Anyone bring a tri/monopod on a bus tour.. ...and not even have a chance to use it? Last time I went overseas (Israel '16) I brought my Joby mini moldable tripod when I had just a...

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

...and not even have a chance to use it?

Last time I went overseas (Israel '16) I brought my Joby mini moldable tripod when I had just a light bridge camera and found I hardly ever used it. I'll be in France in a few wks for a 13-day tour and am thinking of taking a monopod and ballhead (a99ii w/24-105). I figure I could use it as a walking stick if nothing else. I discovered that it fits perfectly (less head) across the bottom of my suitcase.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

I have never taken a bus tour in my life and I am not likely to do so as I hate buses even though tour buses can be rather nice. When I was a kid I rode a public bus to school and I grew to hate drunks vomiting on my shoes.

I have a MeFoto Roadtrip tripod. This tripod is light and fits nicely in its small case. I have packed it in a suitcase on several occasions. The tripod also converts to a monopod. I use mine with my M 4/3 cameras and it is quite adequate. I have two center columns - regular and short. With the short column I can get very close to the ground. This is useful as I do a lot of close up and macro photography.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

At some point I'll be daring and plan a solo trip somewhere where I rent a car and travel at my leisure. One time at my photography club meeting a local teacher gave a presentation of a 3-week trip to India she and her husband took. Neither of them spoke Hindi and they spent 9 months planning everything - deciding what they wanted to explore and picked a centrally located motel/b and b and exploring before moving to a different state/territory.

billmck Loc: Central KY

planepics wrote:

...and not even have a chance to use it?

Last time I went overseas (Israel '16) I brought my Joby mini moldable tripod when I had just a light bridge camera and found I hardly ever used it. I'll be in France in a few wks for a 13-day tour and am thinking of taking a monopod and ballhead (a99ii w/24-105). I figure I could use it as a walking stick if nothing else. I discovered that it fits perfectly (less head) across the bottom of my suitcase.

I've been in France several times, as well as other European countries, but not on bus tours. I find I move around enough that even a monopod would slow me down, plus the photos I've taken can easily be done with the camera hand held.

Bill

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

billmck wrote:

I've been in France several times, as well as other European countries, but not on bus tours. I find I move around enough that even a monopod would slow me down, plus the photos I've taken can easily be done with the camera hand held.

Bill

What was your favorite part of France?

billmck Loc: Central KY

planepics wrote:

What was your favorite part of France?

Oh gosh...do I have to pick just one? I haven't covered all of the country, but so far I haven't found anyplace I didn't like. A favorite was probably touring some of the chateaus along the Loire River south of Paris. I spent time in Orleans for work and liked it there, and we did a river cruise on the Rhone and I liked all of that area.

A lot of people don't like Paris, but my wife and I love it there.

Where will you be on your 13 day tour?

Bill

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

I took a tripod and a monopod when last in France. The tripod I used for long exposures with ND filters to flatten the Seine when shooting Notre Dame, street scenes and village scenes in the countryside. I used the monopod shooting interiors of the many churches and interiors we visited. I also used it during a private tour of the Nationale Assemblee our friend gave us during her workday there. Security was all over my monopod, but allowed it in.

Where they don't allow monopods or tripods is at Versailles.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

planepics wrote:

...and not even have a chance to use it?

Last time I went overseas (Israel '16) I brought my Joby mini moldable tripod when I had just a light bridge camera and found I hardly ever used it. I'll be in France in a few wks for a 13-day tour and am thinking of taking a monopod and ballhead (a99ii w/24-105). I figure I could use it as a walking stick if nothing else. I discovered that it fits perfectly (less head) across the bottom of my suitcase.

We did 2 weeks in Germany and will be doing 3 weeks in Scotland with no tripod. But I am using 4/3rds and the worst case scenario 5.5 stops IS with my old camera. Since your camera is bigger and heavier and I do not believe the 24-105 has IS, I think your idea of the monopod with a ball head is the best you can do. Unless, of course, your heavy-duty tripod fits in your wife's suitcase.

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

A ball head on a monopod is not a good idea. Try it, and you will see that that set up provides redundant lateral movement that can be awkward if not dangerous. The monopod itself provides the needed lateral movement, and all that is needed is the vertical flexibility that you would get from a dedicated monopod head. There are many of these available.

clemente21

I carry my travel tripod for purely selfish reasons, so I can be in the picture too. That and for long exposures. If you can go around those two then you probably won't need it.

It can also work for self-defense, tripod on one hand and a flash set to full power on the other....

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

planepics wrote:

...and not even have a chance to use it?

Last time I went overseas (Israel '16) I brought my Joby mini moldable tripod when I had just a light bridge camera and found I hardly ever used it. I'll be in France in a few wks for a 13-day tour and am thinking of taking a monopod and ballhead (a99ii w/24-105). I figure I could use it as a walking stick if nothing else. I discovered that it fits perfectly (less head) across the bottom of my suitcase.

Never, ever, take a monopod or tripod on a bus tour. But, if you don't want to make friends with the other passengers or the bus driver then by all means take one or both.
I shot professionally for three different tour companies and never had the need, when traveling in a group situation, of a monopod or tripod.
But again, if you want to, take them, just let me know when and where so I can avoid your group.
Basically, bus tours move quickly, learn to shoot quickly and without aids and you will win the respect of your fellow passengers.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If it's easy to pack and easy to carry - like a walking stick - I don't see the drawback. Of course, that assumes that you'll be using it quite a bit. If you're not going to make frequent use of it, why bother. You could always bring a "string tripod" for occasional use.

https://www.instructables.com/String-Tripod/
https://wiskerke.home.xs4all.nl/artikelen/string.html

And - http://www.diyphotography.net/stabilize-camera-even-horrible-light-conditions/

bnsf

I have been on bus tours to New Orleans along with stopping at different locations including a Civil War stop at Vicksburg. There were lot of cameras on the bus but no tripods just monopods. Seems that everyone was taking walking photos or videos for closeups. I did not bring neither a monopod nor a tripod along just a camera along with lenses. Worked just fine for me.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

planepics wrote:

...and not even have a chance to use it?

Last time I went overseas (Israel '16) I brought my Joby mini moldable tripod when I had just a light bridge camera and found I hardly ever used it. I'll be in France in a few wks for a 13-day tour and am thinking of taking a monopod and ballhead (a99ii w/24-105). I figure I could use it as a walking stick if nothing else. I discovered that it fits perfectly (less head) across the bottom of my suitcase.

If yyou decide to take your mono throw the ball head and get a tilt & slide head.

CO

jerryc41 wrote:

If it's easy to pack and easy to carry - like a walking stick - I don't see the drawback. Of course, that assumes that you'll be using it quite a bit. If you're not going to make frequent use of it, why bother. You could always bring a "string tripod" for occasional use.

https://www.instructables.com/String-Tripod/
https://wiskerke.home.xs4all.nl/artikelen/string.html

And - http://www.diyphotography.net/stabilize-camera-even-horrible-light-conditions/

A stringpod really does help. I went on a trip on a train and didn't have room for my tripod. I made a couple of stringpods. It definitely helps to stabilize the camera. This is one that I made. You can just roll it up and put it in your pocket.

(Download)