no tripod needed! [Cheap image stabilizer]

[Sophie-Bart]

Nice idea for those who are thinking of taking a tripod but don't know where to put it or have to skimp on wheight !
Don't know about the results but keep us informed.

found thru Make.com and Metacafe.com

http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/1041...the_tripod.swf

[Martynbiker]

and I can improve on it! (just)

Make a BIG loop on the base instead of a washer and step into the loop... that way you get the same effect and save even MORE weight. ( washer not needed then)

Just remember that you have to pull UP on the Camera slightly!

Thanks for posting that, its a good, Money & Weight saving Idea

Martyn

[BlackBeast]

Excellent tips, thanks for sharing.

[The Cameraman]

Hi Bart,

what a simple and effective idea!

Thanks for posting.

[Alexlebrit]

And for those without a tripod screw on the bottom of their cameras you can do much the same with a wrist strap at the top end (round your wrist of course).

I've got a not quite as cheap and not quite as small solution to the tripod dilemma, it's one of those colapsible walking poles, but the handle unscrews to reveal a screw for your camera.

[jljones]

what a load of tosh. All very well if you are looking at slowish shutter speeds but I can hand hold without support to a 1/15th on some cameras without shake and blur. IMHO pointless and useless. Better to spend time learning the techniques that reduce camera shake, like gently taking in a breath and then holding, keeping elbows in etc etc.
The whole point of a tripod is to take long exposures that are steady and useable - anything up to minutes and even hours. If those are the kind of pictures you want, then there's no substitute for a tripod and a solid head.

I can't think of any situation in the last 20 years where I'd have used this. Sorry, and I know I'm pouring cold water on this but somebody had to.

[Frank Warner]

Originally Posted by jljones

The whole point of a tripod is to take long exposures that are steady and useable

I can use a tripod to put me and the bike in the photo .. with on one else around! Sometimes you cannot find a spot to put the cammera .. nor any other person.

[The Cameraman]

Mornin' Chaps & Chapesses,

I always take my tripod with me, when expecting to take slow exposure shots, and also have a minature one for self portraits. A monopod is invaluable at airshows etc.

A mate of mine has had trouble in taking freehand panning shots, for some time, as he has a muscle condition that causes his hands to shake. He experimented with this string trick and it worked! I was surprised when I saw his shots.

I reckon any experienced 'tog would find the idea not to be of use but for a beginner, on a budget, it can't do any harm but to try it.

I agree that with practise most people can take handheld shots easily, and the use of pausing your breath (as when shooting a rifle), transforms results.

Has anyone else actually tried it?

[Sophie-Bart]

Originally Posted by jljones

what a load of tosh. All very well if you are looking at slowish shutter speeds but I can hand hold without support to a 1/15th on some cameras without shake and blur. IMHO pointless and useless. Better to spend time learning the techniques that reduce camera shake, like gently taking in a breath and then holding, keeping elbows in etc etc.
The whole point of a tripod is to take long exposures that are steady and useable - anything up to minutes and even hours. If those are the kind of pictures you want, then there's no substitute for a tripod and a solid head.

I can't think of any situation in the last 20 years where I'd have used this. Sorry, and I know I'm pouring cold water on this but somebody had to.

Agreed,
I wouldn't burn my wooden manfrotto for this but it's a quick aid for those who are just able to carry (or operate)a small digicam (photo or film). It can help making the difference between a-nice-try-snapshot and a good holiday impression.
Not everybody is carrying a complete photostudio on their travels for various reasons (space, cash, skills) but I agree a nice telescopic monopod and a small flexible tabletop-tripod would be a bare minimum if you want to be a bit more flexible in using your equipment to the best.

BTW I once replied on another thread on this forum with some more DIY camera fixations.

The DIY plastic bottle cap tripod
put some water/sand/cola in the bottle and presto!



based on a gadget on this japanese site

Which btw has some more easy to reproduce gadgets


cheers

[stevesawol]

If weight and cost prohibit a full-sized tripod have a look at one of these:
Campmor: Ultrapod II

I've taken over 6000 photos in the last 4 yerars of traveling giving this a good workout.

It weigh's only 120 Grams!!!!!! the great thing about it is you can very quicly strap it to a fence post, stick, bike whatever to get a higher vantage. it's not flimsy like a lot of other mini tripods. I've used mine with a 35mm slr with 300mm lense no problem. Some good sized outdoor shops and photo shops in the Uk for less than a tenner

Worth a look

[Sophie-Bart]

easy cowboys !

No offence taken.
Maybe I should have used a different title like "when no tripod at hand" to grab your attention and trigger your imagination with a simple solution and some creative thinking.

Some of the replies on the makezine.com: MAKE: Technology on Your Time are about the use(fullness) of this trick and some backgroud info.

• All that is old is new again...
  This is a fairly common trick amongst old-hat photographers. I had one teach me this so that we could avoid looking 'too professional' when going into museums to take shots for documentaries.
  Posted by: RDAC on January 18, 2008 at 12:26 PM

• This method will only stabilize up/down shake.
  Make the string 2.5x as long and tie both ends to the bolt. Then you have the option of stepping with two feet slightly spread, forming a triangle with the loop of string. This will stabilize both horizontal and vertical shake.
  The only remaining shake will be forwards/backwards, which is the least noticeable in still photographs.
  Posted by: Gabriel McGovern on January 18, 2008 at 1:08 PM

• even with the comments of the first two people,(which do further your presentation)i wish you could have seen my reaction when you stepped on the string!it all came together.for those of us who did'nt know this idea thanks for sharing.
  Posted by: extracrispy on January 20, 2008 at 6:19 AM

cheers

[DAVSATO]

im no photographer, so please dont give me a hard time either!!

my friend is though, and he has a tilt/pan wotsit from the top of an old tripod screwed to a RAM mount ball and put on his bike. when the scenery gets too much for him he stops for a few pics. with the engine off and bike on the stand, its solid as a rock. a quarter ton tripod, if you like.
also the RAM ball goes in the top of his hiking stick to make a handy monopod.

[jljones]

Originally Posted by Martynbiker

what a load of tosh. All very well if you are looking at slowish shutter speeds but I can hand hold without support to a 1/15th on some cameras without shake and blur. IMHO pointless and useless.

SEE ABOVE! you Rubbished Sophie's post for what? so you could prove that you can hold a Camera steady on a 1/15th second exposure? so what?
I can shoot 2" groups at 600 yards but I don't go round bragging about it..... and that takes a MUCH steadier aim than holding a Camera!!!!!

Martyn

You've turned what I considered to be a reasonable response to what i thought was a slightly naff idea, into your own rant! Unlike you I'm not bragging, just explaining what is possible if you want to use and practice a technique or two. I also said that for long exposures there is no substitute for a tripod, however you care to describe it - you can use bean bags, the bonnet of your car or whatever. But not a piece of string. It happens to be true.

Can't believe the anger flying around, bad for the blood pressure.

[stevesawol]

jljones.

We all agree the technique is not a replacement for a tripod, and that it's application/usefullnes is limited, but still it's a techneique, and something than can be used if little/nothing else is available. To say that it's "IMHO pointless and useless." perhaps a bit strong, (to credit you, you did say "IMHO") and i think that's where Martyn was coming from, yeah?

[jljones]

Originally Posted by stevesawol

jljones.

To say that it's "IMHO pointless and useless." perhaps a bit strong, (to credit you, you did say "IMHO")

I was careful to preface my 'pointless and useless' with IMHO. My opinion, not his, yours or anyone else's, just mine, based on years of making films and taking pictures. Not too sure that this is grounds for references to my shit not smelling and the rest of it.

Chacun a son gout...