Selecting a tripod for use with very long focal lengths
I have been playing around with very long focal lengths using a Kenko 3x teleconverter. I have had problems getting sharp pictures and I think camera shake is a big part of that.
Given that I am planing to get a tripod to lock things down.
What should I look for in a tripod in this context?
I am currently using the sigma 100-300 f4 and a canon 5d mark ii but am also considering getting a 150-600mm zoom and the MTO-1000 mirror lens so any tripod I get I want to work with those.
I have heard that a heavy tripod is advisable in this context, is that correct and if so how heavy is heavy?
Looking around the web I found the Genesis A3 tripod that looked promising, am I on the right track with this?
tripod telephoto
edited Dec 31 '18 at 4:19
Michael C
132k7151372
asked Dec 29 '18 at 15:43
lijatlijat
662413
|
show 5 more comments
I have been playing around with very long focal lengths using a Kenko 3x teleconverter. I have had problems getting sharp pictures and I think camera shake is a big part of that.
Given that I am planing to get a tripod to lock things down.
What should I look for in a tripod in this context?
I am currently using the sigma 100-300 f4 and a canon 5d mark ii but am also considering getting a 150-600mm zoom and the MTO-1000 mirror lens so any tripod I get I want to work with those.
I have heard that a heavy tripod is advisable in this context, is that correct and if so how heavy is heavy?
Looking around the web I found the Genesis A3 tripod that looked promising, am I on the right track with this?
tripod telephoto
edited Dec 31 '18 at 4:19
Michael C
132k7151372
asked Dec 29 '18 at 15:43
lijatlijat
662413
1
Are you sure the problem is shake rather than just the issues inevitably introduced by a 3x TC? For example, do the problems go away if you use the TC on a high quality wide-to-normal prime?
– Philip Kendall
Dec 29 '18 at 15:54
1
What do you intend to shoot primarily? Do you need to be mobile and able to set up anywhere? Do you need to be able to quickly set up, or is a heavier studier tripod acceptable? Or are you always shooting from your backyard?
– scottbb
Dec 29 '18 at 21:51
1
"camera shake"... what are you taking pictures of & at what kind of shutter speeds. For instance, a tree at 0.5s is going to have moved a long way in that time - the leaves, that is ;)
– Tetsujin
Dec 30 '18 at 15:39
1
@lijat At effectively 900mm, pretty much any Tv longer than about 1/500 is going to show motion blur due to the Moon's movement relative to the Earth's surface, even if the camera is completely stable.
– Michael C
Dec 31 '18 at 4:23
1
Related: What properties should I look for to judge tripod quality? and What support system do I use to keep a telephoto lens stable? and What tripod heads are ideal to mount a large telephoto or supertelephoto lens on a tripod? and What should one consider when choosing a style of tripod head?
– Michael C
Dec 31 '18 at 4:37
|
show 5 more comments
I have been playing around with very long focal lengths using a Kenko 3x teleconverter. I have had problems getting sharp pictures and I think camera shake is a big part of that.
Given that I am planing to get a tripod to lock things down.
What should I look for in a tripod in this context?
I am currently using the sigma 100-300 f4 and a canon 5d mark ii but am also considering getting a 150-600mm zoom and the MTO-1000 mirror lens so any tripod I get I want to work with those.
I have heard that a heavy tripod is advisable in this context, is that correct and if so how heavy is heavy?
Looking around the web I found the Genesis A3 tripod that looked promising, am I on the right track with this?
tripod telephoto
edited Dec 31 '18 at 4:19
Michael C
132k7151372
asked Dec 29 '18 at 15:43
lijatlijat
662413
I have been playing around with very long focal lengths using a Kenko 3x teleconverter. I have had problems getting sharp pictures and I think camera shake is a big part of that.
Given that I am planing to get a tripod to lock things down.
What should I look for in a tripod in this context?
I am currently using the sigma 100-300 f4 and a canon 5d mark ii but am also considering getting a 150-600mm zoom and the MTO-1000 mirror lens so any tripod I get I want to work with those.
I have heard that a heavy tripod is advisable in this context, is that correct and if so how heavy is heavy?
Looking around the web I found the Genesis A3 tripod that looked promising, am I on the right track with this?
tripod telephoto
tripod telephoto
edited Dec 31 '18 at 4:19
Michael C
132k7151372
asked Dec 29 '18 at 15:43
lijatlijat
662413
edited Dec 31 '18 at 4:19
Michael C
132k7151372
asked Dec 29 '18 at 15:43
lijatlijat
662413
edited Dec 31 '18 at 4:19
Michael C
132k7151372
edited Dec 31 '18 at 4:19
Michael C
132k7151372
edited Dec 31 '18 at 4:19
Michael C
132k7151372
132k7151372
asked Dec 29 '18 at 15:43
lijatlijat
662413
asked Dec 29 '18 at 15:43
lijatlijat
662413
asked Dec 29 '18 at 15:43
lijatlijat
662413
662413
1
Are you sure the problem is shake rather than just the issues inevitably introduced by a 3x TC? For example, do the problems go away if you use the TC on a high quality wide-to-normal prime?
– Philip Kendall
Dec 29 '18 at 15:54
1
What do you intend to shoot primarily? Do you need to be mobile and able to set up anywhere? Do you need to be able to quickly set up, or is a heavier studier tripod acceptable? Or are you always shooting from your backyard?
– scottbb
Dec 29 '18 at 21:51
1
"camera shake"... what are you taking pictures of & at what kind of shutter speeds. For instance, a tree at 0.5s is going to have moved a long way in that time - the leaves, that is ;)
– Tetsujin
Dec 30 '18 at 15:39
1
@lijat At effectively 900mm, pretty much any Tv longer than about 1/500 is going to show motion blur due to the Moon's movement relative to the Earth's surface, even if the camera is completely stable.
– Michael C
Dec 31 '18 at 4:23
1
Related: What properties should I look for to judge tripod quality? and What support system do I use to keep a telephoto lens stable? and What tripod heads are ideal to mount a large telephoto or supertelephoto lens on a tripod? and What should one consider when choosing a style of tripod head?
– Michael C
Dec 31 '18 at 4:37
|
show 5 more comments
1
Are you sure the problem is shake rather than just the issues inevitably introduced by a 3x TC? For example, do the problems go away if you use the TC on a high quality wide-to-normal prime?
– Philip Kendall
Dec 29 '18 at 15:54
1
What do you intend to shoot primarily? Do you need to be mobile and able to set up anywhere? Do you need to be able to quickly set up, or is a heavier studier tripod acceptable? Or are you always shooting from your backyard?
– scottbb
Dec 29 '18 at 21:51
1
"camera shake"... what are you taking pictures of & at what kind of shutter speeds. For instance, a tree at 0.5s is going to have moved a long way in that time - the leaves, that is ;)
– Tetsujin
Dec 30 '18 at 15:39
1
@lijat At effectively 900mm, pretty much any Tv longer than about 1/500 is going to show motion blur due to the Moon's movement relative to the Earth's surface, even if the camera is completely stable.
– Michael C
Dec 31 '18 at 4:23
1
Related: What properties should I look for to judge tripod quality? and What support system do I use to keep a telephoto lens stable? and What tripod heads are ideal to mount a large telephoto or supertelephoto lens on a tripod? and What should one consider when choosing a style of tripod head?
– Michael C
Dec 31 '18 at 4:37
1
1
Are you sure the problem is shake rather than just the issues inevitably introduced by a 3x TC? For example, do the problems go away if you use the TC on a high quality wide-to-normal prime?
– Philip Kendall
Dec 29 '18 at 15:54
Are you sure the problem is shake rather than just the issues inevitably introduced by a 3x TC? For example, do the problems go away if you use the TC on a high quality wide-to-normal prime?
– Philip Kendall
Dec 29 '18 at 15:54
1
1
What do you intend to shoot primarily? Do you need to be mobile and able to set up anywhere? Do you need to be able to quickly set up, or is a heavier studier tripod acceptable? Or are you always shooting from your backyard?
– scottbb
Dec 29 '18 at 21:51
What do you intend to shoot primarily? Do you need to be mobile and able to set up anywhere? Do you need to be able to quickly set up, or is a heavier studier tripod acceptable? Or are you always shooting from your backyard?
– scottbb
Dec 29 '18 at 21:51
1
1
"camera shake"... what are you taking pictures of & at what kind of shutter speeds. For instance, a tree at 0.5s is going to have moved a long way in that time - the leaves, that is ;)
– Tetsujin
Dec 30 '18 at 15:39
"camera shake"... what are you taking pictures of & at what kind of shutter speeds. For instance, a tree at 0.5s is going to have moved a long way in that time - the leaves, that is ;)
– Tetsujin
Dec 30 '18 at 15:39
1
1
@lijat At effectively 900mm, pretty much any Tv longer than about 1/500 is going to show motion blur due to the Moon's movement relative to the Earth's surface, even if the camera is completely stable.
– Michael C
Dec 31 '18 at 4:23
@lijat At effectively 900mm, pretty much any Tv longer than about 1/500 is going to show motion blur due to the Moon's movement relative to the Earth's surface, even if the camera is completely stable.
– Michael C
Dec 31 '18 at 4:23
1
1
Related: What properties should I look for to judge tripod quality? and What support system do I use to keep a telephoto lens stable? and What tripod heads are ideal to mount a large telephoto or supertelephoto lens on a tripod? and What should one consider when choosing a style of tripod head?
– Michael C
Dec 31 '18 at 4:37
Related: What properties should I look for to judge tripod quality? and What support system do I use to keep a telephoto lens stable? and What tripod heads are ideal to mount a large telephoto or supertelephoto lens on a tripod? and What should one consider when choosing a style of tripod head?
– Michael C
Dec 31 '18 at 4:37
|
show 5 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
What should I look for in a tripod in this context? I am currently using the sigma 100-300 f4 and a canon 5d mark ii but am also considering getting a 150-600mm zoom and the MTO-1000 mirror lens so any tripod I get I want to work with those.
Long focal lengths require good technique. And part of that technique is proper tripod selection, and proper use of the tripod. A primary stabilizer of tripods is mass, and the distribution of it. Simply put, the more mass, the more stable and resistant to vibrations the tripod is. Closely related question: How to stabilize a tripod?
But even adding lots of mass via hang bags, sandbags, etc., to an undersized tripod won't overcome the limitations of a tripod and head combination that just isn't up to the task.
I have heard that a heavy tripod is advisable in this context, is that correct and if so how heavy is heavy?
Yes. Caveat: I wouldn't necessarily place the tripod's weight as the primary metric to consider for a sturdy tripod. For instance, a heavy duty (and very expensive) carbon fiber tripod such as the Gitzo Systematic series or Really Right Stuff Versa Series 3 and 4 at just shy of 3 kg is lighter than the largest big-box retailer video tripods, and probably more stable — at easily 5x the cost.
Overall size, and sturdiness of construction (solid leg locks, whether or not there's a center column, sturdiness of the head) and technique (only extending the legs as much as necessary; extending the fatter leg sections rather than skinny tubes when not at full extension; keeping the center column low; etc.) will do more to stabilize a tripod than simple mass alone.
Looking around the web I found the Genesis A3 tripod that looked promising, am I on the right track with this?
For long-focal length photography, I'd say that tripod is undersized. However, knowing that your focal length is coming from a 3x teleconverter and/or a catadioptric (mirror) lens (which are incredibly light for their focal length) rather than big expensive glass, it could probably be serviceable. As I mentioned before, technique goes a long way. For instance, extending as few legs as possible, and removing the center column to mount the included head directly to the tripod as shown in one of their product photos will provide a fairly sturdy base. Granted, you would be restricted to shooting from a low position, but it would be sturdier than at full extension.
IMO, with that tripod, I think the biggest issue you'll be working against is the ballhead that comes with it. I don't think the ballhead is large enough or sturdy enough for big-glass long focal-length photography. Fortunately, you can always choose to just get a larger ballhead later, or as Xiota suggests, a gimbal head.
See: What tripod heads are ideal to mount a large telephoto or supertelephoto lens on a tripod?
answered Dec 29 '18 at 22:26
scottbbscottbb
20.4k75892
add a comment |
Consider using a gimbal head to balance out the weight of the lens and camera. Long telephoto lenses tend to be unbalanced. No matter how sturdy the tripod, the tiniest bit of force is leveraged and magnified so that the lens and camera shake independently of the tripod.
To evaluate whether camera shake is at fault, just set your camera down on a sturdy table, and release the shutter via timer. If pictures are still fuzzy, the problem may be the quality of the teleconverter, as Phillip Kendall suggests.
answered Dec 29 '18 at 16:07
xiotaxiota
10.8k31858
Will this work regardless of tripod or are there some special features of the tripod that are recomended for this?
– lijat
Dec 29 '18 at 18:58
1
I'd think as long as the tripod can support the weight and has the right attachments, it should work fine. There's a YouTube video about using a gimbal head on a monopod.
– xiota
Dec 29 '18 at 21:36
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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active
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What should I look for in a tripod in this context? I am currently using the sigma 100-300 f4 and a canon 5d mark ii but am also considering getting a 150-600mm zoom and the MTO-1000 mirror lens so any tripod I get I want to work with those.
Long focal lengths require good technique. And part of that technique is proper tripod selection, and proper use of the tripod. A primary stabilizer of tripods is mass, and the distribution of it. Simply put, the more mass, the more stable and resistant to vibrations the tripod is. Closely related question: How to stabilize a tripod?
But even adding lots of mass via hang bags, sandbags, etc., to an undersized tripod won't overcome the limitations of a tripod and head combination that just isn't up to the task.
I have heard that a heavy tripod is advisable in this context, is that correct and if so how heavy is heavy?
Yes. Caveat: I wouldn't necessarily place the tripod's weight as the primary metric to consider for a sturdy tripod. For instance, a heavy duty (and very expensive) carbon fiber tripod such as the Gitzo Systematic series or Really Right Stuff Versa Series 3 and 4 at just shy of 3 kg is lighter than the largest big-box retailer video tripods, and probably more stable — at easily 5x the cost.
Overall size, and sturdiness of construction (solid leg locks, whether or not there's a center column, sturdiness of the head) and technique (only extending the legs as much as necessary; extending the fatter leg sections rather than skinny tubes when not at full extension; keeping the center column low; etc.) will do more to stabilize a tripod than simple mass alone.
Looking around the web I found the Genesis A3 tripod that looked promising, am I on the right track with this?
For long-focal length photography, I'd say that tripod is undersized. However, knowing that your focal length is coming from a 3x teleconverter and/or a catadioptric (mirror) lens (which are incredibly light for their focal length) rather than big expensive glass, it could probably be serviceable. As I mentioned before, technique goes a long way. For instance, extending as few legs as possible, and removing the center column to mount the included head directly to the tripod as shown in one of their product photos will provide a fairly sturdy base. Granted, you would be restricted to shooting from a low position, but it would be sturdier than at full extension.
IMO, with that tripod, I think the biggest issue you'll be working against is the ballhead that comes with it. I don't think the ballhead is large enough or sturdy enough for big-glass long focal-length photography. Fortunately, you can always choose to just get a larger ballhead later, or as Xiota suggests, a gimbal head.
See: What tripod heads are ideal to mount a large telephoto or supertelephoto lens on a tripod?
answered Dec 29 '18 at 22:26
scottbbscottbb
20.4k75892
add a comment |
What should I look for in a tripod in this context? I am currently using the sigma 100-300 f4 and a canon 5d mark ii but am also considering getting a 150-600mm zoom and the MTO-1000 mirror lens so any tripod I get I want to work with those.
Long focal lengths require good technique. And part of that technique is proper tripod selection, and proper use of the tripod. A primary stabilizer of tripods is mass, and the distribution of it. Simply put, the more mass, the more stable and resistant to vibrations the tripod is. Closely related question: How to stabilize a tripod?
But even adding lots of mass via hang bags, sandbags, etc., to an undersized tripod won't overcome the limitations of a tripod and head combination that just isn't up to the task.
I have heard that a heavy tripod is advisable in this context, is that correct and if so how heavy is heavy?
Yes. Caveat: I wouldn't necessarily place the tripod's weight as the primary metric to consider for a sturdy tripod. For instance, a heavy duty (and very expensive) carbon fiber tripod such as the Gitzo Systematic series or Really Right Stuff Versa Series 3 and 4 at just shy of 3 kg is lighter than the largest big-box retailer video tripods, and probably more stable — at easily 5x the cost.
Overall size, and sturdiness of construction (solid leg locks, whether or not there's a center column, sturdiness of the head) and technique (only extending the legs as much as necessary; extending the fatter leg sections rather than skinny tubes when not at full extension; keeping the center column low; etc.) will do more to stabilize a tripod than simple mass alone.
Looking around the web I found the Genesis A3 tripod that looked promising, am I on the right track with this?
For long-focal length photography, I'd say that tripod is undersized. However, knowing that your focal length is coming from a 3x teleconverter and/or a catadioptric (mirror) lens (which are incredibly light for their focal length) rather than big expensive glass, it could probably be serviceable. As I mentioned before, technique goes a long way. For instance, extending as few legs as possible, and removing the center column to mount the included head directly to the tripod as shown in one of their product photos will provide a fairly sturdy base. Granted, you would be restricted to shooting from a low position, but it would be sturdier than at full extension.
IMO, with that tripod, I think the biggest issue you'll be working against is the ballhead that comes with it. I don't think the ballhead is large enough or sturdy enough for big-glass long focal-length photography. Fortunately, you can always choose to just get a larger ballhead later, or as Xiota suggests, a gimbal head.
See: What tripod heads are ideal to mount a large telephoto or supertelephoto lens on a tripod?
answered Dec 29 '18 at 22:26
scottbbscottbb
20.4k75892
add a comment |
What should I look for in a tripod in this context? I am currently using the sigma 100-300 f4 and a canon 5d mark ii but am also considering getting a 150-600mm zoom and the MTO-1000 mirror lens so any tripod I get I want to work with those.
Long focal lengths require good technique. And part of that technique is proper tripod selection, and proper use of the tripod. A primary stabilizer of tripods is mass, and the distribution of it. Simply put, the more mass, the more stable and resistant to vibrations the tripod is. Closely related question: How to stabilize a tripod?
But even adding lots of mass via hang bags, sandbags, etc., to an undersized tripod won't overcome the limitations of a tripod and head combination that just isn't up to the task.
I have heard that a heavy tripod is advisable in this context, is that correct and if so how heavy is heavy?
Yes. Caveat: I wouldn't necessarily place the tripod's weight as the primary metric to consider for a sturdy tripod. For instance, a heavy duty (and very expensive) carbon fiber tripod such as the Gitzo Systematic series or Really Right Stuff Versa Series 3 and 4 at just shy of 3 kg is lighter than the largest big-box retailer video tripods, and probably more stable — at easily 5x the cost.
Overall size, and sturdiness of construction (solid leg locks, whether or not there's a center column, sturdiness of the head) and technique (only extending the legs as much as necessary; extending the fatter leg sections rather than skinny tubes when not at full extension; keeping the center column low; etc.) will do more to stabilize a tripod than simple mass alone.
Looking around the web I found the Genesis A3 tripod that looked promising, am I on the right track with this?
For long-focal length photography, I'd say that tripod is undersized. However, knowing that your focal length is coming from a 3x teleconverter and/or a catadioptric (mirror) lens (which are incredibly light for their focal length) rather than big expensive glass, it could probably be serviceable. As I mentioned before, technique goes a long way. For instance, extending as few legs as possible, and removing the center column to mount the included head directly to the tripod as shown in one of their product photos will provide a fairly sturdy base. Granted, you would be restricted to shooting from a low position, but it would be sturdier than at full extension.
IMO, with that tripod, I think the biggest issue you'll be working against is the ballhead that comes with it. I don't think the ballhead is large enough or sturdy enough for big-glass long focal-length photography. Fortunately, you can always choose to just get a larger ballhead later, or as Xiota suggests, a gimbal head.
See: What tripod heads are ideal to mount a large telephoto or supertelephoto lens on a tripod?
answered Dec 29 '18 at 22:26
scottbbscottbb
20.4k75892
What should I look for in a tripod in this context? I am currently using the sigma 100-300 f4 and a canon 5d mark ii but am also considering getting a 150-600mm zoom and the MTO-1000 mirror lens so any tripod I get I want to work with those.
Long focal lengths require good technique. And part of that technique is proper tripod selection, and proper use of the tripod. A primary stabilizer of tripods is mass, and the distribution of it. Simply put, the more mass, the more stable and resistant to vibrations the tripod is. Closely related question: How to stabilize a tripod?
But even adding lots of mass via hang bags, sandbags, etc., to an undersized tripod won't overcome the limitations of a tripod and head combination that just isn't up to the task.
I have heard that a heavy tripod is advisable in this context, is that correct and if so how heavy is heavy?
Yes. Caveat: I wouldn't necessarily place the tripod's weight as the primary metric to consider for a sturdy tripod. For instance, a heavy duty (and very expensive) carbon fiber tripod such as the Gitzo Systematic series or Really Right Stuff Versa Series 3 and 4 at just shy of 3 kg is lighter than the largest big-box retailer video tripods, and probably more stable — at easily 5x the cost.
Overall size, and sturdiness of construction (solid leg locks, whether or not there's a center column, sturdiness of the head) and technique (only extending the legs as much as necessary; extending the fatter leg sections rather than skinny tubes when not at full extension; keeping the center column low; etc.) will do more to stabilize a tripod than simple mass alone.
Looking around the web I found the Genesis A3 tripod that looked promising, am I on the right track with this?
For long-focal length photography, I'd say that tripod is undersized. However, knowing that your focal length is coming from a 3x teleconverter and/or a catadioptric (mirror) lens (which are incredibly light for their focal length) rather than big expensive glass, it could probably be serviceable. As I mentioned before, technique goes a long way. For instance, extending as few legs as possible, and removing the center column to mount the included head directly to the tripod as shown in one of their product photos will provide a fairly sturdy base. Granted, you would be restricted to shooting from a low position, but it would be sturdier than at full extension.
IMO, with that tripod, I think the biggest issue you'll be working against is the ballhead that comes with it. I don't think the ballhead is large enough or sturdy enough for big-glass long focal-length photography. Fortunately, you can always choose to just get a larger ballhead later, or as Xiota suggests, a gimbal head.
See: What tripod heads are ideal to mount a large telephoto or supertelephoto lens on a tripod?
answered Dec 29 '18 at 22:26
scottbbscottbb
20.4k75892
edited Dec 29 '18 at 22:34
answered Dec 29 '18 at 22:26
scottbbscottbb
20.4k75892
answered Dec 29 '18 at 22:26
scottbbscottbb
20.4k75892
answered Dec 29 '18 at 22:26
scottbbscottbb
20.4k75892
20.4k75892
add a comment |
add a comment |
Consider using a gimbal head to balance out the weight of the lens and camera. Long telephoto lenses tend to be unbalanced. No matter how sturdy the tripod, the tiniest bit of force is leveraged and magnified so that the lens and camera shake independently of the tripod.
To evaluate whether camera shake is at fault, just set your camera down on a sturdy table, and release the shutter via timer. If pictures are still fuzzy, the problem may be the quality of the teleconverter, as Phillip Kendall suggests.
answered Dec 29 '18 at 16:07
xiotaxiota
10.8k31858
Will this work regardless of tripod or are there some special features of the tripod that are recomended for this?
– lijat
Dec 29 '18 at 18:58
1
I'd think as long as the tripod can support the weight and has the right attachments, it should work fine. There's a YouTube video about using a gimbal head on a monopod.
– xiota
Dec 29 '18 at 21:36
add a comment |
Consider using a gimbal head to balance out the weight of the lens and camera. Long telephoto lenses tend to be unbalanced. No matter how sturdy the tripod, the tiniest bit of force is leveraged and magnified so that the lens and camera shake independently of the tripod.
To evaluate whether camera shake is at fault, just set your camera down on a sturdy table, and release the shutter via timer. If pictures are still fuzzy, the problem may be the quality of the teleconverter, as Phillip Kendall suggests.
answered Dec 29 '18 at 16:07
xiotaxiota
10.8k31858
Will this work regardless of tripod or are there some special features of the tripod that are recomended for this?
– lijat
Dec 29 '18 at 18:58
1
I'd think as long as the tripod can support the weight and has the right attachments, it should work fine. There's a YouTube video about using a gimbal head on a monopod.
– xiota
Dec 29 '18 at 21:36
add a comment |
Consider using a gimbal head to balance out the weight of the lens and camera. Long telephoto lenses tend to be unbalanced. No matter how sturdy the tripod, the tiniest bit of force is leveraged and magnified so that the lens and camera shake independently of the tripod.
To evaluate whether camera shake is at fault, just set your camera down on a sturdy table, and release the shutter via timer. If pictures are still fuzzy, the problem may be the quality of the teleconverter, as Phillip Kendall suggests.
answered Dec 29 '18 at 16:07
xiotaxiota
10.8k31858
Consider using a gimbal head to balance out the weight of the lens and camera. Long telephoto lenses tend to be unbalanced. No matter how sturdy the tripod, the tiniest bit of force is leveraged and magnified so that the lens and camera shake independently of the tripod.
To evaluate whether camera shake is at fault, just set your camera down on a sturdy table, and release the shutter via timer. If pictures are still fuzzy, the problem may be the quality of the teleconverter, as Phillip Kendall suggests.
answered Dec 29 '18 at 16:07
xiotaxiota
10.8k31858
edited Dec 29 '18 at 16:12
answered Dec 29 '18 at 16:07
xiotaxiota
10.8k31858
answered Dec 29 '18 at 16:07
xiotaxiota
10.8k31858
answered Dec 29 '18 at 16:07
xiotaxiota
10.8k31858
10.8k31858
Will this work regardless of tripod or are there some special features of the tripod that are recomended for this?
– lijat
Dec 29 '18 at 18:58
1
I'd think as long as the tripod can support the weight and has the right attachments, it should work fine. There's a YouTube video about using a gimbal head on a monopod.
– xiota
Dec 29 '18 at 21:36
add a comment |
Will this work regardless of tripod or are there some special features of the tripod that are recomended for this?
– lijat
Dec 29 '18 at 18:58
1
I'd think as long as the tripod can support the weight and has the right attachments, it should work fine. There's a YouTube video about using a gimbal head on a monopod.
– xiota
Dec 29 '18 at 21:36
Will this work regardless of tripod or are there some special features of the tripod that are recomended for this?
– lijat
Dec 29 '18 at 18:58
Will this work regardless of tripod or are there some special features of the tripod that are recomended for this?
– lijat
Dec 29 '18 at 18:58
1
1
I'd think as long as the tripod can support the weight and has the right attachments, it should work fine. There's a YouTube video about using a gimbal head on a monopod.
– xiota
Dec 29 '18 at 21:36
I'd think as long as the tripod can support the weight and has the right attachments, it should work fine. There's a YouTube video about using a gimbal head on a monopod.
– xiota
Dec 29 '18 at 21:36
add a comment |
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1
Are you sure the problem is shake rather than just the issues inevitably introduced by a 3x TC? For example, do the problems go away if you use the TC on a high quality wide-to-normal prime?
– Philip Kendall
Dec 29 '18 at 15:54
1
What do you intend to shoot primarily? Do you need to be mobile and able to set up anywhere? Do you need to be able to quickly set up, or is a heavier studier tripod acceptable? Or are you always shooting from your backyard?
– scottbb
Dec 29 '18 at 21:51
1
"camera shake"... what are you taking pictures of & at what kind of shutter speeds. For instance, a tree at 0.5s is going to have moved a long way in that time - the leaves, that is ;)
– Tetsujin
Dec 30 '18 at 15:39
1
@lijat At effectively 900mm, pretty much any Tv longer than about 1/500 is going to show motion blur due to the Moon's movement relative to the Earth's surface, even if the camera is completely stable.
– Michael C
Dec 31 '18 at 4:23
1
Related: What properties should I look for to judge tripod quality? and What support system do I use to keep a telephoto lens stable? and What tripod heads are ideal to mount a large telephoto or supertelephoto lens on a tripod? and What should one consider when choosing a style of tripod head?
– Michael C
Dec 31 '18 at 4:37