SLR Tri-pods

[Celeste]

Does anyone hike with SLR camera gear? Yeah I know, it packs on the pounds, but I'm going to do it and my mind's made up. Done it before, not for 4 months, but I'm going to go for it. It's 50% of my drive on the AT deu to a photography project im working on. Is anyone has, what tri-pod did you find to be the lightest but still sturdy enough to hold up an slr with decent lens weight? Nothing over the top huge...

[Megapixel]

Does anyone hike with SLR camera gear? Yeah I know, it packs on the pounds, but I'm going to do it and my mind's made up. Done it before, not for 4 months, but I'm going to go for it. It's 50% of my drive on the AT deu to a photography project im working on. Is anyone has, what tri-pod did you find to be the lightest but still sturdy enough to hold up an slr with decent lens weight? Nothing over the top huge...

joby gorillapod.

[bigcranky]

You might talk to this guy:

http://benbenvieblog.com/2010/09/tel...o-worry-maine/

IIRC he carried a gorillapod for a small part of the trail, but mostly not.

If you try the JOby, you'll need the larger one. If you want something taller and more sturdy, something like one of the small Gitzo or Manfrotto or even the Feisol carbon fiber travel tripods will work, with a small ball head and an L-plate from Really Right Stuff.

[Franco]

Do you have the weight of your camera/lens combination ?
Minimum acceptable (to you...) height ?
Budget ?
Franco

[SMSP]

There is no point and shoot digital camera quality that can compare to an SLR.
The detail you're gonna get will blow any point and shoot away IMO.

SMSP

[SMSP]

There is no point and shoot digital camera quality that can compare to an SLR.
The detail you're gonna get will blow any point and shoot away IMO.

SMSP

[burntoutphilosopher]

have you considerred a monopod, like a tent pole with a tripod mount?

[Odd Man Out]

There is no point and shoot digital camera quality that can compare to an SLR. The detail you're gonna get will blow any point and shoot away IMO. SMSP

How about these?

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1011/10...dgrouptest.asp

[greentick]

I have the large and small gorillapods. They pretty much work as advertised. You can get a level shot on uneven surfaces, wrap it around tree branches, or perch it on hiking poles (1 for small point/shoot, 3 for heavier cameras). I use an older ULA Circuit pack and the small one fits easy in the waistbelt pocket. The larger one I can reach behind me and hook one leg into a side pocket of the pack. The grippy rings keep it in place and it is alway accessible.

[leaftye]

have you considerred a monopod, like a tent pole with a tripod mount?

I think a monopod should be mandatory for DSLR toting hikers. Tigoat has a monopod option for their carbon fiber trekking poles. Gossamer Gear has one too, but you have to have the poles with straps, which sadly I do not.

[Wise Old Owl]

I think a monopod should be mandatory for DSLR toting hikers. Tigoat has a monopod option for their carbon fiber trekking poles. Gossamer Gear has one too, but you have to have the poles with straps, which sadly I do not.

I took the straps out and replaced them with large wire tyes that allowed me to continue to strap them over the pack. Saved 3+OZ

I TOO prefer the monopod and take my treking poles to be modified - drill a hole in the top insert the screw with a nut on. And epoxy it in. Come back the next day cut the head off, and unscrew the nut putting the grove back in as its removed. Monopods can be jambed point down in thick muddy dirt and offer terrific support, or just lean it against a tree and get back in the picture.

[burntoutphilosopher]

^^ i guess i was more thinking of scenery than having to be freestanding and get in the frame.

still, instead of carrying something extra; you simply use something you will have anyway for another use. might be worth the sacrifice

[Feral Bill]

How about these?

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1011/10...dgrouptest.asp

None of those, afaik stop down to a small aperature for good depth of field. Also I think they have smaller sensors than DSLRs and interchangable lens compacts. It is a tough problem.

[Franco]

The problem is actually not "not enogh" but too much ...
Small sensors always give loads of depth of field, even at the widest aperture .
The smaller the sensor , the more (apparent) depth of field.
For shallow depth of field you do need a larger sensor.
Franco

[Feral Bill]

The problem is actually not "not enogh" but too much ...
Small sensors always give loads of depth of field, even at the widest aperture .
The smaller the sensor , the more (apparent) depth of field.
For shallow depth of field you do need a larger sensor.
Franco

In that case I need to be more careful about focus. I have too many pictures that are 95% in focus.

[Franco]

In that case , this should help you :
http://photonaturalist.net/how-to-isolate-your-subject-from-the-background/
http://photoinf.com/General/Wendy_Folse/Composition_Part_IV_Isolating_the_Subject.htm
Franco

[Feral Bill]

Thanks, Franco

FB

[RockDoc]

The last time I did the Hundred Mile Wilderness (9/09) is carried a Contax G2 with three Zeiss lenses, perhaps comparable to a good DSLR in terms of weight.

I searched for an acceptable, affordable tripod and settled on the Slik Sprint Mini GM (780 g). It's not full height, but that didn't matter, it was high enough. I got a lot of great shots and had a wonderful time with this outfit. With a tripod and a shutter release, your focus problems are over. The biggest problem was low light in the dark green tunnel. Makes a tripod essential for anything beyond snapshots, IMO. Most of my offhand shots were out of focus; shutter speed was too dicey in low light, even with 400 film!

I would never go for another trip like that without a great camera and tripod.

[Celeste]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm checking out the link now. I am not satisified with a monopod with the type of night shots I'm looking forward to, the shutter will be open way too long and I must have a tripod.

[kayak karl]

the fact that this is in ultra cracks me up. LOL