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Author Topic: I 'pod  (Read 8621 times)

FrankB

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I 'pod
« on: March 10, 2006, 10:33:25 AM »
Personally I would be pretty lost without my three legged friend. Apart from allowing me long shutter speeds and DoF from front-to-back, it makes me stop and consider my compositions, gives me time to look around the edges of the frame and (let's be honest) gives me just about all the exercise that my unfit form gets!  ::)

I notice that a good number of you have a more spontaneous style of work. So, is your preference to 'pod or handhold?
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Dave_M

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2006, 10:41:02 AM »
I've been using a tripod religiously for about 5 years. It got to the stage where I'd not take the picture if I didn't have the tripod (which is bloody ridiculous). This month I haven't used the beast at all - 35mm and TLR handehld shooting. And its like a burden has been lifted - there is a real freedom about handheld shooting.


Saying that, though, I plan to do a set of new landscapes soon with very long exposures so I'll be needing it again. I may have a holga on it!
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LT

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2006, 11:18:10 AM »
depends Frank!  If I'm using my Bronica SQ then always, and for the very same reason as you.  I sometimes use it for holga (I added my own filter thread to it, as I have an old one) or my Fujipet  if I'm using ND filters and multi exposures ( see below), I never use it from my 35mm rf.

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david b

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2006, 12:24:56 PM »
Does anyone have any experience using a monopod? I'm going on a trip soon and can't take my tripod (which I use rarely anyway) so was thinking about getting one of those collapsible monopods instead - are they very useful?
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FrankB

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2006, 01:42:46 PM »
Quote from: david b on March 10, 2006, 12:24:56 PM
Does anyone have any experience using a monopod? I'm going on a trip soon and can't take my tripod (which I use rarely anyway) so was thinking about getting one of those collapsible monopods instead - are they very useful?

They're okay, giving you an extra couple of stops of stability (three if you can brace it on a wall/tree or something), and they make a half-decent walking pole too, but they can't compete with the real thing.

Leon - Oh, now you're just showing off! Any more of that and you're buying your own ale at Hardraw!  ;D
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Susan B.

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2006, 10:16:15 PM »
Quote from: david b on March 10, 2006, 12:24:56 PM
Does anyone have any experience using a monopod? I'm going on a trip soon and can't take my tripod (which I use rarely anyway) so was thinking about getting one of those collapsible monopods instead - are they very useful?

Yep--wasn't that fond of it. But it does cut down on packing space.

Proabably the only time I ever use a pod is in the studio or if I'm doing long exposures.
Not fond of being tied to anything besides my camera.
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outofcontxt

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2006, 10:37:34 PM »
Have one too. And it's collecting dust as we speak. I'm a handheld kind of guy myself. The only times I really need a tripod is for when I'm doing night shots on the lake shore, for pinhole work or if I'm being adventurous and experimenting with with slow film on top of ND filters on the Holga to get lots of motion blur.
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david b

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #7 on: March 11, 2006, 12:36:54 AM »
Thanks Frank and Susan - good intel.
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FrankB

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2007, 12:18:40 AM »
I thought I'd give this thread a nudge as the topic seems to have cropped up again on the Semi-random Musings ramble.

To 'pod or not to 'pod?!
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astrobeck

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2007, 12:40:42 AM »
I use a pod for all of my astrophotos because my limit to hand holding is only 2 seconds.
The other reason I pack a pod is I'm often hiking out in the middle of deserted nowhere and critters sometimes lurk around.
I consider the tripod a form of self protection in some cases.

Besides, there are bears in my part of the country, so it helps to look like something that would not taste too good.

astrobeck :)



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Skorj

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2007, 03:19:24 AM »
Hmmm... I have one of course, but only seem to use it for night stuff - which is not very often. Too much of a hassle to lug, even if it was carbon (which it isn't). Like Susan, I prefer to carry nothing extra, and most times I carry just what I can fit in my pockets.

Not using one of those mirror slapping, ground shaking, noise making SLR thingies, I seem to be able hand hold down to about 1s... Which, for my messy stuff is just fine I suppose. First one below is a hand-held 1s, the second on a tripod for about 1 minute. Skj.



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david b

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2007, 10:57:12 AM »
And, since this has come bubbling up to the top again, I'll just update my post from almost a year ago - I did get a monopod, carried it around for 3 weeks on my trip ... and, didn't use it once!
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Andrea.

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #12 on: February 18, 2007, 02:46:59 PM »
The tripods I have tend to get taken out ifor a ride n the car and stay there most of the time. I have the rickety wooden tripod for the FKD beast which is really stable as long as you don't touch it, there is no wind and the hat i use for a shutter is not too heavy etc.
Was given a monopod and use that a bit but usually prefer to use a wall or something - if there is one around; i don't carry one - usually!
Having said that, not sure i shouldn't be using one. I can hand hold up to 10secs as it happens. Only thing is the photos are blurred :-)

When i read title of the thread i thought we were going to be discussing music and digital record player things. Ah well, I have not got one of those either.
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Tammy

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #13 on: February 18, 2007, 05:11:29 PM »
I use a tripod for all pictures I might take in a landscape.  Sometimes it doesn't help if I'm having other issues, but most of the time I feel like I haven't really attempted properly if I don't have my tripod.  Landscape stuff is the only time I use relatively slower films, like slides, or 100 speed, and use a polarizer or other filtration.  So, I feel I have to use a tripod.  And, I usually am using a pinhole, or a view camera when I do landscapes.  Usually...

But, having said that, I loathe them.  When I take pictures on strolls or of my kids, or much anything other than landscapes using med format or 35 mm,  I use higher speed films and never bother with a tripod.  I don't have a carbon fancy thing either.  Also, without a tripod,  I am not very steady, so I still get a lot of blurred photos if I'm  pushing the limits with the shutter speeds.
« Last Edit: February 18, 2007, 05:13:29 PM by Tammy »
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Francois

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #14 on: February 18, 2007, 05:36:33 PM »
I've had a monopod for somewhere close to the last 15 years... and never used it much.
When I bought it, I too tought it would be the next greatest thing...
I've found a few things I don't like much about them. First, you're stuck in landscape position as mine doesn't have a ball head...
Second, instead of shaking up and down, I find it just makes my camera sway left to right :)
I know all the sports and fashion photographers swear by them... but I don't find it all that great (though it would be great for just holding up a brick ;) )
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Phil Bebbington

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #15 on: February 18, 2007, 07:00:27 PM »
I had a cheap and nasty one for years which I never used so a while ago convinced my lack of use was due to the crappiness of the tripod I bought another. A thing of beauty it really is...have I used it? Not on your life! What I lose in stability I gain in mobility....if I can't take the shot then it was never meant to be...I move on.
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dave miller

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #16 on: February 18, 2007, 07:13:58 PM »
Well, I’m the odd one out in more ways than one, for I use a tripod for the majority of my pictures. Having said that I would not put my folder on it, for my idea of that camera is something to carry just in case I come across something worth snapping. Some years ago I brought a monopod called a camcane. It’s a two part monopod that when collapsed forms a ball-headed walking stick. The camera has to be fitted with a rubber cup that rests on the ball-head of the cane; very simple and very effective. As my “walking camera is a 6x6 the landscape only mode is not a problem.
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Dave

artpunk

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #17 on: February 19, 2007, 09:58:27 AM »
I was given a Velbond "Sherpa" by my lovely wife last year and I use it for night shots/long exposures with my 600 SE and a couple of my other cameras, I was surprised at how often I have used it since I was given it. I do like to be able to handhold most of the time, though...I'm starting to learn how to travel light...
 

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Theresa

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #18 on: February 20, 2007, 10:15:15 PM »
I only pod for pinhole shots.  and then, only one of those teenytiny ones that will fit in a back pocket.  I usually prefer to see what will happen with the bulb/handheld combo on long exposures.


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Ailsa

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #19 on: February 21, 2007, 01:09:28 PM »
I have a very nice Manfrotto tripod. Fortunately it's carbon fibre, as I'd hate my long-suffering husband to develop back problems as a result of carrying anything heavier while I wander around taking all my handheld shots...  ;)
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FrankB

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #20 on: February 21, 2007, 01:30:05 PM »
I'm strangely reminded of one of my brothers, who would take his wife on camping trips so that he'd have something soft to lie on...   :)
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al

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Re: I 'pod
« Reply #21 on: February 21, 2007, 01:33:33 PM »
Another vote for those mini tripods.  Not the bendy legs ones though, they're awful.  Something like this, with natty telescopic legs:
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1&products_id=99652

Don't often use it but it's small enough to stick in a pocket just in case, has proved invaluable a few times with low light/indoor shots.  For the price, a must-have !

I have a couple of larger tripods which spend a lot of time gathering dust !
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