Camera Gear Advice

[tjavery]

Man tj, this is like reading a research paper!  I like it!  It appears there is no limit to the amount of accessories you can purchase.

Thanks for all the advice.  Just what I needed!

No problem. But a warning - you're headed down the slippery slope The journey will melt your credit card and burn up your wallet 

[Casa Grande]

TJ has given sound advice, but I'll have to say that more money doesn't mean 'better.' Keep it simple here.. you are doing nothing more than holding a camera in place.  That is all.  Being as I hike with my photo gear about 90% of the time, weight/bulk is a huge factor for me, but may not be for some.  Splayed legs, ball head, invertible head, etc. are all great features, but do you need them?  Maybe, maybe not. 

[tjavery]

TJ has given sound advice, but I'll have to say that more money doesn't mean 'better.' Keep it simple here.. you are doing nothing more than holding a camera in place.  That is all.  Being as I hike with my photo gear about 90% of the time, weight/bulk is a huge factor for me, but may not be for some.  Splayed legs, ball head, invertible head, etc. are all great features, but do you need them?  Maybe, maybe not. 

I understand your perspective, and I do agree that keeping it simple is the way to go.

I should state that the advice I've given comes from a heavy tripod user. 99% of the time, my camera is on the tripod. I rely on it heavily. So fussy little details like leg locks become an issue for me.

You can most definitely get by and function in the field with less features. I've done it before. As long as you can make a solid connection between the camera and the ground, then you're good.

[Roy]

Man tj, this is like reading a research paper!  I like it!  It appears there is no limit to the amount of accessories you can purchase.

Thanks for all the advice.  Just what I needed!

No problem. But a warning - you're headed down the slippery slope The journey will melt your credit card and burn up your wallet 

No doubt about it.  After watching all those pros in action at Bosque del Apache, I decided to spring for a new carbon fiber tripod with a gimbal head (you don't want to know).  I order my stuff on line, usually from bhphotovideo.com.  You'd probably save some money by ordering from them.     Warning:  they carry EVERYTHING;  browsing their web site can not only melt your credit card, but empty your bank account, and lead to forclosures and even divorce.   

[Casa Grande]

As long as you can make a solid connection between the camera and the ground, then you're good.

well said! 

[randell]

Warning:  they carry EVERYTHING;  browsing their web site can not only melt your credit card, but empty your bank account, and lead to forclosures and even divorce.   

Yes, this is another reason I have waited so long to get an SLR.  I don't plan to buy more tripod than I need.  I just wanted to see what different people had to say about tripods to collect information.  I have a tripod I've used with my point and shoot for years but it is a little too low end (flimsy, hard to work with).  It was really just the first thing I saw when I walked in the store several years ago. 

I'm sure I will find the need for another tripod down the road, just as I keep finding the need for extra camping gear!

[Roy]

Thsi may be overkill, but it'll support everything up to camera+500mm lens+flash.  You wouldn't need anything else for a good long time.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/353324-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto__3021BPRO_Tripod_Black_with.html

BTW, what make/model are you looking at?

[badknees]

Thsi may be overkill, but it'll support everything up to camera+500mm lens+flash.  You wouldn't need anything else for a good long time.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/353324-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto__3021BPRO_Tripod_Black_with.html

BTW, what make/model are you looking at?

Almost 7 lbs! Darn near a gallon of water. My avatar says "Badkness", for a reason. Looks like a great piece of gear, but my knees would disagree.

[xseption]

Mountains, stars, roadrunners, cactus, whatever I see that I want a photo of.  Mainly landscapes, though.

It would be interesting to see how you would photograph a roadrunner using a tripod ...

My first tripod was a WalMart special and it serviced me okay. A lot of things I could not do, but I did not know until I was out in the field trying to use it. You might consider a cheaper version until you understand what you are looking for and understanding generally occurs out in the field.

I use (and carry) a heavy duty tripod to withstand the wind, to keep my photos from getting blurry especially when I use a very small aperture (to capture more detail). I might have to get a lighter yet as sturdy version to hike the Chisos mountains because it is a beast to carry.

The splayed legs that TJ talked about has been very useful to get three points of contact especially on uneven ground (like Enchanted Rock and Mount Scott) and in tight places.

~ edd

PS I highly recommend B&H photo as well. Great service and prices has been my experience.

[randell]

BTW, what make/model are you looking at?

Make/Model of tripod or camera?  I haven't decide on a tripod yet.  I have Nikon D80 with a 18-135mm lens. 

The only accessories I have purchased so far is a circular polarizer filter (Nikon) and an NC filter (Nikon) for when I am not using the polarizer (I considered these the bare necessities).  Then there is the infrared remote (to use w/the tripod and for family photos), couple of spare battery packs and bag.  I doubt I'll get any other lenses for a while as I have spent all of my happy money for now.  I don't really need an external flash.  I take photos of my kids around the house but I really dislike using flash and I mostly enjoy photographing the outdoors, like when I go to BIBE next month!

Thanks to tjavery, I am now eying that anglefinder, but hopefully I can resist for now.

[tjavery]

Thanks to tjavery, I am now eying that anglefinder, but hopefully I can resist for now.

  I want you to spend money.... 

Seriously, I really love using one. Sure, it's one more thing to buy, keep maintained, and haul into the field. But for me, there's a bit of magic when I use it. It makes it easier to tune out distractions and focus entirely on the scene at hand - the scene that will be captured when you hit the shutter.

Maybe it's because my head isn't facing the scene that I'm shooting. Or maybe it's because I don't have to press my sweaty face against the back of the camera. Whatever it is, it works for me.

[Doc Savage]

Lots of good info here. Having operated a Commercial/Portrait studio for a while and using cameras for years before that, I've had the opportunity to use lots of different camera supports (tripods are only one option). I've found that dealing with tripods can be alot like dealing with cameras (or cars), each person has different needs, expectations, and desires (as well as bucks). For a good overall quality tripod, Bogen has a pretty good offering. I've used lots of different Bogen products, and for the most part they have been excellent (did have one bad tripod head once). My "Best" tripod I ever had was the behemoth Majestic that I used with my view camera. You could mount a Mack truck on that thing and hold it solid (of course it weighed about 30 lbs or better). I found that when doing location shoots with both medium and large format, I could mount my Bogen head on the Majestic head and save the weight of lugging around a second tripod. However as someone said, the best tripod is the one that supplies a solid connection between camera and ground. Lots of "Pros" for studio even make their own camera stands using conduit and speed rail connectors. Cheap and functional. I've found that for just lugging around, the less expensive Slik and Velbron have been more than adequate.

Personally, I don't use a tripod much these days (only us a dSLR for personal stuff now). If you have good technique and control, you can handhold pretty well. I've found that telephone posts and rocks work well to prop up against and steady a shot. Last times I've used a tripod were to take Christmas light pictures, and for doing Panos of my property. After having been tied to the tripod as much as I was in the studio, hand holding is a joy.

Robert

[xseption]

I don't really need an external flash.  I take photos of my kids around the house but I really dislike using flash and I mostly enjoy photographing the outdoors, like when I go to BIBE next month!

Thanks to tjavery, I am now eying that anglefinder, but hopefully I can resist for now.

I did not think I needed one until I rented one. I found it quite useful, then I attended a external flash seminar and I find that the on-camera flash is sufficient for around the house because my camera (yours, too) provides a lot of control of the amount of light emitted.

Now that I "somewhat" know how to use an external flash, I have a larger range of opportunities I can take advantage of. You can get the flash to emit just enough light so that you don't get that bright, bland light and very dark background, and you do get enough light to make the picture.

 ~ edd

PS I have been eyeing that angle finder for a few months myself ...

[bdann]

Good thread Randell...
I recently picked up a DSLR myself, also now eyeing a tripod upgrade.  I've got two wal-mart tripods that I've never been happy with and another semi-permanently borrowed tripod (from my Dad) that isn't any better.  So, from that experience, I can say don't go that route.  

I like the Slik model David posted, inexpensive and light weight...  B&H says it's 1.9lbs.  

[randell]

Thanks to tjavery, I am now eying that anglefinder, but hopefully I can resist for now.

Seriously, I really love using one.

I have had three point and shoot cameras with the fold out LCD screen and I really love that feature.  The anglefinder would bring some of that functionality back for me.  I could also get a shorter tripod and not have to find a tripod that matches my 74" of height.