one lens, bring everything. Carry it around. Shoot with it. Then see how it feels. Can you carry the weight? Do you have trouble picking the correct lens? Does the weight and choices slow you down?
Find out which lens you use the most. How often you use the flash.
And decide by yourself.

 

[Markok765]

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.