Tripods. Dave Fujii April 5, Tripods

Transcription

1 Tripods Dave Fujii April 5, 2017 Tripods 1

2 Agenda What Do the Experts Say About Tripods? Types of Heads Quick Release Systems Tripod Performance Factors Stability Test 2

3 Agenda What Do the Experts Say About Tripods? Types of Heads Quick Release Systems Tripod Performance Factors Stability Test 3

4 What Do the Experts Say About Tripods? Ken Rockwell: Don't use a tripod if you can help it. Having to carry one is a pain and thus cripples creativity. Sadly many people still look like idiots using tripods with digital cameras in daylight. These guys are throwbacks to the 1950s, or the early 2000s. It's a common misconception among photo teachers and amateurs that tripods are good, although no one really knows why. I guess some people just associate tripods with serious photography. Only use a tripod for still subjects either at night or when you need long shutter speeds of about 1/60 or slower. 4

5 What Do the Experts Say About Tripods?, Cont d Thom Hogan: You're wasting money on expensive optics if you fail to give your camera and lens a stable platform. You can spend $1700 to buy a good tripod and head, or you can spend $1000 and do the same thing. Action Individual Cost Running Total 1) Buy a low cost tripod $75 $75 2) Buy a heftier head/ tripod combo $125 $200 Result Holds the camera No more breakage Remaining Issue Legs get bent, plastic pieces break, instability causes blurry photos Camera position is hard to adjust, and position sags, blurry telephoto photos 3)Try various budget tripod heads $50, $75, $125, $200, + QR plates $700 Usability improvement, more stable Not as solid as needed, and the rig is getting heavy 4) Try set of robust carbon fiber legs $550 $1,250 Incrementally more stable Now it s clear that the head is the remaining stability problem. 5 5) Buy a robust ball head $450 head plus plates $1,700 Finally, a tripod that satisfies for decades Go spend money on other stuff...

6 When To Use Tripods Tripods are a near must for taking photos with you in it! Use for long exposure shots Useful to support big glass Very useful for multiple shots to be combined for HDR processing Image by Keiko Fujii 6

7 When To Use Tripods, Cont d A near must for taking photos with you in it! Use for long exposure shots Useful to support large cameras and lenses Useful for multiple shots to be combined for HDR processing 7

8 When To Use Tripods, Cont d A near must for taking photos with you in it! Use for long exposure shots Useful to support large cameras and lenses Useful for multiple shots to be combined for HDR processing 8

9 When To Use Tripods, Cont d A near must for taking photos with you in it! Use for long exposure shots Useful to support large cameras and lenses Useful for multiple bracketed shots to be combined in HDR processing 9

10 Agenda What Do the Experts Say About Tripods? Types of Heads Quick Release Systems Tripod Performance Factors Stability Test 10

11 Types of Heads Ballhead Ballheads work by securing the camera to a ball captured in a socket, which can move in all directions. Tension on the ball via a knob allows the ball to move or be locked into position. Advantages of ballheads : Quick to do positioning Compact Disadvantages: More difficult to make precise adjustments Every time you unlock that ball, all directions are free to change (whereas, with a tilt/pan head, you can adjust one direction at a time). 11

12 Types of Heads, Tilt/Pan Head Tilt/Pan Heads work by controlling two hinges: one adjusts vertical, and the other adjusts the horizontal. A knob controls pan angle. Advantage of a tilt/pan head is that they give you precise control of the camera s position, one axis at a time. Disadvantages: Takes longer to adjust Physically larger Easier to catch on stray objects (like branches during a hike) 12

13 Types of Heads Gimbal Head 13 Gimbal Heads support the camera/lens system such that the system moves about its center of mass. Advantages: Supports the camera and lens effortlessly, freeing the photographer to concentrate on quick repositioning and shooting. Especially helpful with large lenses. Disadvantages: Physically large/bulky Good ones are expensive -- general design requires high end materials and high precision manufacturing

14 Types of Heads -- Other Grip Action Ball Head Arca Swiss Cube Fluid Head 14

15 Agenda What Do the Experts Say About Tripods? Types of Heads Quick Release Systems Tripod Performance Factors Stability Test 15

16 Quick Release Systems Manfrotto RC2 w/ 200PL-14 Plate Acra-Swiss Standard 16 Direct mount (no plate)

17 Agenda What Do the Experts Say About Tripods? Types of Heads Quick Release Systems Tripod Performance Factors Stability Test 17

18 Tripod Performance Factors Stability 18

19 Expensive Stability Carbon Fiber More leg sections Separate Leg set / Head Aluminum Fewer leg sections All in one Economical 19

20 More Stable Stability Carbon Fiber Fewer leg sections Greater diameter / Heavier duty Aluminum More leg sections Smaller diameter / Lighter duty Less Stable 20

21 Lighter Lighter Stability Carbon Fiber Fewer leg sections Smaller diameter / Lighter duty Aluminum More leg sections Greater diameter / Heavier duty Heavier 21

22 Agenda What Do the Experts Say About Tripods? Types of Heads Quick Release Systems Tripod Performance Factors Stability Test 22

23 Stability Test Subjects Head # of leg sections Albinar 122 Gitzo 2541 Gitzo 3532x Integrated Pan/Tilt Arca Swiss Z1 ball head Arca Swiss Z1 ball head Material Aluminum Carbon Fiber Carbon Fiber Leg construction Center column? Light Duty Medium Duty Heavy Duty Yes Yes No Street Price ~ $50 $1000 $

24 Stability Test Image and Conditions Nikon D800 Nikkor 400mm ISO 100 / f22 / 30s Disturbance = mirror slap + box fan cross-wind 1 ft from camera 24

25 Stability Test Results Albinar Aluminum legs Center column extended Gitzo series carbon fiber center column extended Gitzo GT3532s 3 Series carbon fiber no center column 25

26 Gitzo GT2541 Stability Dave Fujii 3/12/2014 Gitzo recommended use with lenses up to 200mm 26

27 Stability Test Image and Conditions Gitzo GT2541 with Arca-Swiss Z1 Head Nikon D800 Nikkor 400mm ISO 100 / f8 / ss=10s Disturbance = mirror slap + box fan cross-wind 1 ft from camera 27

28 Gitzo 2 Series 4 section legs w/ Acra-Swiss Z1 Head Wind, No Mirror lockup Center column up Wind, No Mirror lockup Center column down Wind, Mirror lockup Center column down No wind, Mirror lockup Center column down 28

29 Conclusions Carbon fiber tripod legs are the lightest and most stable, but you pay for that performance. These tests were very harsh Trying to resolve 8pt font, 45 ft away Usage of a 400mm lens 2x the mfg recommendation for Gitzo s series 2 tripod Even so, a lower performance tripod can perform well if attention is paid to every detail. Mirror lockup makes a positive difference for long exposure shots. Extending the center column causes noticeable instability under demanding conditions. A moderate breeze causes vibrations noticeable in long exposure shots. 29

30 30 Questions?