grusum

Why hasn't anyone suggested the Pedco Ultra clamp available from Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/PEDCO-P-UCA-Pedco-UltraClamp-Assembly/dp/B000ABB4HC/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1360803480&sr=8-15&keywords=super+clamp

or

The Manfrotto Super Clamp available at

http://www.adorama.com/BG2900.html

I have the Pedco in my gadget bag and it works wonderfully well in places that will not allow tripods -- so long as there are rails or 2X4's of some kind to clamp to.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

One technique I use is to sit with my knees raised. I place my elbows on my knees and press the camera firmly against my face. The face and two arms/legs in fact form a pretty good tripod.

Larry Saxton

It was great to hear your tripod alternative ideas. Thank you. I said I had my own approach that I will share with you. It is based on the common technique of bracing the camera on any available solid object, which I have done and some of you suggested. But the problem I found is that camera bodies don’t firmly connect to supports and aren’t meant to. I don’t like the idea of pressing my camera against a stone column or wall. The camera doesn’t engage solidly and movement is still possible. But what if you mounted your camera on a handle-shaped base that you could hold against anything and it would connect solidly for tripod-like stability? Well there is such a device called HandlePod and I’ll admit off the top that I am the inventor and designer of this product. The idea here is to compare HandlePod to other products and techniques and provide the opportunity for feedback. So here goes.

First of all HandlePod is the only device designed to be held on any solid support using just your hand. True you are still touching the camera mount and it is possible to cause vibration with hand movement. But you’ll find that light steady hand pressure is all it takes to stabilize the camera against the support. Just don’t touch the camera and use a remote release or self-timer. You’ll notice that HandlePod has four rubber-tipped feet. Why not three like a tripod? That would provide stability on a flat surface. But I found that many real-world supports have round or cornered surfaces. Four feet will straddle a cornered or rounded surface to provide four solid points of contact making movement almost impossible.

HandlePod works on any support without physically attaching it. Just use your hand. But what if you want to attach it to free your hand and possibly get in the picture? That’s covered too with an elastic cord that cinches firmly into a slot in the handle. Just wrap the cord around the support, pull to apply tension and secure the end in the slot. The cord stretches to over four feet so large objects like power poles are no problem.

Many of you mentioned beanbags as an alternative. That works great for horizontal compositions on a reasonably flat surface. But what if you want to shoot vertically or the support you want to use is vertical? HandlePod will rest on a flat surface like a mini-tripod, and rotating the camera to vertical is no problem. And it can be held or tied to vertical objects. It will rotate smoothly between horizontal and vertical compositions with plenty of clearance between the camera and support.

There were a lot of comments about string supports. This can be added to HandlePod with a simple length of nylon cord. Insert one end into the slot (tie a knot to prevent slipping) stand on the other end or thread it through belt loops and pull up. Tension on the string plus the additional gripping power and leverage provided by the handle will significantly increase stabilization for hand held shots. But it’s not as reliable as a solid support or tripod.

HandlePod has many other uses but the above addresses the main issue of tripod alternative camera support. What do you think?

jlrivera Loc: Round Lake, Illinois

Put the camera on top of the sign......
:)

ringo Loc: australia

loved your humor,regards ringo

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

I have an old Leki hiking stick. The handle unscrews from the top. The machine screw is a 1/4-20, the same as used on tripods. I screw on a mini ball head and have a very light weight monopod. I also have a Bogen monopod with a shoulder brace. Also consider a BushHawk stock.

FWIW, at one local museum, tripods cannot be used except at special events. If someone brings in a tripod, we offer them a rubber band to put around the feet so they can use the tripod as a monopod. A group of docents who are also photographers carry around a few heavy rubber bands just for this purpose.

Crwiwy Loc: Devon UK

I wonder if the tripod/monopod ban applies to walking poles with a camera thread on the top? I guess they will be down on anything that looks like a tripod/monopod so the best bet seems to be the neck strap to act as a reasonably firm support.

slclog Loc: Illinois

It would be nice to see a picture with the camera attached
:-)

Crwiwy Loc: Devon UK

Goodness knows what the authorities would think of you clamping your camera to their woodwork. :oops:

Larry Saxton

Here is a camera on the HandlePod held against a fence post. The exposure was steady and long enough to show traffic trails going across the bridge.

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

Would you be able to hold 4-5 lbs of dslr+lens like that with one hand and use a cable release with the other?

Larry Saxton

No. A pro DSLR with a 300mm lens would obviously be too much. But a consumer DSLR with a kit lens like 18-70 would be fine. I've shot two-minute moonlight exposures with a Nikon D70 that were perfect.

colo_jeep_gal Loc: Colorado/In Pollock Pines, CA

Awesome! And do you use a remote with it too?

Larrie Loc: NE Ohio

When shooting approaching storms I often use a Manfrotto window clamp and mini ball head

Larry Saxton

A remote or use of the self-timer is necessary, especially with heavier cameras. Don't touch the camera during exposure.