As an astro hobbyist, and a retired pro photographer I have to say that many of the suggestions here have some merit. However any of the common tripod heads CAN work. But a geared head is smoother and hence easier to use while tracking, but a video head works well too if damped out nicely. And balance is critical to keep the whole rig from suddenly taken over by gravity! Ball heads are the hardest to use I'm my estimation. The sun is an easy target and magnification is low so that removes many challenges! It also makes it easier that once the sun is in focus, put a piece on tape on any focus mechanism if one is exposed and keep it all in focus! And you also need a second, jointed head to be in between the tripod base and the photo head, or get an inexpensive chinese rotating pano camera base. I know this part blows many minds, sorry! Lost anyone yet? I cannot blame you for being lost if you are not familiar with Astro equatorial mounting. The end result will be that one axis of adjustment will keep the sun on target as you track it across the sky! Way easier than using Two axis' like most modern schmidt cassegrain scopes nowadays use in their mount. Those are computer driven on both axis and yet are still most accurate if using a polar base under them so only one axis needs to move in order to follow a star. Our added in between head becomes the polar base! And of course:The sun is a star!
I was going to type all the rest out but I am pooped, I had hand surgery on Monday and couldn't even use my right hand at all until today. Still on pain meds. I can go into this in detail if you private me at a later date. Or just read up on Astro equatorial mounts? Any mount can become an equatorial mount with some thought applied!
All that being said, even a simple, single, geared head can work if you practice following the sun using both axis a few times before the big event! Make sure you use a quality solar filter in front of the lens. Whenever looking towards the Sun, it can make you blind in a hurry! And I have found that That a black mount board shield with a hole cut out to allow the camera lens to poke through is great to avoid momentary glares of a bright sun to get into your eyes while looking through your camera view finder, or use a rotating screen viewer to stay protected. Good luck!
If a human could be included in the picture, shown lowering to the scene. A live person would provide scale, and along with a side view, might show the steep wall to a better advantage. Those two changes would allow a viewer to better appreciate the difficulty of the situation?
If you already own the 40mm macro lens and like the optical quality, then possibly try an inexpensive screw on lens hood? Why lose money on that lens? That said:the 60mm, and 105mm are both excellent lenses, made to higher standards than the 40mm. A longer lens will give you added working room and some safety when shooting aggressive critters. I believe the 40mm is OK for stationary subjects, or copy work with your C format camera. I like room to make an insect feel more comfy, so I most often use my 105 or 200 lens on either format body.
Great photo, was it hand held ? It may be interesting to hear the details?
#1, sell the D700 now. If you did not use it yet, you will not. It is losing value sitting on the shelf.
#2 you must like the Dx format, so why not get a D7200 when the price drops more? Or buy the D500. And sell that D7000 too!
I assume you have all the lenses for the Dx format you need? If not, then buy a great quality lens rather than spend a ton on the D810. In fact upgrade all the Dx lenses you have with better if need be!
Buying a D810 sounds like another curio in the cabinet to me! Hummel figurines may go up more in value to a collector than a D810?
As mentioned earlier: Antelope Canyons are not a National Park! It is owned and escorted for tours by the Navaho Indians. They will be happy to let you tour their lands under their auspice. And it is a blast!
As mentioned earlier: Antelope Canyons are not a National Park! It is owned and escorted for tours by the Navaho Indians. They will be happy to let you tour their lands under their auspice. And it is a blast!
I am assuming you have Tmount lenses? Soligor made dedicated mount lenses and some with the T-mount thread. I have purchased used T-mount adapters for as little as a couple dollars. Get one, try each lens, then decide if the Soligor lenses are worth keeping? The Soligor lens was the factory standard used on Miranda cameras back in the late sixties. That camera, along with their lens were of excellent quality.
Well I guess that slab also answers the age old question: Is that carved in stone??
Thanks for the article Mac, I thought it might be useful to me, since I am getting hand surgery in a week. I will be in a cast for at least a month, and splinted another month after. I walk my dog every day and will not have both hands free to hold an umbrella, leash, and a doggie doodoo bag in the sure to come wet spring weather in Northern Ohio. So it looks like it may be a lifesaver for me, and after I get used to people starring at me, and most likely laughing, I may find it terrific while out taking pictures in rainy weather? That umbrella/backpack is on sale now too! A $20 price reduction, and shipped free.
Cool view into how a photograph of such difficulty must be planned out. Yeah some lucky person may get a great shot accidentally, heck, even a cave man can do it once? But that planned and well executed shot speaks well of the photographer. Everyone here should read that article!
Welcome from a fellow Northern Ohio native! Enjoy the coming spring!
Brings back many memories, thanks for the chuckles!
All those and: if you do that, you will go blind ! ( I had my seeing eye dog type that for me! )
It seems this group needs some Darwin awards, to pass out to naturally selected members, or their surviving kin?