On almost every trip I get stuck on the same question: do I actually bring a tripod or not? I've tried a couple of small tripods before and they're fine in theory, but most of the time they just sit in the bag and feel way too bulky and awkward to pack for me.
For this short Christmas trip I finally left the tripod at home. I just brought my iphone with a stand case and started using whatever was around me (benches, walls, railings, even my bag strap) to get "good enough" shots. So far it's actually been working better than I expected for casual travel photos and little clips, and my bag feels a lot lighter.
I'm still figuring out whether this is the setup I'll stick with or if I'll eventually go back to packing a tripod again. Would love to hear how other onebag travelers balance wanting good photos with not overpacking.
You answered your own question in the first paragraph. You've brought small tripods with you before but they've sat unused and we're awkward to pack. You don't need a tripod
Yeah, fair point. Now that the trip's over I think you were right. I just relied on my phone with a stand case plus whatever was around me. It actually covered pretty much everything I wanted to shoot on this trip.
One unexpected bonus I only really noticed after a few days was that the ring on the case sits really naturally on my hand, so I worry less about dropping or losing my phone. For short trips like this I honestly don't see myself packing a tripod again. The stand case feels like all I need.
I don't use a tripod. I do have a small clamp that allows me to attach my phone to objects and use those as make shift tripods.
I have something like that for my mirrorless camera but haven’t seen anything smaller that I would want to use for cell phone photography. Do you have a make and model?
I got it at Target about 10 years ago and it has no markings on it.
Could you share a photo of what it looks like so I know what search for?
Similar to this one on Amazon, Reddit app won't let me post a link.
https://preview.redd.it/8klrwtmkrs8g1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=352503516871dc079963e218f6384bd52c3ea294
That’s very versatile but looks quite chunky and heavy by itself, isn’t it about as bulky as a smaller tripod itself?
The one I have is a little smaller especially the arm where the phone mounts. I would say same weight as the tripod. The shape allows it to fit in my pocket better. I just found one that looked similar as I am at work and couldn't grab a Pic.
Same here on the weight. I've been using a stand case on my phone instead, it's much lighter and still does most of what I need for photos and videos on the road.
Check out smallrig’s super clamp. They make all kinds of compact attachment gear like that.
Same here, honestly. I've also just ended up just using whatever's around me as a "tripod”. With a stand case I can prop or hang my phone on benches, rails or bag straps for shooting.
It is to me. I already know what Angkor Wat looks like, there are pictures of it. But there are no pictures of me and Angkor Wat together until I take them.
No.
My photography teacher taught that you can use literally any item in the vicinity to stabilize your phone, just look around and grab those random stones or a tree branch to set the phone in place.
I do this all the time, but having a small tripod or stand would still be nice sometimes. I’m in the market for one, but they’re always like $50+ for a tiny piece of metal and I can’t justify it.
I got a gorillapod from Aliexpress for cheap, but using it for my camera only. Frankly speaking, it helps only at night and if I'm taking pics from a viewing point, otherwise it is easier and faster without it.
I reject the convention that I need to be in the pictures I take. I already know what I look like.
I used to think like this. But as I age I realize that I won't always look the same, and it can actually be really nice to look back at pictures of how you looked at certain times in your life. Documenting your travel is just as much about documenting who you were on that trip. I now have young nieces and nephews and realize that they're interested in seeing those things too.
Not a must, but something to think about.
I do reflection selfies, preferably in imperfect reflecting surfaces like glass over a painting, windows at night, shop windows, or very old mirrors in museums. I have a whole series of them.
Good idea. I'm someone who doesn't really do selfies, but would leave my phone leaning against something to help me take a timed picture of myself. Reflection selfies would be good to try.
100% agree. I only take pictures of the landscapes. The last thing I need is my ugly mug ruining the shot.
Google Maps and IG already knows what everything else looks like, too. So one may as well just put the phone down and look around with ones own eyes.
I think its precisely because of this that the most unique photos would be those with yourself in them! After all you can see all the photos of a certain landscape, but only one would have yourself in it.
When I travel with people I go out of my way to get photos of everyone sort of... without them knowing. Not in a creepy way, mind you! I just want photos of the moments to jolt everyone's memories of what actually happened somewhere. Not just the ol' pose and snap, pose and snap. Famous location, pose and snap.
These are the kinds of photos I treasure.
Candid photos as opposed to manufactured poses. Love it, that's the best thing you can give your friends too. Especially since they can never take candid photos of themselves.
Agreed - for me it's the people I'm traveling with that make the pictures interesting most of the time.
I’ve been doing much more of that lately when traveling. Never did like selfies much (I think I have 3 or 4 over the last 20 years that were worth keeping) and las trip or two was a lot of “do I need a photo? No? Ok then”
The tripod is not for selfies only.
It is a must if you're in a low light environment and want a decent pic.
My phone camera can handle that remarkably well.
One would better stabilize the phone/camera (not necessary with a tripod) for pics with shutter speed longer than 1/60 of a second
I hate photos of me, so I only ever take photos of my surroundings also.
Context: Sharing a recent onebag travel experience where I intentionally left my tripod behind and relied on a phone stand + improvised supports instead. Not looking for gear recommendations curious how other onebag travelers approach photography while keeping their setup minimal.
I have never traveled with a tripod. I don't really like to take photos of myself with a tripod/stand, in general i'm not taking a lot of selfies while traveling (I sometimes take a few selfies just to share my journey with my family), but I love to take lots of photos with my camera or phone of the places i visit and there have been a few times where I would love to have a tripod to get long exposures. I like to use mirrors or any reflection to take photos of myself, sometimes I even use my shadow lol
That said, for me is really hard to not overpack when it comes to camera gear... lenses, batteries, charger, should I bring the gopro too? Should i bring the iPad to edit on the go? If so, I need my external SSD to backup everything...
I've learned a lot for the past 3 years that I started to Onebag and one of those things is that "just in case" items are not worth it most of the time so when i'm overthinking about an item I leave it behind, this applied to camera gear means I sometimes leave a couple lenses, the gopro, ipad, extra strap or wall battery charger (And use usb-c to charge it inside the camera)
Depends on the person and their photography goals. I like to take night sky photos so I need something to help me stabilize my camera and adjust the angle. I have a mini tripod, but thinking of switching to a beanbag. I don’t use a tripod with my phone.
I used to carry a small tripod on my trips for years, only to realize that I hardly ever used it. So, now I travel with just the DSLR and it‘s totally fine.
I guess it depends on what you like taking pictures of. I like time-lapses, so I need a tripod. I use a mini one from Peak Design; it’s not much bigger than a few credit cards.
This is a very compact gizmo that serves as a reasonable tripod for an iPhone given its relative lightness and convenience. It clips onto my backpack shoulder strap like a carabiner and rides around securely there until I need it. The build quality is very good and I have had good success with taking timelapse series etc.
https://www.ulanzi.com/en-ca/collections/phone-tripod-mount/products/carabiner-mounted-phone-tripod-m030.
I use the Peak Design Mobile tripod which attaches to my phone via MagSafe and doesn't take any extra space.
Cool tripod, but expensive.
Always with me
Yeah expensive but it solves a problem elegantly with almost no extra space.
There are endless options for travel tripods. The question is whether you will actually use it and in what situations. It takes time to set one up and align the camera. Getting one that is stable, tall enough and tolerable weight and stowed size is my shopping list.
I’ve found that a DSLR emulator grip for my phone is more useful and it’s small to pack in my day bag. It has a remote release and can be used as a stand as well. I use the Joby grip below and there all kinds of grips available.
https://joby.com/global/griptight-pov-kit-jb01474-bww/
So bizare that this post is an hour old, has a dozen comments (some with a dozen upvotes) but the main post is at zero upvotes.
This subreddit.
Hey OP, you should have told them how they can carry less by buying more stuff. They like that.
Some subs hide the up/down vote totals for posts for the first few hours, to prevent people from dogpiling without actually reading the post
I understand what you're saying, but IMO this is the sort of post that should be at 24 upvotes by now.
Personally, I only use a tripod in long exposure photography whether it's low light or night sky photography. Outside of that you can normally hold a few seconds of exposure hand held or braced against something. I recognise this is down to the individual, location and lens though, If you're using a 600mm f4 probably take the tripod
If you're going to be doing landscape, low-light, or astrophotography with an SLR or mirrorless camera? Yes, I'd get a tripod. If you're just using your phone? Absolutely not, your setup (as you said) seems perfectly fine without one.
I always bring a tripod, but for specific purposes (panoramics & night shots). For any other time, from dawn to dusk, dual image stabilization is enough.
I just have a go pro with a 3 in 1, so its a tripod, shorty and can extend.
I don't even bring a tripod when I have my Sony mirrorless camera with a 100-400 lens on it
Not tried it for one bagging it. But I do love the peak design mobile tripod. It sticks to your phone and works so well.
I have Camolo Magsafe tripod which I use with my S24U. It weights around 120g. Ulanzi has MA-60 which is 65g, can be permanently stored on phone due to thin build and be used as a stand.
Also I have 2 Torras cases and with stand angles are shitty, so you have to do weird shit like suspending on your bag instead of using tripod.
Unless you’re doing a lot of video, shouldn’t need a tripod. Used my Fuji xt4 just fine with it. But I also don’t like stages selfies and the like. Only just a tripod and a remote for my phone on one trip for “action” shots. Seemed silly though. Tripod users also clog up areas.
No.
no tripod needed. stay light. be nimble.
It comes down to what you're going for. I know quite a few people who onebag and prefer a compact photography setup (including a tripod) over using a phone. And it's not always about quality.
never got the point of a tripod aside from long exposures
No
Depends on what you need. My old portable solution was a “monopod”. Basically a specific length string on a wooden spool that I’d step on and pull against for stability.
I also have a small magnetic attachment that lets angle my phone in any orientation. This includes forwards and backwards tilt in both portrait and landscape. I mostly use this for hands free video, but sometimes also group selfies. I can also slap it on anyone else’s phone if needed.
I think there are much better options than tripods for casual photography. These include not are not limited to: gimbals, attachment to use a filled water bottle as a tripod, lightweight collapsible selfie sticks that can stand.
Yes.
I usually bring at least a gorillapod. It's possible to wedge a phone or camera on some bench or railing but it's generally a huge pain in the ass to get the right angle and you end up with shittier photos.
I only pack one/use one if planning to take long exposure shots.
Not sure what size you're using. I like the Joby GorillaPod because it's small enough and the legs bend to be able to hang it and attach it to weird positions!
But realistically, you don't need a tripod. Having to make-do without one may even up your creativity levels! :)
I just brought a 1.80m 4 legged selfie stick for my next 16 flight adventure. To me the photos and video will be better and it’s a big part of my enjoyment in travel. I will leave out some tee shirts and socks from my pack to make room.
I've seen a beanbag looking thing for phones or cameras mostly cameras cause it's flat that allows you to set a phone on uneven ground. Maybe you're looking for something different than a tripod. Could even be like a mug.
What's your bag? Looks cute!
What bag is that?