Greg7579
Forum Pro
Ladies & Gents, MS 18 (glad he is not MS 13) started a thread recently inquiring as to the shutter speeds required for hand-held shots in order to avoid the dreaded camera shake which all of us have (even you delusional world-class athletes with perfect technique and rock-steady hands). As a service to the DPR Fuji Board, I answered immediately with the definitive solution - one that was immediately agreed and loudly applauded by all.
I dictated (I started to say opined, but it was more of a mandate) that an experienced photographer (even you delusional ones) requires 3 or 4 times the focal length on shutter speed vs the urban myth of 1 or 2. This was unanimously agreed and thus the thread was put to rest (for the 55th time). Anyone that said 1 or 2x (or in one case less than 1!) was shouted down and ridiculed. This was understandable as less than 2 is an urban myth started back in the 70s in Pop Photo articles and old photography classes in high school. That was before 4K digital screens were on everyone's desk and instantly zooming to full-size 1:1. Anyway, I digress....
I was so inspired by MS 18's thread that I woke up this morning, went out into my 29-year-old daughter's back yard in Durham NC (where she is a young and very poor MD starting her Fellowship at UNC and has a new baby that I like to take bad baby pictures of), and I set up the beautiful XT-1, with its lovely RRS L bracket, huge eyecup and Think Tank Slide-Rite camera strap attached. I also mounted my favorite Fuji lens -- the venerable Brick - perhaps the finest zoom lens in the world. I did this for you, but looking at this gave me great pleasure and I just stared at it a while. Stay with me....
This amazing combination alone is worth a picture, but it is what I mounted it to that is the subject of this morning's lesson. I started to just make this post one of the responses to MS 18's question, but this information is so powerful that it deserves it's own thread. I did not want to deprive the unwashed masses of this information by burying it in an obscure thread on a subject that I have lectured this board on so many times.
Here we go:
I mounted the artwork (the lovely XH-1 with Brick attached) to the table tripod that DPR recommended to us 4 years ago - the fantastic and extremely light but tall FLM CP10-A1. The FLM ball head that matches it is the really fine FLM CB-24E ball head, but it lacks an Arca clamp. So I instead use the Giottos MH5310-655SC ball head. This mounts instantly to the RRS stuff L Brackett in either direction. That ball head is tall and light and adds needed height. That table tripod with ball head is always in my bag.
Here is what you do.
Take two of the stiff legs and spread them apart about the width of your nipples. Mount the two round feet to the pec muscles above your nipples (if you have pec muscles - if you don't just mount them to your sagging man-boobs and you ladies can adjust in accordance with your build) and adjust the ball head so that the big camera eyecup rests on your eye. Hold your left hand on the ball head and your right hand on the unbelievably fantastic and awesomely big comfortable hand grip of the utterly beautiful piece of camera gear called the XH-1. Assume a combat stance, Tuck your arms in and hold that tripod against your body firmly. It is a rock-solid hold.
Note: The large eyecup is not essential but it really adds stability because it fits so firmly and tightly to the eye. If you have an XH-1, get this large eyecup. It helps stabilize the camera even when you don't use this table-tripod technique while standing.
It is also interesting to note that this basically negates the tripod ban in palaces, cathedrals, castles, churches and museums. I have never been denied taking that table tripod inside anywhere photography is allwed. If they say something just tell them the table tripod will never touch the ground or any furniture.
You are also allowed to use this advanced technique on the XT-2, but remember, the XT-series is vastly inferior in that it does not yet have the IBIS that I ordered Fuji to implement on the utterly fantabulous and vastly under-rated XH-1.
Using this technique in museums, palaces, churches, cathedrals, events, or anywhere else where tripods are not allowed will save you 4 stops. It is a rock-solid. You will be amazed how well this works. I have achieved almost 2 second shots with this and anything under 2/3rds second is tac-sharp. Combined with IBIS it really is like having a tripod for anything under a second. Try it.
This table tripod rules and is the best one out there in my opinion (I have tried many). It is always in the bag. It allows for walking long exposures with ND filters without a full tripod and all kinds of other shots that are creative and is great at night, where you can set it up on ledges and tables. It goes on all hikes with me and all city walks. Indoors it gives you 4 extra stops. If you are behind the power-curve and do not yet (and you will soon) have IBIS, this gives you IBIS).
I really have gotten to where in my travels I never go out without this tripod either in or hanging off my bag.
I include images of this setup taken with my new X100 F. I hired a male model from GQ magazine for the poses, but he has asked that I keep his identity secret.
You are welcome. I do this for you.
Perfect Table Tripod
Perfect Table Tripod 2
Highly Paid Male Super-Model Demonstrating Table Tripod Body Technique
Highly Paid Male Super-Model Demonstrating Table Tripod Body Technique
Highly Paid Male Super-Model Resting Between Shots
Greg Johnson, San Antonio, Texas
www.flickr.com
I dictated (I started to say opined, but it was more of a mandate) that an experienced photographer (even you delusional ones) requires 3 or 4 times the focal length on shutter speed vs the urban myth of 1 or 2. This was unanimously agreed and thus the thread was put to rest (for the 55th time). Anyone that said 1 or 2x (or in one case less than 1!) was shouted down and ridiculed. This was understandable as less than 2 is an urban myth started back in the 70s in Pop Photo articles and old photography classes in high school. That was before 4K digital screens were on everyone's desk and instantly zooming to full-size 1:1. Anyway, I digress....
I was so inspired by MS 18's thread that I woke up this morning, went out into my 29-year-old daughter's back yard in Durham NC (where she is a young and very poor MD starting her Fellowship at UNC and has a new baby that I like to take bad baby pictures of), and I set up the beautiful XT-1, with its lovely RRS L bracket, huge eyecup and Think Tank Slide-Rite camera strap attached. I also mounted my favorite Fuji lens -- the venerable Brick - perhaps the finest zoom lens in the world. I did this for you, but looking at this gave me great pleasure and I just stared at it a while. Stay with me....
This amazing combination alone is worth a picture, but it is what I mounted it to that is the subject of this morning's lesson. I started to just make this post one of the responses to MS 18's question, but this information is so powerful that it deserves it's own thread. I did not want to deprive the unwashed masses of this information by burying it in an obscure thread on a subject that I have lectured this board on so many times.
Here we go:
I mounted the artwork (the lovely XH-1 with Brick attached) to the table tripod that DPR recommended to us 4 years ago - the fantastic and extremely light but tall FLM CP10-A1. The FLM ball head that matches it is the really fine FLM CB-24E ball head, but it lacks an Arca clamp. So I instead use the Giottos MH5310-655SC ball head. This mounts instantly to the RRS stuff L Brackett in either direction. That ball head is tall and light and adds needed height. That table tripod with ball head is always in my bag.
Here is what you do.
Take two of the stiff legs and spread them apart about the width of your nipples. Mount the two round feet to the pec muscles above your nipples (if you have pec muscles - if you don't just mount them to your sagging man-boobs and you ladies can adjust in accordance with your build) and adjust the ball head so that the big camera eyecup rests on your eye. Hold your left hand on the ball head and your right hand on the unbelievably fantastic and awesomely big comfortable hand grip of the utterly beautiful piece of camera gear called the XH-1. Assume a combat stance, Tuck your arms in and hold that tripod against your body firmly. It is a rock-solid hold.
Note: The large eyecup is not essential but it really adds stability because it fits so firmly and tightly to the eye. If you have an XH-1, get this large eyecup. It helps stabilize the camera even when you don't use this table-tripod technique while standing.
It is also interesting to note that this basically negates the tripod ban in palaces, cathedrals, castles, churches and museums. I have never been denied taking that table tripod inside anywhere photography is allwed. If they say something just tell them the table tripod will never touch the ground or any furniture.
You are also allowed to use this advanced technique on the XT-2, but remember, the XT-series is vastly inferior in that it does not yet have the IBIS that I ordered Fuji to implement on the utterly fantabulous and vastly under-rated XH-1.
Using this technique in museums, palaces, churches, cathedrals, events, or anywhere else where tripods are not allowed will save you 4 stops. It is a rock-solid. You will be amazed how well this works. I have achieved almost 2 second shots with this and anything under 2/3rds second is tac-sharp. Combined with IBIS it really is like having a tripod for anything under a second. Try it.
This table tripod rules and is the best one out there in my opinion (I have tried many). It is always in the bag. It allows for walking long exposures with ND filters without a full tripod and all kinds of other shots that are creative and is great at night, where you can set it up on ledges and tables. It goes on all hikes with me and all city walks. Indoors it gives you 4 extra stops. If you are behind the power-curve and do not yet (and you will soon) have IBIS, this gives you IBIS).
I really have gotten to where in my travels I never go out without this tripod either in or hanging off my bag.
I include images of this setup taken with my new X100 F. I hired a male model from GQ magazine for the poses, but he has asked that I keep his identity secret.
You are welcome. I do this for you.
Perfect Table Tripod
Perfect Table Tripod 2
Highly Paid Male Super-Model Demonstrating Table Tripod Body Technique
Highly Paid Male Super-Model Demonstrating Table Tripod Body Technique
Highly Paid Male Super-Model Resting Between Shots
Greg Johnson, San Antonio, Texas
Greg Johnson’s albums | Flickr
www.flickr.com
