MrFotoFool said:
Could be an issue with airport security, I suppose. As pointed out, the permanent spikes are usually pretty short (altough I'm sure they'd show up on X-ray). The RRS foot spikes are 3" / 76mm long.
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Tripod for landscape photography. The main point to concern.
- Thread starter Superka
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Could be an issue with airport security, I suppose. As pointed out, the permanent spikes are usually pretty short (altough I'm sure they'd show up on X-ray). The RRS foot spikes are 3" / 76mm long.
Those RRS tripods look nice and very expensive. Do you have an address I can send the bill to? 
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Nancy,
Just took the words out of my mouth!
I got stopped in HongKong Airport security after X-raying my gear backpack. With 7DII/70-200mm_2.8II and various batteries, backup HDD, etc. The pulled me out and inspected my bag for allen-keys, paper clip (for getting out iPhone SIM card and a stamped hex wrench 2.5 inches). He had to check with his supervisor for an Ok for the allen keys!
Never in several years over 20 times passing through many airports did it cause raised flags.
It really depends on the security officer's mind set.
-r
Just took the words out of my mouth!
I got stopped in HongKong Airport security after X-raying my gear backpack. With 7DII/70-200mm_2.8II and various batteries, backup HDD, etc. The pulled me out and inspected my bag for allen-keys, paper clip (for getting out iPhone SIM card and a stamped hex wrench 2.5 inches). He had to check with his supervisor for an Ok for the allen keys!
Never in several years over 20 times passing through many airports did it cause raised flags.
It really depends on the security officer's mind set.
-r
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With regards tripods on planes, I regularly travel into and out of the USA with a Manfrotto 055 CXPRO3 in my hand as my 'personal item', I have never once been questioned by TSA about it. Indeed no airport in the world has ever questioned it apart from one time when I was leaving Japan at Narita, they measured it for folded length and it was well within their max allowable so apologized for even asking.
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sanj said:
Sanj - Why would he be joking? What does the length of time he has been photographing have to do with anything?
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lion rock said:
Yep I had the same thing happen to me last year transiting through Hong Kong. Two small allen keys taken off me because they were beyond the allowable length limit!!
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You are right, it is cumbersome and shackling. However, there are things that are a lot easier to do with a tripod and we all make a personal choice based on our desires. Most people will not carry tripods, and the fanatics will.... and get those special shots.... Weight and awkwardness are the price to pay....ethanz said:
Monopods are an interesting middle ground, and depending on circumstances you can lean against things and prop up the camera to mitigate the lack of tripod, but sometimes only a good tripod will do.
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I strongly prefer to work from a tripod for landscape pics. I can then compose carefully and have the option of HDR and any shutter speed I prefer. Also is essential (for me, at least) when working with a TS lens. I recently traveled to Switzerland with a lot of kit, including tripod with gimbal head and had no issues with TSA - never had any on domestic trips either. I did have to go through extra screening at one checkpoint, but I think that was just luck of the draw.
A tripod might free you from preconceptions about how patient you can be in composing the best shot.
pic is of yours truly a top a rock to capture the second image. hard to do this panorama handheld - for me, anyway.
A tripod might free you from preconceptions about how patient you can be in composing the best shot.
pic is of yours truly a top a rock to capture the second image. hard to do this panorama handheld - for me, anyway.
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I've had TSA take small tools and at other times have had no problem. If you are concerned, I just ordered (and have not yet used) a Platypod Pro Max. This looks like it is basically a flat metal plate upon which one mounts a ballhead or gimbal. It does have little screw feet so I don't know if that would pass muster but it certainly is small and could easily slip into a travel bag. Not exactly a tripod but it seems to be a device I could put on a table or a rock or the ground and then use for stability like I'd use a tripod. Anyone else seen or used this?
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Among Canon cameras, my 1Dx2 is probably the best at high ISO, but since I moved to it I use a tripod more than ever. There are several reasons why for almost every landscape shot, I now use a tripod.
[list type=decimal]
[*]For the best DR, I need ISO 100, which means a longer exposure
[*]ISO 100 is also much cleaner, especially when printing very large
[*]It forces me to take my time and examine the composition, which leads to better photos
[*]Most of my shots use TS, which is much easier to manage when on a tripod
[/list]
I currently use a Gitzo Explorer Arm type tripod with an Arca-Swiss D4 geared head.
Pretty much every landscape shot in my recent feed - https://www.flickr.com/photos/calevphoto is with a tripod. The only ones not with a tripod are the macros and wildlife. Yes, perhaps I am a bit contrarian - I'll almost always use my 24-70/2.8 II with a tripod, but I always use my 200-400/1.4x handheld.
[list type=decimal]
[*]For the best DR, I need ISO 100, which means a longer exposure
[*]ISO 100 is also much cleaner, especially when printing very large
[*]It forces me to take my time and examine the composition, which leads to better photos
[*]Most of my shots use TS, which is much easier to manage when on a tripod
[/list]
I currently use a Gitzo Explorer Arm type tripod with an Arca-Swiss D4 geared head.
Pretty much every landscape shot in my recent feed - https://www.flickr.com/photos/calevphoto is with a tripod. The only ones not with a tripod are the macros and wildlife. Yes, perhaps I am a bit contrarian - I'll almost always use my 24-70/2.8 II with a tripod, but I always use my 200-400/1.4x handheld.
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AJ said:
It's no surprise the examples were took mostly with UWAs, which forgive more with slow shutter speed (and may be light enough). Also "If the light is marginal, shoot several frames and pick the sharp one later." - I may prefer to ensure *I have* a sharp one, not hope to have gotten one later (chimping may not help), especially when I may not have a second chance
Yet, not all lenses have IS. Nor you can always shoot wide open (again, UWA helps to get enough DOF at larger apertures...)
There's also the fatigue issue. After a long shooting day, maybe with heavy lenses, my arms and hands can be far less steady than I'd wish. You may also want to put the camera in a position which is not equivalent of standing. You may become far less "balanced" in some positions. Still, IMHO, no vibrations is better than correcting them.
Sure, when I was using Kodachrome 25 I had to use a tripod more often than I wished - with digital I use it less, but I thinking is a relic of the past looks to be a bit too early... especially since carbon tripods are quite handy to carry along.
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As the sun goes down, exposure times go up. Without a tripod you miss half of the day.
I have a nice heavy studio tripod that weighs a ton and is solid as a rock. It is insanely impractical for landscape photography as it is so hard to carry..... A lightweight carbon fibre tripod that folds up to a compact size and fits onto (or even into) your pack will actually get used for it's intended purpose. Mine even comes along on canoe trips and without I would have missed a lot of images...
I have a nice heavy studio tripod that weighs a ton and is solid as a rock. It is insanely impractical for landscape photography as it is so hard to carry..... A lightweight carbon fibre tripod that folds up to a compact size and fits onto (or even into) your pack will actually get used for it's intended purpose. Mine even comes along on canoe trips and without I would have missed a lot of images...
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I have been doing landscape photography for a long time and usually don't use a tripod. Unlike many photographers I'm really not keen on blurring out waves and water motion. To me the shape of the waves, the sparkle of spray, the foam and bubbles of surf are all part of what I like to see. I see too many photographs with unrealistic misty water, which remind me of science fiction book covers. However there are certainly times when a tripod is essential. If you have a car and aren't carrying your equipment far there's no reason not to carry one. As Neuro says, for the blue hour you really need a tripod; also astro photography. And if of course you want long exposures you have no choice. Oh and panoramas. A tripod is essential for taking the sequence of images so you can merge them later.
Spikes? Well they aren't often useful. They ruin our floors and annoy airport security.
Spikes? Well they aren't often useful. They ruin our floors and annoy airport security.
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