Birding
Jan 13, 2019 09:39:00 #
Woodworm65
Loc: Lombard, IL
Those of you that are bird photographers I need to ask a question, do you use a monopod when capturing bird photos your thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Jan 13, 2019 09:44:13 #
I use a tripod about 95% of the time, other hand held.
Jan 13, 2019 09:52:44 #
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Jan 13, 2019 09:59:42 #
I do mostly hand held, with my walk around lens, but when i use my 200-500 and my TC1.4 it is mounted on a tripod and gimbal.
Jan 13, 2019 10:01:19 #
Woodworm65 wrote:
Those of you that are bird photographers I need to ask a question, do you use a monopod when capturing bird photos your thoughts are greatly appreciated.
tripod or handheld
Jan 13, 2019 10:13:28 #
Woodworm65 wrote:
Those of you that are bird photographers I need to ask a question, do you use a monopod when capturing bird photos your thoughts are greatly appreciated.
YES, about 80% of the time either monopod or bodypod, 15% hand held, 5% tripod. I mostly use the monopod of my own design and make it. I AVOID tripods - way too slow/confining/immobile and dangerous.
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Jan 13, 2019 10:36:25 #
Woodworm65
Loc: Lombard, IL
I agree walking around in the woods with a tripod would be a road paved to disaster I think (in my p brain) the monopod would be the way to go.
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Jan 13, 2019 10:51:17 #
Newer cameras and lenses have stabilization systems that can make it less necessary to use monopods and tripods.
Jan 13, 2019 12:13:06 #
I have a carbon fiber monopod that I took apart to use just the top end. It is about 10 inches long. I have a small lightweight tripod head attached to it. It is all very lightweight and is long enough to nestle below my chest for stability. I have thought about putting a short PVC pipe at the chest end to minimize side to side movement but don't think I need it. It is pretty good for video and birds. Basically it's a pistol grip on steroids :) Of course I can switch it from camera to camera since the connection is a tripod plate. I found that for some reason I can not keep a regular monopod from swaying front to back so problem solved. I also use pistol grips- my longest lens is under 40 ounces. I use a tripod when doing video of more than a couple of minutes duration or or for long timed images. Other than that I try to avoid dragging a tripod around.
Jan 13, 2019 12:19:55 #
Jan 13, 2019 13:04:06 #
Strodav
Loc: Houston, Tx
Woodworm65 wrote:
Those of you that are bird photographers I need to ask a question, do you use a monopod when capturing bird photos your thoughts are greatly appreciated.
My birding lens is a Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 G2 on either a D500 (DX) or D850 (FF) body. When I have a lot of light and can get the shutter speed up to 1/2000 or 1/4000, I shoot a lot of handheld unless I'm in a blind or on a pier, but most of the time I use a tripod with a ball head (am saving up for a gimbal). In BIF situations, I back off on the zoom factor to like 400mm, open the aperture, and shoot handheld. Usually get a few keepers if I hold the shutter button down at 9fps.
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Jan 13, 2019 13:06:17 #
Hand-held and monopod. Mostly hand-held as birds in flight are easier that way. I have been thinking of a ball head for my monopod.
Jan 13, 2019 13:22:09 #
Jan 13, 2019 14:57:18 #
Woodworm65 wrote:
Those of you that are bird photographers I need to ask a question, do you use a monopod when capturing bird photos your thoughts are greatly appreciated.
I now use a Sigma Sport 150-600 and a Nikon D810 hand held 100% of the time, relying on stabilization for slower shutter speeds, and turning it off when I am shooting at 1/500 or faster in good light. I am in the process of selling my 600mm F4 which I used on a tripod 100% of the time. The only time I use a monopod is when I anticipate long hours and a moderately heavy lens - I used to do horse jumping competitions, and it was not unusual for a day to last 12 hours. An 80-200mm F2.8 on a full frame body, which weighs around 6 lbs, can feel like 60 lbs at the end of the day.
Jan 13, 2019 15:25:49 #
I don't use a tripod, as of yet. I must add I do a lot of auto-tours and shoot from inside a car.
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