jackperk Posted January 31, 2010 Share #1 Posted January 31, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Curious how many of you M9 veterans -- or M8 -- ever use a tripod or, as Michael Reichmann suggested, a monopod to steady the camera for low light dawn/dusk shots? If so, would you mind sharing the experience and equipment? Thanks. Jack Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 31, 2010 Posted January 31, 2010 Hi jackperk, Take a look here Tripod? Monopod? Nothing?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Bo_Lorentzen Posted January 31, 2010 Share #2 Posted January 31, 2010 Monopod, tripod both carbon, Like my mountaineer with a novoflex 30 ball for night, sunset, sunrise and product shots, use regular cable release. monopod for hiking and dusk shots. Honestly I prefer shooting hand-held, but I feel a tripod helps me compose. still other than commercial work, I rarely mount a camera unless light demands so. but once its mounted, I tend to compose better. ha ha. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted January 31, 2010 Share #3 Posted January 31, 2010 Stringpod. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted January 31, 2010 Share #4 Posted January 31, 2010 Nothing. I have a HAMA mini-tripod stuffed into the bag for self-timer pics, that is only because I am slower than the speed of light so I need a delay to get into one of my own pictures. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted January 31, 2010 Share #5 Posted January 31, 2010 Bill, +1 on the stringpod..! what a great concept.! There are a difference though, mentally once a camera get mounted, we can step back, scratch our heads and make hand gestures. and generally re-thing composition. I find this to be a interesting mental too. Along the same line of shooting on a hassleblad screen or the rolleyflex and 4x5, once the image is rotated flipped etc, we are no longer "looking" at it, but rather looking at a composition of shapes. In art classes we used to flip a piece on the light table to discuss what was not working and once it is flipped over, we get away from it as it was created. I still do the same with magazine ad's - I grap the printed proof from the designer and turn it upside down or flip it over against their computer screen, much to the dismay of the girls, but it lets me immediately see how the weight of graphic elements work together, text blocks become graphic shapes when we can not read them. Anyway... having coffee, reading the paper, and watching the laptop on the table, causes me to be much long-winded.. still I love discussing art tools and how to use them. such as tripods, if, when and why. so bear with me. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackperk Posted January 31, 2010 Author Share #6 Posted January 31, 2010 Stringpod???? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted January 31, 2010 Share #7 Posted January 31, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Jack, In its simplest incarnation, its a piece of string, tie a loop in each end, stick your camera lens through the one end and a foot through the other end, now brace arms, elbows etc as best you can, push camera against forhead etc.. and you have a surprisingly effective stable camera. the fixed string fixes the camera movement and you push against it by lifting, but the string remove vibrations very successfully. You can also purchase fancier versions with a tripod screw attached to a fine string with a commercial grade loop for the foot. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_R Posted February 1, 2010 Share #8 Posted February 1, 2010 Carbon TrekPod (XL) and regular, quite light tripod. Better composition, low light, landscape & architecture. I prefer to use light, flexible monopod or tripod than increase ISO! It is very easy and quick - if you got used to. And finally I must create my stringpod too, what I plan since long time... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
likalar Posted February 1, 2010 Share #9 Posted February 1, 2010 Tripod once in a great while (I never have it with me when I need it, of course). The Leica tabletop tripod is always with me if I take a bag of stuff (fairly often), and gets used a fair amount (3 times in the last 6 weeks). The stringpod is a great idea, but have never used one (The Hermes Edition Woven Ostrich Stringpod is on back order, but worth the wait ;-). If your vehicle is usually nearby, I suggest an understuffed sandbag be kept in the trunk. This can be made from sand (or rice, imported is best) in a double layer of Zip-lok bags. Great for a steady shot from the car roof, ground, etc. Larry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpleica Posted February 1, 2010 Share #10 Posted February 1, 2010 I shoot a lot at night, especially under moonlight (this week's full moon was exceptionally bright), and using a tripod - just a regular, no frills but stable, Calumet tripod. And I tend to misplace my cable release so much that I most often just set the M9 up with a 2 second delay on the self-timer and that works fine most of the time, except when cars are dodging in and out of the frame at random. I am stunned by the ability of the M9 to capture detail at night in what looks like empty dark space to my eyes. Having come from a film background, it's quite amazing what the sensor can pick up. I too would like to hear other's suggestions for a light weight and highly extendable tripod - as I am 6' 5" in height, and it would be nice to capture scenes at my eye level. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
batmobile Posted February 1, 2010 Share #11 Posted February 1, 2010 I use a monpod a fair amount with my Mamiya 7 to great effect at dawn dusk not too long ago. Gave me 1-2 more stops. When not in use, it resided down the side of my belt and I hardly knew it was there. V handy! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted February 1, 2010 Share #12 Posted February 1, 2010 I use sling support, sniper rifle style. This is remarkably effective. It's always available, and it takes just a couple of seconds to get into it. The old man from the Mauser Age Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted February 1, 2010 Share #13 Posted February 1, 2010 I use a tripod a lot of the time when doing landscape. Its like Bo says, you can mount the camera on it and then have a walk around, have a think, wait for the light, bracket exposures, make long exposures, in fact all the things a landscape photographer may want to do. So I have two tripods, carbon Manfrotto with hydrostatic head for main use, and a trekking tripod, a Feisol Traveller, for walking longer distances with. The Feisol is ultra light but sturdy when set up, but with it having four extensions it takes longer to set up and I don't like twist locks as much as snap locks. In either case though once the tripod is opened up I tend to put it over my shoulder and walk around with the camera mounted on it all ready to set down again and test the photographic potential. I did have a bit of a laugh at the Reichmann article, its almost like he wants to carry the street shooting ethos into the landscape with him. And often it can work by going lightly equipped and remaining flexible. But I don't have the same thoughts in my head when making landscape photographs as I do when shooting people, so a different pace and more contemplation makes a tripod an ideal companion. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted February 1, 2010 Share #14 Posted February 1, 2010 When I don't have to carry it far I use a spiked Gitzo 1548 (modified to reach over 2m height) +RRS BH55 simply because I own it and its thoroughly stable! If I have to carry a support far I use a Gitzo 1228 + RRS BH25, which is fairly light and is stable on firm ground. Alternatively I use trees, rocks walls (plenty of drystone here in Wales), rucksack, clothes, or anything else that come to hand. I also sometimes use an Overxposed plate with a spacer and BH25 but whilst thoroughly stable and light this is limited as its very low (handy on walls, trees -can be tied on), etc.. IMHO monopods tend to reduce motion rather than anything else so I find their usefulness somewhat limited. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted February 1, 2010 Share #15 Posted February 1, 2010 Handheld - I have a monopod and a tripod, and they stay firmly at home. I often lean my head against tree / rock / earth and then camera against head for steadiness. Seems to work! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicoleica Posted February 1, 2010 Share #16 Posted February 1, 2010 Normally hand-held, or whatever additional support as may be available. But I do carry a combination monopod/walking stick in the car, just in case the need arises. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted February 1, 2010 Share #17 Posted February 1, 2010 I have a couple of Gitzo tripods (1st version Basalt), which haven't seen much use for a while. The only thing I now carry in my bag is a Gorillapod - very light and versatile if needed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted February 1, 2010 Share #18 Posted February 1, 2010 >> Bill >>Lars I can imagine how it works, but for better understanding: could you please post a picture with a stringpod in action ? Thx. Best GEORG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted February 1, 2010 Share #19 Posted February 1, 2010 This is how the sniper offhand technique applies to cameras: • Wear the camera diagonally or 'bandolier style' with the strap over your right shoulder and the camera to the left. • Raise the camera to nearly shooting position with your right hand. • Raise your left hand outside the strap ... • ... bring it inside the strap from above/outside ... • ... and outside again UNDER the strap, so that the strap is now wound around your left lower arm just 'above' ('inside', medially to) the wrist. • Now grip the camera with the left hand too, shrug your shoulders a bit and the strap is now a snug fit over your right shoulder, behind your back, around your flank and your arm, and it anchors the camera very steadily. You will have to adjust the strap of course so that it will fit your body and the clothes you usually wear. But that length will make for comfortable and secure carry too. Even if you sometimes carry the camera just around your neck, this length will usually make the basplate hover about two fingers above your belt buckle. This technique is great for slow speeds and also for long lenses. It is about as effective as a monopod. The old man from the Mauser Age Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted February 1, 2010 Share #20 Posted February 1, 2010 >> Bill >>Lars I can imagine how it works, but for better understanding: could you please post a picture with a stringpod in action ? Thx. Best GEORG Hi Georg, I don't have a photo handy, but let me try to describe my own stringpod. it is a length of braided nylon cord, of the sort that you can buy from any hardware store. At one end I have fastened an eye-bolt with a 1/4'' thread. I shortened that thread myself with a hacksaw, and added a screw-on plate from an old desktop tripod. it therefore functions just like a small tripod head. The bolt is secured with a noose-type knot (I was thrown out of the Boy Scouts for demanding money with menaces long ago, so I don't know if the knot has a name) which holds it very securely. On the other end I have tied another loop, this time adjustable. The reason for having a loop is twofold. First, you can put your foot through it, second you can use it to shorten the length of the stringpod, for example if you are down on one knee. To use is very simple. Attach the stringpod to the bottom of the camera as you would a mini-tripod - the string just hangs down. Step on the end, or put your foot in the loop, and pull UP with the camera - the result is a firm and stable "support" that works by pulling up instead of pushing down. I like it because I hate to be encumbered by tripods, monopods and the like when I am out and about. It weighs nothing, fits in a pocket and provides just a little extra stability when needed. I hope this more detailed description helps. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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