Use a tripod?

[IPT]

So I've been seeing stuff about using a tripod or not a lot in this forum lately. I figured I'd do a poll to see what others are doing regarding that. Just curious.

I have a few very good tripods, but I do not always use them. I know tripods are staple for getting sharp professional quality images, especially with a deep DOF. Yet, sometimes I am just out and want to go light and fast. Sometimes the weather is horendous and I just want to crank out the shot quickly. Sometimes the subject (wildlife) isn't there long enough to give me the time to set one up. If I am going telephoto I like to use one (though I've shot handheld with 420mm from the bus window in Denali National Park many times - and got sharp images). If I am just out hiking or biking I am likely to not even bring one. That doesn't always stop a beautiful Bull Moose from crossing my path though so I for one appreciate IS. How about you?

Lets not include casual point and shoot users here...SLR users or people with high quality P&S cameras that are passionate about photography.

 

[IPT]

If nothing else, they are useful for self portraits

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

I voted 60%, always my preference but sometimes just not practical.

 

[MisterTang]

80%, unless I'm shooting "action shots". All my fish have gotten to the point that they will hang out in the one spot I feed them daily when I approach the tank, which makes it convenient for shooting.

 

[BlueCorn]

Depends on your frame of reference really. Mine is that I shoot almost exclusively nature/landscape stuff with some macro on the side. I'm in the 100% category.

If you're doing sports, airplanes, family, street photography...... that's going to be a very different figure.

 

[Misled]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13857246#post13857246 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IPT
If nothing else, they are useful for self portraits

^^^^That's very cool!!!

I went for 40% cuz of what I normally shoot. When doing sunsets or the landscapes I'm trying to learn, almost always. When I'm chasing a bug or a bird, not so much!!!!

 

[IPT]

Thanks Misled - Exit glacier in Alaska. Rare to have the collected rain water and no wind in this spot. In 6 years I have yet to see it come togther like that again (at least during the times I've been back)


Yeah, no doubt. There is a time for everything. I should probably use mine more (I voted 60%). The fact is I take a lot of images while hiking, sking, snowshoeing, or MTN biking. It's a PITA to tote the tripod and time consuming to set it up. I sort of need to make a mental choice before I leave - is this about photography, or just getting out? Sometimes animals just appear, and disapear quickly and literally there is no time for the tripod.

In all honesty I should probably use it more.

 

[IPT]

Well, seems like if your halfway serious about your craft, you're use a tripod roughly 50% or more of the time. Seems about right. I think we all "grab" a shot or two now and then. I think my New Years Resolution is gonna be to get in the 80% group! 100%, as ideal as it is would be unrealiastic for me.

Thanks for voting .

 

[JHemdal]

IMO a tripod helps only a little when getting grab shots of moving fish. Since I mainly shoot aquariums, the pay back for having the tripod banging around just isn't there. I did however just buy a monopod and have found that is a good compromise in some instances. I can still fairly easily move the camera left/right/front/back, yet it helps steady my caffeine shakes in the morning.

Jay

 

[swjim]

I'm in the 20% category primarily because most of my shooting revolves around my kids' sport and various family activities. The tripod primarily comes out for tank shots or when I'm trying to take proper portraits. I would use it for landscape shooting as well but I really don't get a chance to do much of that right now.

 

[dendronepthya]

For tank photos 100%. For everything else, 0%

 

[IPT]

yes, indeed. Seems like it is nearly a given that Tripods are "pretty much" a necessity for shooting coral sharply, but how about fish? Do you pan with them hand held and a fast shutter speed, or mount up on a tripod and wait for them to enter the frame? Use the Tripod as a base pan off it? Who's using a flash to get sharp handheld shots of fish? Course we may use varied methods, but one usually dominates.

Personally I usually use the Tripod. Often the ballhead is free with the friction turned up slightly, but I can't think of many times I go free handed totally.

 

["Umm fish?"]

Depends on what and how I'm shooting. Insect macro photography? Almost never. In fact, never. Snow crystals? Always. Coral shots? Depends on the light and whether I want to use a flash, but most of the time. One of the sharpest photos I've ever taken of a ricordia, though, was handheld. Fish? No.

 

[IPT]

umm fish - I am figuring you're using a macro flash ring for the insects though. I'll hand hold some fish shots (bracing as much as I can on my legs (or as I said using the tripod with the balhead loose).

I haven't got good results with the flash - mostly because it's too warm in coloration for my liking. This could probably be corrected with WB in RAW, I haven't tried. I get enough sharp one by just blasting away frames and setting a fairly high shutter speed.

 

["Umm fish?"]

I do shoot in RAW and adjust the WB later. For my purposes, I get many more useful shots if I increase the amount of light so I can use faster exposures. I prefer to increase the light rather than lose depth of field or increase the ISO.

I'm just about done setting up a new tank and I'm considering trying to rig up a remote flash bracket to mount above the tank so I can get more natural shadows while still giving me the light I want. I'm hoping that'll help corals to look more natural under flash.