Weekly Poll: Tripods - Do you use one?

[Nicole]

First, let me just say how interesting it is what a great distribution of experience we have here on the forums for how long people have been photographing. I thought last week's poll results were really interesting

This week, well, the question is pretty self-explanatory. Tripods, do you use one a majority of the time or not? I mean, we all use tripods sometimes, but really what we're wondering is if the majority of your shots are taken using a tripod.

There are lots of types of shots where tripods can be really useful, so tell us what kind of shooting you use the tripod in the most, and if you want, go ahead and tell us what kind of tripod you use.

If you don't use a tripod for a majority of your shots, what kind of shots do you take? Do you shoot without a tripod because your subject isn't conducive to it? Do you not own one? Or do you just not like using one?

So, tripod or not?

[Tiberius]

I use a tripod when the situation calls for it...

...but where's the voting?

[Nicole]

I have no idea why it didn't come up immediately, but apparently the thread got posted before it posted my poll We could say that my internet was being rather uncooperative for the last little while

[Saralonde]

I use a tripod for the majority of my shots. Even after trying all the handhold tricks (hold your breath and release slowly, keep camera close to your body etc.), I am just ever so slightly shaky. That tiny bit of camera shake really makes a difference. The things I like to shoot - macros, some landscapes, still life - make tripods virtually a must. Lately being in the threesixtyfive and fiftytwo flickr groups and shooting the self-portraits they require, I find my tripod invaluable.

I know tripods can be hard to carry around, so I also have a monopod. Generally I use handheld only when doing candids or when a tri- or monopod is impractical.

[jdepould]

IMHO they're sort of a pain, unless I'm shooting at night I generally don't use them. More likely to use a monopod though.

[Sime™]

Yep... for someone like me, a tripod is essential!... After taking ventolin for x years, i'm sure that's why my hands are shaky!!.. tripods are essential!

I have a monopod, it's big and clunky... but ok

[peeperita]

i have had my bogen for over 25 years and it has been well used....so much so, that i have had to perform more than one minor surgery to it's failing apendages.....

now, i don't care to take it with me when i travel......but, around the house, i probably shoot with it nine times out of ten.....and as i have said before, the staged shot is my preference.....

[Klaidas]

I always preferred to take pictures without it, though now I think I really should get a tripot as I'm getting interested in longer exposures and low-light photography.

[waffles]

Tripod + the way I move around when shooting games = not working

I've always thought a monopod would be better for me anyway.

[wulf]

I am struggling to work out which way to vote. I think that, even since getting a better tripod in mid-June, the majority of my shots have still been taken without one. However, the proportion is probably much nearer 50/50 than 80/20.

A lot depends on the subject and the lens. If I'm out with my 70-300mm, I will probably lug the tripod along although I've had some pretty good results hand holding as long as the light is good. My self portraits are generally done with a tripod. Most of my flora and fauna macros are handheld, as I often seek angles where a tripod would be hard to position or where a breeze necessitates a fast shutter speed and so camera shake is not the biggest concern.

I will ponder it a bit more...

Wulf