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#1
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Telephoto stabilization from safari vehicles
Looking for some guidance on the "less bad" options. We're looking at
a fly-in to Katavi NP in Tanzania, which has a total baggage weight limit of only 15kg/person, so there's not much lattitude for bringing along 'just in case' equipment. I'm looking to (of course) maximize stabilization of a long lens while in the safari vehicle. Some companies have pop-top's where you can toss a sandbag onto the roof next to the hatch, but it looks like this type of vehicle isn't available in Katavi -- looks like they use a 4WD with bench seats with shade over and with open sides. As such, the photography position appears to be seated & shooting out the sides. Here's a representative illustration of the vehicle platform: http://www.tanzaniasafaris.info/Katavi/activities.htm It doesn't look to me like there's an appropriate surface to sandbag upon (including "windowsills"), nor probably all that friendly to have a tripod either. Besides using an Image Stabilization lens, what else would anyone recommend for consideration? TIA, -hh |
#2
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Telephoto stabilization from safari vehicles
"-hh" wrote in message oups.com... : Looking for some guidance on the "less bad" options. We're looking at : a fly-in to Katavi NP in Tanzania, which has a total baggage weight : limit of only 15kg/person, so there's not much lattitude for bringing : along 'just in case' equipment. : : I'm looking to (of course) maximize stabilization of a long lens while : in the safari vehicle. Some companies have pop-top's where you can : toss a sandbag onto the roof next to the hatch, but it looks like this : type of vehicle isn't available in Katavi -- looks like they use a 4WD : with bench seats with shade over and with open sides. As such, the : photography position appears to be seated & shooting out the sides. : Here's a representative illustration of the vehicle platform: : : http://www.tanzaniasafaris.info/Katavi/activities.htm : : It doesn't look to me like there's an appropriate surface to sandbag : upon (including "windowsills"), nor probably all that friendly to have : a tripod either. Besides using an Image Stabilization lens, what else : would anyone recommend for consideration? : : TIA, : : -hh : Monopod? You can use it for photos as well as a bow staff to keep the frisky lions from eating your equipment and you. |
#3
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Telephoto stabilization from safari vehicles
"-hh" writes:
I'm looking to (of course) maximize stabilization of a long lens while in the safari vehicle. Some companies have pop-top's where you can toss a sandbag onto the roof next to the hatch, but it looks like this type of vehicle isn't available in Katavi -- looks like they use a 4WD with bench seats with shade over and with open sides. As such, the photography position appears to be seated & shooting out the sides. Here's a representative illustration of the vehicle platform: http://www.tanzaniasafaris.info/Katavi/activities.htm It doesn't look to me like there's an appropriate surface to sandbag upon (including "windowsills"), nor probably all that friendly to have a tripod either. Besides using an Image Stabilization lens, what else would anyone recommend for consideration? I agree that it doesn't look like there's much option for sandbagging, if that vehicle is typical. So, yeah VR/IS definitely. Then maybe a monopod, or...you know the old string/chain thing, where you crop a string from a tripod-socket screw, step on it, and pull up against it to steady the camera? Well, maybe perhaps you could set up in the vehicle with *two* strings anchored to things on both sides of the opening, so when you pulled up you were stabilized fairly well in two dimensions. Never tried this variant, just thought of it looking at the vehicle photo. You might write them and ask what other photographers have found to work in the past; I can't imagine they haven't had photographers there before now! -- David Dyer-Bennet, , http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/ RKBA: http://noguns-nomoney.com/ http://www.dd-b.net/carry/ Pics: http://dd-b.lighthunters.net/ http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/SnapshotAlbum/ Dragaera/Steven Brust: http://dragaera.info/ |
#4
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Telephoto stabilization from safari vehicles
-hh wrote:
Looking for some guidance on the "less bad" options. We're looking at a fly-in to Katavi NP in Tanzania, which has a total baggage weight limit of only 15kg/person, so there's not much lattitude for bringing along 'just in case' equipment. I'm looking to (of course) maximize stabilization of a long lens while in the safari vehicle. Some companies have pop-top's where you can toss a sandbag onto the roof next to the hatch, but it looks like this type of vehicle isn't available in Katavi -- looks like they use a 4WD with bench seats with shade over and with open sides. As such, the photography position appears to be seated & shooting out the sides. Here's a representative illustration of the vehicle platform: http://www.tanzaniasafaris.info/Katavi/activities.htm It doesn't look to me like there's an appropriate surface to sandbag upon (including "windowsills"), nor probably all that friendly to have a tripod either. Besides using an Image Stabilization lens, what else would anyone recommend for consideration? Rent one of these: http://www.ken-lab.com/html/tips_and_tricks.html |
#5
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Telephoto stabilization from safari vehicles
-hh wrote:
Looking for some guidance on the "less bad" options. We're looking at a fly-in to Katavi NP in Tanzania, which has a total baggage weight limit of only 15kg/person, so there's not much lattitude for bringing along 'just in case' equipment. [] It doesn't look to me like there's an appropriate surface to sandbag upon (including "windowsills"), nor probably all that friendly to have a tripod either. Besides using an Image Stabilization lens, what else would anyone recommend for consideration? The 326g Panasonic FZ5 with its 432mm equivalent f/3.3 image-stabilised lens is something you might want to consider as a backup, if you are tight on the weight budget. David |
#6
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Telephoto stabilization from safari vehicles
"-hh" wrote in message oups.com... Looking for some guidance on the "less bad" options. We're looking at a fly-in to Katavi NP in Tanzania, which has a total baggage weight limit of only 15kg/person, so there's not much lattitude for bringing along 'just in case' equipment. I'm looking to (of course) maximize stabilization of a long lens while in the safari vehicle. Some companies have pop-top's where you can toss a sandbag onto the roof next to the hatch, but it looks like this type of vehicle isn't available in Katavi -- looks like they use a 4WD with bench seats with shade over and with open sides. As such, the photography position appears to be seated & shooting out the sides. Here's a representative illustration of the vehicle platform: http://www.tanzaniasafaris.info/Katavi/activities.htm It doesn't look to me like there's an appropriate surface to sandbag upon (including "windowsills"), nor probably all that friendly to have a tripod either. Besides using an Image Stabilization lens, what else would anyone recommend for consideration? TIA, Consider lens with image stabilization such as Canon. Most people can hand hold Canon's 100-400 IS lens with little problem even at 400. If you need a lighter weight lens try Canon's 75-300 IS. Ron -hh |
#7
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Telephoto stabilization from safari vehicles
I suppose the right answer is "if you take me with you I will show
you", but I bet that won't work. Oh, well. A stabilized lense assumes that you are pretty still and are making small movements, not driving around Africa shoots animals from a moving vehicle. I don't think the solution is to stabilize the image in the camera as much as it is to stabilize the camera itself. Take a look at a small light Steadycam or Glidecam. That's how they stabilize video and allow the videographer to walk while filming and keep a stable image. Using something like that, along with a stabilized lense to make the final stabilization should work pretty well. |
#8
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Telephoto stabilization from safari vehicles
Ron Recer wrote: Consider lens with image stabilization such as Canon... Already there. I was just looking to see if there was something more to do. Most people can hand hold Canon's 100-400 IS lens with little problem even at 400. If you need a lighter weight lens try Canon's 75-300 IS. For this trip, I'm planning on leaving the 75-300 IS at home, and will instead be using a 70-200 f/2.8 IS with a 1.4x teleconverter. I had selected this combination over the 100-400 IS because I felt that I'd want to have a bit more flexibility for working in low lighting conditions. -hh |
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