Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: AlfSollund on April 06, 2013, 06:20:37 am
-
So how come that so few reviews the stability of the tripod mount? You simply cannot be a serious photographer without at some times using tripods, nor can you be a pixel peeper :D. But surprisingly few if any reviews gives any information about this. It might be that the tripod mount is taken for granted?
After using my loved Leica M9 for a while I was sure that never would find a worse tripod mount on any serious system camera even when replacing the bottom plate with a RSS. I was wrong. The NEX 5n seems to be designed to allow instability. The mount is on a elevated part of the bottom so that no part of the bottom comes in contact with tripod. The NEX-7 has a flat bottom, but given the thin body there is very little support for tripod mounting. The remedy is to purchase 3rd party (Swiss Arc) quick resale plates designed for these, or to use a plate so wide that it can support both camera and lens by adding some additional support under lens.
Any other experiences?
-
I have never experienced any problem in this regard with any of the cameras or lenses I use.
I use a variety of Manfrotto tripods, all of which have one or other of the RC2 heads attached.
On each of my camera bodies (Nikon D800 and D800E currently, but have used D80, D300 and D3s in the past) and on each of my long lenses (up to 600mm), I have an RC2 quick release plate firmly screwed in place on a semi-permanent basis. This set-up gives a completely firm and stable basis for attaching the camera or lens to the tripod.
However, I would agree that if there are some models of camera (e.g. the Leica you mention) that suffer design or manufacturing faults in this regard, then it would be helpful if camera reviews highlighted the problem.
-
As someone who regularly reviews cameras and lenses for different publications, you make an excellent point. So far I haven't encountered the problems you cite with any of the DSLRs I've reviewed. Several years ago I tried to sell the CEO of Nikon on the idea of incorporating the Arca-Swiss dovetail QR plate into their camera design but all I got was a quizzical look.
-
I would think that the 2 cameras you mention are probably expected by their designers not to be used on tripods much.
Cheers,
Bernard
-
As someone who regularly reviews cameras and lenses for different publications, you make an excellent point. So far I haven't encountered the problems you cite with any of the DSLRs I've reviewed. Several years ago I tried to sell the CEO of Nikon on the idea of incorporating the Arca-Swiss dovetail QR plate into their camera design but all I got was a quizzical look.
Thanks. None of my old Nikon SLRs or DSLR hade any problems. It seems to be design flaw for some mirrorless where the stability is sacrificed for compactness. For some no loss, for others as me that consider the new mirrorless as practical digital backs an irritation.
Btw, had a Pana GH-2, the base of this was no problem for tripod work.
-
Yes, a problem. However, if you use Novoflex adapters for other manufacturers lenses on an NEX, Novoflex makes a tripod mount which goes around their adapter and uses an Arca-Swiss type bottom.
-
It probably is just a given that it will work, and some reviewers (given either short deadlines or time with the camera) may never actually mount it on a tripod. That said, most lenses with tripod collars seem to have this reviewed, just not camera bodies.
That said, I agree, it probably is something that should be added to the main set of tests. I can't name one camera that has had an issue, but i haven't used too many cameras to know for sure.
-
Tripod friendliness seems to be addressed mainly by aftermarket modifications, ie, custom brackets. I guess I don't mind that much, because if I use the camera at all, it will have an L bracket on at all times, and if I sell the camera, the custom L bracket is part of the package.
-
Bjorn Rorslett (Norway) has done much testing of lens mounts on tripods (Nikon only) - he has repeatedly pointed out the "flexing" of the newer style mounts (such as the 300mm AFS) while on a tripod...if you do a search you will see his comments and tests (including photos that show vibration and how sharpness was significantly reduced).
http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_tripod_collars.html#top_page
-
Bjorn Rorslett (Norway) has done much testing of lens mounts on tripods (Nikon only) - he has repeatedly pointed out the "flexing" of the newer style mounts (such as the 300mm AFS) while on a tripod...if you do a search you will see his comments and tests (including photos that show vibration and how sharpness was significantly reduced).
http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_tripod_collars.html#top_page
True, but in my opinion, he ruined his site some time ago by converging with something else.
Rob C