Tripod Advice

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robcal

Striker
Going up near the Arctic circle for a few days this week and wanted to try and get some pics of the northern lights, but my tripod's finally fallen apart. I need something lightweight (got to fit into the suitcase), but durable enough for an imbecile who is likely to drop it when pissed on the rocks near Dunstanburgh at night (hence the need for a new tripod) and cheap (less than £100).

Any ideas?

Also, I've got a battery pack on order, got my remote, anything else I'll need?
 


I can't really comment on the slik although it gets some very good reviews. Downside is appears to be quite heavy. I started out with a red snapper and found it to be ideal and used it for a few years but again i found it to be heavy. The twist lock on one of the legs eventually came loose but it was easy to strip down and repair with a bit of superglue. 15 minute job. I eventually went to a Feisol carbon fibre. Feisol do tripods with the sole purpose of travelling but they are expensive.

What about something like this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Q666C-Tra...203607?hash=item3f57df7b97:g:WVAAAOSwll1WvaQC
 
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For my travel tripod, I am using a MeFOTO. Fits in the suitcase nicely.

But unless you can find an offer, it looks like it is currently just outside your budget.


It's the old light/sturdy/cheap argument - you will struggle to get all 3 !
 
Actually, scrub my info above, I have the MeFOTO roadtrip which costs even more than the one I linked to now :eek:
 
Sat in Sweden, they've had almost 2 weeks of perfect nights with the Aurora out. We arrive and it clouds over. Bastards.
 
I took my Manfrotto 055XB to Iceland. Stuffed it in the suitcase. Put the suitcase overweight, but what the hell, you don't go to Iceland every week.

I could have taken a pissy lightweight one, but I would have regretted it. The wind you get up there, vibration would have been a big issue.

Sat in Sweden, they've had almost 2 weeks of perfect nights with the Aurora out. We arrive and it clouds over. Bastards.

This is why I never understand '3 day aurora trips' and the like. Pick somewhere where you'd want to go anyway, spend two weeks there and hire a car to chase clear skies.
 
I took my Manfrotto 055XB to Iceland. Stuffed it in the suitcase. Put the suitcase overweight, but what the hell, you don't go to Iceland every week.

I could have taken a pissy lightweight one, but I would have regretted it. The wind you get up there, vibration would have been a big issue.



This is why I never understand '3 day aurora trips' and the like. Pick somewhere where you'd want to go anyway, spend two weeks there and hire a car to chase clear skies.

Agree - it's like flying to the Falklands for a solar eclipse, you know it would be cloudy.

It was a holiday for the family, trying to get a bit of snow while the lad is young enough for it to be magical. The aurora would have been a bonus.
 
I took my Manfrotto 055XB to Iceland. Stuffed it in the suitcase. Put the suitcase overweight, but what the hell, you don't go to Iceland every week.

I could have taken a pissy lightweight one, but I would have regretted it. The wind you get up there, vibration would have been a big issue.



This is why I never understand '3 day aurora trips' and the like. Pick somewhere where you'd want to go anyway, spend two weeks there and hire a car to chase clear skies.
Or stay in Sunderland and wait for last night!
 
Third best I have seen in the UK since I've been chasing aurora.

1. 27th Feb 2014 (Kp7)
2. St Paddy's Day 2015 (Kp7)
3. Last Sunday (Kp6)

There was also a belter last August but it coincided with full moon.

Could see feck all here, just 30 mile south
 
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