Carrying a Tripod on Field Trips

[FrankMi]

The one other thing I have to account for is some kind of pad for my knees.

Hi Lon, I carry two 1 gallon ziploc plastic bags folded flat (or rolled). They don't offer any padding (unless you put something like a hand towel in them) but can use them to keep my knees clean and dry, or to store a huge variety of objects if needed. I can even use one to cover the camera and lens in the event of a sudden downpour. They cost next to nothing and take even less space. Hope this helps!

[Lon Howard]

Hi Lon, I carry two 1 gallon ziploc plastic bags folded flat (or rolled). They don't offer any padding (unless you put something like a hand towel in them) but can use them to keep my knees clean and dry, or to store a huge variety of objects if needed. I can even use one to cover the camera and lens in the event of a sudden downpour. They cost next to nothing and take even less space. Hope this helps!

You bet it does, Frank ... the more ideas the merrier! Thanks.

[Dizzy]

I was raised in the Pacific Northwest... I totally understand. Until you've lived it... you just don't get it. I bet there is also some sort of pad that would roll up that you could strap to the outside. I'm thinking about something along the lines of the sleeping mats my guys use for backpacking... obviously you wouldn't want something that large but there are inexpensive ones that you can trim... or those cutting mats (for the kitchen counters) they are really thin and can roll up and would easily strap to a backpack or even slip between the backpack and tripod and stay put.

Sound wisdom Lucy...kneel down anywhere on the forest floor (in even the driest month) and you'll still get up with wet knees. Most of my hiking is done in old Levi's or Carhartt's, so wet knees really aren't much of a concern. Still, the ground is hard and my old knees aren't, so having something under them as a pad (even a chunk of moss) is better than nothing. Finding something to sit down on is another issue entirely, as most everything above ground is also damp (bolders get mossy, etc.), and in the winter months it can get just a wee bit chilly walking around with wet drawers...

I generally carry a towel and 12" x 24" piece of bubble wrap in my pack. It makes a nice padded seat or a padded knee rest, and just wipe it off after each use. A bit "redneck", but very functional and I like the price.

Mike

[FrankMi]

Still, the ground is hard and my old knees aren't

Hi Mike, this is one reason I got a DR-6 right angle viewer for my D3100. When the camera needs to be close to the ground it is very difficult to get my head low enough to see well through the viewfinder. Even getting down on hands and knees usually isn't low enough for some shots! Now I can squat down and look straight down to see through the viewfinder and the 2x magnification helps see clearly.

[rob marshall]

I carry (lug?) a Manfrotto 190XB with a Giottos MH1000-652 Ball Head on field trips.

Eesh! Some of you guys are slow, aren't you. How many times do I have to tell you... don't carry your own tripod! Get a porter. Your partner will do (ideal, in fact) but you could at a pinch use a large dog. Last week I passed a small dog carrying the most enormous stick in it's mouth. I said to the owner "Can he manage a tripod?" and he looked at me very strangely... The dog put the stick down.

And another thing... don't bother with all that carbon-fibre nonsense for lightness. If your partner or your dog (or even someone else's dog) is carrying it then why waste money.

Glad to be of help here...

[FrankMi]

Wow! Nice to see that you are 'glad to be of help here' Rob. Great! I'm going out shooting tomorrow, common along!

[ilovelucydog]

Eesh! Some of you guys are slow, aren't you. How many times do I have to tell you... don't carry your own tripod! Get a porter. Your partner will do (ideal, in fact) but you could at a pinch use a large dog. Last week I passed a small dog carrying the most enormous stick in it's mouth. I said to the owner "Can he manage a tripod?" and he looked at me very strangely... The dog put the stick down.

And another thing... don't bother with all that carbon-fibre nonsense for lightness. If your partner or your dog (or even someone else's dog) is carrying it then why waste money.

Glad to be of help here...

Rob, as always your advice is stellar. But... it's always just me and Lucy... and frankly, Lucy is no help at all... she only comes along for the treats in my pocket.

[ilovelucydog]

in the winter months it can get just a wee bit chilly walking around with wet drawers...

I hate it when that happens. No fun at all.

[Lon Howard]

Glad to be of help here...

Rob, I'm so glad you didn't add: "My work here is done!"

[rob marshall]

Rob, as always your advice is stellar.

I thought that was a lager?

But... it's always just me and Lucy... and frankly, Lucy is no help at all... she only comes along for the treats in my pocket.

You could always try this with Lucy ...

[ilovelucydog]

I thought that was a lager?



You could always try this with Lucy ...

Those are too funny.

[Geoff F]

I also use a Lowenpro backpack with tripod attachment clips but I have the Mini Trekker version.

When carrying tripod and camera for shorter distances I use a similar principle to carrying a rifle but not in the 'on parade' mode as previously mentioned.

I hold the tripod near the camera which is facing forwards then tuck the legs under my arm to keep them steady. Rather similar to the way a farmer/sportsman would carry a loaded shotgun. Pointing downwards but ready for action.

This way you can keep an eye on the camera and, hopefully, not accidentally bash it against a tree or wall.

[Donald]

... and 12" x 24" piece of bubble wrap in my pack. It makes a nice padded seat or a padded knee rest,

Now that is a really clever idea that I never thought about. I've thrown out so much bubble wrap.

[Katy Noelle]

Oh, LoL! Are you guys light as feathers or something??? We have a great time folk dancing on our bubble wrap - it makes a tremendous racket - like a million firecrackers! ...or, maybe, you're trying to get the wildlife's attention?

[Harpo]

Just got back from alaska... will post pics soon for CIC. As you can guess, its wet there in Juneau, and I took a pair of firehose pants from Duluth Trading Co. The firehose fabric does not absorb wetness as much as cotton jeans. Very abrasion resistant to boot when I was kneeling on rocks covered with barnacles. Basically, water sheds from this material in a way and was perfect for going out photographing in a rain forrest and coastal environment. I wish I got a commission every time I told someone about their gear. I find that material ideal for photography when I end up on the ground for low shots. I believe they also have pants with a pocket in the knee area where you can insert padded foam when needed and pull them out easily when done. Check them out online and see if that meets your needs like it does for me.

Oh, by the way, I got a Feisol tripod with a Photo Clam ballhead, Carbon fiber and compact that has 4 legs that extends the camera to eye level without me bending over. I did carry it from place to place on the beach with the camera attached and the foam part of the tripod over my shoulder for short distances. Otherwise, I carried it by hand detatched from my camera to and from the car. I was using a think tank modular belt set up on this trip. A backpack would have been easier on this particular trip that the tripod could attach to like Donalds. If I was going to do the tripod carrying thing with the think tank belt again, my thought was attaching one of those hammer holders that attach to construction belts. slip one leg into the ring. but then it might keep hitting my legs as I walk. Carrying this particular tripod on my shoulder was easy because it is so light.

[Shadowman]

In my opinion, it's setting up the tripod that's the most cumbersome. I will keep the camera in my bag until needed and just slide the release plate onto the ballhead. I have two release plates so I can attach to two different cameras if needed.

[FrankMi]

Hi Mike, I checked out the Firehose products. They have quite a selection at the Duluth Trading Co and they look like they are just the ticket for keeping dry while shooting.

When I originally posted the thread I was hoping to find some sort of a clip, strap, or harness that wouldn't have the tripod bouncing all over the place or banging into the Black Rapid held camera or belt held lenses, and yet, be readily accessible when needed. So far the best alternative seems to be the Lowepro backpack similar to what Donald is using. At the moment I can usually carry what I need without a backpack. Are there any other tripod carrying options available that would be effective on a 2-3 hour hike where you could be switching between tripod to free shots as the opportunities present themselves?

[dmm482]

I am also looking for something similar. I have a Lowepro technical harness and deluxe belt and the sliplock attachments are great. I plan on using the black rapid along with this set up.

Doesn't the black rapid attach to the tripod mount on the camera? If so, do you have to disconnect the black rapid before you can attach your camera to a tripod?

With everything that these vests, harness and belts offer, I have not yet seen a viable option for attaching a tripod. I did, however, come across this article:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make...ach-the-strap/
I'm not sure that this would work so well on a technical belt. I'm trying to think of a design for one, and maybe see if I can make one. ideally it would be some kind of quick release attachment so that I could get to it easily.

The backpacks are great for traveling with gear, but I don't think they are a great option when you want to get to your gear easily.

There are holsters that are used in parades for people to carry flags - I am thinking that something like that at the bottom would be good - with an adjustable strap to the top to accommodate tripods of different sizes, and something similar to this:
http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CJMBEPMCMAA
for the top. for my setup, I would like it to integrate to the sliplock system - but even that could be used on a regular belt too.

[sabbath18]

I also use a Lowepro (102),has a really useful monopod pouch. still have to figure out how to fix the tripod to it though.

[FrankMi]

Hi dmm482! I've tried attaching my tripod to my belt but it banged around and kept hitting me in the leg. The Gitzo GC3320 looks like it may prevent that issue. I'll need to see if they are available locally so that I can verify that it will work well. Thanks for the tip. For the moment I have a folding lawn seat bag that I can fling over my shoulder but the strap isn't long enough to carry the bag diagonally and it slides off my shoulder if I move the wrong way. The Gitzo may solve that issue. Thanks! ...and welcome to CiC!

By the way, you can go to Forum Actions, above and edit your profile with your real name and location so that I can thank you properly and won't have to try to pronounce 'dmm482'! Thanks again.