Protection for Tripods in the sand at DVinfo.net

Zelle Olson · January 24th, 2014, 02:14 PM

We have a beach wedding coming up. The last time I did a wedding on the beach it took me weeks to get the sand out of everything. We shoot with multiple cameras and always have 2 or 3 on tripods. Does anyone have any ideas how to protect the legs of my tripods? I was thinking of making something out of plywood to set underneath them but it would be nice to find something that would be more light weight. Any ideas??

Les Wilson · January 24th, 2014, 03:46 PM

Tennis balls cut open to fit on the feet of your legs. Depending on the design of the feet and the hole in the ball, the rubber may hold the ball on quite ruggedly.

Rainer Listing · January 24th, 2014, 04:54 PM

plastic bags and rubber bands?

Michael Warren · January 24th, 2014, 05:54 PM

The plastic bag idea sounds good, assuming thick bags and no spikes on the feet.

But I get dirt and sand on my tripod legs all the time. I just hose it off when I get home.

1/ Don't put the tripod away until it's dried properly.
2/ Don't hose the head unless it's one that's completely sealed.

Mark Williams · January 24th, 2014, 07:27 PM

Rubber balloons.

Alastair Traill · January 24th, 2014, 09:16 PM

Hi Zelle,

You may find plumbers end caps to be useful. They are cheap and robust and come in range of sizes. I sometimes use them under a very low tripod for a different reason. When using a close up lens the focus range is very much reduced (maybe an inch or two) and if I set the tripod legs on the caps I can slide the camera easily and get into the focus range. However if the sand is very soft I fit an insert to the cap that has a recess in the centre that stops the camera from sliding.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/images/a...attach/jpg.gif

Zelle Olson · January 25th, 2014, 05:47 AM

Wow thanks for all the great ideas! I really appreciate everyone's help.

James Kuhn · January 25th, 2014, 12:01 PM

To all...I have to agree with the OP, very interesting discussion.

I particularly like the 'Tennis Ball' idea and I will probably go out and see how it works. The more 'elegant' fix of the PVC End-Caps is also very interesting and I like the idea of being able to 'slide' on rugs or other material, rather than having to pick-up and move.

The 'Tennis Ball' fix would appear to be perfect for my venerable old Gitzo G1325 Mk. 2.

The last time I used a tripod on the beach, in the sand, was during the last Super Moon. I was doing a 'test-run' at Jetty Park, Cocoa Beach the night before the 'official' full Moon. In this case, I left the 'little red feet' on my Sachtler 4588, 75 CF sticks which I felt helped distribute the load of the camera very well.

Obviously, there was no PTZ required for this image capture, strictly locked down and as luck would have it, the 'test-run' turned out better than the actual event. Location, location, location!

Best regards,

J.

Roger Van Duyn · January 25th, 2014, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zelle Olson

Wow thanks for all the great ideas! I really appreciate everyone's help.

Get a Shop Vac with a lot of horsepower, with the narrow attachment, and an old toothbrush to make sure you get all the sand that slips by the "protection."

Also, if you have rain gear for your camera, you might want to use it even if it's not raining to protect your cameras from the salt spray on a windy day.

I used to fish and scuba dive here in Florida before getting into video and photography. All that gear needed to be cleaned thoroughly after use too, or you were inviting trouble. Everything from running the outboard motor in freshwater after saltwater use to cleaning the regulator and inspecting the O rings for your scuba gear. Also the strong UV light at the beach is hard on many plastics and rubber like materials. Time spent maintaining your gear extends the useful life.

I make it a point to do the cleaning no later than the next morning when returning from the beach, or dusty field for outdoor trade shows, sporting events etc.

Really, just spend the time to thoroughly clean your gear.

Steve Elgar · January 25th, 2014, 06:17 PM

I have been shooting surfing video for over 3 decades and my trusty WOODEN tripod has never failed me. It has been dragged around the sand, rocks and salt water for all those years without any love and affection, apart from a hose down with fresh water, and it is still going strong.

(Thank you Mr Miller, a new tripod would be nice). :)

Steve.

James Kuhn · January 26th, 2014, 02:18 PM

Steve Elgar...you reminded me, during my foray into Medium-Format stills photography, I owned, for a short time, a wooden tripod (a Ries I believe).
I purchased it because it was a sturdy platform and it had a certain 'je ne sais quoi'. Besides, I love wood! However, I soon discovered I didn't like humping it up and down the Appalachian Mountains and sold it for my old standby Gitzo G1325 Mk. 2 Carbon-Fiber sticks, which I still have.

Other than the weight penalty, wooden tripods are still a valid option and are beautiful to the eye. Ironically, wooden tripods are cheaper than most of the good C-F sticks available today.

Best regards,

J.

January 24th, 2014, 02:14 PM	#1
Zelle Olson New Boot Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Paso Robles, CA Posts: 21	Protection for Tripods in the sand We have a beach wedding coming up. The last time I did a wedding on the beach it took me weeks to get the sand out of everything. We shoot with multiple cameras and always have 2 or 3 on tripods. Does anyone have any ideas how to protect the legs of my tripods? I was thinking of making something out of plywood to set underneath them but it would be nice to find something that would be more light weight. Any ideas??

January 24th, 2014, 03:46 PM	#2
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: Protection for Tripods in the sand Tennis balls cut open to fit on the feet of your legs. Depending on the design of the feet and the hole in the ball, the rubber may hold the ball on quite ruggedly.

January 24th, 2014, 04:54 PM	#3
Rainer Listing Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nowra, Australia Posts: 440	Re: Protection for Tripods in the sand plastic bags and rubber bands?

January 24th, 2014, 05:54 PM	#4
Michael Warren Major Player Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Cairns, Australia Posts: 215	Re: Protection for Tripods in the sand The plastic bag idea sounds good, assuming thick bags and no spikes on the feet. But I get dirt and sand on my tripod legs all the time. I just hose it off when I get home. 1/ Don't put the tripod away until it's dried properly. 2/ Don't hose the head unless it's one that's completely sealed. __________________ -Mike http://mike-warren.net

January 24th, 2014, 07:27 PM	#5
Mark Williams Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Deep South, U.S. Posts: 1,526	Re: Protection for Tripods in the sand Rubber balloons. __________________ Mark videos: http://vimeo.com/channels/3523 Stock: http://www.pond5.com/artist/mark29

January 24th, 2014, 09:16 PM	#6
Alastair Traill Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 626	Re: Protection for Tripods in the sand Hi Zelle, You may find plumbers end caps to be useful. They are cheap and robust and come in range of sizes. I sometimes use them under a very low tripod for a different reason. When using a close up lens the focus range is very much reduced (maybe an inch or two) and if I set the tripod legs on the caps I can slide the camera easily and get into the focus range. However if the sand is very soft I fit an insert to the cap that has a recess in the centre that stops the camera from sliding. http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/images/a...attach/jpg.gif Attached Thumbnails

January 25th, 2014, 05:47 AM	#7
Zelle Olson New Boot Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Paso Robles, CA Posts: 21	Re: Protection for Tripods in the sand Wow thanks for all the great ideas! I really appreciate everyone's help.

January 25th, 2014, 12:01 PM	#8
James Kuhn Major Player Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Merritt Island, Florida Posts: 865	Re: Protection for Tripods in the sand To all...I have to agree with the OP, very interesting discussion. I particularly like the 'Tennis Ball' idea and I will probably go out and see how it works. The more 'elegant' fix of the PVC End-Caps is also very interesting and I like the idea of being able to 'slide' on rugs or other material, rather than having to pick-up and move. The 'Tennis Ball' fix would appear to be perfect for my venerable old Gitzo G1325 Mk. 2. The last time I used a tripod on the beach, in the sand, was during the last Super Moon. I was doing a 'test-run' at Jetty Park, Cocoa Beach the night before the 'official' full Moon. In this case, I left the 'little red feet' on my Sachtler 4588, 75 CF sticks which I felt helped distribute the load of the camera very well. Obviously, there was no PTZ required for this image capture, strictly locked down and as luck would have it, the 'test-run' turned out better than the actual event. Location, location, location! Best regards, J.

January 25th, 2014, 06:17 PM	#10
Steve Elgar Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Port Stephens NSW Australia Posts: 71	Re: Protection for Tripods in the sand I have been shooting surfing video for over 3 decades and my trusty WOODEN tripod has never failed me. It has been dragged around the sand, rocks and salt water for all those years without any love and affection, apart from a hose down with fresh water, and it is still going strong. (Thank you Mr Miller, a new tripod would be nice). :) Steve.

January 26th, 2014, 02:18 PM	#11
James Kuhn Major Player Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Merritt Island, Florida Posts: 865	Re: Protection for Tripods in the sand Steve Elgar...you reminded me, during my foray into Medium-Format stills photography, I owned, for a short time, a wooden tripod (a Ries I believe). I purchased it because it was a sturdy platform and it had a certain 'je ne sais quoi'. Besides, I love wood! However, I soon discovered I didn't like humping it up and down the Appalachian Mountains and sold it for my old standby Gitzo G1325 Mk. 2 Carbon-Fiber sticks, which I still have. Other than the weight penalty, wooden tripods are still a valid option and are beautiful to the eye. Ironically, wooden tripods are cheaper than most of the good C-F sticks available today. Best regards, J.