Should I use a Tripod on a flat-decked pontoon boat. Should I use VR with the Tripod or without the Tripod?
Shellback
Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas
My choice would be hand held - VR on for non-wildlife photos when I'm trying to have low ISO and slower shutter speeds. IF I'm shooting wildlife, I'm going to be shooting fast shutter speed and won't be using VR anyway... Tripods - I would recommend not using on a boat. Basic rule of thumb is no vr with a tripod -
rvenn wrote:
Should I use a Tripod on a flat-decked pontoon boat. Should I use VR with the Tripod or without the Tripod?
I can't see how a tripod would be effective since the whole boat is moving. The VR might help with hand holding, but I would go with a high enough shutter speed to stop all motion.
I have taken many pictures from various types of boats which were traveling at different speeds and being hand held has always been my choice varying my shutter speed for the speed of the boat I'm on and always with the vr on.
rvenn wrote:
Should I use a Tripod on a flat-decked pontoon boat. Should I use VR with the Tripod or without the Tripod?
Always keep in mind that motor vibrations will always be transmitted through the tripod directly to the camera/lens mounted on it. NOT a good idea. Best results will be hand held with stabilization turned on unless you can shoot at high shutter speeds of 1/1000sec or faster then stabilization is not needed. using stabilization when not necessary not only uses excess battery power but will slow down the AF system so don't use it unless you need it for the shot.
my choice would always be no tripod and VR on. If possible I would try to find a seat, and rest my elbow(s) on the railing; that way my hands and forearms would absorb the vibration from the engine. On a pontoon boat you are going to have movement even with the engine off; shoot in burst mode & hope for the best.
The purpose of VR, IS, IBIS, or any other stabilization system is to compensate for camera movement. The sensors, electronics, and correction mechanisms can't tell where that movement comes from and really don't care. There are limitations, though, on the speed with which motors can move correction elements and how quickly they can reverse direction, so motor and propellor vibration may or may not be correctable, depending on motor RPM, propellor RPM, and other factors.
Rather than getting on the boat with any preconceived notion of whether something will or will not work, I'd suggest instead getting on the boat prepared to simply try and see what works. There have been times when I have used VR on a moving vehicle and it has worked great. In one case, where the characteristic movement was somewhat different, it did not work as well.
Thanks to all. Very helpful.
CamB
Loc: Juneau, Alaska
As someone who teaches photography on a boat all summer, most of the comments here are spot on. Don't bring that tripod, VR on most of the time, and use your body in a free floating manner to obsorb any shocks. This is perticularly important if it is rough out.
...Cam
rvenn wrote:
Should I use a Tripod on a flat-decked pontoon boat. Should I use VR with the Tripod or without the Tripod?
Shellback wrote:
My choice would be hand held - VR on for non-wildlife photos when I'm trying to have low ISO and slower shutter speeds. IF I'm shooting wildlife, I'm going to be shooting fast shutter speed and won't be using VR anyway... Tripods - I would recommend not using on a boat. Basic rule of thumb is no vr with a tripod -
Basic rule out of date with latest VRs.
Shellback
Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas
IDguy wrote:
Basic rule out of date with latest VRs.
Learned something new today - haven't researched vr lately since I'm not looking for upgrades yet... I'll keep that in mind when I get a newer lens -
Thanks -
Thanks again, I do not plan on shooting with the motor running. I will use it as a blind.
CamB
Loc: Juneau, Alaska
Unless, of course, you are shooting Orcas, and you have to keep moving just to keep up with them.
...Cam
rvenn wrote:
Thanks again, I do not plan on shooting with the motor running. I will use it as a blind.
`
Dual IS [IBIS + OS].
1/800 sec handheld.
FF Equiv FL=300mm.
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.