Camera Labs

Well i need something for my camera for long exposures. And since its my birthday soon i might get some money to buy one.
But i'm not quite sure which to go for, so i thought i'd ask for ur opinion first
So what do you think, what is the pros and cons of the different?

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Jake

Canon EOS 400D + EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS + EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS + EF 50mm f/1.8
My Photos - My webpage (danish)

Portability, in this order: gorillapod/monopod(tie) ->tripod
Stability: tripod, gorillapod, monopod

I dunno about you, but unless I was going somewhere specifically to take photos, I wouldn't bring a tripod. It's just too much trouble to take around on , for example, holidays that I wouldn't really get to enjoy anything else, unless of course taking shots is all you want to do.

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Graham
Flickr

How long are your 'long exposures'? If you're talking several seconds or more, then a tripod is the only way to go. I've found the Gorillapods can shift a little and of course a monopod will fall over on its one leg!

Thanks for the replies. Long exposures can cover everything from ~0.5-1 sec and all the way up to 30+ sec nightshots. I really would like to be able to do it all.
Gorden does that go for all the Gorillapods?

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Jake

Canon EOS 400D + EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS + EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS + EF 50mm f/1.8
My Photos - My webpage (danish)

Hi Jake,

With apologies to the regulars which have seen this link before, but one article I have found very useful is Tripods and Ball Heads by Thom Hogan. The only downside to the article, and its implication of how much money should be spent, is that I'm still not much nearer my own decision.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Bob, that article is downright frightening! I know it's probably true, but still...

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flickr
Canon 5D + 17-40 F4L + 50 F1.4 + 70-200 F2.8L
Velbon Sherpa 200R

I've given up on the thought of using a tripod alltogether to be honest. I dont do super long exposures, but as far as night shots go, i either increase the iso or use my 70-300 with vr.

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I've upped my Iso, now up yours.
Nikon D700, Nikon D80, Micro Nikkor 105 f2.8 AI-S,Nikon 85mm 1.8D, Nikon 50mm 1.8D, Nikon 35mm F2D, Nikon 16-35 f4 VR, Nikon 24-70mm F2.8 AF-S, Nikon 70-200VRII, Nikon 70-300mm VR, 300mm f2.8 AI IF ED, SB-800, SB-900. Noiseware pro,NIK Dfine, Nik Colour Effex, Nik Sharpener Pro

I had the same quandry for some time. I take mostly landscape shots as well as a fair amound of buildings/architecture etc. I also like to go hillwalking and mountaineering and I travel quite a bit and so wanted portability as well as stability, however I came to the conclusion that really these are mutually exclusive properties.

I dismissed monopods pretty early on as a bit pointless. You may as well brace yourself against an inanimate object or place your camera on a post or rock or wall etc. to get the steadyness required for exposures in difficult light. I toyed with the idea of a Gorillapod SLR Zoom (the only Gorillapod suitable for SLRs in my opinion) but found that it was pretty bulky and not the sort of thing I would want to throw in my camerabag if I wanted to travel light.

I ended up with a proper tripod for use with my SLR as it was the only kit that would guarantee the levels of stability I wanted for long exposures. For travel and hillwalking I very often stuff my compact camera into my rucsac and in those circumstances a little table-top tripod or beanbag is as good as anything.....and much cheaper than a Gorillapod.

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Nikon D80, Nikkor 18-135mm, Sigma 10-20mm, Nikkor 70-300mm

Flickr