Big guy issues?

[JasonWilliam]

Hey all. I've been out shooting a few times now and I'm starting to run into a couple issues. Was hoping you might help this newbie out.

I'm a big dude @ 6'9" 320lbs. I'm healthy and in good shape (workout 5 times a week), so I know its not a fitness problem... but...

1) How in the world do you guys get down and take some of these beautiful macro shots I see all the time here. I mean, I've tried getting this body to twist and contort to get the shot, but sometimes it just aint happening. Are there techniques or even accessories that can help me get in close to get that 'perfect' angle? Or do you just fold up and/or get dirty with the best of em?

2) I'm finding it hard to get my eye into the viewfinder enough. I don't have a huge nose or anything, but its certainly not small either. Are there extensions I can get to bring that viewfinder out to enable a more comfortable shooting experience? Pros/cons of using such things?

3) After an hour of hand held shooting, I'm finding my hand is cramping. I have real big hands, and its getting uncomfortable to try and hold on to that small grip. Are there things I can add on to help make the grip bigger? Pros/cons?

4) Tripods. I've done a lot of reading and research here on this, and so far I've found that I really enjoy walking around looking for that next creative shot. Would a monopod suit this style better than a tripod? I do need something, Im just not sure what.

Any other tips/thoughts that might help a big guy over time? I'm quickly falling in love with this hobby, but, as with everything else I do, I need to make some adjustments for my size.

PS: I have a 40D with the std 28-135 kit lens by the way.

[Jim G]

There's a Canon eyepiece extender - EP-EX15 or something similar - you may want to look into that.

You can get a BG-E2 or BG-E2N battery grip for your 40D - sounds like it will help a lot with your hand cramping. Makes the camera much more comfortable to hold, imho.



I wish I had your size quite often; I'm always wanting that extra foot- or half-foot of height so I can see over the fence/crowd/annoying thing in my way to get that shot...

[jra]

6'9" at 320lbs.....maybe macro shouldn't be your thing ;) All kidding aside, a good tripod and some patience goes a long ways. Some photos will require some serious manipulating to get into position :)

[JasonWilliam]

Heh good point. Maybe I outta rethink this macro stuff ;)

Regarding the eyepiece; looks cool except that it magnifies the image? Is that a bad thing?

That battery/grip its a great looking piece. Gonna order for sure. Thanks for the tip.

Sounds like a tripod is a requirement then. I'll start lookin seriously at my options.

Thanks guys.

[Riff Raff]

I'm not a big guy and I still can't imagine using the 40D without the BG-E2N grip. It makes holding it so much more comfortable, while also adding a set of vertical controls and the ability to run two batteries in tandem. Regarding macro, maybe look into this:

http://www.adorama.com/CAAFC.html

It seems obnoxiously expensive, but I notice that most people who own one seem to love it. I haven't made the leap yet. Sports guys use it to take shots at field level, looking up at the players.

[ImRaptor]

Heh good point. Maybe I outta rethink this macro stuff ;)

Regarding the eyepiece; looks cool except that it magnifies the image? Is that a bad thing?

That battery/grip its a great looking piece. Gonna order for sure. Thanks for the tip.

Sounds like a tripod is a requirement then. I'll start lookin seriously at my options.

Thanks guys.

The magnification of the eye piece extender is to counter act you moving farther away from the viewfinder.
I have the extender myself and it does help to move your face away from the camera, and I regularly use my ext. in winter. It does make the viewfinder a bit smaller in terms of viewing, but I find it beats the alternative of building ice on my camera from my breath in winter.

[PhotosGuy]

1) How in the world do you guys get down and take some of these beautiful macro shots I see all the time here. These aren't true macro, but a longer lens is easier to use:
A walk by the river (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=2167717) Or do you just fold up and/or get dirty with the best of em? You've got it! Or, try to find something at a higher level? I was kneeling down for a shot of this & this guy landed in front of me:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Red-Admiral_053.jpg?t=1217424558

Would a monopod suit this style better than a tripod? I don't usually use one for close-ups. It just gets in the way & by the time I get set up, the insect is gone. BUT, in this case, I set up a tripod, framed the shot, & waited for something to show up:
The pussy willows are blooming! (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=69389)

[hitmanh]

1) How in the world do you guys get down and take some of these beautiful macro shots I see all the time here. I mean, I've tried getting this body to twist and contort to get the shot, but sometimes it just aint happening. Are there techniques or even accessories that can help me get in close to get that 'perfect' angle? Or do you just fold up and/or get dirty with the best of em?

Somtimes you just have to got down on the ground and get dirty... I also use a 70-200 with extension tubes to bring the minimum focus distance in... I don't normally use a full set so not true macro, but very effective and saves your back and knees :D

Oh and get the battery grip, so much more comfortable ( I had the same issue with cramping hand) and doubles your battery life.

Cheers

Matt

[elysium]

Why not grab the 180mm marco lens? Will help to stop you getting a bad back and give you a better working distance?

[SkipD]

A solution that noboby's mentioned is the Canon Angle Finder C (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/183200-REG/Canon_2882A002_Angle_Finder_C.html) which attaches to the rear of the viewfinder. This accessory lets you look through the viewfinder when the camera is in positions that totally prevent looking through it normally.

The Angle Finder C provides two levels of magnification that make precision focusing easy.

[Roy Mathers]

A solution that noboby's mentioned is the Canon Angle Finder C (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/183200-REG/Canon_2882A002_Angle_Finder_C.html) which attaches to the rear of the viewfinder. This accessory lets you look through the viewfinder when the camera is in positions that totally prevent looking through it normally.

The Angle Finder C provides two levels of magnification that make precision focusing easy.


I think riffraff mentioned in Post No 5.

[Redwing13a]

With my 40d and macro, I compose the shot in live view, turn live view off to ensure the focus is correct, turn it back on to reduce mirror shake as I take the photo.

[SkipD]

I think riffraff mentioned in Post No 5.Yup, he did. The link didn't say what it was for, and I didn't click on it.

[steved110]

Another vote for angle finder C - it is not just a 'Big' issue - short people have exactly the same issues groveling on the ground trying to get an eyeball to the view finder, especially as you get older and less flexible!

You can also use then to get a different perspective on almost any shot - street/ field-level views , as well as for shooting straight up without getting a crick in the neck.

There are cheaper versions available, but at less than half the cost of an EF 100mm macro I'd consider it reasonable. you can pay a lot less than that for some of the eBay 3rd party equivalents, but judging quality is hard.

[JasonWilliam]

I really like the idea of that angle finder. That's on the must have list, for sure.

SkipD, you mentioned it helps you focus more precisely. That's something I'm struggling with, and I was wondering if there's a better way. I think part of it is I just cant get my eye in deep enough; something I hope that BG-E2 solves for straight on shooting. Sounds like the angle finder might really help for angle shots.

elysium, can you give me more detail on that 180mm lens? Sounds interesting...

Dayum this hobby can get expensive! :p

[ryant35]

Heh good point. Maybe I outta rethink this macro stuff ;)

Regarding the eyepiece; looks cool except that it magnifies the image? Is that a bad thing?

That battery/grip its a great looking piece. Gonna order for sure. Thanks for the tip.

Sounds like a tripod is a requirement then. I'll start lookin seriously at my options.

Thanks guys.

I have an Eyepiece extender for on my 20D, it doesn't magnify. It does have a plastic 2 piece lens that allows you to see the same view with the extender as without since it move your eye 1/2" farther back.

It is easily scratched and there is not a seal between the 2 lenses so I just took mine out with a small phillips screw driver and threw them away.

[chtgrubbs]

Macro photographers are often referred to as "wet belly photographers".

[ChasP505]

I'm a fairly big guy too, but the only time I get down on the ground is if I FALL down.

I do use a battery grip to make my XSi fit better in my sausage-like fingers.

[lefturn99]

For macros, this is an important piece of equipment.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41K93539KDL._SS500_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-C015B799-Rambler-Stool-Charcoal/dp/B000EGZ3XE/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1217534973&sr=8-13

Seriously.

For a tripod, I'm 6' and I hate to bend down to see through the viewfinder. I Bought this medium priced tripod
http://www.adorama.com/BG055XPROB.html

It is tall enough with the center column lowered that I have to stand on tip-toe to see the top panel. Top that with a Bogen vertical grip head and the camera would be plenty high enough for you.
http://www.adorama.com/BG3265.html?searchinfo=bogen%20vertical%20grip%20h ead&item_no=3

I also use the live view a lot when I'm on a tripod.

Good luck.

[JasonWilliam]

leftturn, thank you for reminding me! I had purchased a "Walkstool" some time ago for various reasons, but haven't used it and I'd forgot I have it. I think it would basically be perfect for this job:

http://www.naturescapes.net/retail/walkstool2.jpg
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/1/walkstool.html/shs/walkstool/iso/y

Regarding the tripod, thats what I was all set to get... until I walked into my local Ritz and saw a Bogen 725b (http://www.adorama.com/BG725B.html) on clearance (why it was on clearance, I dunno). Got it for just over $90. Hard to argue with that. Should be plenty good for a while, at least till I learn what more I need.

Thanks again everyone! Please keep the tips coming.

[lefturn99]

Jason, I actually had one of those and it does make a more compact folded up package. But it wasn't very stable for me. And.......... I seem to have left it at a waterfall and didn't realize it until I had hiked 2 miles. I was not going to hike 4 miles to get something I didn't like. Hope the next owner likes it better. The Coleman is bulkier but I like it better.

[JasonWilliam]

Jason, I actually had one of those and it does make a more compact folded up package. But it wasn't very stable for me. And.......... I seem to have left it at a waterfall and didn't realize it until I had hiked 2 miles. I was not going to hike 4 miles to get something I didn't like. Hope the next owner likes it better. The Coleman is bulkier but I like it better.
Hmm ok, good to know. Maybe I'll give it a try and see how I do. Being this big requires something that will hold me. That Walkstool can handle over 400lbs. It might be I don't really have a choice. :cry:

I'll give it a shot this weekend and report back. Thanks for the heads up!