no tripod needed! [Cheap image stabilizer]

[Martynbiker]

Originally Posted by jljones

IMy opinion, not his, yours or anyone else's, just mine, based on years of making films and taking pictures.

And thats NOT bragging then? :confused1:

Stevesawol, Yes, you were spot on!

Martyn

[jljones]

Originally Posted by Martynbiker

And thats NOT bragging then? :confused1:

Martyn

Just for your information, this is just one dictionary definition of opinion:

'a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.'

So what I said is my personal view. Based on my experience clearly as that is what an opinion is.

Enough already

[The Cameraman]

Hi Chaps & Chapesses,

it looks like some of our friends replies haven't been as polite as usual. Come on guys just go with the flow and chill out and allow everyone to have an opinion.

Happy tog's take great photo's!

[Martynbiker]

jljones.... sorry I attacked you Dude. Your entitled to your Opinion, as am I.

Had a bad day.


Martyn

[DAVSATO]

i love a good rant,

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

if you children have calmed down.......
i thought this could could be one of those bizarre ideas that fall into the "look like a knob, but it works" categories. so i gave it a go, after all, its a bit of string and a screw so whats stopping you?
as i said before, im no photographer, ive only got a compact 7MP snapper not a massive SLR. when taking ordinary pics there wasnt much difference because its quite easy to stand still and snap away.
there was an improvement when using the zoom because these little cameras these days have big zooms, and they are impossible to hold still.
the best improvement was in video, or MP4. the camera was much steadier and i didnt get that annoying 'youve been framed' shake, much clearer picture.

so yes, it does work a bit, its not a daft idea and well worth remembering if you do forget your tripod one day.

now, for the important thing- where can i buy a pair of those fantastic spangly gold photography shoes? haven't seen them down jessops lately.......

[Martynbiker]

Originally Posted by DAVSATO

i
so yes, it does work a bit, its not a daft idea and well worth remembering if you do forget your tripod one day.

\
I know it works because...........
Because within 1 minute of Sophie posting that I had got some string & tried it! ( my camera is on the desk next to the computer, with screw in bottom as it has just been removed from my 'on bike' mount) I was suprised at how steady it made it as you say, better in video than in Pics, but i didnt find the video out till next days experiments.

Martyn

[jljones]

in replying as I'm still enjoying my football club's win last night. Lines have been drawn, time to move on and in the interests of science, I've tried the 'string-driven-thing' and unlike previous posters didn't get on with it. But then again I've just supplemented my film gear with a new Nikon D3. Just before Christmas I took pictures of English folk singer Kate Rusby on an 80-200mm f2,8 sometimes at 12,800 asa equivalent, shooting at f4, 200th of a sec. hand held - wouldn't have been possible with another camera IMHO. Please, I'm not bragging and happy to post examples

[grumpy]

Has the squabbling now stopped?, Sophie, where can I obtain a piece of that stiff string to stand my camera on. Thanks.

[jljones]

the Manfrotto shop, or better still, the Gitzo shop - they make the best carbon fibre string I've used and what's more you can stuff them into small nooks and crannies in the car - and they do smaller string for bikes too.

[Alexlebrit]

Ahh, see there is a use to it after all, and then when shooting handheld video... after all you may not be able to hold your breath for that long.

[dirtydeeds]

May I add that I don't usually have problems with my hands shaking under normal conditions, however if you have ridden a motorcycle for a few hours (or days) in freezing or near freezing temps, you know your entire body shakes. THIS has affected the quality of some of my shots.

Now excuse me, I am going to go get some string. And a little screw.

Jeff

[Mr. Ron]

This is a great idea for us non-pro's out there, especially for taking video. Jeff makes a great point about shaking hands after being exposed for long periods of time to cold, rain snow or a KTM's handel bars
Nice response there JLJones...i'm sure you make lots of friends everywhere you go. Keep up the good work.

[jljones]

and so far made lots of friends with some truly wonderful people.

Back to Blighty tomorrow.

[Xander]

I cant believe this tread has gone on for so long.. it is a simple trick (and yes works for pros in a pinch (or up a tree) too... ). But it is not worth this kinda passion or post count????

[effrider]

Originally Posted by 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.

Here is my version of that rig. I set this up for a trip from Colorado to Banff and got some great photos using this "motopod." YMMV.

RAM ball mount attached to Hepco & Becker Top Box. RAM 1/4-20 ball attached to bottom of DSLR. Take the DSLR out of the top box, place on the RAM mount and you've got an instant "ball head" style of tripod, that you can level, no matter the angle of the bike or top box. Put the camera on self timer and you can get yourself in the photo. With wide angle lens, you can also get the motorcycle into the picture, to "tell a story" with your photos, as Grant always recommends.