[arlon]

Lets see, I have 4 tripods and one monopod. I use the monopod 4 times as much as the tripods.. Tripod is a necessity item for the still lifes and such I like to do around the house, light painting and the odd night shot. I still have to have one but I'm not carrying everywhere I go, that's for sure.

I do a lot of panoramas and HDR. When I started I thought I had to have a tripod. I didn't. I used to carry the tripod on every trip to the park, now I have an 80-400mm VR lens and leave the tripod at home (monopod still goes). VR is pretty handy even at 400mm.

I hate dragging a tripod around all the time. I'll throw it in the car for odd shot but I'm just not going to take it back packing with me... I do carry a small bag filled with plastic beads. It's very light and I have used it for a lot of pics I need a steady rest for. I've used that bag on hoods, tree limbs, walls, you name it, it's been there. That little "bean bag" fits in a fanny pack, weighs almost nothing, is VERY useful so it goes everywhere I go. Tripod mostly stays in the trunk (but you still have to own one).. Enough of this dissertation.