Tripod - Alaskian Cruise
Mar 23, 2016 19:11:28 #
Mar 23, 2016 20:17:43 #
Two cruises, took tripod on first and never used it. Second cruise, never missed it. Crank up the ISO a couple of stops and you'll get what you need.
Mar 23, 2016 21:04:52 #
Freight Train wrote:
Taking an Alaskan cruise and am wondering if taking a light weight tripod would be worth the effort. Several tours are included. Any experience would be appreciated.
IMO, even on a calm day without a lot of waves, there is still enough boat motion to render a tripod pretty much useless for its intended purpose of capturing focused images. As for yourself being included in portrait shots, a tripod would only be useful if you couldn't find someone to take the shot for you.
Mar 24, 2016 02:43:21 #
I might take a tripod or a monopod to use for taking pictures from the cruise ship if there is anything to photograph and you're not in the middle of the ocean. If you're doing a cruise of the Inland Passage, there will be things you might want to take pictures of and having a monopod or tripod could be helpful.
Mar 24, 2016 05:31:39 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
Freight Train wrote:
Taking an Alaskan cruise and am wondering if taking a light weight tripod would be worth the effort. Several tours are included. Any experience would be appreciated.
We were on a bus, train, small zodiac whale watching, site seeing train, four wheeler, cruse ship, and walking in towns. A tripod will just get in the way. Besides, don't you know about ships and tripods, ships are always rocking, not to much but always moving, and a tripod is best where? On a solid firm non moving surface, like ground. If you hand hold your body and hands tend to absorb the movement a lot better than a tripod. The only time I could have used a tripod was when my wife woke me at 2AM on the boat to view the Northern Lights, quite beautiful, I used my pocket Sony and Auto everything and the shots were OK. What was interesting was the Northern Lights were white to the eye but photographed green, almost like shooting under florescent lights without a filter.
Mar 24, 2016 16:38:38 #
billnikon wrote:
We were on a bus, train, small zodiac whale watchi... (show quote)
I didn't know the lights appeared white to the eye and green when photographed. I thought that was their color.
Mar 24, 2016 18:37:35 #
Mar 24, 2016 20:29:26 #
Freight Train wrote:
Taking an Alaskan cruise and am wondering if taking a light weight tripod would be worth the effort. Several tours are included. Any experience would be appreciated.
Alaska is about scenery. When the ship stops and you are on a tour you may want to do a panoramic or shoot at f22. Put it in your suitcase and if you don't use it what is the harm. Better than wishing you had it and didn't. Only you know your own style of shooting and the situations you may need it for.
Mar 24, 2016 20:31:05 #
DerBiermeister wrote:
As for yourself being included in portrait shots, a tripod would only be useful if you couldn't find someone to take the shot for you.
Self timer.
Mar 24, 2016 21:32:03 #
Freight Train wrote:
Taking an Alaskan cruise and am wondering if taking a light weight tripod would be worth the effort. Several tours are included. Any experience would be appreciated.
The owner of the boat would be the final proving authority. Check with your cruise line, the may or may not have policies concerning them. Hope you can take it, and that you have lots of good, clean fun.
Mar 26, 2016 00:54:24 #
Wow, I really appreciate the feedback. I feel better about making the decision now. Thanks so much.
Mar 26, 2016 06:16:11 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
thomseninc wrote:
I've seen them in both Alaska and Iceland. They were green.
I am happy yours were green in both locations. Mine were white.
Mar 26, 2016 09:04:09 #
Been there but cannot remember very many times when I had enough time to set up a tripod and still get the shot. This is especially regarding the tours I took. I think when you get back you will feel that not taking it was the best idea.
Mar 26, 2016 09:32:56 #
The issue with tripod is the ships deck no matter how large the ship is, it's rumbling and vibrating. Not only with engine turning, but with the ocean movement. It may be imperceivable to you but your tripod/camera will notice it. So they are useless onboard. As far as on excursions, it would depend on how small the group was, but in general they just get in the way.
I've done it with and without, the first time I didn't want to take a chance of missing anything. But I never got a chance to use it. So on the second time I didn't pack it and I never missed it either.
I've done it with and without, the first time I didn't want to take a chance of missing anything. But I never got a chance to use it. So on the second time I didn't pack it and I never missed it either.
Mar 26, 2016 11:00:48 #
Capture48 wrote:
The issue with tripod is the ships deck no matter ... (show quote)
This is all correct especially about the ship's engine vibration. The only thing I would add is ...... it all depends on what your photography mission is. If you only want to capture nice pictures of your trip .. then I would leave the tripod home. If however, you are trying to get pictures for a magazine or some other "professional" endeavor, then you will want to bring it, as not all of your time is going to be spent onboard the ship.
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