Travel Tripod for Rolleiflex

[sjauch]

I am heading to Yosemite this coming weekend and would like to bring my T and a light tripod. Something that I can carry on the airplane. I checked this out this weekend and am thinking of picking it up. I was wondering if you guys think this would be OK to use. If not maybe you could recommend something similar??

Tiltall Traveler TE-245
http://www.adorama.com/TPTLG.html

My regular tripod is a Carbon Gitzo with Arca Swiss head. I don't want to attempt to get that on the plane or have to check it.

Thanks.

[DaveOttawa]

Have you looked at the Feisol CF tripods? The distributor is sponsor at APUG I believe. They have the same "...unique 180-degree folding mechanism, accommodates the head inside the folded tripod legs..." claimed by the Tiltall design, at least my one does. May be tough to get before the weekend mind...

[jp498]

Tiltall stuff is good. I have a regular leitz tiltall and have used the new tiltalls as well.

You may get inconsistent treatment by the TSA with regard of carrying this on the plane. Things you can bludgeon people with like this might not be allowed by TSA. I think it would be a great way to stop a terrorist short of using a pistol. It could be certainly be checked baggage. It would certainly be rugged enough and not valuable enough.

Carry your film on the plane though. Letting them xray it as carryon would be easier then risking them opening it for a hand inspection.

[Matus Kalisky]

I can only second the Feisol Products (I bought mine HERE) - for Rolleiflex only I would propose to chose one of the lightest models as the Rolleiflex itself is rather light and very well balanced (with practically no shake thanks to the leaf shutter). I got myself the 3442 model (fits in carry-on luggage) and the Photo Clam PC33NS head (the quick release system works great, the head is very stable) - and this combo handles my light 4x5 camera even with longer lenses. My tripod+head is about 1.5 kg - hard to find a lighter combination with the same stability.

Actually if Feisol would produce a dedicated TLR (or 6x6 SLR with waist level finder) tripod I would go for it - one could have a rock-solid 100 - 120 cm tripod with head with 1kg weight (but I guess the market would be too small.

[Ian Grant]

That tripod should be fine it's similar to the Slik Swift Pro II, I bought on my last trip to the UK, it fit's inside my backpack which is great where tripods aren't permitted (once inside there's no-one about).

The Slik is also sold by Calumet under their own name and cheaper, I've used mine with my TLR's, 617 and also my Crown Graphic with no problems at all, same 180°, weighs 940gms, 47cm folded, and is surprisingly stable with the best Ball head I've ever used, it's only $85 from B&H. Don't be fooled by the way they call it a Digital tripod it's designed to carry over 2Kg.

Ian.

[Stefan Findel]

Have you considered a monopod?