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Backpacking Tripod for TLR


rob_piontek

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<p>I'll go backpacking next week. Earlier this year I was also backpacking with my TLR, without a tripod. The pics are great but I think a tripod would have helped with a few frames. </p>

<p>I have a Manfrotto tripod that is nice but too big and heavy. I was at the store today and didn't really see what I was looking for. They had some 4 section aluminum smallish setups but they were not really very light. Actually the smaller carbon fiber tripods are not that light weight either, and they are expensive.</p>

<p>So I'm considering these options.... 1. a cheap alu tripod from the electronics store. Light weight, good price, but it will probably fall apart. 2. A monopod - but I'm not sure what this gets me. Normally the camera is hanging on my neck which is probably better that hand holding. Will a monopod get me a stop or two in shake control? 3. Third option is this tent pole style tripod which Tamrac is making. If you haven't seen it, it's basically made of tent pole style rods. I think it's capable of supporting the weight, and if I use a cable release and there is only light wind it would be probably ok. But I'm not sure. What do you think? Personally I'm attracted by the monopod. Light, fast, and cheap. But it's not a tripod.</p>

<p>The other option is to shoot 200 or 400 speed film (normally 100 B&W) and forget the tripod. Or continue shooting 100 and accept that I lose some frames when the shutter speed is low. </p>

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<p>I have used a monopod with Rollei TLRs. It's good down to maybe 1/30, but I'm fussy about what I consider sharp. YMMV.</p>

<p>More recently I've been using one of those extremely light Slik Sprint tripods for multiday trips. Don't laugh. It works OK, because it's at waist level it's pretty stable, and it enables exposures of a second or more if you're careful and you're out of the wind. It's about the same weight as the monopod.</p>

<p>For short trips I still sometimes carry my Manfrotto 190.</p>

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<p><a name="00XIHZ"></a><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=705858">Dave Sims</a> <a href="../member-status-icons"><img title="Subscriber" src="../v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub8.gif" alt="" /><img title="Frequent poster" src="../v3graphics/member-status-icons/1roll.gif" alt="" /></a>, Sep 15, 2010; 03:26 p.m. sez:</p>

<p>I have used a monopod with Rollei TLRs. For short trips I still sometimes carry my Manfrotto 190.</p>

<p>Same solutions I use!</p>

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<p>In the short term and for your upcoming trip I would suggest shooting 400 speed film and hold off on your tripod purchase. Then do some research at some online stores and the auction sites. One of the wonderful advantages of a TLR is you don't need the height that a SLR shooter needs. I would look for a "0" size, 3-section carbon fiber set of legs such as a Benro C-057M8. Another nice thing is you don't have a big heavy lens sticking out to require a massive ballhead to support. You can get away with a small lightweight BH. I have a Benro BR168 which I like. You should be able to put together a package like this for less than $200.</p>
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<p>From your post I don't know which tripods you looked at and feel are too heavy, but I just picked up a Manfrotto 7303yb for similar purposes. It's 4 section, aluminum, I think I'll tend to use it less than fully extended. I like the build. I think a monopod will gain a stop or two, but sometimes I want more than that. If something like this tripod is too big, I think you can do a fair amount with a cheap micro tripod, or just set the camera on something and use a cable or timer.</p>
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<p>Until we boys in the family lost it (I am 90% certain it wasn't me, and my eldest son would throw a fit if I accused him, so it is a collective "we" :-)), I think my ideal tripod for travel, particularly for a lightweight TLR, would be the Velbon Ultra Maxi (or Luxi, I forget) F. I have shot many images with my DSLR on it, including landscape and macro, and never had a problem with it. It is small and lightweight, and should be no problem for a TLR. Now that I need to replace, I am eyeing the Benro Travel Angel TRCB269 (carbon-fiber - 3.5lbs) or the TRAB269 (aluminium 4.1lbs). Both fold to 14.6", and carry 26.4lbs as an all around solution for TLR/DSLR/MF-SLR.</p>
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<p>Even with ISO 400 speed, with TLRs if you have to stop down to f/5.6 or f/8 for maximum sharpness and contrast, in late afternoon and early morning you are going to need slow shutter speeds. The tripod can be the difference between a real keeper and one that is good enough for showing on the web (my lesson learnt from a recent trip, anyway). As Dave says, don't laugh at the small and lightweight solutions. They are the ones you are apt to carry on anything but a dedicated photo-trip, and having a flimsy tripod is better than having none at all.</p>
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<p>Rob, Obviously there is nothing like a good (expensive)solid(heavy) tripod. However, I have successfully used monopods for my work when a tripod is either forbidden or is just too much to carry.<br>

The secret is to "convert" the monopod into a tripod .i.e. you use your two legs in concert with its one. The monopod is oriented in front of you with your legs now forming the base of a triangle. To maximise stability, the top of monopod should be leaning towards your torso and a ball head allows you to adjust the camera's vertical and horizontal axes. Many people make the mistake of using a monopod in a perfectly vertical position. With the slanting configuration, you lean into it, thereby reducing substantialy, any tendency for it to move.<br>

Given that you are using a TLR, you would actually have the camera held tighly against your body when leaning, offering even further stability than that obtainable when viewing at eye level.<br>

I've used the above technique for over 50 years.</p>

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<p>I traveled to France with my Rolleiflex Automat and a Nikon F3HP w/55mm micro, and a SLIK Sprint Pro II. I removed the center column from the tripod, getting its weight well under 2 lbs. The whole kit was aroun 3.5-4 pounds.<br>

I didn't have any challenging situations (water, wind, radical angles) so the whole get-up worked out great. Since the Rollei is always upright (square format!), the distribution of weight on that very light tripod is no problem. I tried hard never to extend the thinnest last legs, and also splayed them out farther when possible for additional stability. Out of about 60 shots on both cameras (always using the tripod), I don't think I ever had camera shake.<br>

I have a Manfrotto 55xprob. Great for < 2 miles. For > 2 Miles, I really like this little SLIK.</p>

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