What do you think of this tripod?

[Pugrpooh]

Tamrac ZipShot Instant tripod? Here's a link to it http://www.amazon.com/Tamrac-ZipShot-Compact-Ultra-Light-Instant/dp/B002WC8862/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

I have a Gorillapod but haven't used it much. We'll be at WDW the week before Christmas and I've already warned DD9 that I may be going off by myself and taking lots of pictures at times!

I'd be using the tripod with my E-PL2 so I don't need anything to support a lot of weight. It also looks like I could get a quick release and use on it.

On the other hand I could practice more here on my Gorillapod and take it and use the money saved towards a wide angle lens, which I'll probably pick up before we leave. Or has anyone utilized just benches, garbage cans, fences etc. with a bean bag maybe? I'll want to take pictures of all the Christmas light, Osborne lights, fireworks, etc.

The closer we get to the trip, the more I'm leaning on taking my DSLR too, basically just for the fact that it has my favorite lens on it. I know I could get an adapter and use it on the Pen, but it doesn't operate as well on the Pen. And if I did that, it would cancel out the size advantage of the Pen which is why I bought it in the first place.

Of course, I could have DH carry the Pen. He's borrowed it a couple of times to go on hiking trips and wanted me to set it up beforehand so he could take good pictures all day. So I just set it on Auto for him.

Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I read the specs. It would work for the Pen, but not a DSLR. It only goes up to 3 lbs and 44" which is not very tall. I am always suspect of shock cords/snap together legs. I have never found them to be very sturdy. When you are looking at tripods, especially for travel, there is always going to be trade-offs with weight, sturdiness and price. I actually have three, my gorillapod, travel tripod (Cullmann Magic 2) and then my heavier duty one for around town (I think its a Slik, which needs to be replaced because I want a heavier duty one). Maybe someone with more experience with this particular tripod would have a different opinion, but I would like to see just one that is a little taller and sturdier. Just my opinion.

As far as taking the DSLR, it sounds like this could be mostly vacation with part photo safari. Why wouldn't you bring your best equipment?

 

[boBQuincy]

I looked at this tripod and like the concept but the execution does not deliver what it could.

My experience with aluminum leg sections and shock cords goes back at least 10 years from building many monopods with this construction. There is a tradeoff between stiffness, size and weight but I feel Tamrac went a little too far on the side of small and light. A small increase in tubing size gives a large increase in stiffness (to the 4th power) with only a small increase in weight.

If Tamrac had used slightly larger tubing the tripod would be much stiffer while still staying with the concept of small and light. As it is I would not put a dSLR on the tripod.

 

[alloyd1170]

I would be very wary of it, as the others have said. If there's a breeze, it will move, therefore defeating the purpose of a tripod.

Take a look at the Trek Pod. It's a monopod that comes in 4 sections. The base consists of 3 legs that are strapped together. You can open them to make a tripod. I picked one up to use in the Galapagos with my dslr. While it was a bit wobbley if it was windy, I could walk away from it and it would support my dslr and a big lens (though I don't recommend doing so). For a small camera, it would be fine. It worked as a walking stick as well. It is very lightweight (carbon fiber I believe). Mine came with a small tabletop tripod as well, all inside a nice case.

Here's their website: http://www.trek-tech.com/ I have the XL version. I did just see the price on it-might be more than you're willing to pay (I got it for less). There are similar models without all the "perks" for less. Check out Amazon too.

 

[Pugrpooh]

Thanks everyone! I'll probably stick with the gorillapod then and make use of garbage cans and the like. And I'll bring my DSLR with my favorite lens (which has no equivalent in micro 4/3 yet). I have the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 for my Pen but I don't have a fast lens for my DSLR and I've had my eye on the Oly 9-18mm for the Pen.

So if I don't bring my big telephoto lens, I'll be able to fit both cameras in my camera bag. I've been happy with the Pen so far taking it to London, Disneyland and San Diego and it's really nice to have the portability and not have to have a dedicated camera bag for it. That being said, DH was in meetings and a symposium for the better part of those trips, but he'll be with us full time at WDW so he'll be able to carry some of the load!