I know I should, but.. Hello and thank you to all who would offer an answer. My question is should carry my Sony HX5 with me so I can take pictures when the mood hits? If the answer is...

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Hello and thank you to all who would offer an answer.
My question is should carry my Sony HX5 with me so I can take pictures when the mood hits? If the answer is yes, then i also feel I should have a monopod and tripod with me for those times when hand held is not an option.
This is not my backup camera, but takes very good pictures and I have some control of aperture and shutter speed and full control of ISO. It small enough to fit in my pocket or brief case.
I just not convinced enough that I should have a camera with me all the time.

mommy115 Loc: California

Somewhere on this site you will find a suggestion for making a 'tripod device' from string, a screw and a washer (no, not a washer as in washing machine, a little round flat washer :-). I find it helpful when I don't have my tripod with me and I hate dragging that around all of the time. Yes you should carry your camera...you never know when a great photo op will magically appear.

Jwilliams0469 Loc: Topeka, Ks.

mommy115 wrote:

Somewhere on this site you will find a suggestion for making a 'tripod device' from string, a screw and a washer (no, not a washer as in washing machine, a little round flat washer :-). I find it helpful when I don't have my tripod with me and I hate dragging that around all of the time. Yes you should carry your camera...you never know when a great photo op will magically appear.

The guy that came up with this pocket pod is awesome. Yes, it's a twine string that is as long as your body length. Basically, you tie the twine or "non stretch string" one end to the washer (screw washer about the size of a half dollar and a curse thread screw about 1/2 inch long to the other end. "Make sure the screw fits"... Then you screw it into the same place you do for the tripod and drop the washer to the ground and step on it so that it is pulled tightly at the view screen or however you use your camera to take the photographs. basically a stabilizer!!! I love it! Now the only time I take a tripod with me, is when I know i'm going to be taking soft/cloud water photographs or night photographs...

Major Photo Loc: Jeffersonville, Indiana

It is not a question of when the mood strikes you, too many time one has the perfect shot before them and no camera. Always carry a camera. I do and never have regrette4d it, not once

tlhodge1

chapjohn wrote:

Hello and thank you to all who would offer an answ... (show quote)

My husband told me once , "Just like a gun slingger, I should never leave home without my camera" after thinking for a second, I realized they are '"NEVER'" without their gun!!!

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

chapjohn wrote:

Hello and thank you to all who would offer an answ... (show quote)

To tripod or not to tripod, that is the question, is a classic dilemma when leaving the house. I feel you need to know your skills and know the camera gear you own. Most of the time I have a VR(Vibration Reduction) lens aboard my camera. This allows me to shoot, hand held, down to about 1/2 second shutter speed. That's really slow. Understand that a tripod will always get you a better shot in the long-run, especially if you really enlarge the shot, but it may not be practical to carry one.

A recent example for me was my vacation that took me to wilderness involving miles of hiking. For breathtaking landscapes I would have preferred my tripod. Because I had to tote that tripod over rough terrain along with a full camera bag I left it behind. I knew it would be alright because there was plenty of sun and I did have my trusty 18-200mm VR lens aboard.

If you have room in your vehicle put the tripod/monopod in there. If not know your skills, the situation and your equipment.

gizzy.whicker Loc: Cumberland Co., Illinois

I don't know if you noticed, Mr. Chapjohn, but your picture is kattie-wampus sideways, and I'm getting a kink in my neck trying to see it. Not that it matters a whole lot one way or the other, I just didn't know if you knew your picture is kattie-wampus sideways. Some people in this forum might get the idea that you're not on the level. And you know what not being on the level does to sun-set horizons in the background.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

I take my point and shoot nikon small enough to fit in shirt pocket everywhere I go. One time i almost didn't on my way to the doctorrs office when i came home i had 44 shots. Think of this also. when the shuttle columbia disintegrated over texas most of the photos in the newspapers came from shots frrom a couple of ameatuers who were out shooting and stumbled on to the scene. one photo made the cover of newsweek. You never know.

josoIII

gizzy.whicker wrote:

I don't know if you noticed, Mr. Chapjohn, but your picture is kattie-wampus sideways, and I'm getting a kink in my neck trying to see it. Not that it matters a whole lot one way or the other, I just didn't know if you knew your picture is kattie-wampus sideways. Some people in this forum might get the idea that you're not on the level. And you know what not being on the level does to sun-set horizons in the background.

Not being level, leaving in the date, side ways posting, object in the way and everything that constitutes a less that acceptable photograph, will get more attention then you best work...

and you thought you were on a photosite, think again.

tsamori

I kick myself all of the time when I don't have my camera with, then I think i'll just come back...but I never get back or the lighting is just not the same. When I do have my camera along and something comes up, I am usually overly pleased that I had it. For a long while I just kept my tripod and a diffuser in the car for a 'just in case" type of moment. for the few times you may use it, I'll bet it will be worth all of the times you didn't need it.

RockinRobinG Loc: The Middle of Nowhere, Nebraska

DEFINITELY carry a camera with you at all times!!! While driving home from work one evening I was driving Westbound into a sunset that was SPECTACULAR. I stopped alongside the road and took about 20 pix. I would have been kicking myself to this day had I not had my camera with me.

beacher Loc: Butler, PA

Carry. Always. Tripod, eh! Practice yer HH technique! Use the opportunities to improvise ways to steady yer cam. Unless, of course, yer job doesn't provide for the opportunity to carry...

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

beacher wrote:

Carry. Always. Tripod, eh! Practice yer HH technique! Use the opportunities to improvise ways to steady yer cam. Unless, of course, yer job doesn't provide for the opportunity to carry...

I think it would have been worth the price of admission to have seen you in the wilderness in 100 degree heat carrying your tripod up and down the canyon trails. Just sayin'. :)

beacher Loc: Butler, PA

bobmielke wrote:

beacher wrote:

Carry. Always. Tripod, eh! Practice yer HH technique! Use the opportunities to improvise ways to steady yer cam. Unless, of course, yer job doesn't provide for the opportunity to carry...

I think it would have been worth the price of admission to have seen you in the wilderness in 100 degree heat carrying your tripod up and down the canyon trails. Just sayin'. :)

You misunderstood: Carry (camera) Always (not optional) Tripod, eh! (as in fergetaboutit!). HH technique I use most often is Joe McNally's "Da Grip" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDsx3-FWfwk
... but that's 'cause I fit the profile! ;) As to me humping thru canyons... hehehe! that'd be a medivac!

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

beacher wrote:

quote=bobmielke quote=beacher Carry. Always. Tri... (show quote)

Yes, but Joe is left eyed and left brained. Putting his camera on his shoulder has worked for him. I'm a big fan of his and the crew at Kelby Training. :)