Chuck317 Loc: Raleigh, North Carolina

I have a question for all of you that are more experienced than I, although that really may not take much. My wife and I are looking at a cruise through the Panama Canal in February. With the opening recently of the new locks, it should be quite interesting.

I want to be prepared for some low light and HDR opportunities, but not sure how a tripod may work on a ship idling through the canal. Google was not much help, and I did a search on UHH but found only one reference to using a mono-pole strapped to the railing, but the writer gave no account of success with this arrangement. Has anyone tried this or something similar and could you relate your success, or lack thereof? I've though of using some sort of gizmo to attach a camera to the railing, maybe using an alligator clamp arrangement? This worked well for me last year with a GoPro recording the calving of the glaciers on an Alaska cruise we were on in June, 2015, but a DSLR and lens is much heavier. If you know of a tripod that could be adapted, I would be willing to part with some dollars (need a new one anyway).

I have taken a few cruises in the past, but it was not until I did the Alaska cruise that I became interested in getting back into the photography hobby (in the 1970s I was into 35mm slides with a Canon FTb QL that I still have). I used a D5100 on the Alaska trip, all hand held, and captured some great shots, but I recently moved up to a D750 and working my way up to being more conscience of composition and hoping to do more low light, longer exposure pictures.

Anyone have experience with degradation of pictures due to the constant faint vibration of the ship? I was thinking of using some foam or soft rubber as a vibration absorber in some fashion that may help, but its hard to experiment before you're on the ship, and then the resources are limited.

Thanks in advance for any ideas or words of wisdom.

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

One thing to think of on a ship going through locks is vibration of the vessel/engines and manoeuvring .
I used both a tripod and a mono pod going through the great dam project locks
in China. Neither worked due to the vibration of the vessel which transmitted
the shakes up to the camera. Eventually, I took the shots hand held which
in the end, worked out fine. Of it does depend on what type of vessel it is and
how old.

Makers

I took a cruise through the canal a few years ago (before the new wider one was complete). Had a cabin with balcony and tried to take my photos (using monopod) from my balcony. Problem was that clearance between ship and wall of the canal was so small it was difficult to properly capture the experience from the balcony. Would have been much better to get on the upper deck at the front of the ship very early and stake out a spot.

Cruise ships pay an incredible premium to go through the canal at prime time (it's passengers pay a lot of money and want to be able to see the canal).So unless it's extremely overcast, low light shouldn't be an issue. I'd take the monopod over the tripod because if you do take photos from the deck where there will be lots of other passengers around, the wider footprint of the tripod may get bumped by them.

Enjoy your cruise!

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

With modern image stabilizers, you are far better off hand holding than using either monopod or tripod. Vibration is a major impediment when shooting from any motorized vessel.

EoS_User Loc: Oshawa, Ontario Canada

I was on a dinner cruise off Waikiki near Diamond Head crater. The light was fading and I wanted to get a shot of the shoreline. My camera indicated shake warning due to the light conditions. I tried setting my camera on the railing while taking the shot. While the ships movement seem almost imperceptible to me, the shot was no good. In the few seconds the shutter was open the movement was well recorded on film. Lots of blur and light streaks, oh well, live and learn.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

I wouldn't bother with a tripod on a cruise ship, it would just get in the way you can stabilize the camera by holding against a pole or rail if necessary, I have always used this trick when bracket shooting etc.

Bob55 Loc: Valhalla NY

My wife and I have been on several cruises but I never take my tripod. I think you magnify the movement and vibration of the ship by mounting a camera on a tripod. I do take a monopod but only use it for land excursions. On the ship I recommend holding the camera. Enjoy your cruise.

Boentgru Loc: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

I used to work on consulting engineering jobs on ships. I used a tripod sometimes when documenting the sensors or instrumentation installation but found that subjects while underway came too quickly to fame a scene on a mount. Hand-held "snap-shots" produced much more rewarding results; the interesting shots were almost always fleeting - the underside of the Golden Gate bridge when entering S.F., the mules while transiting the Panama Canal, or even when one knows what is coming up on repeated routes such as on the Great Lakes. Just keep your camera handy and set up for general shots.

aberration

USE LONG ENOUGH LIGHT BUNGEE CORD WITH 1/4X20 BOLT FASTENED TO END TO DAMPEN VERTICAL MOTION OF DECK.. YOU STAND ON ONE END, CAMERA UNDER SLIGHT TENSION. BEWARE RELEASING TENSIONED CORD AS IT WILL FLY UP INTO YOUR FACE. THIS WILL HELP VERTICAL JIGGLES, BUT NOT LATERAL MOTION. . STILL BETTER THAN JUST YOUR HEARTBEAT AND DECK MOTION FELT THROUGH YOUR HANDS.ALSO RIGGABLE TO TELESCOPE, BINOCS FOR SOME BENEFIT.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I would take an inexpensive portable tripod. One that you can fold up and stick in a bag. You never know what circumstances will arrive, where you wish you had one. Don't spend a lot of money on one either. And don't get the cheapest.

Rob Almeda Loc: Gaithersburg, Maryland

I just made a River Cruise by the Danube and using a Tripod won't work because of the movement of the ship. Handheld would be the better choice. Do not be afraid of using a high ISO (camera permits) on low light. Good luck on your trip.

londonfire Loc: NY to NC

I've been on about 30 cruises on all size ships. Leave the tripod/monopod home.

Independencenorm

Look into MEPHOTO tripod https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=871065&gclid=CPLMvJ_25s8CFZKKaQodYaEN-g&Q=&ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876%2C92051677682%2C&is=REG&A=details

Small, compact, bag with strap fits into my carry-on bag. Is both a tripod and a monopod - leg and stand detach to make a monopod - best of both worlds! Used it on a Viking River Cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg.

On ships front deck, I used two legs against the railing. When using as Monopod, if vibration, I rest leg on my shoe. Used monopod on trip last week to see New England Fall colors. On the move too much for tripod. Has hook on bottom of stand to weight down tripod. Also head stand may be reversed for pointing straight down shots. Great value. Saw it first at Ansel Adams store in Yosemite last year.

Nikon 5100, 18-140 and 55-300.

Norm Runge, Independence, MO

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

All of the replies indicate folks know what they are talking about. Only thing this amateur thought about was no mention of turning off 'Image Stabilazation' or 'VR' when using the monopod, railings or tripod.

Sarge69

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Boats of any kind, no matter how big, move constantly. This movement will be transferred to any kind of support touching any part of the boat. So as above shoot hand held. A soft foam soled shoe will help soften movement of the boat through the body. Be sure to shoot at the highest speed, to illiminate camera shake, even if it means a higher ISO.