Tripod or Monopod??

gildco

Colleagues:

I will be going to Alaska and traveling via train (Anchorage to Denali-Fairbanks), bus to the Yukon Territory and ending at Skagway, and then ship for 4 days. Our hiking will be minimal. I have a Gitzo 1227 tripod, but wonder if I would be better off packing a monopod because it would be less intrusive on the vehicles in which we shall travel. Both are probably about the same minimum size.

Perhaps those of you who have made the Alaska trek could share some of your experiences with me. Thank you.

gus

I would only use a mono at a sporting event where i was tracking a moving object...for scenery as you will be seeing & shooting at smaller apertures & possibly in days where light might not be strong (ie sunsets etc) i would only pack a tripod...maybe a light one but still a tripod.

wxwax

I can only say that tripods and monopods are not interchangeable.

A tripod is intended to hold your camera motionless.

A monopod is intended to provide relief from the weight of a large lens. It will not hold your camera motionless.

gildco

Thanks for the feedback, Wxwax and Gus. Appreciate it.

wxwax

gildco wrote:

Thanks for the feedback, Wxwax and Gus. Appreciate it.

As you can tell, I vote for a tripod.

pathfinder

Tripod!

ian408

Or neither. Depends on what you are shooting and what lens you are
using. Remember, you can always use a tripod like a monopod (just don't
fold the legs out and only extend the one leg) but you cannot use a
monopod like a tripod--even with the little leggy things.

Tripod.

gildco

Good advice.
Thanks for the comments, people. I am going to pack my tripod in my suitcase and not worry about it. I'll just be careful on the train, bus, boat, and whatever else serves us as a conveyance. Of course, my 400mm lens also will be much more stable on my Gitzo tripod than on a monopod, although the monopod would undoubtedly serve better than nothing. (That 400 is heavy after a couple of hours.) Hopefully, I will be able to capture some shots of wildlife other than tourists.

gus

gildco wrote:

Thanks for the comments, people. I am going to pack my tripod in my suitcase and not worry about it. I'll just be careful on the train, bus, boat, and whatever else serves us as a conveyance. Of course, my 400mm lens also will be much more stable on my Gitzo tripod than on a monopod, although the monopod would undoubtedly serve better than nothing. (That 400 is heavy after a couple of hours.) Hopefully, I will be able to capture some shots of wildlife other than tourists.

Just maybe a way to do it is buy a $50 tripod (one that just has a screw for the camera & not a foot plate) Its cheap..very very light & will do a ok job in the absence of strong wind. They will hold a camera still & thats what you sound like you need.

Weight & size would be a thing that i think you need to avoid as my manfrotto & 222 ballhead really add some weight to my back pack.

[edit] i didnt know you wanted it to hold a 400..ok forget what i said & bring your good stuff.

gildco

Thanks, Gus. The tripod is going, and I'll ask my wife to carry it. :>)

ian408

gildco wrote:

Thanks, Gus. The tripod is going, and I'll ask my wife to carry it. :>)

That's the spirit :lol

Have a great trip and be sure to share with us over in the Journeys forum.