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How to use a tripod correctly

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thompson1600

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Can you please explain how to correctly use a tripod. I have a Gitzo G2220 Explorer and Kirk BH-3 ballhead. I still get shake. How do you correctly use a tripod?

This may be long, but I bet I'm not the only one who has this question.

Thanks

Tom
 
Tom,

Help us out with some more information, like camera, lens, how they're attahced to the BH-3 (plate on the camera or lens), the shooting conditions (5-second exposure in windy conditions on top of a hill or 1/500 in a studio). This will help the more helpful among us.

--
Mike
----------
coupla cameras
some lenses
two bicycles
used Jeep
yellow tabby cat
the love of a good woman
 
First, even with a tripod, you can get motion blur. The motion caused by pressing the shutter can show up, leaving you scratching your head, "but I used a tripod." Use a cable release; use the self timer; or squeeze off a short burst, you'll notice that often it's your second image that's tripod-sharp.

Second, particularly with wind, it helps a lot to weight your tripod to stabilize it. I usually hang my camera bag from the center post if I'm edgy about stability.

It's only as good as the weakest element. I've got one really cheap old tripod that produces better results than a couple of newer fancy ones I got as gifts. It's oversized, overbuilt. And it doesn't have a quick release plate. Some of the cheap quick release plates are themselves a source of motion.

Center the weight of the camere/lens unit over the base, as best you can. The lens has a tripod socket often because the center of gravity, even with a d1x, is NOT on the base of the camera.

Be sure the tripod, and head, can support much more weight than you put on it. A lot of manufacturers estimate what it'll hold, not what it'll hold steady.

Finally, what's the best tripod? The one you carry with you. Don't spend a lot of money on one if you're not going to carry it and use it. If it's going to get left at home, or in the car, you'd get the same results with a cheap tripod.
thompson1600 said:
Can you please explain how to correctly use a tripod. I have a
Gitzo G2220 Explorer and Kirk BH-3 ballhead. I still get shake.
How do you correctly use a tripod?

This may be long, but I bet I'm not the only one who has this
question.

Thanks

Tom
Click to expand...
--
Ed

Make pictures, don't take them - it leaves more for others.

http://www.onemountainphoto.com
 
Nikon D100, L plate for camera, 80-400 VR, arca swiss QR plate on lens,Nikon 80-200 (push pull) no tripod collar, Nikon 28-105 no tripod collar. These would be outside shots so wind would play a factor. I do not use a cable release at this point but could, I have the MB D100 optional battery pack on the camera.

Basically I don't seem to get that much better pictures on the tripod from handholding. I know I should, so I figure I must be doing something wrong with the tripod scenario.

Thanks for any assistance.

Tom
Michael Worley said:
Tom,

Help us out with some more information, like camera, lens, how
they're attahced to the BH-3 (plate on the camera or lens), the
shooting conditions (5-second exposure in windy conditions on top
of a hill or 1/500 in a studio). This will help the more helpful
among us.

--
Mike
----------
coupla cameras
some lenses
two bicycles
used Jeep
yellow tabby cat
the love of a good woman
Click to expand...
 
Bet the problem is the vibration of the first push of the shutter. Try using self timer, cable release, and/or pressing for a three shot burst. Also, use the mirror damper setting, most important in the 1 second to 1/15 second range.
thompson1600 said:
Basically I don't seem to get that much better pictures on the
tripod from handholding. I know I should, so I figure I must be
doing something wrong with the tripod scenario.

Thanks for any assistance.

Tom
Michael Worley said:
Tom,

Help us out with some more information, like camera, lens, how
they're attahced to the BH-3 (plate on the camera or lens), the
shooting conditions (5-second exposure in windy conditions on top
of a hill or 1/500 in a studio). This will help the more helpful
among us.

--
Mike
----------
coupla cameras
some lenses
two bicycles
used Jeep
yellow tabby cat
the love of a good woman
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Ed

Make pictures, don't take them - it leaves more for others.

http://www.onemountainphoto.com
 
Ed Nazarko said:
Second, particularly with wind, it helps a lot to weight your
tripod to stabilize it. I usually hang my camera bag from the
center post if I'm edgy about stability.

It's only as good as the weakest element. I've got one really
cheap old tripod that produces better results than a couple of
newer fancy ones I got as gifts. It's oversized, overbuilt. And
it doesn't have a quick release plate. Some of the cheap quick
release plates are themselves a source of motion.

Center the weight of the camere/lens unit over the base, as best
you can. The lens has a tripod socket often because the center of
gravity, even with a d1x, is NOT on the base of the camera.

Be sure the tripod, and head, can support much more weight than you
put on it. A lot of manufacturers estimate what it'll hold, not
what it'll hold steady.

Finally, what's the best tripod? The one you carry with you.
Don't spend a lot of money on one if you're not going to carry it
and use it. If it's going to get left at home, or in the car,
you'd get the same results with a cheap tripod.
thompson1600 said:
Can you please explain how to correctly use a tripod. I have a
Gitzo G2220 Explorer and Kirk BH-3 ballhead. I still get shake.
How do you correctly use a tripod?

This may be long, but I bet I'm not the only one who has this
question.

Thanks

Tom
Click to expand...
--
Ed

Make pictures, don't take them - it leaves more for others.

http://www.onemountainphoto.com
Click to expand...
 
This is a bit off topic, but I am interested in this tripod for general and macro photography...

Other than your original question, how satisfied (or not) are you with this tripod?

Any positives; negatives; etc?

****
 
Use the cable release especially with the longer lenses. Hey with the D100 you can get a heavy duty one for $20, just think of what we are pay for the electronic ones, if we can get them.
If the cable release doesn't work you'll probably have to lock up the mirror.
Another thing is if you have a light tripod try hanging a weight from it.

Tom
 
One more thing, I lean on the gear. I mean I literally lean against the tripod legs to add stability. With the 80-200 I cradle it from underneath just like I would if I were handholding it. My experience suggest that mirror vibration is the number two problem with blurry images after motion blur. Remember, motion blur is when your subject moves or the wind blows it (like vegetation swaying in a landscape shot). Eliminating motion blur means you need to often be shooting well over 1/100 a second; mirror vibration problem solved, right? No.

The vibrations from the mirror bouncing back and forth from the front element can still effect the image focus (if we are to believe Moose Peterson). Think about it, if the the vibration moves at the speed of sound (approximately 1000 feet a second), then the shutter speed needs to be faster than 1/500 a second to keep the vibration from getting back from a front element that is one foot away from the mirror.

Last month when I was shooting windsurfers I noticed that the images seemed a little blurry below 1/500s even though the focal lengths were around 100mm. At the time I attributed this to the speeds they were moving (30+ mph) and made sure my shutter speed was at least 1/500 of a second; but after reading the link and thinking about it, I realize that I probably pumped the shutter speeds up because mirror vibration.
--
http://imageevent.com/tonybeach/myfavorites
 
Having said that, I have not used another tripod.

I have the G2220 with a Manfrotto 3265G pistol grip.

It is absolutely universal in it's ability to get wherever you want the lens.

This is not a stable setup. But it's much better than handheld. And if careful, it's as good as any tripod.

A remote trigger would solve any flex problems with this setup.

I can't imagine a nicer tripod setup.
 
Didn't notice that anyone said "don't extend the center column", though not sure the model you quote has a center column.

I also second the poster who said "lean on it". The shutter slap with my D2X is strong enough that I always use MLU and if the speeds are higher than 1/10 I hold the camera and put weight on it (and use release cable). For a long lens, I drape my arm across the barrel. These techiques have really improved sharpness.

David in Phoenix
 
Funny -- giving advice to somebody who asked a question 3 years ago and hasn't signed on in 3 years either. It's always amusing to see somebody revive a really stale message. :)

--------------------------------------------
Joe Braun Photography
http://www.citrusmilo.com/joe/
 
I didn't read all the responses, but I see that you are using a VR lens. When mounting on a tripod you need to turn VR off, as it can give lens blur when it is on while mounted to a tripod. I have done this many times! If after that you still get blur, it is most likely camera shake as stated by other posts.
--
http://www.capturethememoryphoto.com
 
how does this happen all of a sudden this is the 2nd in 2 days.....both from 2003
some antidate virus going on!!
never the less,... very good advice in this thread :)
 
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