'Mountain Magic' 5x7 pastel ©Karen Margulis sold |
I loved my old Manfrotto tripod but it was just too bulky and heavy. It barely fit in my largest suitcase. I wanted a tripod that would fit in my backpack yet still be strong and stable. This tripod does both. It is an Oben AT-3400 with a ball head BA-OOT. This model is discontinued but you can find the replacement tripod and detailed specs at B& H Photo here.
testing my pastels for my Iceland kit |
my travel tripod fully folded |
A Quick Lesson on Tripods
If you are new to the world of tripods it is helpful to know that the better tripods are sold without the head. This is the part that is attached to the legs. A Ball head sits on a ball and when loosened it will rotate all around and allow the camera to be placed vertical or horizontal. The Head comes with a piece called a Quick Release Plate. This piece snaps into the head. You usually attach the quick release plate to the camera or your paint box. This makes it easy to take the camera or paint box on and off the tripod. (if you use the tripod for photography and painting you may want to get another quick release plate to make it faster to switch)
My Oben tripod has a ball head with a quick release plate. Once I figured out how to operate the double locking plate taking my Gogh Box on and off the tripod was a breeze. Some reviews of the tripod complain that the ball head tends to get loose easily and I did find this occasionally but it really wasn't much of an issue for me. It was strong enough to hold my Gogh Box and pastels. It is supposed to hold 6.6 pounds so be sure to weigh your box and pastels to make sure they aren't too heavy!
Tripod and Gogh Box in the desert |
In tomorrow's post I will share how I am packing the Gogh Box and backpack.
Costco has had the donica brand. Don't remember if the length was the same or a little shorter. Us artists are always trying to make the load lighter, huh? Appreciate your sharing. Makes my day!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your tripod recommendation. I currently use a bulky wooden easel when I work outside and would like to switch to a tripod and painter box.
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