Camera Support Rig (Page 2): Will do. Won't be immediately since I have some in-Canada travelling to do. Will certainly let you know what I find.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

Let me know what you find. Both of those stores h... (show quote)

Will do. Won't be immediately since I have some in-Canada travelling to do. Will certainly let you know what I find.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

DebAnn wrote:

Hope there's someone here who has a camera support and can tell me if it helps. I have trouble holding a camera with a telephoto lens steady when shooting. Would a rig like this help me out?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&O=&Q=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0YXFlfnI4QIVD9vACh1qzAjEEAQYBCABEgJb5_D_BwE&is=REG&lsft=BI%3A514&pcur=CAD&sku=866723

I have used one of these (below) for years and found it very helpfull with my 300: f/4

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Shoulder-Mount-Support-Pad-Stabilizer-for-Video-DV-Camcorder-HD-DSLR-Camera/303120239187?hash=item46935fca53:g:uCYAAOSwikNcoWbl
scroll through eBay for a vendor with good feedback.

Your selection would press on my soft belly anf be less helpful. The one I used presses on the sternum and is more stable.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Don, the 2nd son wrote:

I have used one of these (below) for years and found it very helpfull with my 300: f/4

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Shoulder-Mount-Support-Pad-Stabilizer-for-Video-DV-Camcorder-HD-DSLR-Camera/303120239187?hash=item46935fca53:g:uCYAAOSwikNcoWbl
scroll through eBay for a vendor with good feedback.

Your selection would press on my soft belly anf be less helpful. The one I used presses on the sternum and is more stable.

Thanks Don. Do you have to keep it on your shoulder while you're out or slip it on and off when necessary? Does it fold down for travel?

Tigger1 Loc: Surrey, BC Canada

DebAnn wrote:

Will do. Won't be immediately since I have some in-Canada travelling to do. Will certainly let you know what I find.

Hi Deb, Henry's Camera is a good store to visit and they sell the Cotton Carrier line of photo accessories. I strongly suggest you visit the store and ask to try on the Cotton Carrier camera support vest. Do NOT BUY until you have tried the vest on with your heaviest camera/lens comb secured on the vest. Walk around the store simulating the the side to side and up/down movement you will experience both walking and/or riding in a vehicle while on safari. This is important as some ladies find the vest, once loaded with a reasonably heavy (5-8 lbs) camera/lens combo, is uncomfortable to wear for any extended period of time, particularly when moving. For most of us flat chested men the rig works well, for women not so much depending on the individual's body shape.

I use the Cotton Carrier to carry my Nikon D7200 with the Nikon 200-500mm lens attached, total weight is approximately 8 pounds. My wife has tried the rig several times with several different camera/lens combos but finds the rig uncomfortable after only a few minutes of use. Your mileage may vary, therefore, please try the rig before you buy.

You say you are going on safari and want the rig for use in a vehicle while sitting. In my opinion, based on my experience on multiple safaris over the years, I think you will find the rig both a nuisance and clumsy to use while in a safari car particularly if you are with a group of people in the same vehicle and/or if the safari car is the closed vehicle type similar to a van or sport utility vehicle, even if you are the lone occupant in the vehicle other than your driver/guide. On the other hand, if your safari vehicle is the no top/no sides type of vehicle popular in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia etc., then you may find the rig has some value while sitting in the vehicle so that both hands are free to hold onto the grab bar in front of your seat as you travel over the rutted/potholed trails that you will frequent while on safari. Check with your safari company to determine the type of vehicle they use as this may help with your purchase decision. Regardless of vehicle used, neither a tripod or monopod is going to be useful to you with one exception. If you are going on a "photo safari" with a company that specifically is setup to support photographers, then your vehicle will most likely have fixed articulated arm camera mounts at each seat position capable of holding the heaviest of camera/lens combos. Again, I suggest checking with your safari company. One last point before I close; try the rig fully loaded with the camera/lens you intend to use on safari (your biggest/heaviest combo) and try sitting down on a bench seat. Are you still comfortable? Does the lens hanging down between your legs in the sitting position hit the seat cushion? If the lens does hit the seat cushion while sitting down, just imagine what that will be like when bouncing around while traveling over a rutted/potholed dusty trail!
Good luck with your quest, enjoy your safari and post some pictures when you return.
Best regards,
Garth

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Tigger1 wrote:

Hi Deb, Henry's Camera is a good store to visit and they sell the Cotton Carrier line of photo accessories. I strongly suggest you visit the store and ask to try on the Cotton Carrier camera support vest. Do NOT BUY until you have tried the vest on with your heaviest camera/lens comb secured on the vest. Walk around the store simulating the the side to side and up/down movement you will experience both walking and/or riding in a vehicle while on safari. This is important as some ladies find the vest, once loaded with a reasonably heavy (5-8 lbs) camera/lens combo, is uncomfortable to wear for any extended period of time, particularly when moving. For most of us flat chested men the rig works well, for women not so much depending on the individual's body shape.

I use the Cotton Carrier to carry my Nikon D7200 with the Nikon 200-500mm lens attached, total weight is approximately 8 pounds. My wife has tried the rig several times with several different camera/lens combos but finds the rig uncomfortable after only a few minutes of use. Your mileage may vary, therefore, please try the rig before you buy.

You say you are going on safari and want the rig for use in a vehicle while sitting. In my opinion, based on my experience on multiple safaris over the years, I think you will find the rig both a nuisance and clumsy to use while in a safari car particularly if you are with a group of people in the same vehicle and/or if the safari car is the closed vehicle type similar to a van or sport utility vehicle, even if you are the lone occupant in the vehicle other than your driver/guide. On the other hand, if your safari vehicle is the no top/no sides type of vehicle popular in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia etc., then you may find the rig has some value while sitting in the vehicle so that both hands are free to hold onto the grab bar in front of your seat as you travel over the rutted/potholed trails that you will frequent while on safari. Check with your safari company to determine the type of vehicle they use as this may help with your purchase decision. Regardless of vehicle used, neither a tripod or monopod is going to be useful to you with one exception. If you are going on a "photo safari" with a company that specifically is setup to support photographers, then your vehicle will most likely have fixed articulated arm camera mounts at each seat position capable of holding the heaviest of camera/lens combos. Again, I suggest checking with your safari company. One last point before I close; try the rig fully loaded with the camera/lens you intend to use on safari (your biggest/heaviest combo) and try sitting down on a bench seat. Are you still comfortable? Does the lens hanging down between your legs in the sitting position hit the seat cushion? If the lens does hit the seat cushion while sitting down, just imagine what that will be like when bouncing around while traveling over a rutted/potholed dusty trail!
Good luck with your quest, enjoy your safari and post some pictures when you return.
Best regards,
Garth

Hi Deb, Henry's Camera is a good store to visit an... (show quote)

Thanks Garth for all that useful information. I do buy most of my camera equipment at Henry's so I will go see what they have. I will also get in some practice with the camera lens combo (lens is new) at the end of the month. I will be going to a birding area. That will give me a better idea of how well I can manage with it hand held. Thanks again.

Tigger1 Loc: Surrey, BC Canada

DebAnn wrote:

Thanks Garth for all that useful information. I do buy most of my camera equipment at Henry's so I will go see what they have. I will also get in some practice with the camera lens combo (lens is new) at the end of the month. I will be going to a birding area. That will give me a better idea of how well I can manage with it hand held. Thanks again.

You are most welcome Deb. Just a few thoughts from my own experiences and also from my wife's point of view but as I said, your mileage may vary!

Let us know what you decide.

Garth

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

DebAnn wrote:

Imagemaster isn't showing up in the Private Message addressee list. I did google BellyPod and it seems to be a dish-type contraption that sits in the belly of an aircraft, to which you fit GoPro cameras.

I sent you a PM - you should be seeing it !

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

imagemeister wrote:

I sent you a PM - you should be seeing it !

I am not recommending my bodypod for use in a safari vehicle - but I do recommend a SHORT monopod or tripod with appropriate pan/tilt head using the seat as a base with the mono/tri tethered to your body.

For extended use, you WILL want the weight to be supported by the VEHICLE !

What size LENS are we talking about here anyway ??
.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

imagemeister wrote:

I am not recommending my bodypod for use in a safari vehicle - but I do recommend a SHORT monopod or tripod with appropriate pan/tilt head using the seat as a base with the mono/tri tethered to your body.

For extended use, you WILL want the weight to be supported by the VEHICLE !

What size LENS are we talking about here anyway ??
.

Thank you. The lens is the Tamron 18-400. Probably wouldn't be too much for a guy but I am small and 72 years old!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

DebAnn wrote:

Thank you. The lens is the Tamron 18-400. Probably wouldn't be too much for a guy but I am small and 72 years old!

The biggest problem with that lens is no tripod collar ! But, there are work-arounds like an L bracket and one of these -https://www.ebay.com/itm/140mm-Nodal-Rail-Slide-Plate-QR-Clamp-Macro-Panoramic-Bracket-Fit-Arca-Swiss-RRS/122003785740?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372

I would also recommend one of my facial stabilisers that I can ship to you for $25. PM me.
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