Shutter Speed Rules

Glimmerman · Oct 4, 2006

3 pounds, much better.

I am thinking of getting the hip-pack:

http://www.thecamerastore.com/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=31852

It should hold my walk-around lense, a telephoto zoom, and hopefully I could strap a tripod to it somewhere.

Tolyk · Oct 4, 2006

I just have a cheap hiking backpack which has some adjustable straps on the side. I throw the tripod in there and tighten down the straps. It takes longer to put it in than take it out.. can get it set up from there pretty quick.

Glimmerman · Oct 4, 2006

Do people usually leave a lense on the body of the camera when travelling with it? Or is that too risky of breaking?

Big Mike · Oct 4, 2006

I don't know of anyone that carries their camera body around without a lens on it...unless it's a back-up body.

The lens to camera connection is quite sturdy...if you drop it hard enough to sever the connection...the lens or body will probably be broken anyway.

I forgot to mention...I also have a couple of 'table top' tripods which fit nicely into a camera bag. They are small but who says the camera has to be 4 feet off the ground?

Another option is to just have a bean bag to prop the camera on...all you need is something that will hold the camera still while you fire it (hopefully with a remote or the self timer).

JIP · Oct 4, 2006

Glimmerman said:
3 pounds, much better.

I am thinking of getting the hip-pack:

http://www.thecamerastore.com/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=31852

It should hold my walk-around lense, a telephoto zoom, and hopefully I could strap a tripod to it somewhere.

In all my years of hiking I have had the most difficult time with finding the right bag to hold my camera plus water and whatever else I want to take with me it got to the point where I didn't want to take my camera hiking anymore unitl I found this bag

http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/441212271.htm

probably the bag big mike mentioned, LowePro rover AW camera bag /daypack. It has a pocket on the front to hold a tripod with elastic on top to hold the top of it. Everything is easily accessable independently so you don'thave to dig around through other things to get your camera and vice versa. It is not big enough to hold my 70-200 2.8 in the camera bag part but everything else fits with ease plus it has water bottle pockets and a very effective rain cover. I actually got caught in probably the heaviest rainstorm I have ever seen when I was in Mexico and I put up the rain cover and everything stayed dry.

Big Mike · Oct 4, 2006

That's close but I actually have this one, the Computrekker AW. It does have a separate area for water/food/clothes but not as much as the Rover bags. However, when I looked at the Rover bags, I didn't think that they had enough room for my camera gear.

Glimmerman · Oct 4, 2006

Those all look nifty, thanks guys.

Soocom1 · Oct 4, 2006

Let me throw in my two cents here.
To steal an idea from the hunting/gun shooting world, I have used a standing bi pod for some shots. [ame="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000AU3A70/nextag-sg-20/ref=nosim"]http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000AU3A70/nextag-sg-20/ref=nosim[/ame]

This allows you to stay standing, and move quickly. I think manfrotto came out with something similar. But these guys are much cheaper. They are designed to be quick for the hunter.

JIP · Oct 5, 2006

Big Mike said:
That's close but I actually have this one, the Computrekker AW. It does have a separate area for water/food/clothes but not as much as the Rover bags. However, when I looked at the Rover bags, I didn't think that they had enough room for my camera gear.

I guess it depends on how much gear you have as I said I cannot carry my 70-200 2.8 wich, depending on where i'm going I may not want to take it out anyway. I'm actually thinking on going that way for my wedding gear just a question for you. I have found out from experience that thos pics can be decieving what can you actually carry in that bag?

Big Mike · Oct 5, 2006

Yes, it hard to tell how big a bag is, on a web site. I was convinced that I wanted a Rover type bag...but when I went to my local camera shop and looked at them...I say that they were just too small. With any bag, seeing it in person before you buy it...is really important.

Glimmerman · Oct 5, 2006

Soocom1, how would those bipods attach/support a camera? Did you modify it at all?

Soocom1 · Oct 5, 2006

I actually purchased the bi-pod for hunting elk in NM. But because of the hunt draw system in this state, I haven't drawn for several years now. So the bi-pod has been put to other uses.
Anyway, you don't actually attach the camera to the bi-pod. It has a saddle on the top rather than a screw to rest the rifle upon it, and you can pivot it at will. A simple addition of a rubber cover, and 'viola', you have a camera bi-pod for quick and dirty as well as stable shots.

Big Mike · Oct 5, 2006

Has anyone here ever mounted a camera and lens onto a rifle stock? I've seen this set up before and it looked like fun...maybe not the most convenient system...but kind of cool.

Soocom1 · Oct 6, 2006

Sctually the Soviets did: It is now widely available in the US with many accessories, and there is a stock made for pop. camera systems...
http://www.zenit-camera.com/photosniper_zenit_camera.htm

Sorry. The first link I provided re directs you to another site.
Try this one.

LWW · Oct 6, 2006

I have this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5533&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

for $21.95 along with this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5523&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

for $87.95 and this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=5491&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

for $30.95.

For $140.85, equal in price to a mid priced tripod and head, I have a very stout monopod that can be used for a hiking stick and if neeeded to fend off evil critters...yes I had to do this with my Bogen once.

I have a very light and very solid shoulder brace. Combined they are strong enough to allow me (6-1 215# 50 yr old who lifts weights 3 days a week) to plant the other 2 legs of the tripod (me) and lean forward on the monopod. The brace attaches below the head and is adjstable in length and has a kind of folding gunstock buttpad that is very comfortable. It can adjust in length with 1 push on the clicklatch.

I hold the monopod leg with my left hand and the camera body with my right. I can aim the cam by turning the monopod leg like a steering column. Also by shifting weight slightly I can always keep the horizon straight. The monopod height on the 3245 auto model adjusts up and down by merely squeezing a pistol grip.

It requires a tad of practice but it makes an amazingly sturdy and under 2 pound piece that isn't bulky or clumsy and is capable of easily supporting the weight of a Nikon F4s and 300MM F4 Nikkor so a D50/70/80/200 and any lens other than maybe a 400MM F2.8. If you have the wood for that you have someone to carry your 30 pound pod anyway.

LWW