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Brain Farts Ideas Note to Self Photography Studio Thoughts

Coffee Shutdown…

Coffee Shutdown
Coffee Shutdown

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Blogging Camera Equipment Hardware Long Exposure Milestones Personal Photo Journal Photography Reviews Tech Talk Thoughts

Got my new tripod!

Manfrotto Midi Ball Head #498
Manfrotto Midi Ball Head #498

Yeah! – My new Manfrotto tripod and Midi-Ball Head just came in!

Well, actually on March 15th, but those are just some minor little details…

This is the Prize, I won last month, in the Landscape Photography Magazine.com and Manfrotto contest.

With that being said, I thought I would write about my first tripod upgrade in over 30 years.

I do have a Slik 450G for emergency/travel and a Bogen mono-pod, but they mostly sit around these days.

My First Tripod

I had bought my Bogen (#3020), when I was about 18 years old, while working as a Freelance Photography Assistant/Apprentice in the Philadelphia area.

At the time, I got to work with many different setups, and knew what I wanted, but just could not justify the costs. I did know, that what every tripod I bought, I wanted it to last.

And my Bogen has lasted.

So far, the ONLY thing that has broken on it, is the stitching on one of the loops for the carrying strap!

It “broke” on me while out on a nature walk, and I just took the remaining strap, and tied a half-hitch back on the D-ring, and have been using it ever since, well over a year ago.

Easily, my Bogen is one of the best purchases in my life!

My Bogen was also there when I took the winning photograph.

After a few coordinating emails between LandscapePhotographyMagazine.com, Manfrotto and I, the box arrived late last Friday afternoon.

I was very surprised to have it arrive so quickly, and very eager to see what 30 years tripods was like!

Raising the Legs

At first, I was concerned because there was only one box.

I was expecting two, tripod and head, but was pleased to find the head included in the main box.

Silly me.

When I removed the tripod from the box, it did “feel” lighter then my Bogen, but the head was still not on.

The next thing I did, was to extend the legs, and as I did, they seemed smoother and quieter then my Bogen, but this could that be due to age, or is it, aluminium vs. carbon fiber?

Time will tell.

Opening the small box with the ball-head, was very exciting for me, because I always wanted one, and now I had one!

There had been numerous times, over the years, where the three twisting arms of my Bogen head, made it much more difficult to setup for a shot, whereas a ball head was going to be a joy!

Or so I thought…

In the Studio

When I first heard that I had won, I looked into accessories for the Manfrotto, namely a carrying strap, and for the first time, a quick release system – another little item that I always wanted…

Finding, Ordering and Receiving these two items took considerably much longer then expected, and is still needing to be resolved, as I ponder the subject for a new post.

While waiting for the tripod accessories, I decided to try the tripod in my little studio doing some shots that I had been contemplating for some time now.

In setting up given shots, it was funny to note my ingrained movements towards the knobs of my old tripod as I made final adjustments.

For all intensive purposes, I went from three knobs, down to one.

It just felt weird!

During the course of the day, I managed to set up and photograph, several scenes with the new ball head, and finally into Lightroom for basic review.

It was in Lightroom, where I began to notice subtle shifts in my bracketed exposure sequences due to movement between exposures.

When taking an exposure, I normally use the cameras onboard interface, to change the settings, then use my remote trigger for the actual exposure.

This is of importance to me, since I do a lot of HDR work, and it is critical for the various exposures to be aligned.

With my Bogen, these physical exposure adjustments on the camera, were not nearly as bad as what I was witnessing with the new Manfrotto.

At the moment, I’m just going to make myself mentally aware of being more careful when making the adjustments, or rely on AEB more often.

Going for my first walk

Finally, I got the tripod strap and quick release systems!

I was rather impressed when I first opened up the tripod strap. There is a rather large padded sleeve that fits over the actual strap, and I could easily see where this might be very comfortable after a long day of carrying the tripod. I also like the idea of having a quick release on the strap where one would connect it to the three legs.

I also installed the quick release system on the tripod and camera, and smacked my head on why I had not bought one of these before, but at the same time, knowing that I just had had movement issues in the studio, I also now had to consider this.

Be that as it may, I went off for a walk to test my new toys in the field!

Generally, when I start one of my walks, I have not attached the camera to the tripod yet, and swing both of them over my left shoulder, and start on, allowing me to freehold the camera if I see something of interest.

As I walked, the first thing that I noticed, was how completely different this tripod felt on my shoulder.

Gone was the feeling of the knob arms hitting you like blunted porcupine quills as you walked and moved through the woods, but at the same time, I still need to figure out the best way to attach the strap and cushioned padding.

It feels weird, but once again, time will tell.

Conclusion

Once again, I want to thank both LandscapePhotographyMagazine.com and Manfrotto for this opportunity, and I look forward to years of great use!

That being said, it is far too early to make a definitive conclusion about the two tripods.

Manfrotto does feel lighter in weight, but I have NOT actually done a side-by-side, and the carrying strap needs some fine tuning in the field.

I am looking forward to using the ball-head more, and I should be able to adapt to the minor adjustments issues, by tightening the one knob more. (I do have a zoom lens that I worried about…)

Right now I’m still in the honeymoon stage with my Manfrotto, and with any good marriage it takes time… 30+ years is hard to break.

But some questions linger… Am I cheating on my Bogen?

Will Bogen get relegated to the studio, while Manfrotto journeys forth?

Stay tuned for details!

More to come!

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Tech Talk

Prize Equipment Details

  • Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod-Q90-3 Section (#055CXPRO3)
  • Manfrotto Midi Ball Head (#498)

Accessories Details

  • Manfrotto Tripod Should Strap (#MB MSTRAP-1)
  • Manfrotto Compact QR Adapter (#MA323)
  • Manfrotto Accessory Plate (#200PL-14)

Updates

2013 March 15 – Original Post

Categories
Blogging Ideas Thoughts

Kids Archaeology Game 01

A new Kids Archaeology Game…

Get your kids to clean the family couch together!

Get them to identify the various objects found.

This game is also good in introducing kids to forensics.

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Categories
Brain Farts Long Exposure Nature Photo Journal Photography Thoughts

Dust Birds

Editing of some photographs, and as I’m deleting dust, I realize they are birds…

I’ve been doing long exposure for too long…

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Categories
Blogging Camera Equipment Gadgets Photography Tech Talk Thoughts Utilities

Searching for the Remote

No, I am not searching for the TV Remote, this time…

But a for a new Remote for my photography work.

Back when I first purchased my Canon XTi in 2007, I also purchased both the
Remote Switch RS-60E3 and Wireless Remote Controller RC-1, and have used them various times over the years, but after seeing a couple of recent Posts on Facebook and Google+, the thoughts of looking for something new has begun.

In reading the Posts, I was also left with what kind? A dedicated stand-alone unit or connected to my iPod Touch, and did I want to be able to program the unit?

Dedicated Stand-alone

The first article that I read was on Stand-alone units, “6 top remote releases tested and rated” on photozz.com that got me thinking about upgrading my old Canon Remote Switch RS-60E3.

In reading the article, the Hähnel Giga T Pro II Remote Control is the top pick, and has a video on YouTube showing one the various features, and runs about $100 USD form various outlets.

Mobile connectivity

In my daily reading, I also spotted a Google+ post in which the author announced that they had just received their TriggerHappy, and was excited to try it out.

In following the thread, I was also made aware of the Triggertrap Mobile combination, so my researching began.

Making the Connection

In the case of the Hähnel Giga T Pro II, there are two parts, the wireless transmitter and the receiver that sits on the camera. The unit easily does remote triggering, interval, and long exposures, but does lack any direct HDR functionality.

With both TriggerHappy and Triggertrap, you need cable from the camera to the Control device (iOS (or Android)), and there is a significant range in price for cables.

Cables

To connect my iPod Touch, the cables from TriggerHappy (E3) would cost $49.95, while the Triggertrap’s would require two different cables, a Triggertrap Mobile Dongle ($9.99) and a CL-E3 Camera Cable ($9.99). The easy price winner is Triggertrap.

Software

The Trigger Happy Remote App on iTunes is Free, and is currently at v 1.0.2 (8/8/12), while the Triggertrap (v 1.2.0 (8/2/12)) is available in two versions: Free (limited to 3 trigger modes (Cable Release, vibration sensor and time-lapse) and the Full Premium version at $9.99 on iTunes. The winner here is Trigger Happy, how do you beat Free!

Interface

Both software applications seem to be able to perform Remote trigger, Bulb, time-lapse, plus HDR captures, which is something that I am very interested in.

When looking at the HDR controls, the TriggerHappy app seems to allow 1/3 step increments, which allows for finer control, while the Triggertrap seems limited to full stops, so the Edge here seems to be TriggerHappy.

The real separation between the two applications seems to be the various triggers that are available, and the edge in this case seems to be Triggertrap with 5 sensors (Sound, Shock/Vibration, Metal/Magnetic), 4 modes (HDR Time-lapse, Distance-lapse, Motion detection, Cable release and Star Trail), as well as Facial Recognition.

Conclusion

I like the wireless concept of the Hähnel Giga T Pro II, but the price and lack of HDR capabilities takes it out of consideration.

A big concern of mine, when looking at both these systems, is having to carry and connect my iPod Touch, which my not seem like allot, but when you are standing in 2-3 of water in a rushing stream/river, it could be an issue. I also have to wonder what to do during the winter, when the iPod might be exposed to colder temperatures.

Update – (8/10/12 @ 23:18) – In a response to my original Post, I have received info on the “RAP-B-121-UN7U The RAM Universal X-Grip Cell Phone Holder and Clamp” by TripodClamps.com, which looks like a very promising attachment for hold the iPod to my tripod. Thanks Marty Cohen!

The TriggerHappy does seem to support finer exposure controls, with the 1/3 stop settings, but basic HDR exposures should be able to compensate for that, if correctly bracketed.

With all that has been written above, it seems that at this point, the Triggertrap system would be the most versatile and cost efficient purchase, and will be purchased shortly after the posting of this blog entry.

As always, questions and comments are welcome and encouraged!

– Andrew
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