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Travel Tripod for Europe

It really depends on whether they let you carry it or not. Some won't let you take anything on you, others will be ok with a small bag but bigger ones have to be checked in, etc.
 
I spent 3 weeks in Italy, Switzerland, and France last summer and the tripod I took was the MeFOTO BackPacker.

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Specs: Arca-Swiss Quick Release Plate - 51.2" Maximum Height - 12.6" Folded Length - 8.8 lbs Maximum load - 2.6 lbs Weight

Pros: Folds up compact. For an aluminum tripod it's light. I like the colors. Simple to use. Cons: I hate Arca-Swiss quick release plates, it's a personal preference thing. If you're a tall person, I'm not, this tripod might be too short. They have Chinese knock-offs on eBay for half the price. I accidentally knocked over this tripod at the beach, without a camera attached. Took it back to the hotel room and broke it down to clean all the sand out. Disassembles and reassembles nicely. It can also be strapped to a backpack or messenger bag without adding much weight. When I wasn't using the tripod, it was small enough to stash in my luggage. While in Europe, I never had anyone give me a hard time about using a tripod outdoors. I would not recommend trying to use a tripod in a museum. Like the US, they consider it a liability and they don't want you causing a possible tripping hazard for museum visitors, yada-yada-yada, etc. If this is a concern, maybe look for a tripod that can also become a monopod. Every museum, and some churches that we visited had high security. Unpacking, and repacking camera, film, and tripod, can be a bit tedious for x-ray machines and inspections.
 
Bob Eskridge said:
Look up the Sirui T-025x. About 12 " long and 2 lbs. Carbon fiber.
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+1
841 grams (less than 2 lb) including ballhead with Arca-swiss-compatible quick release plate, excluding carrying bag. Fits easily inside a carry-on suitcase.
Sure, it's not as rigid as a 6-pound tripod... which you would leave at home. But it does the job. And not only for low light. Think backlighted scene with sun just outside edge of frame: Frame, then walk to front side, project shadow of your hand on lens, and press shutter release cable. Not something you can do with a monopod. But a trained assistant will do as well.

An alternative is a table tripod. The Leica one is the idea, see
http://www.ronmartblog.com/2014/01/drastically-improve-your-handheld-shots.html
There are cheaper near-equal "copies", e.g. by Minolta.
Frequently you can use such a tripod rigidly braced against a wall, column, door opening, etc, for real slow shutter speeds.
 


That's quite similar to my Slik Sprint Pro II, in fact most companies make very similar tripods and there's little to choose between them, they are sold as "Digital" tripods for DSLRs and HDV cameras they can carry a decent weight surprisingly.

Ian
 
Ian Grant said:
What's the difference between a travel tripod for Europe compared to say a travel tripod for North America ?
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I'm from the U.S. When travelling in Europe, I'm far more likely to be using public transportation than when travelling in the U.S. or Canada. So it may make a difference in how you pack.

I own two travel tripods. The first is a Benro C1182T, which I believe is now a discontinued model. It's a 4-section tripod which folds flat and fits in the bottom of a carry-on. The second is a 3 Legged Thing Equinox Leo. It's a 5-second design which folds up into a smaller, chunkier package. It feels better when setting up than the Benro, but because it has an extra section and requires use of a center post, I'm not sure it's any more stable. With both I use a Markins Q3 head, although the AirHed mini-ball which comes with the Equinox would also work for a Rollei.

Since I just got the 3 Legged Thing in September, it'll probably be a couple of years before I decide which I prefer.
 

My point is it works vice versa as well however I don't think it's specifically a travelling abroad thing. A small light weight tripod is useful in many circumstances I guess public transport is one issue but also when travelling with others (non photographers) where you need to travel light as well. I often work with a light weight 5x4 kit and can fit it and my small Slik Sprint tripod in the same small regular back pack, it's about the same size as your Benbo.

Ian
 
Whenever I fly somewhere, in the US or abroad, I use a compact tripod and medium format or smaller.

I've also found that renting a compact car in Europe is less expensive when not traveling alone, and certainly more versatile. But... no offense, I think that most Americans are not very skilled drivers, or don't take driving seriously enough. May be better to take the train for most.
 
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Get as light a carbon fiber tripod that is stable enough and yet light enough to carry. I like the https://www.indurogear.com/ CLT103 tripod and PHQ3 head.
 
M. Axel Wikstrom said:
But... no offense, I think that most Americans are not very skilled drivers, or don't take driving seriously enough. May be better to take the train for most.
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No offense taken. My wife and I both have track time and advanced driver courses under our belts. We also live in an area legendary for bad drivers. We've rented cars in the U.K., Ireland, Spain, on Crete, and on Corfu. In 2011 we took European delivery of a new car in Munich, drove it out of the factory, and 6 kilometers later were doing 160 kph on the Autobahn.

Other times in Europe we've used trains, ferries, and even tour buses to get around. In Europe, that's more typical, but with the possible exception of the Northeast Corridor that's rarely a viable option in the U.S.
 
I learned to drive in Germany and lived in Europe for 16 years. The biggest culture shock when I came back was how terrible American drivers are. Eventually I got a CDL here (drove buses before going back to college). I think it's easier to get an American CDL than a regular drivers license in Germany. I also like track time, but on my motorcycle.
 
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