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TZ3 Not Great On Gorillapod

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dcwatchmen

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Well, I tried the smallest version (the 5 1/2" model) of the Sunpak Flexpod (same same Gorillapod) - and found that it did not work well for me...

In explanation, the TZ3's tripod mount is set all the way to one end - and when mounted on the Sunpak Flexpod, the 9 ounce weight of the TZ3 "torques" the tripod head too much and causes the camera to be hard to keep adjusted when shooting tele's... A centered tripod mount would work fine though.

A larger version of the Gorillapod/Sunpak Flexpod might be better for the TZ3 - or a different lightweight tripod altogether...

Hope that wll save you some $$$ and hassel!

Live and Learn,

Scott
 
My Tizzy has never made acquaintence with a tripod. What are they like? ;-) I'm so used to depending on the OIS as my electronic "tripod," my tripod threads are virgin!
--
Just cruisin' ...



EffZeeThirty (Got the Gull), Tizzy, Foxy50
 
dcwatchmen said:
Well, I tried the smallest version (the 5 1/2" model) of the Sunpak
Flexpod (same same Gorillapod) - and found that it did not work
well for me...

In explanation, the TZ3's tripod mount is set all the way to one
end - and when mounted on the Sunpak Flexpod, the 9 ounce weight of
the TZ3 "torques" the tripod head too much and causes the camera to
be hard to keep adjusted when shooting tele's... A centered tripod
mount would work fine though.

A larger version of the Gorillapod/Sunpak Flexpod might be better
for the TZ3 - or a different lightweight tripod altogether...

Hope that wll save you some $$$ and hassel!

Live and Learn,

Scott
Click to expand...
Hi Scott: Yes, I wish they put the tripod mount in the center of the camera. Not sure if a bigger gorillapod is going to help. However, my plan to use it was to use the 10 second timer... by then the minor oscillations should stop. Have you given that a try? --Paul.
 
LOL - A virgin tripod thread John? You may need to get out more! Ha!

The Gorillapod or Sunpak Flexpod comes in several sizes and can be seen at B&H.

;)

Scott
 
You are always too busy answering other posts when I really need you Steve!

;)

Scott
 
Just curious. What's your slowest without a tripod? I seem to be able to go slower than 1/10, down to 1/5 or so with Tizzy, 4/10 is the slowest I've done with FX50, and 1 second with FZ30. A few months ago a guy posted some LX1 shots he took inside a cave at 10 seconds, handheld. What's the limit on these things?
--
Just cruisin' ...



EffZeeThirty (Got the Gull), Tizzy, Foxy50
 
That's my plan tomorrow at Accotink - but I was using it to shoot "geese on the fast swim-track" yesterday while at full tele - and found the tripod a little difficult to swivel and remain aligned to the horizon... ...the verticle head would tip over too easily due to the offset weight of the TZ3.

Scott
 
My problem may be nothing more than a need for more hand-held exerience... ...and I agree; I'm pretty amazed at just how well the Tizzy's OIS is. Is the FZ50 the same?.. ...or even better?

Scott
 
I found all those negative things out - when I tried my TZ on a 6 inch Nikon table top tripod. I had to hold the far end up. It works ok on my QSX pro 100, fully collapsed - but that's still about 14 inches, with about an equal leg spread. I sort of know why, but I really don't know why they didn't center the socket?.
--
Steve Owen.
http://steveslandscapes.50webs.com
 
Yes, I seem to get good slow-shutter performance from the FX50, like I say, it won't let me blur a shot, as long as let it run ISO up with I ISO. But then, it's a short focal-length camera. If you're shooting at full zoom with the TZ3, that'd be way out of my range with the FX50, so it's hard to compare. I have shot full-zoom shots with Tizzy at 1/25 without too much trouble. If I had the TZ3, I'd probably prefer to let the I ISO rule, and take whatever noise consequences, in preference to blurred shots. Of course, a good tripod would give you the best of sharpness, but at a BIG hit to the mobility of the camera, considering the added bulk of the tripod as part of the camera.
--
Just cruisin' ...



EffZeeThirty (Got the Gull), Tizzy, Foxy50
 
We'd have to see a cutaway engineering drawing to be sure - but I suspect there is an internal part in the way. I think I'm going to try the next largest size Gorillapod... ...and will report back to you when I can.

Even though the smallest Gorillapod didn't work well with the TZ3 - I LIKE the knarly look, flexibility, and adaptability of them for the Great Outdoors anyway... ...and thanks for your tip about a small/rigid tripod... ...sounds like that won't work - and you've saved me some hassel.

Scott
 
Received both my TZ3 and Gorillapod mini today. For sure this combination will not be very useful as a classic tripod using long zoom. I plan to use it to facilitate taking pictures with myself in the frame using the 10 second delay setting on the TZ3.

I took a couple outdoor pictures this afternoon at different zooms with the gorillapod grasping to a tree limb. While no where near pro quality they came out decent considering I took no time to set them up and have no idea yet how to use the multitude of settings on the TZ3. I'll try posting them here later tonight.
 
I was asking about the F "Z" 50 John... ...my mistake, I forgot you have an FZ30 - not an FZ50...

Scott
 
LOL - I can visualize a 4' Wide 150 lb Bogen TZ3 Tripod Clamp right now... ...no doubt PERFECT for lightweight backpacking, Hey???

;)

Scott
 
Sounds like you're on my same learning curve... ...I'll keep trying options and post when I can to help.

Scott
 
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