NEW - Ken Gilbert

WHICH ONE
Which Tripod
Should I Buy?
I’m planning the
European trip of a lifetime
for this summer, and I’ll need
a tripod. Since I’m looking
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forward to lots of museums,
cathedrals, and long walks, can
you recommend one that will
be light and not too bulky?
Three Seconds
to Shoot
PHOTO, LUGGAGE & COMPUTER CASES
®
Bringing ringin a camera support
is a good idea—you defi nitely need
stability for or long exposures in dimly lit
churches ches and an romantic night scenes.
When en you’re you picking a tripod, the
most important thing is to choose
one with light and sturdy legs, such
as Induro’s C114 carbon-fi ber tripod
($327, street; www.indurogear. g
com). ) It weighs just under 3 pounds
and holds up to 11 pounds of gear.
Bringing a bulky, full-frame DSLR and
a big telephoto lens? Gitzo’s GT2942
basalt tripod legs ($375, street; www.
gitzo.com g ) weighs 3.6 pounds and
supports up to 22 pounds.
But since you’re headed out to
such a diversity of locations, many
of which (like those dimly
lit churches) may not
allow you to use a tripod,
we recommend that you
consider a monopod.
Trek-Tech’s TrekPod Go!
($180, street; www.trek-tech.
com) ) may be the perfect
choice because it does
triple duty: It’s a monopod,
walking stick, and tripod
all in one. It comes in three
parts with its own travel
case that actually fi ts into
most carry-on luggage.
Assemble it as a walking
stick to suit your height
and stride. When you want
to use it as a monopod, just
attach your camera to the top.
When you need extra stability
or want it to stand on its own,
open the bottom section to
reveal three built-in legs.
The TrekPod Go! weighs
only 1.75 pounds, so it
shouldn’t hinder you in your
wanderings. And you can
use it where tripods don’t fi t
or aren’t permitted.
Its only downfall? It won’t
hold more than 9 pounds of
equipment. So if you’re also
taking a big DSLR and serious
glass, a tripod may still be
your best option. p
TRIPLE THREAT:
The versatile TrekPod
Go! goes where
ordinary tripods can’t.
84 POP PHOTO MAY 2009