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BaconEater37

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First off I'm a beginner, so if this question seems like a rookie question, please bare with me.. :-) I am really getting a kick out of time-lapse photography. However, I have a very low quality tripod for my DSLR, and their is always vibration in my images. I am seriously considering investing in a higher quality tripod. In 'theory' would this help reduce vibration in my time lapses?
 
In theory, yes. :)

But there are also tricks when setting up, and additional things that can be done to stabilize it.

What tripod do you have?
 
It's an old Targus one, more than likely the cheapest I could find at the time for an old camera I used to have.
 
You can add some ballast to some tripods, make sure you don't overdo it.



ae3bf74b811f4587a45975c596f2833e.jpg

(not my photo)
 
If you do not need to raise the tripod to it's highest level, then don't. Keep the centre column down if possible, and extend the skinniest leg sections the last. The lower the camera is to the ground, the more stable it will be.

If you want steady at any height, try a Manfrotto 028b. It's 30 lbs. of solid (including the head). It's my go-to tripod for 2:1 macro.

P.S. A good tripod will not include the head.... that has to be purchased separately (sometimes the store is offering some sort of package deal, but these tend not to have the best legs or head)
 
BaconEater37 said:
First off I'm a beginner, so if this question seems like a rookie question, please bare with me.. :-)
Click to expand...
I never bare with strangers. But I'll bear with spelling errors, even when you used 'their' instead of there ;-)
BaconEater37 said:
I am really getting a kick out of time-lapse photography. However, I have a very low quality tripod for my DSLR, and their is always vibration in my images. I am seriously considering investing in a higher quality tripod. In 'theory' would this help reduce vibration in my time lapses?
Click to expand...
Of course. There is an Accessories forum which would be an appropriate place to ask about tripods. Be prepared to spend more than a couple hundred dollars for a solid tripod.
 
Ballast.
Just what I would have said, I use a 20kg bag of sand.
It has worked very well with a long lens for long exposure astronomical shots, with a remote trigger.
Tripod is a Manfrotto 190, I managed to break the original 128RC head and now use a MVH500AH. The latter is very useful for my telescope (Nikon Fieldscope) especially when the D3 is strapped on.

--
All comments are purely personal and generally based on my experience.
What I state is an opinion; I may well be wrong.
 
Last edited:
Mark LW said:
Ballast.
Just what I would have said, I use a 20kg bag of sand.
It has worked very well with a long lens for long exposure astronomical shots, with a remote trigger.
Click to expand...
Remote shutter trigger is very important. Without it, even with a really good tripod, every time you press the shutter you'll move the camera slightly, and in returning to its unloaded state when you remove your finger press it will vibrate a little for a little while. Strap a laser pen to the camera on the tripod to project a spot of light on the wall. Then press the shutter and watch the surprising amount of wobble in the spot!
 
BaconEater37 said:
First off I'm a beginner, so if this question seems like a rookie question, please bare with me.. :-) I am really getting a kick out of time-lapse photography. However, I have a very low quality tripod for my DSLR, and their is always vibration in my images. I am seriously considering investing in a higher quality tripod. In 'theory' would this help reduce vibration in my time lapses?
Click to expand...
Absolutely--a cruddy tripod will ruin more photos than it helps. You can find an acceptable tripod in the neighborhood of $100. A good pro tripod will cost several hundred dollars.

Also note that many other factors impact the image: a truck passing nearby, shooting from a bridge, mirror slap, wind blowing, etc.

--
photojournalist
http://craighartley.zenfolio.com/
 
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Bang on Chris.

I bought a Laser pen for identifying a subject at distance, with binoculars and then finding focus.
The UK is now looking at licensing the purchase of such devices owing to Pilot interference.
 
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