White water tips (Page 3): A lot depends on the rapids. I took a ride in TN, and it was rated at a Class 5, which is supposed to be the roughest. The guide said that there is no real...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Nanabutterfly wrote:

Re-think this! Riding a rapids was on my "bucket list" until I did it! I wouldn't take my worst enemy's equipment down a rapid!

A lot depends on the rapids. I took a ride in TN, and it was rated at a Class 5, which is supposed to be the roughest. The guide said that there is no real standard for assigning numbers, so they don't mean much. The Class 5 raft ride we got was not at all frightening - just fun. It also depends on conditions at the time. Raft rides aren't very risky.

dadchiasson Loc: Baton Rouge, La

I did the Grand Canyon raft trip about 1.5 years ago. I went for a water proof camera point and shoot that can also take movies.

In several rapids, and not just the really large ones my camera got significantly splashed and boy was I happy I had a water proof camera. I even shot movies of going through the rapids. I was sitting to the back of the boat and my camera still got splashed.

A tripod just will not work in such a situation

Two folks had brought their DSLRs, but they were in their hard shelled water proof cases while doing the rapids. They would take the cameras out during stops in the daytime and at night stops.

So, please follow the advice of many previous folks and my personal experience.

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

jeryh wrote:

Dare I say that you will not be able to use a tripod under those conditions ? Even a rapid raider on a calm sea was impossible !

Lenf Loc: Strasburg,PA

ocbeyer wrote:

I am planning on a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. I know the rapids will be fierce and we will be tossed all about.

What type of tripod would you recommend as a stable platform in the raft? I plan on using a 500mm lens. And before you say it, I know that the pointy parts of the tripod feet need to be retracted.

And should I use a UV filter or will a hood work better for protection?

I really like JR1's reply, ask them to go back for your camera the next day. Unless you use a waterproof camera and/or case and tie it to your body, I can Guarentee you will lose or destroy it, with the moisture and dirt, and it will take all you got to get through the rapids .. I have a lot of fellow divers using the go-pro cameras and they are small ,sturdy and would be the best for your purpose, to the point of mounting one on your helmet or body and the other one on the raft for when you go over..
Please post these when you get back.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Lenf wrote:

quote=ocbeyer I am planning on a rafting trip thr... (show quote)

Look at the pictures of rafters, and you will see that they are handling paddles, not cameras.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

Nanabutterfly wrote:

Re-think this! Riding a rapids was on my "bucket list" until I did it! I wouldn't take my worst enemy's equipment down a rapid!

Rapids! Buckit list! Just take the buckit to bail. Leave the nikon on the shore. :roll: :lol: :thumbup:

Kinopless Loc: Mandurah, Western Australia

Nice one ocbeyer, despite your plates on sticks post they still keep coming.. You're the man. I had to re-check the calendar to make sure April 1 hadn't arrived early..

pigpen

Look into the Go-Pro. The newest one is around $400, has an 11mp sensor, and has gotten great reviews.

Kinopless Loc: Mandurah, Western Australia

I rest my case...

billybaseball Loc: Bel Air MD

ocbeyer wrote:

I am planning on a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. I know the rapids will be fierce and we will be tossed all about.

What type of tripod would you recommend as a stable platform in the raft? I plan on using a 500mm lens. And before you say it, I know that the pointy parts of the tripod feet need to be retracted.

And should I use a UV filter or will a hood work better for protection?

This is a joke right? To see who falls for it and actually tries to answer?

Kinopless Loc: Mandurah, Western Australia

Right on Billy..

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

Thanks, gents (and ladies). That was fun.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

As you watch the video it is obvious that a copius supply of lens wipes will be required. There are two or three instances of participants trying unsuccessfully to retrieve their long lenses, but no signs of a tripod to correct the sloping horizons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4m4vfGYuMk

Trentham Loc: Staffordshire, UK

You have had lots of excellent advice, enjoy your trip safely. About 10 years ago a pal took me on a trip down Glenwood Canyon, on the upper reaches of the Colorado, in a small two man raft. There was a lot of snow melt and it was my first experience of the sport, exhilerating. In no way would I have been able to have a camera and stay in the raft, even a head camera would have had problems. A six pack of Bud my pal put in the bottom shot into the air and disappeared, probably for the best. Don't listen to anyone saying raft rides are not risky, if it's fast moving water then it is always a risk.

jimni2001 Loc: Sierra Vista, Arizona, USA

jerryc41 wrote:

A lot depends on the rapids. I took a ride in TN, and it was rated at a Class 5, which is supposed to be the roughest. The guide said that there is no real standard for assigning numbers, so they don't mean much. The Class 5 raft ride we got was not at all frightening - just fun. It also depends on conditions at the time. Raft rides aren't very risky.

Jerry when they class rapids a lot has to do with how difficult it would be to get help to you or you out to help if the need arises. A class 3 rapid in an easy to get to spot could be a class 5 rapid in a remote location. In the Grand Canyon There are 18 foot standing waves(they are always there). Eight of us on a 40 man raft cut it right in half. As for the tripod I would recommend a slinky. Not one of those cheap plastic ones though. One of the really good steel ones. You may want two for a 500mm. I believe that duct tape would be the mounting system of choice. You could dip the tops of a couple of oatmeal boxes in wax and push the slinky into the wax while still warm for feet and mount those of course with duct tape. For more information on how to properly use duct tape please watch this informative video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5GnBvpFnzA
Good luck on your trip and we will be watching for some great photos upon your safe return.