Camera Gear Advice

[Roy]

One other possibility is a monopod.  It can double as a walking stick and you can mount a medium size ball head on it. 

If you're planning on low light pics,  etc.,  make sure you know how to use the mirror lock up.  Doesn't matter how you've got your camera mounted if it  starts vibrating when that mirror slaps against the frame.

[xseption]

If you're planning on low light pics,  etc.,  make sure you know how to use the mirror lock up.  Doesn't matter how you've got your camera mounted if it  starts vibrating when that mirror slaps against the frame.

How essential is that? I have heard about it, but never experienced problems caused by the slapping mirror. Any particular camera settings in which you deem it necessary?

thanks!

~ edd

[Roy]

You may not notice it but it's there, it shows up more with long lenses.  Try this: put your longest lens on your camera and mount it on a tripod.  Use your remote release.  Don't touch the camera but keep your eye close enough to the viewfinder to see what happens through the lens.  Trip the shutter and watch what happens.
Vibration from mirror slap begins internally and works differently than normal camera shake;  it's not related to slow shutter speeds, etc.  IMO, it's more of a problem when you've got the camera mounted on a tripod.  When you're holding the camera in your big ol' meaty paws, it damps down the vibration.  When the camera is perched on top of a tripod, I sometimes think you even get a bit of harmonic vibration going.

[badknees]

Mirror slap is an issue only at slow shutter speeds, however your biggest sharpness problem with any lens is shutter speed. Compared to motion blur from NOT using a tripod, shutter slap is negligible.

[tjavery]

I think mirror lock-up is a good feature (I use it frequently when using a tripod), but it's not necessary all the time.  I believe it's shutter speeds around 1 sec. up to 1/30 sec. or so (depending on focal length; the longer the lens, the worse the effect can be) that are the most affected.

For those of you not familiar with this feature, most DSLR's have it. Canon DSLR's have it buried deep in the custom menus.

Most people advise to use a cable release to trip the shutter when using mirror lock up. You press the button on the remote once to flip the mirror up, wait for a few seconds to let vibrations dissipate, and then hit the button again to trip the shutter.

You can also employ the timer instead of using a cable release. Usually in that mode, the mirror pops up when you hit the shutter button on the camera, the timer takes over (usually 2 seconds), and then the shutter is automatically tripped. The 2 second pause between mirror pop-up and shutter release allows vibrations caused by mirror-slap to die down.

[bdann]

Fortunately for Randell, Nikon has made the decision easy for him as mirror lockup is not available on the D80 (except for sensor cleaning purposes).    

[badknees]

For the engineer in the photographer:

http://aaronlinsdau.com/gear/articles/d200_vibration.html

[bdann]

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.

TJ - Is your right-angle finder a Canon accessory or 3rd party? 

[Roy]

For the engineer in the photographer:

http://aaronlinsdau.com/gear/articles/d200_vibration.html

Interesting article, but I don't agree with the guy.  Mirror slap produces internal vibration in indiviual camera copmponents and frame as well as movement in the entire camera/lens assembly.  The internal vibration is a different kind of "shake" than movement produced by unsteady hands or tripod, or depressing the shutter button.  He hits all around it, then basically just blows off the dicrepancy he's observed but can't explain.
Faster shutter speeds minimize the blur because the image is recorded so quickly that the camera can't vibrate as many times, and longer shutter speeds minimize the blur because the majority of the image is recorded after the vibration has stopped;  he got that right.  But the vibration is always present unless you use some type of delay or mirror lock;  that's one reason you have to use sharpening tools so often when processing. 
Anyway, , that's my $.02. 

[tjavery]

TJ - Is your right-angle finder a Canon accessory or 3rd party? 

Mine is the Minolta Anglefinder VN, and it fits Canon just fine. I think mine was about $110 - 120 when I got it, but I don't think you can buy them anymore. I just searched B&H and Adorama, and they do not have a listing anymore.

Hoodman recently produced a generic anglefinder that fits different cameras. I've not tried this one or even seen it in person, but it's priced about the same as the Minolta was.

Here's a listing of all the angled viewfinders at B&H:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/301/Angle_Finders_Magnifiers.html

[randell]

Fortunately for Randell, Nikon has made the decision easy for him as mirror lockup is not available on the D80 (except for sensor cleaning purposes).    

Damn, now I have to go upgrade my camera ALREADY!

[STARLITDARKNESS3]

seems that xseption managed to get a few posts in anyway randell.... lol.. jk xseption   

[xseption]

seems that xseption managed to get a few posts in anyway randell.... lol.. jk xseption   

At least I was trying to cover ground not covered previously ... I still would like to see a photo of a roadrunner using a tripod ... probably needs a panning head!

[STARLITDARKNESS3]

 I still would like to see a photo of a roadrunner using a tripod ... probably needs a panning head!

Roadrunners don't use tripods......  do they??     

[chisos_muse]

seems that xseption managed to get a few posts in anyway randell.... lol.. jk xseption   

At least I was trying to cover ground not covered previously ... I still would like to see a photo of a roadrunner using a tripod ... probably needs a panning head!

I used my "Jonnypod" to capture this lil fella:




He liked the way my breakfast smelled and hung around a bit. I didn't give him any, as he prefers Lizards For Lunch
(how I do that hyperlink thingy?) (thank you global moderator)