Do you guys bring tripods on vacation?

[nickzou]

I'm bringing my GF2 instead of my DSLR on vacation because I didn't want to lug around something heavy (plus, I am currently down 1 strap). But since I will be using a bunch of vintage lenses with no IS and the GF2 has pretty awful noise performance I was wondering if a tripod would benefit night time shooting. Do you guys usually bring a tripod and it is a hassle at the airport? Thanks.

 

[412 Burgh]

I do. and I never had any questions about it. I just throw it in one of my checked bags. (take the head off and carry that on with me)

 

[flow]

No. But I travel with kids, so nighttime photography doesn't happen. When I have, once or twice, traveled alone, I did take one - it was no trouble. I packed it in the checked bags (I don't have a really nice expensive one, though), in the middle of the suitcase with clothes all around it for padding.

 

[Designer]

I have a really cheap aluminum tripod that fits in my gear bag, which is the size of a carry-on. I don't own a better tripod, but I figure that any tripod with me is better than the one on my wish list.

I wouldn't try night photography without a tripod.

 

[Light Guru]

It really depends on where you are vacationing.

New York City, no I would not bring a tripod on that vacation.
National Park, yes I would bring a tripod on that vacation.

 

[Awiserbud]

I recently flew from London England to Las Vegas for a christmas holiday (Alright....Vacation I have a sturdy Carbon Fibre tripod that i thought was too big to lug around the grand canyon, I purposly bought a lightweight Manfrotto travel unit which size wise was perfect for travel...I used it once and left it back in the hotel for the rest of the trip, It was pretty useless, Fiddly to attach, and not as sturdy as i hoped it might be (even for a bottom end unit) even Manfrotto makes bottom end tripods,
Compact Series Tripod With Built-in Photo Head - White S.Ed. MKC3-PF - Kits | Manfrotto
so my answer would be...If your travelling to a location where you think a tripod would be essential (grand canyon for example) don't skimp and take a travel or budget unit, the extra weight and size may seem like a burden but it will be worth it.

 

[cgipson1]

Usually take my CF tripod... I usually travel light with just a backpack, and attach it to that.

 

[jaguaraz]

Trying to pack light for a recent trip to Central America, I bought a Joby Gorillapod Zoom with a ball head. Lightweight, small, it has some darn cool capabilities. It will hold your dslr with medium-size zoom with no problem. Small enough to tuck into my carry-on bag and to carry inside my walking-around camera bag.

 

[goodguy]

Never!!!
Too big , clumzy and annoying.
Thats why I bought a camera that does low iso pretty well.
I admit there are times I wish I had the Tripod when in travel with me but all in all I get nice pics without it and am glad to be tripod free.

 

[johnco]

Murphy's Law seem's to affect me more when It comes to my photography.Better to have than have not.I do bring a tripod with me in most all of my travels.I however do not bring my beast of a tripod,instead I found a lightweight Ravelli that travels well.A personnel choice that has no wrong answer.

 

[tirediron]

Always!

 

[table1349]

Contact these people: Shipping, Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain Management from UPS
Pick it up at your destination.
Ship it back home when done.
Pick it up at home.

No hassle at the airport at all.

 

[TCampbell]

I have a lightweight compact travel tripod that I bring on vacations (a Benro "Travel Angel" carbon fiber series tripod.) It's small enough that it can fit inside a typical carry-on size bag and pretty light.

 

[PalaDolphin]

I have a medium sized tripod that attaches to my medium sized camera bag, Lowepro SlingShot 202AW. You never know when you'll need it. Although my Canon Rebel T4i handles low-light scenes very well, there are situations where a tripod is still required: HDR mode, panoramic shots (T4i doesn't have stitch-assist like my G12 does, why I don't know).

 

[jrizal]

Since I have older tripods (10 and 5 years olds) and a sturdy one, I use whichever is appropriate. If I am going on vacation by car, my sturdy but heavy tripod is always in the car. But if I have to do a lot of walking or hiking or simply travelling by air or land, I use either of my lightweight tripods which are holdovers during my point and shoot days. As one already mentioned, it's better than nothing at all.