Travel Photography Question

I use something the size of a gorillapod but a little different. It works for having me in the picture and night shots. It would work in museums but I don't think most allow tripods. The bad thing with the gorillapod is the lack of height, I adjust by strapping it (mine has a velcro strap, the gorilla pods legs can be bent around something) to a tree, sign or fence post.

Chris, The appropriate Tripod to use will depend to a large extent on the weight of the Camera. Attaching a fairly heavy Camera to a very light Tripod is a risky proposition, as it won't be stable and could tip over. You might find it helpful to have a look at amazon.com as they have a good selection of Tripods starting at about $20. Also have a look at GorillaPod as that may suffice (again, depending on which Camera you're using). You could also speak with the staff at local Camera shops or larger electronic retailers. If you want to have a look at a good range of good quality Tripods, check www.bhphotovideo.com (they have LOTS of different models). Good luck and happy travels!

The weight and size of the tri-pod really can vary. if you have a point and shoot camera a gorilla pod is a really good option. If you have a DSLR sometimes the weight of the camera can be too much. Also, when you are getting bigger tripods, the weightier tripods allow for use in the wind. Otherwise when you're on a windy bluff on the isle of skye and trying to take your high aperture, low fstop picture you find your camera swaying in the wind. ;) So, just be aware of these types of issues. I recommend going to a good camera store and talking with the staff to see what they recommend. Bring your camera with you. My bigger tri pod slides nicely down the side of my pack between the pocket and the main part of the pack. Pam

I gave up on tripods years ago. I have a good one but it is not worth the trouble of packing, and I no longer use it at home, either. A bench, wall or other flat surface usually suffices for low-light or night photography. If necessary, I would increase my camera's ASA/ISO setting to 400 or 800, but so far, 200 has worked fine. I have lots of good, crisp 8x12 pictures shot in cathedrals and on village and city streets at night using this technique. If you want wall-sized photos, a tripod might help, but I am not so sure.

The time when I most value a tripod is when I am shooting landscapes and particularly when they include water and I want to get the "cottony" water effect. Pam

Go to www.dealextreme.com

I took a full size tripod to Turkey a few years ago and it never came out of the backpack. Almost no museums will allow them, and often times even on the street you'll be told to move along. Last couple of trips the gorillapod did the trick.

Think collapsible monopod. You may get them for a good price on ebay, although I'm not sure $40 is enough. The one I have looks a lot like a walking stick, it's lower part folds out into a tripod if necessary, though it's a little shaky on its own, and I've never had any troubles taking it into a museum.

If it's a fairly small camera try have a look at this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/660803-REG/Tamrac_TR40601_TR406_ZipShot_Compact_Ultra_Light.html