A Supporting Role

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For landscape photographers a good tripod is essential and I love my SLIK PRO 400 DX. However when travelling on business I have found it to be, quite frankly, a pain.  For my fortnightly two day trips to France I like to travel as light as possible and so I pack a camera body, three lenses, spare batteries, filters and a Hama Traveller Mini Pro tripod.

Hama Tripod on left, SLIK on the right
This little tripod has provided my camera with support on the last three trips to Paris when I've been out and about at night at the tourist spots and also to Florida when the FIA WEC raced at Sebring.  

Notre Dame at night.  The Hama tripod was placed on the bridge
It is lightweight, weighing in at just 740g, and only measures 400mm folded, extending out to 1150mm.  It isn't the sturdiest of tripods when fully opened out but I tend to use it folded up, or with one leg extension used, and in this configuration for long exposure shots at night it has proven to be a winner.  I actually got this tripod as a free gift when I subscribed to Practical Photography magazine but I have checked with some photographic retail sites and this tripod is currently being sold for just £20, which is an absolute bargain in my book.

Eiffel Tower - 30s exposure using the Hama Tripod
I will always take the larger SLIK tripod if I am travelling by car or for an important shot but on business travel I always take the Hama Traveller tripod with me.  I wouldn't leave home without it! 

ALL IMAGES ARE THE PROPERTY OF MACLEAN PHOTOGRAPHIC AND CANNOT BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION.

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