Camera spinning on lens... I think...

I wasn't sure if I should post this here, or in the Lens forum, but here goes:

I was watching the Red Sox game earlier this week, and a batter hit a foul ball into the photography pit on the first base line. Now of course, being an intermediate amature photographer, I check out the gear that's being used when they show it. But this particular time I saw something strange:

One of the photogs, using a 500mm or larger lens, I assume, did what I thought was spinning the camera from a vertical to a horizontal position, and I didn't see the lens move. It looked like he had it on a monopod, but it spun so quick I didn't see the lens move. Now, I am just getting into monopods, and I have a Manfrotto 680B with no head yet. I bought a 322rc2 head here last week. But from all the heads I've seen, i have seen none that would let you do what I saw.

But now, the more I think about it, and as I type, do you think it might have to do with the tripod ring on the lens itself???

Being kinda new to all this makes me wonder, but I know someone out there should have a reasonable explanation for this. I thought it was kinda cool anyway....

Thanks in advance!!!


Ken

If you use a monopod and have a ring collar on the end of it designed for the lens, you can pivot the entire thing and rotate it within the entire ring collar.

The lens did move, but it probably didn't look like it.

LiberationFrequency wrote in post #12362718
If you use a monopod and have a ring collar on the end of it designed for the lens, you can pivot the entire thing and rotate it within the entire ring collar.

The lens did move, but it probably didn't look like it.

Ahh... ok... and I assume that there is something in the ring that stops it at 90 degrees each way? Because what made me think of that is that I just got a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8, and I want to use it for a lot of sports, and being that I'm going to use a monopod, it would seem kinda awkward to slam the camera 90 degrees to take a vertical shot, nevermind having the monopod (and camera) lean to the side when at 90 degrees. And I would think with a 500mm or larger lens, that would SUCK! lol...

Thanks for the reply!!

They make different variations of this: http://www.the-digital-picture.com …unt-Ring-A-II-Review.aspx

If you are running something like a 500L, or 600L, they have it integrated into the lens body and its much more durable compared.

*EDIT* Found this image on google, should give you an idea: http://www.zagadka.org …d=19227&g2_seri​alNumber=2

LiberationFrequency wrote in post #12362775
They make different variations of this: http://www.the-digital-picture.com …unt-Ring-A-II-Review.aspx

If you are running something like a 500L, or 600L, they have it integrated into the lens body and its much more durable compared.

*EDIT* Found this image on google, should give you an idea: http://www.zagadka.org …d=19227&g2_seri​alNumber=2

Yea, that's what I saw. I have a B (W) ring on my 70-200mm, so I coudl probably just loosen the thumbscrew and rotate the camera/lens that way, then tighten it up, right?