What have I started ? !!!

Great info.

Thanks chaps, maybe other new players reading this thread will learn or be warned before they drop their camera.

Paul : )

Thanks chrissybabe,

I'll check that out.

Cheers

Paul :)

Thanks jpgto and Scruples (and too many others to mention).

Great to be here !

Paul : )

I will say this;

For the weight of this camera & the 3ft it fell, I felt & heard the sickening crunch as it hit the deck.

Even though it was on carpet thank the lord.

Must be one tough camera. I don't want to put it to the test again anytime soon.

I'm the same. I will now use a strap with my new camera, but I always find lanyards, straps, cables etc untidy & irritating.

A necessary evil it seems.

I was sure it had clicked into the head ok. I moved the camera around a several times and wiggled it to be sure. It looked like it was in place and locked.

Being new, I am learning some lessons the hard way.

I have been experimenting with the tripod (no camera) and its not only difficult to tell which way it fits, but its also very fiddley to get the plate seated. A much bigger challenge when the bulky heavy camera is attached !

I notice if fitted the wrong way, it still sort of clicks into place, giving a false sense of security.

Any serious tugging and the plate falls right off.

I will get some kind of marking pen or paint to show which way it goes. I wish Manfrotto would put some kind of arrow or direction indicator on the plate and where you can easily see it with camera attached.

Well said Bipod.

I have an old refrigerator here that belonged to my wife's grandmother.

It's still chugging away. Must be as old as me.

You buy one today, and it might last a couple of years if you are lucky.

Hi Bipod,

I just bought this camera & tripod new. I am a complete beginner.

The tripod is a Manfrotto Befree with the basic ball head. The tripod itself seems to hold the weight of the P1000 ok.

It's just that the head plate is such a sod to attach and remove. Especially with such a chunky, heavy camera.

You think the plate has clicked and locked into place on the head, when in fact it hasn't. I used the camera on the tripod in my lounge room for a couple of hours thinking all was well.

When I picked up the tripod (to better get at the release catch) the camera just fell off.

I cursed this tripod last night. I'm going to shop around for a beefier one with a better release.

What I need is for someone to invent a portable padded floor ! ;)

Thanks Billbarcus,

Smack in the head taken and lesson learned.

I just got through examining it in the daylight. Not a scratch. It seems to still work fine. All the buttons, dials move ok as does the zoom lens.

I'm really hoping its ok.

Cheers

Paul :)

Thanks,

I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I'm definitely going to look for a better tripod mount.

Hi all,

I'd like your thoughts on this please.

I've been struggling to attach my P1000 to my tripod.

I have the small plate from the tripods head, fitted to the bottom of the camera.

As this camera is so large & heavy, I'm finding it hard (and very fiddley) to attach the camera.

Last night, I was packing up and picked up the tripod with camera still attached to remove it, when the camera fell to the floor from about 3ft onto carpet.

It seems like 90% of the time, the mount is not seated properly on the head, even though it looks like it is.

It felt secure enough as I used it, till I picked it up to pack things away.

The camera seems fine, but somehow the memory card popped out (with the door still closed). I opened the door and pushed the memory card home.

I can't see any visible damage to camera body, functionality or to the lens.

Do you chaps think it will be ok ?

I'm paranoid about it. I think I'll look for a better tripod head that's easier to use too.

Cheers

Paul. :)

Thanks Bill (and all who have replied).

I am heading out this weekend to some isolated coastline, then back around the local harbour. Should be interesting. Can't wait !

I've also ordered that book 'Understanding Exposure' Edition 4

Cheers

Paul :)

Thanks chaps ! : )

What a great bunch of friendly, knowledgeable folk here.

I'm really glad I found this place. (I found out about this forum on a YouTube review).

Cheers

Paul :)