Just a quick survey: Which do you use more often, flash or tripod?

Yes, I know they have different applications. I'm not looking for comparisons between apples and oranges. I'm just curious which is a more useful accessory in the opinions of the regulars in this forum. If you could only carry one, which would it be?

-- Luke Dunlap (luked@mail.utexas.edu), May 28, 2002

Answers

Flash.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), May 28, 2002.

Assuming you are meaning for the uses to which I normally put the Leica M to, then flash over the tripod. However, as a general rule, I believe a good tripod is the most under-rated photographic accessory available -- for any camera.

Cheers,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), May 28, 2002.

table top tripod, used as shoulder pod when needed.

Chad

-- Chad Hahn (thehahns@cornhusker.net), May 28, 2002.

Flash. Too lazy to use my tripod :-(

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), May 29, 2002.

Tripod....but flash is cool too. I havn't used a flash in a while...maybe it's time. But natural light cant be beat at it's best.

-- Emile de Leon (knightpeople@msn.com), May 29, 2002.

Why tripods of course! I carry a tripod each car......tripods is the answer it all things! ; all problems in life! Kelly

-- Kelly Flanigan (zorki3c@netscape.net), May 29, 2002.

Tripods in any case. Either my big Manfrotto or my Leica tabletop. Even if out on my bike sometimes both. If it's too dark, faster film. I wouldn't use a flash even if you gave me one for free.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), May 29, 2002.

Tripod but lately I find the monopod with slightly faster film will do just as well.

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), May 29, 2002.

Id use a Noctilux!!

-- Karl Yik (karl.yik@dk.com), May 29, 2002.

This post intrigued me. I can't figure out these strange items you speak of. Flash? Tripod? What are these things used for?

-- Noah (naddis@mindspring.com), May 29, 2002.

Fast film.

-- Douglas Kinnear (douglas.kinnear@colostate.edu), May 29, 2002.

What's a flash ;-) I bought a Metz 32 MZ4 new about 4 years ago. I have not used it once. My tripod however sees a lot of use.

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), May 29, 2002.

Tripod. Carry one in car. Carry very light one when traveling. Almost never use flash.

-- Jim Lennon (jim@jmlennon.com), May 29, 2002.

I recently bought an SF20, which I have now used on one shoot, with relative success. Prior to that, my 283 and an SB-16 were just too big and cumbersome. My revulsion to flash pictures has been turned around by Dave Harvey's adroit mixing of long shutter speeds and flash. Nowif I could only get my pics to look like that...

I have tripods, but I seem to use them only for lens tests and the occasional portrait. The things I like to shoot just don't sit still long enough.

-- Paul Chefurka (paul@chefurka.com), May 29, 2002.

Usually, neither. Avoiding flash & cumbersome tripods (not that there's anything wrong w/them!) was the main reason I got into RF photography. But in a pinch I will use a tabletop tripod, monopod, or regular tripod (in that order of preference). I have never used a flash w/my M2, M3, or any other vintage RFs.

-- Chris Chen (furcafe@yahoo.com), May 29, 2002.

I've used both on occasion with my M6, but much more often tripod than flash.

Joe

-- Joe Buechler (jbuechler@toad.net), May 29, 2002.

Flash - rarely.

The M's haven't been on a tripod once in the year I've been using them - but the M4 with it's self-timer may change that.

The 400 on the SL gets monopod support - sometimes.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), May 29, 2002.

I use flash all the time - in the studio. ;-) But I've only used my SF-20 a couple of times. Outdoors, I seldom use a tripod with the Leica, but will if the circumstances warrant doing so.

M6TTL w/ 35mm 'Cron and studio strobes on Ilford Delta 100, scanned from 8x10 print.

-- Ralph Barker (rbarker@pacbell.net), May 29, 2002.

Neither. I prefer a bean bag coupled with some ingenuity.

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), May 29, 2002.

I have used my SF20 more with my XPan than with the Leica. Maybe it is because of the slow lenses (F/4). But I still use tabletop or normal tripod much more than the flash. I'd guess 95/5.

-- Ilkka (ikuu65@hotmail.com), May 30, 2002.