WPF - World Photography Forum
Home Gallery Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Welcome to World Photography Forum!
Welcome!

Thank you for finding your way to World Photography Forum, a dedicated community for photographers and enthusiasts. There's a variety of forums, a wonderful gallery, and what's more, we are absolutely FREE. You are very welcome to join, take part in the discussion, and post your pictures!

Click here to go to the forums home page and find out more.
Click here to join.


Go Back   World Photography Forum > Photography Technique > General Photography Technique


General Photography Technique Discussion on General Photography Technique

DOF, camera shake and macro work

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #21  
Old 21-12-05, 22:39
wolfie's Avatar
wolfie wolfie is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sutton On Sea
Posts: 2,555
Default

Tom look under the Pro Carbon Tripod series http://www.giottos.com/eng_public/frameset.htm this link may take you straight there.

Bear in mind you would need to factor in the price of an head, I'm using the Manfrotto 322RC2 Heavy Duty Model, however this makes the tripod very heavy, but any ball or three way head would sufice.

There are two types in the range, one alluminium and one carbon fibre, with both you can have the lens actually touching the ground.

Also look here http://www.warehouseexpress.com/inde...s/giottos.html

Last edited by wolfie; 21-12-05 at 22:55.
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 21-12-05, 22:45
Nigel G's Avatar
Nigel G Nigel G is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Poole
Posts: 3,631
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Charles
Im also looking for a tripod that hugs close to the ground for low angle and macro shots.

I bought a Velbon CF631 this summer which has a splittable centre column and with the legs open goes down to a mere 12cm (+ the height of your head). This shot was taken with it at its lowest a couple of weeks ago which would have had you flat on your stomach to look through a viewfinder (as opposed to a swivel screen digiscoping rig).

Beach raiders2.jpg

The cheapest mail-order price around and very good service came from Morris Photo in Oxford
__________________
Nigel
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 22-12-05, 10:13
postcardcv's Avatar
postcardcv postcardcv is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Norfolk
Age: 48
Posts: 1,856
Default

A number of the velbon models have the splitable centre column allowing you to get very low to the ground, as to some of the slightly older Manfrotto tripods. Another option for ground level shooting is to use a beanbag on the ground, much easier and cheaper than buying a new tripod.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 22-12-05, 12:23
yelvertoft's Avatar
yelvertoft yelvertoft is offline  
Guest
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: North Essex, UK
Age: 59
Posts: 8,486
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nigel G
I bought a Velbon CF631 this summer which has a splittable centre column and with the legs open goes down to a mere 12cm (+ the height of your head). This shot was taken with it at its lowest a couple of weeks ago which would have had you flat on your stomach to look through a viewfinder (as opposed to a swivel screen digiscoping rig).

Attachment 75

The cheapest mail-order price around and very good service came from Morris Photo in Oxford
CF630 is available from WE for £139 + P&P, a veritable bargain, can't see much difference between 630 and 631. I bought the CF530 but with hindsight I think the 630 would have been the better buy for the extra £15 over the 530. As postcardcv has said, the centre column is splittable. As well as being able to splay the legs out (by differing degrrees), you can split and reverse the centre column so that the column hangs down. Both halves of the split column have 1/4" threads on them that take a tripod head so you can use either half in the "hanging" configuration, with or without the legs splayed out to get the camera right down to ground level. If you wanted, you could even go below ground level with this technique. Framing up the shot is tricky when you have your head in a hole in the ground, but that's life.

Duncan
Attached Images
File Type: jpg DSC04309.JPG (78.7 KB, 11 views)
File Type: jpg DSC04311.JPG (72.8 KB, 11 views)
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 22-12-05, 19:21
wolfie's Avatar
wolfie wolfie is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sutton On Sea
Posts: 2,555
Default

Duncan, having looked at the two images of the Velbon, it's my considered opinion that for versatility it does not compare with the Giottos.

I think all tripods become very tricky to use when at ground level. The Giottos Inovator performs in exactly the same way as the Velbon, but with a very big bonus as the attached image shows. You can turn the camera though 360 deg, raise or lower it and turn it on it's axis.

Now does the attachement work, I'm new to all this.

Harry
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Giottos Tripod 300D +100mm macro.jpg (207.9 KB, 22 views)
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 22-12-05, 20:49
Don Hoey's Avatar
Don Hoey Don Hoey is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4,462
Default

This certainly looks more user friendly than the Benbo. It has the extendable arm which was why I went for my Benbo all those years ago. If I was looking for a tripod for macro I would want to check this one out. I'm not surprised you ditched you tracker.

Don
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 22-12-05, 21:06
wolfie's Avatar
wolfie wolfie is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sutton On Sea
Posts: 2,555
Default

Yes the Benbo was like trying to play a set of bagpipes, mind you when you eventually got it into the correct position it was extremely stable.

What I like about the giottos is that by replacing the center column you have a conventional tripod, so I have the best of both worlds.

Harry
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 22-12-05, 21:12
Don Hoey's Avatar
Don Hoey Don Hoey is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4,462
Default

I have just been to the gallery and to think I posted Tannin a link to Heather Angel.

These are absolutely STUNNING pictures. An inspiration to all. The lighting on Christmas Cacti, Bindweed and Autumn Leaves is superb.

Don
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 22-12-05, 22:00
wolfie's Avatar
wolfie wolfie is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sutton On Sea
Posts: 2,555
Default

Well thank you very much Don, the lighting all excluding the bindweed was from two Sigma flashguns, usually with kitchen paper towelling to difuse the light.


Harry
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 23-12-05, 00:36
Don Hoey's Avatar
Don Hoey Don Hoey is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4,462
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by wolfie
the lighting all excluding the bindweed was from two Sigma flashguns, usually with kitchen paper towelling to difuse the light.


Harry
This really goes to show what can be done for little cost. Pictures like yours look like they cost megga bucks in kit.

The idea behind the flash thread was to show what can be done for little cost. I've held reflectors in my teeth and tripped the shutter with the cable release taped to my knee before now as my hands were full. The final picture never shows things held in place by gaffer tape or bluetak, so give the impression that youv'e spent shed loads of cash on a lot of fancy kit.

Thanks again for sharing your superb pictures.

Don.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:56.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.