tripod help?

[dumbo_buddy]

hi all!

so after looking at all these wonderful night shots at disney, i'm thinking that i just have to get a tripod. i'll have to have long shutter times to get any shots to work out and that's where the tripod comes in.

so, what kind of tripod should i get? for those of you who use them, do you carry them around the park all day? or do you just take it with you when you go out at night? are there reasons you'd need a tripod during the day?

are there different heights you can get? there's probably no point in a short tripod, right?

thanks?

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I have three. One full size (Slik) for shooting around town (a little heavier duty). One for travel (Cullmann Magic 2; full size lightweight, also doubles for stand for my off flash work), and a Gorilla Pod (small tripod that can rap around railings and sit on flat surfaces). Whenever money becomes available, I will replace the Slik with a "heavy duty" one. For travel to WDW, I carry the Cullman Magic 2. It only weighs 2 1/2 lbs and folds flat which is placed in my suitcase. It fits on the side of my bag when I visit the parks. My DW carries the Gorilla Pod on her camera bag. There are others out there that some of our other posters recommend.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm sure you'll find lots of help here.

I used to carry a cheap tripod I bought at Wal-Mart or some such place..... I kept it on the stroller all day, and if someone took it, it would be just the excuse I needed to buy a new one! Now that it broke, I faced the same decision you are now.

I found out you can have cheap, you can have sturdy, and you can have lightweight, but not all in one tripod! In my quest, I found that you could get 2 of the 3, but not all 3 in one, and my search pretty much bore that out.

I was really overwhelmed by all the choices. I really wanted something tall, as I had visions of shooting OVER everyone's heads for the castle fireworks. I ended up with this one on the suggestion of WDWFigment:

http://www.adorama.com/Als/ProductPage/VNLUXIL.html

Was it everything I wanted? No. AFter all, it ONLY goes to 63 1/2" tall! But it was lightyears ahead of what I had.

My only problem now? It might be inexpensive by tripod standards here on the DIS, but at $120 it's expensive by MY standards, and I no longer want to leave it on the back of a stroller. But it IS fairly lightweight and comes in a nice carrying bag. That's what kids are for, right????

Many just get a locker and leave the tripod there until dark when they tend to use it more.

Have fun! And let us know what you end up with!

 

[dumbo_buddy]

I'm sure you'll find lots of help here.

I used to carry a cheap tripod I bought at Wal-Mart or some such place..... I kept it on the stroller all day, and if someone took it, it would be just the excuse I needed to buy a new one! Now that it broke, I faced the same decision you are now.

I found out you can have cheap, you can have sturdy, and you can have lightweight, but not all in one tripod! In my quest, I found that you could get 2 of the 3, but not all 3 in one, and my search pretty much bore that out.

I was really overwhelmed by all the choices. I really wanted something tall, as I had visions of shooting OVER everyone's heads for the castle fireworks. I ended up with this one on the suggestion of WDWFigment:

http://www.adorama.com/Als/ProductPage/VNLUXIL.html

Was it everything I wanted? No. AFter all, it ONLY goes to 63 1/2" tall! But it was lightyears ahead of what I had.

My only problem now? It might be inexpensive by tripod standards here on the DIS, but at $120 it's expensive by MY standards, and I no longer want to leave it on the back of a stroller. But it IS fairly lightweight and comes in a nice carrying bag. That's what kids are for, right????

Many just get a locker and leave the tripod there until dark when they tend to use it more.

Have fun! And let us know what you end up with!

great info! thanks! i feel like lightweight is probably my number 1 priority.

my goodness, could your daughter be ANY more beautiful??? gorgeous pictures! and those costumes are to die for! and what's great is that she really seems to enjoy having them on. how many times did she have to change every day?? love love love them!

 

[mom2rtk]

great info! thanks! i feel like lightweight is probably my number 1 priority.

my goodness, could your daughter be ANY more beautiful??? gorgeous pictures! and those costumes are to die for! and what's great is that she really seems to enjoy having them on. how many times did she have to change every day?? love love love them!

Awww... thanks! My daughter and I have had a lot of fun with the costumes. I pack several into my bag each day, based on which characters we are likely to find in the park we are headed to. They have brought us much magic and many memorable photos to scrapbook. She says she wants to do the costume thing again this year, so I've been scheming and sewing! She typically wears them for a bit, but changes into comfy clothes whenever she likes.

Congratulations to you on your little miracle baby! There is a soft spot in my heart for anyone who had to overcome long odds to start their family. We did and now have 3 healthy amazing kids. (We took one out for his first driving lesson today! Don't blink or you'll be doing the same thing!)

I do like the portability of my new tripod. It's very compact when folded down completely. And I read your trip report. Your husband looks like he could use something else to carry!

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Here's the specs on the Cullmann from Adorama.

http://www.adorama.com/Als/ProductPage/CU2722.html#Overview

 

[JJ71]

I recommend a Manfrotto:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/602430-REG/Manfrotto_7302YB_7302YB_4_Section_Aluminum_Tripod.html

I have the predecessor to this one (the 725b) and it's quite good. I've brought it into the park in the parks for fireworks.

 

[photo_chick]

Choosing a tripod can be as difficult as choosing the camera, or the bag.

I think you really need to figure out what you want to get out of it, because different models are better suited for different things.

Yes, there are reasons to pull one out during the day. Having exactly the same shot for an HDR, getting a long exposure to show movement like water in a fountain...

Short tripods.. they have their uses, again that comes down to what you need to do though.

I'm not a big fan of carrying my tripod around when I'm out and about. I'm lazy that way. But for certain occasions, like fireworks, it's a must.

And that 63.5 inch tripod would easily go over my 59.75 inch head.