Tripods and me

[danico55]

I want to talk about tripods in this thread. First of all, I hate using a tripod, I find it too limiting in movement. I would rather risk taking a photo by hand using the different camera settings than being restricted in my moves by a tripod. For night pictures, I have discovered lately that I could get a good shot with a P mode with the highest ISO number I can on my camera (Fuji S5200) It doesnt always work but sometimes it gives surprising results. Any comment?

[RichardTaylor]

Depends on your style of photography.
For "street" shooting I am quite happy to shoot hand held with an image stabilised lens at high ISO and wide apertures for that "gritty (read grain) look. Quite often I will convert them to B&W

Example (1)


Camera: Canon EOS 5D
Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

However for those architectural/scene type shots a tripod works best for me as I can shoot at low ISO and medium apertures and have a much better lower noise/sharp photograph.

Example (2)

Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 15
Aperture: f/14.0
Focal Length: 12 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

[Raoul Isidro]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

Depends on your style of photography.
For "street" shooting I am quite happy to shoot hand held with an image stabilised lens at high ISO and wide apertures for that "gritty (read grain) look. Quite often I will convert them to B&W

Example (1)


Camera: Canon EOS 5D
Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

However for those architectural/scene type shots a tripod works best for me as I can shoot at low ISO and medium apertures and have a much better low nose/sharp photograph.

Example (2)

Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 15
Aperture: f/14.0
Focal Length: 12 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

The B&W looks like The Rocks and the second one looks like the western steps of the OH looking out to CQ!
Noyce!

[Raoul Isidro]

Tripods and monopods have their important uses. If without one, I usually brace the camera against a solid structure rather than my body because the pulse and breathing contributes to camera shake. A gorilla Pod is a nice thing to have when you want to take a picture of yourself. Cheers!

[RichardTaylor]

Thanks Noyce.
You are correct about the opera house, however the B&W is in Paris (13th Arr). I tripod wasn't used as I was on vacation without a tripod.

[daft_biker]

A tripod is essential for some things unless you want fuzzy results. I like to get the best quality I can so have no hesitation in using one when I have to. I can't remember the last time I shot a landscape on a DSLR and didn't use a tripod...mirror lockup and a remote release too.

Having said that I never used to like using tripods....but then I got a geared head and now using a tripod is a pleasure rather than an excercise in frustration.

Depends on the image qualities you're after....I don't like noise or grain. I like being able to pixel peep to critique technique.

[OsmosisStudios]

Tripods can be a burden, but they needn't be. I know that if I go out with a tripod, it's going to be a very slow, relaxing time out shooting, and i make it as such. I pack some tea or another drink, maybe a snack. I take my time. Tripods arent something you use in haste.

[sk66]

I don't like tripods. So much so that I got to where I would even carry my D300 with 500mm F/4.5 lens combo on 2 straps (one over each shoulder) rather than attached to a tripod. But that is because I do most of my photography while walking...I don't generally "set up" somewhere. And most of my subjects are not stationary.

BUT, I have missed quite a few shots due to not having a tripod....It's a wash. I'm getting to the point where I carry one if any of the gear I'm carrying or the shooting conditions might benefit from having it. (i.e. Night, Macro, Super Zoom, etc). And there are times I know I'm going to need one and it's part of the primary rig. (i.e. Slow Zoom/poor light, 2x converters, Sports, etc)
If it's questionable I might take a monopod instead, or just go without. Generally, if I come across a subject that will greatly benefit from having a tripod, it will probably be there for me to come back to another time.