how to travel with tripod?

[MonoManBlue]

I have a pretty big tripod for my Nikon D80 cool1: ) and was wondering what the easiest way to transport it on the airplane? (I leave tomorrow).

Also, whats the easiest way for bringing it to the park? Do you just carry it all day???? Or do you leave during the evening and come back with it? specifically for fireworks.


Also, i've never done nightshots. So I assume i'm going to want to set it the "bulb" and set everything to manual, but any recommendations for Fstops or Iso settings??

Help me!

 

[Master Mason]

I either leave it in the room and go back and get it, or leave it in a locker and go back and get it, I don't want to carry it around when I am not using it.

As for settings, I wouldn't go with bulb, except maybe for fireworks.

try Manual, set the ISO to 100/200 apeture at f/8, then adjust the shutter speed to whatever a correct exposure would be. Then make adjustments from there based on how it turns out.

 

[NostalgicDad]

When taking my Manfrotto on the airplane, it depends on which suitcase I'm using. If it's my smaller one I have to break it down into 2 pieces and I wrap both in a towel and take extra precaution with the ballhead. If I use the larger suitcase, it will fit fine in one piece but still wrapped and padded well.

In the parks I don't usually get permission to shoot every night. So, I will pick a night or 2 to get my night shots and on those nights I'll rent a locker large enough to keep it in during the day. Then, after nightfall, I'll just mount the camera and proceed to carrying it all over the place.

Like Master Mason said, try manual mode with a low ISO and a middle of the road f-stop for your aperture setting. A lot of times I'll go with a higher f-stop (f/11-f/13) to get some star effect on the lights with longer exposures. No need to go too high though. Have fun!

 

[pxlbarrel]

The locker is your best friend.

.... Unless your best friend is a sherpa.

 

[Groucho]

I've been denied taking a monopod on the plane as a carry-on. Technically tripods are allowed but a full-size one may quite possibly be a red flag. I'd lean towards putting it in the checked luggage just to be safe - you don't want to have it confiscated and lose it! Fortunately, with my monopod, I still had a chance to put it on my checked luggage.

For carrying it during the day... it's all about the stroller. We've got a few more years of bringing a stroller with us, then I'll probably have to go the locker route.

 

[oogieboogieman]

Does anyone know what the dimensions of the lockers are? That's where I will be storing my tripod when we go to the parks. Thanks

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I put my ball head in my carryon and put my tripod legs in my suitcase.

As for carrying it in the park, the best option is attaching it to a stroller. If you don't have a stroller, trying getting a comfortable strap for it in a color that looks good on your spouse. Lockers are an OK option, but many tripods are too big for most lockers.

 

[aripantaloon]

I put my ball head in my carryon and put my tripod legs in my suitcase.

As for carrying it in the park, the best option is attaching it to a stroller. If you don't have a stroller, trying getting a comfortable strap for it in a color that looks good on your spouse. Lockers are an OK option, but many tripods are too big for most lockers.

You crack me up, Mark!

To transport mine on the plane, I just put it in the middle of my suitcase, sandwiched between clothes. When I took it to MK on the first day with the intention of watching spectromagic, I went under the train station to rent a large locker. At least that's what I asked for "a large locker rental." I had the tripod and a small backpack with the kids' extra clothes and larger bottles of sunscreen in case we needed them. The CM gave me 2 claim tags similar to gate check tags for strollers at the airport and said that this is what they do for "large locker" rentals. It was $5 for the day and I could get my stuff as often as I wanted. They were back in a secured area and not just out in a big pile. Can't beat that.

The other 2 days I had it with me, I kept it in the basket of the stroller. It stuck out an inch or so in the back of the basket, but that was covered/proteced by the back of the seat. Free storage. I was worried about someone stealing it and my extra clothes bag, etc., but no one bothered the stroller. I even started leaving my main backpack in the seat of the stroller with the sunshade pulled the whole way down after a while. I had my camera and cards with me, though.