How many of you use a tripod?

[rsowers]

Hello my friends,
So, I've been reading the Scott Kelby Digital Photography book series, and he says that we should use a tripod for almost everything. How many of you do that? I don't have a tripod, and I'm trying to figure out how I'd do that with a 9 month old and a 2 year old. Still, I'd be interested in getting fewer blurry pictures, and before I spend the money on a tripod for everyday, I'd love to hear how many of you use one and how you make it work out with little ones.

Thank you so much.
Renee

[katrinak]

Scott Kelby's information is great, just look through his books though and see how many little kids photos you see His reasoning is to get the steadiest, sharpest photo possible. With little ones it is simply not practical to set up your tripod for everyday shots and then you are limited in what you can do.

That being said, we did set up a tripod this morning and took family photos with Ian controlling the remote. It was a riot!

[KerryMac]

I use mine maybe once a year?! I just can't hold myself still like that I always feel like if I have to fiddle around getting everything set, I'll miss the shot.
But it's nice to have just in case.

[anke]

it's fabulous for low light shots but I don't use mine as often as I should. Like Katrina said, it's hard with kids and animals, you run around too much. Wonderful for landscapes or macro though

[Amy L]

I use mine a lot at Christmas to get photos of lights. It's great if you are doing formal portraits, but I'm with Katrina; there is no way with kids' everyday shots.

[ajfetzer]

I agree with what the others have said. I don't use mine a lot, I have a 4 and a 3year old boys and it just wouldn't be safe. But I do use it with my remote to get myself in the shot from time to time and last night I snuck into my son's room to take a picture of him sleeping. I had to use a very slow shutter speed, because of low light, and there was no way I could have handheld my camera with out a lot of blur. So I would say they are very nice to have but not a esential, the one I have is a very inexpensive one. I think it cost $30 we got it at Sam's club. It is not the best but it gets the job done when I need it.

[LauraBean]

I use my tripod, but not for candids or animals or anything in motion. I use it for church events (concerts, plays), landscapes, waterfalls, some other nature things, Christmas lights, that sort of thing. And, actually, it's where I keep my camera when I'm not using it: mounted on the tripod. I find that handier than in my bag.

[nana z]

Just bought a monopad yesterday after tryng to hold up my camera during a 45 kids program. Inspired by one of the moms, seems like a good balance between dragging a tripod everywhere and trying to hold a camera still for 45 minutes!

[esther_a]

I use mine for low light shots: the moon, Christmas lights, lightning. But I also need a remote because I introduce camera shake just pressing the button!

[muddygirl]

Esther, if you set your camera on to timer ( my canon has 2 and 10 sec delay), you can eliminate the camera shake too.

[esther_a]

Oh Sam, so much to learn, so little time!!! I haven't practiced the repeat shot setting, either (whatever it's called). Great tip!

[connieg]

I use my tripod fairly regular. I enjoy shooting macro, so a tripod is a must. I also use it for portraits/self portraits, landscapes, night/low light and some types of action shots.

[cedarhil]

I own two inexpensive tripods and rarely use either. I have the same complaints, they are heavy, don't fold up enough to carry around, time comsuming and then the big one " if you don't use a tripod often, you are going to fumble around with it until you loose your shot".
I have a photojournalist friend and he carries a monopod around and highly recommended one. So I found this and am considering it to be my next photo gear purchase. This Tripod folds up nice and tight and can also become a monopod. What do you think?Giotto?s Vitruvian tripod, true genius

I also like this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846

[b2halter]

If I can add a purely amatuer spinion here ---- Tripods, much like the camera you use, depend a lot on what kind of pitures you plan to take. Will you have 5 minutes to drag it out, set it up, set up your shot and still get the shot of your son making the goal at the soccer match? Probably not. On the other hand, if you're doing wedding photography for your neice, it might come it handy... although not all pros use a tripod for everything either. I have one. I've used it exactly twice because I do a lot of "shoot from the hip" type of photography. There's no room for one in and OR.

[beehive50]

First off, I am so NOT the photographer that most of these ladies are. That being said, I take TONS of photos! My two cents... for what it's worth! LOL

I RARELY use the inexpensive tripod I have... and it's VERY light and easy to set up and use. I just don't... But, I DO use the inexpensive MONOPOD I bought. It's light and VERY easy to use... I can set it up in a flash and it helps me settle myself (and hold that big ole zoom!) when I shoot at soccer matches. I love mine and would highly suggest you invest in one. Mine was around $20-$25 and VERY much worth the money!

[sweetpeony]

I use mine almost all the time, except when I'm riding. No kids though. A monopod might be just the thing.

[sal4gal]

I don't use my tripod or monopod very much. I take tons and tons of panoramas and still don't have any trouble. I have trembly hands, but my canon G11 doesn't care. We are in Moab, Utah for a week for the Easter Jeep Safari. We have been on drives every day and I have probably take 30 panos and they are all perfect. My biggest problem is with my grandson, kids don't walk . . . they run! and any kind of 'pod certainly will not help that!

Sallie