Advice on Tripods

[Sbunit]

I was thinking of bringing along my tripod to take photos at nights (fireworks, parades, light-up-icons etc..)

Has anyone does this before? How do you cope with carrying your tripod around all day? Are you out of place when using it? possibly getting in the way of others?

I'm not sure what to do, but i always wanted to get some real good quality shots of disney at night. All advice appreciated in advance!

 

[NostalgicDad]

I absolutely carry a tripod with me when going to the parks. I leave my standard heavy duty tripod at home and travel with a lighter version Manfrotto/ball head that fits nicely in the checked luggage and also attaches to my backpack. During the day it either stays in the room or in a locker. I'll make a run back to the room at some point to rest the feet and get into my evening/night mode and bring the tripod back to the park.

As far as getting in the way of others, you just need to be aware of your environment and use common sense when setting it up. Find good spots with lower traffic and try to set at least one or two legs over a railing, etc. if possible. Now, as far as looking funny carrying it around........that's the fun part for me. I get stared at all the time and enjoy being the oddball. Most of the comments come from my own kids. Trust me though, there are lots of people that see you getting shots with a tripod and wish they had thought of that. For me, it's a blast roaming the parks at night!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

What about a gorillapod? I loved using mine and got some good fireworks shots on the 4th this year.

 

[Gdad]

If I take mine I usually rent a locker for it until night when I need it. $5 to not have to lug it around all day is well worth it to me.

 

[YesDear]

What Jeff said. I have a gorillapod. I use it for my flash. I do not trust my DSLR to it.

 

[WDWFigment]

I use a Velbon Luxi F (it's OOP now, but I think the Luxi M(?) is the current model) and it's small and light enough that I just carry it in/on my camera bag all day. I am too cheap to pay the $5 per day.

I use it for fireworks, and static shots/shots of us after hours. You won't need a tripod for parade shots. It will probably actually inhibit you (and get in the way of others) more than it would help.

 

[ssanders79]

Anyone have a small tripod for thier DSLR that they only use when traveling that can fit in a bag. I am looking for something that folds down under 12". I already have decent full size tripod w. ballhead, but would like something small and protable for trips to Disney and other places where a tripod might come in handy.

 

[WDWFigment]

Anyone have a small tripod for thier DSLR that they only use when traveling that can fit in a bag. I am looking for something that folds down under 12". I already have decent full size tripod w. ballhead, but would like something small and protable for trips to Disney and other places where a tripod might come in handy.

Check out the Velbon Luxi line. The Luxi F is full size and folds down to 14". I don't think you're going to find anything that folds down smaller than that (I couldn't, when I was looking for a smaller one--they all seem to be 14" folded and up). Good luck, though!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Anyone have a small tripod for thier DSLR that they only use when traveling that can fit in a bag. I am looking for something that folds down under 12". I already have decent full size tripod w. ballhead, but would like something small and protable for trips to Disney and other places where a tripod might come in handy.

Gitzo makes a travel tripod (Gitzo Traveler Titanium) that folds down to 16" and weighs about 2.5 pounds. It's a bit pricey for a travel tripod. Here's a shot of it folded.

 

[Gdad]

It's a bit pricey for a travel tripod.

It's a bit pricey yes.

 

[Code]

If I take mine I usually rent a locker for it until night when I need it. $5 to not have to lug it around all day is well worth it to me.

Also, if you have a tripod that won't fit in the lockers, you can check it with the locker rental folks for the same price as a locker rental ($5). I only know this because my tripod is HUGE to match my height, and also I wanted to get over the crowd for Wishes on Main Street

 

[MarkBarbieri]

It's a bit pricey yes.

Yeah, but if it makes the difference between something you are comfortable carrying versus something you'd put in a locker, it'll pay for itself in only a couple of years for someone that goes every day. It could actually save you money.

 

[JoWiJo]

Also, if you have a tripod that won't fit in the lockers, you can check it with the locker rental folks for the same price as a locker rental ($5). I only know this because my tripod is HUGE to match my height, and also I wanted to get over the crowd for Wishes on Main Street

Ok, you've gotten to the point where you are at the questions I want to ask.

1. What is the maximum height of the lockers? I've never measured the height of my tripod all folded up, but would like to know whether I want to rent a locker, leave the thing in the room until evening.
2. If I choose to rent a locker, where abouts should I look in each park for the lockers? I'm guessing somewhere at the front, but would appreciate an answer a little more specific.

 

[boBQuincy]

Small - 11"h x 9"w x 16" deep
Large - 17"h x 9"w x 16" deep
Extra-large - 17"h x 12"w x 16" deep

 

[JoWiJo]

Thank you for those figures.

 

[coloneldebugger]

I came here for the gorillapod comments.

My work here is done.

 

[Experiment_626]

Also, if you have a tripod that won't fit in the lockers, you can check it with the locker rental folks for the same price as a locker rental ($5). I only know this because my tripod is HUGE to match my height, and also I wanted to get over the crowd for Wishes on Main Street

I had to do the same thing on my last trip. My new tripod (Manfrotto 190XDB) is too tall to fit into the lockers -- my old el cheapo would fit diagonally.

Which tripod do you have -- I'm not Michael Jordan-esque tall as you are, but I am 6'2", and stooping to see through the viewfinder is always a problem (I don't like to raise the center post unless I just must). I thought I might look into getting a right-angle viewfinder attachment, but to my dismay, they're not much cheaper than another tripod.

Most of the time, I suck it up and carry my tripod with all the time when I'm in the parks. Even during the day, there are just so many times I want to use it that it drives me crazy. I usually try to choose one day where I leave the tripod and the camera behind -- I feel naked when I do!

SSB

 

[Code]

Which tripod do you have -- I'm not Michael Jordan-esque tall as you are, but I am 6'2", and stooping to see through the viewfinder is always a problem (I don't like to raise the center post unless I just must).

I've got the Slik 700DX with a Manfrotto ballhead. I couldn't even come close to affording carbon fiber in an appropriate size for my height, so it's not particularly light, but it's fine for me. I'm 6'7" and with the legs fully extended, the viewfinder is about at my Adam's Apple. Add the center column and I have to stand on the tips of my toes to see. I took this with it at max height...

Great for fireworks in a crowd, and great for my general shooting so I don't have to stoop... but definitely not great for walking around the parks with. I only used it for fireworks. For our next trip, I'll definitely be getting something small that I can hang off my camera bag in the evenings, and add an angle finder so I don't have to stoop quite so much. I've heard a few places that the cheap Seagull angle finders on Ebay are passable.

 

[handicap18]

Ok, you've gotten to the point where you are at the questions I want to ask.

1. What is the maximum height of the lockers? I've never measured the height of my tripod all folded up, but would like to know whether I want to rent a locker, leave the thing in the room until evening.
2. If I choose to rent a locker, where abouts should I look in each park for the lockers? I'm guessing somewhere at the front, but would appreciate an answer a little more specific.

The Magic Kingdom has 1 size fits all lockers. They are approximately 20" deep. My tripod is 23 1/2" long and would not fit diagnally in the locker.
Lockers in MK are on the right side right before you go under the train station. Pay at the little store right there.

EPCOT has 2 sizes (maybe a smaller 3rd size, not sure). My 23 1/2" tripod fit in the large locker. I had to put it in diagnolly but it fit. Pay in the camera shop on the right side as you go under SSE. Lockers are right behind that.

Hollywood Studios I didn't use my large tripod so I don't know if it would fit. You pay for the lockers at the Crossroads (I belive that is its name) Kiosk store that is right in front of you after you go through the turnstiles. (they sell pins and other stuff). The lockers would be on the right as you enter right before that little soda store with the old truck.

Didn't use the lockers at Animal Kingdom. IIRC, they are on the left after you enter the park.

 

[Sbunit]

Would you guys say a lot of people use tripods throughout the parks? Just at night, or also during the daytime?