Travel Tripod -- Africa Trip

I will play devil's advocate here, and tell you that without a tripod, I could not have gotten this sunset shot.

I think a light, travel tripod such as the Feisol might be your best option, even in a Land Rover that's open. You can extend the legs by two sections, and make the width of the feet to whatever will fit on the floorboards. Just extend two legs instead of having a monopod.

That's the only way to get a good shot of animals at night. A Land Rover that has a canvas roof as they use in Kenya would work with a beanbag, but a beanbag on a low metal railing of an open Land Rover won't let you easily look through the viewfinder.

But beanbags are cheap and you should take one.

I still thinks the Slik Mini Pro is the best option http://www.amazon.com …-2-Way-Tilt/dp/B000ASTKWQ You can use it on the roof of a Rover, on a picnic table or wherever you have a surface. Light weight, small and better than a bean bag.

MrEWorm wrote in post #15350369
I still thinks the Slik Mini Pro is the best option http://www.amazon.com …-2-Way-Tilt/dp/B000ASTKWQ You can use it on the roof of a Rover, on a picnic table or wherever you have a surface. Light weight, small and better than a bean bag.

Cute little devil. Certainly won't break the bank. Thanks for that.

One of the things you need to find out is how many people are sharing this tour with you and will be in the same vehicle. I was in Zambia & Botswana in August and there was no way I could have used a tripod in the vehicle. I might have been able to use a monopod but it would have been tight. If your vehicle is the pop-up top type the beanbag would be helpful. Our vehicle was a completely open Land cruiser and hand-held was the only way to shoot.

powaysteve wrote in post #15350659
One of the things you need to find out is how many people are sharing this tour with you and will be in the same vehicle. I was in Zambia & Botswana in August and there was no way I could have used a tripod in the vehicle. I might have been able to use a monopod but it would have been tight. If your vehicle is the pop-up top type the beanbag would be helpful. Our vehicle was a completely open Land cruiser and hand-held was the only way to shoot.

From what i understand the vehicles are like you experienced. There is no way to know how many people will be in our group at this point. I think I will have to decide what to do before that information would even be available if it is at all.

I'm leaning now towards a monopod or maybe just go for it and hand hold the camera. The original idea of a tripod seems very unrealistic based on the kind of trip we're taking.

WIth such tight weight restrictions I wouldn't bother with a full-size tripod at all. During the day handheld or a beanbag should suffice. There will be very few opportunities where you can even use a tripod. I would take something like a Gorillapod just for trying to get some shots of the stars.

Might I suggest the new Benro Travel Angels. They are compact and light weight tripods that can be converted to a monopod. So you can use the monopod only when trekking or in a vehicle and then convert it into a tripood at camp to get those nice sunset/sunrise pictures.

Now let me finally say that I don't have a tripod and I am in the process of deciding on a travel tripod. I have also never been on a Safari so take my suggestion for what its worth.

The_Bully wrote in post #15352816
convert it into a tripood at camp to get those nice sunset/sunrise pictures.

Never needed one -

Beautiful shots Frank!

hollis_f wrote in post #15352311
WIth such tight weight restrictions I wouldn't bother with a full-size tripod at all. During the day handheld or a beanbag should suffice. There will be very few opportunities where you can even use a tripod. I would take something like a Gorillapod just for trying to get some shots of the stars.

Agreed.. There wasn't room in my rover on any day for a tripod, and I never encountered a real need for one (other than the absolutely necessary bean bag). Gorillapod would be my first choice if I had to bring something like that.

I never had much of a problem shooting in dawn / dusk conditions hand-held. ISO is your friend.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/tycn/5894672576​/

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^ beautiful shots there Brandon!!

Just to add my experience to this thread. I have been to Africa twice in the past two years - Botswana in the Okavanga Delta, and Kenya in the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Samburu Park. Both trips lasted about two weeks each. I never had occasion to use a tripod, in fact when we went to Kenya, the trip leader who had been there over 20 times, specifically mentioned that tripods were not really feasible with the "pop top" jeeps. I took a bean bag and that worked very well. I took it empty and had it filled at the first camp for free, then simply dumped it when the safari was over. Depending on the form of transportation you have, you will not be able to use a tripod and probably not even a monopod unless this is a photo safari, in which case you will probably have a whole row of seats to yourself and then it may be feasible to use a monopod. In Kenya, we did stop and visit a couple of Masai villages, but this was during the day so a tripod was not necessary.

If it is a "regular" safari, you will be sharing the jeep with others making the use of a tripod impossible, regardless, the layout of a safari jeep precludes the use of a tripod. As far as sunrise/sunset pictures, you will probably be in the jeep during both and they can be captured quite easily with a bean bag on the top of the jeep. If you are in a Park as compared to a private game preserve, you will not be allowed to step out of the jeep - park rules - and the guide will simply not allow it. When I go again, I might consider talking a Gorillapod, but that is the only thing. Do not count on being able to take sunrise/sunset pictures in camp as the odds are you will be up and out before sunrise as we were all the time on both trips, and we were always out until at least 30 minutes after sunset. You may not necessarily get good views of them from the camps anyway. If you do take a 'pod, you will probably find that it is excess weight and something that you will probably never use. This is my experience - HTH.

WesternGuy

^^ Good information.

Yes, I pretty much decided against a tripod. Just doesn't seem feasible and no sense dealing with the hassles of dragging it along for no reason.

I'm sure there will be more than enough photo opportunities that don't require a tripod of monopod for that matter.

The beanbag is a is still a reasonable option.

i-G12 wrote in post #15385910
^^ Good information.

Yes, I pretty much decided against a tripod. Just doesn't seem feasible and no sense dealing with the hassles of dragging it along for no reason.

I'm sure there will be more than enough photo opportunities that don't require a tripod of monopod for that matter.

The beanbag is a is still a reasonable option.

A Beanbag is a must, and I would recommend the Apex Beanbag Mini. I use the bigger one as I like the height that the bean bag gives, but the mini is more feasible and will weigh quite a bit less once filled up.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …74086&is=REG&Q=​&A=details