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THIS WEEK IN PHOTOGRAPHY 12-10-2009
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ALL ABOUT TRIPODS-Part 2 Paul Franklin (r)
Let's look at the features of a tripod...
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Non-geared, “pull-up” center columns are fastest and offer less parts to wear out or break. You’ll most likely prefer a tripod lacking secondary attachments to the bottom of the center column, as independently-adjustable legs are much easier to use on uneven surfaces.
How about height? The top of the tripod (with no head attached) should be about the height of the middle of your sternum (breastbone.) Why? Add about 4 inches for the tripod head and another 4 for the camera and the viewfinder should be at the perfect level for shooting. Should you get a tripod any shorter you’ll have to elevate the center column to reach eye height, and the center column is inherently less stable – it’s essentially a monopod on top of a tripod. Find out how low the tripod will go. Many if not most tripods will go to near ground-level, and there’s a number of situations (macro, for instance) where a low tripod angle is essential. |
Another consideration is the number of leg sections. Few leg sections (typically three) generally means less flexing and more stability. On the other hand, 4 leg sections tends to result in a far smaller package – ideal better for packing for air travel or for strapping onto a camera bag when trekking to or between shots. A 4-section carbon fiber tripod can be tiny, feather-light, and rock-steady, for instance, while a 3-section aluminum tripod may be the ideal inexpensive, durable, general-purpose camera support.
Tripods are available in several different materials: notably aluminum, basalt, and carbon fiber.
Aluminum is the traditional and by far the most common choice. It is the least expensive of the three, very durable, and reasonably stiff. Thinking of moving up?
Basalt or lava is intermediate in price, much lighter than aluminum, but generally not as stiff. Another major point in basalt’s favor is that it does not transmit heat and cold – it tends to remain at a stable temperature in any environment.
Carbon fiber tripods are what many serious photographers aspire to. Is weight important to you? They are remarkably light, very stiff, and almost indestructible. A carbon fiber tripod is expensive, but…it will probably be the last tripod you ever buy. |
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NEW PRODUCT: DAYLIGHT BALANCED COLD LIGHT
| A new concept in video lighting and constant lights for still cameras- super bright, 5600K LED's provide cold lighting for 1.5 hours on a single battery charge. Use a single unit on your camera's hot shoe or stack many light units together to create one large expandable light panel. The single light kit contains a DV60 LED light, side bracket, locking adapter, 7.4v rechargeable battery, 110v AC charger, and an adapter for Sony cameras. The price is $89.95 |
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NEW PRODUCT: UNIVERSAL USB CABLE REPLACEMENT
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Lost your camera's USB cable? Need a Firewire cable?
This extremely versatile adapter provides multi-cables to connect USB and Firewire devices. Five foot cord, USB 2.0 and Firewire on one side. The other side has a Female A, Standard B, Mini B 5 pin, Mini B 8 pin, and 4 pin Firewire. Wow!
$39.95. |
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IN STOCK
Canon EOS 7D bodies, as of opening Thursday, for $1699.
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NIKON WORLD CALENDAR
The 2010 calendar is in. Pick up your FREE copy.
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DISCONTINUED
As of January 1st, the #9238 NIKON COOLSCAN 5000 ED FILM SCANNER and it's accessories will be discontinued by Nikon. The 9000 ED for both 35mm and 120 mm film will continue to be marketed.
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PHOTO EXHIBITIONS
Continuing ....
... "Illuminations & Reflections", new work by Birmingham's Melissa Springer and David Young of New York. Melissa will be showing her 19x19 inch series of silver gelatin floral prints at the Garden Center at Birmingham Botanical Gardens through January 1. http://www.bbgardens.org
... "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: American Art from the Yale University Gallery" at the Birmingham Museum of Art through January 10th.
... Auburn: "Elvis at 21- New York To Memphis", photographs by Alfred Wertheimer at the Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University through January 9th, 2010. http://www.jcsm.auburn.edu
... Tuscaloosa: "William Christenberry: Land/Memory" at the Sarah Moody Gallery of Art, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa through December 22nd. http://www.as.ua.edu/art.
... Atlanta: "Black Line of Woods", by Minneapolis photographer Alec Soth at the High Museum through January 3rd. http://www.high.org
... Nashville: "Twilight Visions: Surrealism, Photography, and Paris" by world famous photographers on display through January 23rd, 2010 at the Frist Center in Nashville. http:/ www.fristcenter.org.
... Columbus: "Now and Then: Snapshots of the South", historic photos by A.S. Williams and contemporary images by Jerry Siegle at the Columbus Museum in Columbus, Georgia through January 31. http://www.columbusmuseum.com
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MANUFACTURER PROMOTIONS
JILL-E Camera Bags trade-in program http://www.camerasbrookwood.com/BrochurePage/FLYER_Jill-e-CameraBags.pdf
Lowepro SlingShot 100 and SlingShot 200 AW camera bags receive a $10 mail-in rebate for purchases through 12/31/09. Pick up your rebate form and bag at CAMERAS BROOKWOOD.
Manfrotto Rebate on carbon fiber tripods http://www.camerasbrookwood.com/BrochurePage/FLYER_ManfrottoRebate.pdf
Select Manfrotto Tripods have a temporary $10 to $20 price reduction: 055XB tripod for $145; 055XPROB $160; 190XPROB- $145; and 7302YB for $115; and the 322RC2 grip for $120; Through December 31st.
Westcott Soft Boxes FREE with purchase
http://www.camerasbrookwood.com/BrochurePage/FLYER_Westcott-StrobeliteOutfit.pdf
Ilford Photo Contest : "Image On A Box" http://www.camerasbrookwood.com/BrochurePage/Flyer_IlfordPhotoContest.pdf
Lensbaby call for publication- get published; through December 31st. www.lensbaby.com/getpublished
Harman CrystalJet RC Inkjet Photo Paper introductory packaging contains 30 sheets of paper for the normal 25 sheet price. The cost of the 8.5x11 25+5 sheet box is $11.99 as long as supply lasts.
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WORKSHOPS at CAMERAS BROOKWOOD
The 2009 Series is now complete. A new schedule will be posted in mid January. If you have requests for the upcoming year, please let us know.
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www.cbPhotoStore.com http://www.cbphotostore.com/index.html
Tripods are the featured products on our cbPhotoStore Home Page for the month of December. Get specs and compare tripods. Bring a hardcopy of the Tripod page when you come in to purchase your tripod and we will treat it as a Fifteen Dollar Gift Certificate toward the purhase of any tripod in stock during the month of December. (One per customer)
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www.cbPhotoLab.com http://www.cbPhotoLab.com
Order your greeting cards online, get 250 4x8 cards with envelopes for only $99. Choose from many designs. Use offer code NL1209.
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NEWSLETTER SPECIALS
Three Ball Head specials for Newsletter subscribers only and retroactive back to Thanksgiving,,,
MH1301 Giottos Professional Socket and Ball Head with quick release plate for SLR's, one of Paul's favorites- $129.
Novaflex Ball Head #19, made in Germany, exceptionally strong for compact cameras for $68 includes a very strong suction cup to adhere to glass and metal.
Kaiser small ball heads are a great to articulate a flash unit on a bracket. Holds up to 2.2 pounds- $19.95.
and two lenses...
Canon EFS 55-250/4-5.6 IS for $279 (three in stock).
AF-S Nikkor 24-70/2.8 G for $1799 (one in stock)
Repair estimates are always free- call us at 205 822-2106
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LAUGH with Ron Bowen
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