Are Tripods Still Necessary For Landscape Photography? (Page 3): Something we have in common Mac. I'm only 65 but my knees are thrashed from pulling 700 lb. liquid oxygen cylinders...

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

Mac wrote:

Thank you
My stability problem isn’t with holding the camera, but with walking, especially over uneven ground.

Something we have in common Mac. I'm only 65 but my knees are thrashed from pulling 700 lb. liquid oxygen cylinders over snow and ice in the Colorado mountains.

They say that to get better pictures, you have to stand in front of more interesting things. Not being able to get to these better angles, views, or what have you, kind of puts a damper on the creative juices sometimes.

jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419

Mac wrote:

With IBIS are tripods still necessary? Especially when using a smaller, lighter lens like a prime? I understand that with some types of photography (and lenses) tripods are needed, but has IBIS made them redundant in others?

It depends. How good is the IBIS? How steady can you hold the camera? Is the subject moving? What is your focal length? How fast is your required shutter speed? Is the wind blowing the leaves or grass? How high above the ground does the camera need to be positioned? Do I need to focus stack? Etc.

IBIS has made it possible for me to handhold in some situations, with some cameras and lenses.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Orphoto wrote:

Mac. I suspect there is no single objective answe... (show quote)

Thank you Orphoto.
I wasn’t looking for one answer for all, just a general idea of what people think. I mentioned in the thread that I was going out next week to shoot mounted and handheld to decide what is good for me. I can still carry a tripod but I think at my age (75 in August) The time is coming when the tripod spends most of it’s time in the trunk of my car.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Mac wrote:

Thank you Orphoto.
I wasn’t looking for one answer for all, just a general idea of what people think. I mentioned in the thread that I was going out next week to shoot mounted and handheld to decide what is good for me. I can still carry a tripod but I think at my age (75 in August) The time is coming when the tripod spends most of it’s time in the trunk of my car.

Shoulder strap maybe? Carry it on your back?

User ID

Mac wrote:

With IBIS are tripods still necessary? Especially when using a smaller, lighter lens like a prime? I understand that with some types of photography (and lenses) tripods are needed, but has IBIS made them redundant in others?

Still NECESSARY ?!? While tripods are sometimes useful, they were never globally actually necessary for smaller cameras and typical landscape FLs. So, nothing much has changed, and your question (for which theres already a previous thread) is moot, bordering on mildly trollish.

The previous thread was a while back, before the demise of SLRs, before the wide proliferation of IBIS, so rehashing today for 10 or 20 pages could involve some new users of that newer gear.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

User ID wrote:

Still NECESSARY ?!? While tripods are sometimes useful, they were never globally actually necessary for smaller cameras and typical landscape FLs. So, nothing much has changed, and your question (for which theres already a previous thread) is moot, bordering on mildly trollish.

Perception.....

User ID

Longshadow wrote:

Perception.....

True, and I am possibly the most perceptive citizen of Hawgland.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

User ID wrote:

True, and I am possibly the most perceptive citizen of Hawgland.

Again, perception.....

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

when I was in school and on a field trip shooting landscapes. if u didnt use a tripod, you failed.
I find if I use a tripod, without a wired release, my results are not much better than handheld. but with the release i can see a difference when pixel peeping

User ID

bdk wrote:

when I was in school and on a field trip shooting landscapes. if u didnt use a tripod, you failed.
I find if I use a tripod, without a wired release, my results are not much better than handheld. but with the release i can see a difference when pixel peeping

Where the purpose of the tripod is to secure a passing grade I can see where toting the minimum for a passing grade wouldnt be a sooper sturdy tripod, so acoarst you need the remote and likely the mirror lock as well. OTOH maybe a reeeeeally serious tripod might get you an A++ grade even if your pix were a toadall snooze ....

gwilliams6

Mac wrote:

So like I said in my original post, sometime they are needed.
I am going out next week to do some landscape/seascape photography and will be taking a tripod so I can take both mounted and handheld to see for myself. I am just wanting to see what others think in advance.
Thank you for your response.

Yes I always travel with a good portable travel tripod, I like the lineup of waterproof ones from Sirui. While I can take most of my landscape shots handheld, as noted for multiple exposures and long exposures a tripod is a must, and of course for astrophotography.

1) Handheld, this shot of The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California, USA. Sony A7RIV, Sigma Art 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN lens, 24mm, ISO 200, f8, 1/80 sec. handheld, all natural afternoon light. Yes my Sony A7RIV has IBIS.

2) On tripod. An HDR image of five exposure-bracketed shots, merged in LR. Horseshoe Bend and the Colorado Rover, Page , Arizona, USA. Sony A7RIV, Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 lens, 17mm, ISO 100, f8, on a tripod, late afternoon sun, facing West. . The camera was set to bracket the shutter speeds in five quick shots, as I wanted to keep my f-stop and depth of field. And of course there could not be any camera movement for successful merging in post.

Click on download to see better image quality .

Cheers and best to you.

(Download)

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

gvarner wrote:

I know a pro who uses a tripod and aperture control, sets his prime at it’s calculated sweet spot (most of them are F8),ISO at 100, and lets the shutter speed float. Saw one of his photos priced at $10,000.

I think that is a great technique...

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Mac wrote:

With IBIS are tripods still necessary? Especially when using a smaller, lighter lens like a prime? I understand that with some types of photography (and lenses) tripods are needed, but has IBIS made them redundant in others?

IMHO yes and no as related to your question... If you are carrying an Olympus and halfway fast lens, the incredible IBIS ( up to 7-8 stops ) will allow you to pretty much walkabout and get good shots up to late afternoon and actually early dusk. On the other hand if you are walking in the woods in late afternoon and want that silky smooth look at the waterfalls, a tripod may be your best friend. YES, they are still necessary when shutter speed starts to become a problem. No, they are NOT required in situations where IBIS will compensate for a slower shutter speed. I mistakenly left my OLY on 1600 ISO all day and got great shots... Newer cameras handle higher ISO better every day... And yes, primes, which usually have a wider aperture will work better in lower light situations. I think you have to analyze what you like doing and be equipped to handle situations... Personally I LIKE tripods and feel a lot better with camera on the 3 legs.

User ID

Mac wrote:

Thank you
My stability problem isn’t with holding the camera, but with walking, especially over uneven ground.

So avoid carrying a tripod, which could impair your walking, and rely on IS for steadying your image. Dont worry about the shots that actually require a tripod, just like you dont worry about the shots that require an 8x10" camera. When you run out if subjects that dont require a tripod, either quit photography or find a new photographic style.

Peterfiore Loc: Where DR goes south

Mike D. wrote:

Regardless of how good stabilization gets, the one advantage of a tripod will always be the ability to make one slow down and work the scene.

There is no downside to taking that extra time.

Sometime light is a fleeting moment.