yOOrek's Rants'n Raves » Camera Support http://blog.yoorek.com The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make heaven of Hell, and a hell of Heaven. Sun, 02 Oct 2011 12:40:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 New possibilities and techniques http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/10/22/new-possibilities-and-techniques/ http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/10/22/new-possibilities-and-techniques/#comments Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:45:31 +0000 yOOrek http://yoorek.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/new-possibilities-and-techniques/ Isn’t it funny that whenever you come across a stunning photo you inevitably find out that you need to get more equipment to be able to to do the same thing. In the case of photo below, a camera that allows you to take long exposures (check), tripod (check), pretty strong ND filters (bummer, need to get those) are required.

I’ve been tossing the idea of getting some good filters around my head for a while. I did some preliminary research into the subject. Effectively it comes down to an entry level Cokin filters or upmarket Singh-rays, which may I add are prohibitively expensive. I’ll give myself more time before I’ll make a move. This photo however motivates me to make this move sooner than later.

BTW check this guy’s photostream as there are more photos like this there.

+

+ Originally uploaded by f l u x

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Without wax,
yOOrek (posting from Flickr™)

]]> http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/10/22/new-possibilities-and-techniques/feed/ 0 Glimpses of Lake Constance (B&W) http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/05/28/glimpses-of-bodensee-bw/ http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/05/28/glimpses-of-bodensee-bw/#comments Wed, 28 May 2008 07:48:41 +0000 yOOrek http://yoorek.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/glimpses-of-bodensee-bw/ Another photo of Lake Constance. This time a black & white version. If you follow my Flickr photostream you have probably guessed by now that I tend to take a lot of photos around Lake Constance. Well, I am there at least three times a week with around two hours to spare. As the area is very picturesque I end up wandering around looking for fresh views and angles, trying out new techniques, lenses and such. This time I wanted to see how the 70-300mm zoom will perform at 300mm with VR turned off. I had he camera mounted on my trusty old Manfrotto 055 tripod, crowned with Markins Q3 ball head in order to eliminate any unwanted camera shake. I am rather happy with how the photo turned out. Despite of some people stating that this lens is soft at 300mm, I find it sharp enough for my needs.

Glimpses of Bodensee

Glimpses of Bodensee Originally uploaded by yOOrek

Original comments by yOOrek:

View of Lake Constance.
Taken with Nikon D50 and Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 @ 300mm. Camera on tripod, VR off, ISO200, 1/250 @ f10. Postprocessing in Lightroom
2008-05-25-1740-54

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Without wax,
yOOrek (posting from Flickr™)

]]> http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/05/28/glimpses-of-bodensee-bw/feed/ 0 Late evening in Switzerland http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/04/06/late-evening-in-switzerland/ http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/04/06/late-evening-in-switzerland/#comments Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:22:32 +0000 yOOrek http://yoorek.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/late-evening-in-switzerland/ I tried a long time, evening exposure for a first time. I metered off the sky as recommended by Understanding Exposure book by Bryan Peterson. I am happy with the way car light trails came out, although they are quite far away. Next time I’ll have to get closer to where the action is. Metering off the sky was the right choice. Seems to have worked. Of course the camera was mounted on a tripod. A really old (@20 years) Manfrotto 055. I tried to take the same photo at 300mm but it came out a little blurred. Don’t know if it was my fault though or tripod’s or both.

Late evening in Switzerland

Late evening in Switzerland Originally uploaded by yOOrek

Original comments by yOOrek:

Manual exposure, Matrix metering metered off the sky as per ‘Understanding Exposure’ book. Tripod.
2008-04-05-2038-41

]]> http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/04/06/late-evening-in-switzerland/feed/ 0 Using Nikon VR Lenses on a tripod/monopod http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/03/31/using-nikon-vr-lenses-on-a-tripod/ http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/03/31/using-nikon-vr-lenses-on-a-tripod/#comments Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:01:02 +0000 yOOrek http://yoorek.wordpress.com/?p=231 Source: Nikon Support:

With the following lenses/cameras VR should be “Off” when the camera is mounted on a tripod and the pan/tilt head is locked down and using a cable release:

  • 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro Nikkor
  • 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor
  • 24-120mm f3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
  • 70-200mm f2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
  • 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR AF Zoom-Nikkor
  • 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
  • Coolpix 8800

With the following lenses/cameras VR should be “On” when the camera is mounted on a tripod and the pan/tilt head is loose (fluid) while using the cameras shutter release button:

  • 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro Nikkor
  • 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor
  • 24-120mm f3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
  • 70-200mm f2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
  • 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR AF Zoom-Nikkor
  • 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
  • Coolpix 8800

Nikon VR technology in the following lenses can detect minute vibrations that emanate from tripod legs. With the following lenses VR can be “On” when the camera is mounted on a tripod for either technique:
200-400mm f4G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor
200mm f2G ED-IF AF-S VR Nikkor
300mm f2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Nikkor
For all lenses VR should be “On” when the camera/lens is used on a monopod.

What is interesting here is the last statement. When using monopod leave the VR turned on.
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Without wax,
yOOrek 

]]> http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/03/31/using-nikon-vr-lenses-on-a-tripod/feed/ 2 Gitzo in Action http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/03/06/gitzo-in-action/ http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/03/06/gitzo-in-action/#comments Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:54:45 +0000 yOOrek http://yoorek.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/gitzo-in-action/ I have to admit that I’ve never seen a tripod being used like this. On top of that what’s going to happen when a bigger wave comes in?

Danny Ellinger 4

Danny Ellinger 4 Originally uploaded by Gitzo S.A.

Original comments by Gitzo S.A.:

Expedition Team – Foto Natura
Copyright Foto Natura
www.fotonatura.nl

]]> http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/03/06/gitzo-in-action/feed/ 1 Monopod Technique – A Nikonians Guide http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/02/22/monopod-technique-a-nikonians-guide/ http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/02/22/monopod-technique-a-nikonians-guide/#comments Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:01:00 +0000 yOOrek http://yoorek.wordpress.com/2008/02/22/monopod-technique-a-nikonians-guide/ Monopod Technique – Nikonians.org:
“If tripods need all the help you can give them to render absolute sharpness in your images, imagine a monopod with a single leg.”

It seems that just using monopods is no guarantee for sharp photographs. You have to couple it with right technique as well, to achieve optimal results.
]]> http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/02/22/monopod-technique-a-nikonians-guide/feed/ 0 On Handholding – a Nikonians Guide http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/02/22/on-handholding-a-nikonians-guide/ http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/02/22/on-handholding-a-nikonians-guide/#comments Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:00:00 +0000 yOOrek http://yoorek.wordpress.com/2008/02/22/on-handholding-a-nikonians-guide/ On Handholding – a Nikonians Guide:
“You may have wondered how come some of your images look ‘soft’ or blurred.
Quite often it is simply due to improper handholding technique.”

Another ‘must read’ article from Nikonians. This time the article covers proper hand holding technique.
]]> http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/02/22/on-handholding-a-nikonians-guide/feed/ 0 What Monopod – Nikonians FAQs http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/02/16/what-monopod-nikonians-faqs/ http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/02/16/what-monopod-nikonians-faqs/#comments Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000 yOOrek http://yoorek.wordpress.com/2008/02/16/what-monopod-nikonians-faqs/ What Monopod – Nikonians FAQ:
“As much as we would like to take our tripods everywhere, it is not always possible. Stands at stadiums, games fields or courts, rinks, race tracks and theaters, are off limits for tripods -or should be, to avoid accidents of people tripping, fights about it, legal disputes, liability claims and/or making a lifetime enemy. It is just not worth it.

For image sharpness, the best next thing after vises is sandbags, then tripods, then monopods, and at the very low end of the scale, handholding. Sandbags, now substituted by beanbags, need a good flat area to rest, like the hood of a car. So unless in a safari that is seldom convenient for most purposes.”

Another mandatory reading on the subject of camera support. ]]> http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/02/16/what-monopod-nikonians-faqs/feed/ 0 What Tripod – Nikonians FAQs http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/02/15/what-tripod-nikonians-faqs/ http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/02/15/what-tripod-nikonians-faqs/#comments Fri, 15 Feb 2008 22:59:00 +0000 yOOrek http://yoorek.wordpress.com/2008/02/15/what-tripod-nikonians-faqs/ What Tripod – Nikonians FAQs:

“For most situations, yes, one really needs a tripod; even accepting that at times it is simply not possible to deploy it or take it with us -like in crowded public places. A tripod not only forces one to slow down and check composition, but also sharpness largely depends on rock steady camera support, so it makes no sense to invest in the best film or digital body and good glass -for the maximum resolution and contrast one can afford- and then not plant it firmly.”

This is mandatory reading for anyone taking photography seriously. ]]> http://blog.yoorek.com/2008/02/15/what-tripod-nikonians-faqs/feed/ 0