Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Digital Cameras & Shooting Techniques => Topic started by: on February 15, 2004, 10:09:24 pm

Title: Holding a camera
Post by: on February 15, 2004, 10:09:24 pm
I note several comments here and on dpreview about the A1 being "hard to hold".    I am a poor photographer compared to people here, but  I have I have some respectful suggestions regarding holding cameras -

See this link to see the equipment described:

http://www.pbase.com/willie408 (http://www.pbase.com/willie408)  

Click on the in box to see all images; I don't understand pbase yet.

I never hold a camera without a grip - many, many years now.

The first grip is the "handle' - an idea borrowed from its inventor, a pro named W Eugene Smith with Life back in the 40s/50s.   Mine is drilled tubing because I was involved with a modified sports car at the time - "tuning it with a drill", it was called.  (We got the car, starting with an MGTD, down to 1460 lbs wet).  See last image for grip alone.

However a sawed off broomstick with a 1/4 bolt and washer installed with epoxy works just as well.   Note the length is particular to the user because it must fit both in the vertical and horizontal position.  It functions as a lever to reduce camera motion.   When not shooting it can be used (non-violently) as a carrying handle.

Since discovering the SLIK MiniPro tripod,  I have not used the handle.  I also enclose shots of the MiniPro in use both as a chest brace and used as I do any chance I get - to a door, wall, car, tree, whatever.   Works great and well worth $35 US.   I removed the rivet that prevents the centerpost from coming all the way out, and to pack it I reverse the centerpost - the whole thing including ball head, folds to 3 x 6 inches.

When I got my first digital camera - a Pro90 IS - testing revealed camera motion a major problem over about 200 mm zoom (35mmEqv) - despite the IS.  (I have pretty steady hands but 1/6 to 1/8 is not unusual with the Pro90 in night ambient indoor light).  So I found the SLIK MiniPro.

Note - I uploaded the drilled handle last - I had forgotten it - and noticed that my attempt to use white balance off the paper plate evidently resulted in a tannish color cast - the plate probably has "whiteners" in it.  So in this very last shot I used the crumpled facerag for white balance - this is what they should all have had; not worth the trouble to change, tho...

Strongly recommend the SLIK MiniPro.  With a digicam you can brace it to your chest or belly or knee (if half kneeling) and use the swiveling LCD...