Tripod Users Vs. Non-Tripod Users

Calicajun wrote in post #6064919
Never center your subject between the Horizon and foreground, pick one or the other but not both in the same picture. May not be exactly how it was said but you get the idea, it was years ago to say the least.

Thanks

i don't use it when i'm out shooting macro. but i do use it for everything else. then again i do find it a pain to lug around but it does help get so i put up with the extra weight.

Bill

Calicajun wrote in post #6062123
I completely agree with your statement about the use of a tripod. This was one of two main points given at a lecture I attended given by Ansel Adams (dating myself). To me, if Ansel said that the best way to go, I follow.

To play a bit of the advocate here, that was a time of film. When the one shot had to be done correctly, with digital you get as many chances as the amount of your memory card can handle.

Let me just say THERE IS NO WAY I'M BATTLING WHAT ADAMS SAID, NO WAY. Just trying to bring up some debate. I use a tripod when I know I have to slow down to get the shot, but I can't see carrying a tripod on every shot excursion I take. Though I see others doing it and many limit themshelfs from shooting it from instead of getting down in the dirt for shots I would take.

I've purchased the best lenses I can for low light shots (1.2, 1.4 etc) and have one or two of Canons better bodies to do so as well.

I would like to hear some banter to my thoughts?

I am a tripod user. Sounds like an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting doesnt it?

My take on it is this. It's never going to make the shot worse. And, as it can only make things sharper, or have more DoF when I need it, why not?

How else am I going to get that time exposure, or support that heavy L lens while waiting for wildlife to do its stuff?

My photographic interests are landscapes and motorsport. With the first a tripod is essential, with the second it's just an embarrassment. For that I use a monopod. I notice that some professional landscape photographers use a tripod for EVERY shot. I cannot claim to be that organised, but I try.

nontetheredbrain wrote in post #6065461
To play a bit of the advocate here, that was a time of film. When the one shot had to be done correctly, with digital you get as many chances as the amount of your memory card can handle.

Let me just say THERE IS NO WAY I'M BATTLING WHAT ADAMS SAID, NO WAY. Just trying to bring up some debate. I use a tripod when I know I have to slow down to get the shot, but I can't see carrying a tripod on every shot excursion I take. Though I see others doing it and many limit themshelfs from shooting it from instead of getting down in the dirt for shots I would take.

I've purchased the best lenses I can for low light shots (1.2, 1.4 etc) and have one or two of Canons better bodies to do so as well.

I would like to hear some banter to my thoughts?

you can have 20,000 tries and you still won't be able to do stuff that you can only do with a tripod like night scenes, smooth waters from slow shutter speeds, star trails, painting with light and many other things that you need super slow shutter speed for.

My subjects and I move around too much to use a tripod.

ben_r_ wrote in post #6061997
You should always use a tripod any time you can in any situation! The increase in sharpness alone will make the effort worth it!

René Damkot wrote in post #6064240
I've screwed up more shots because I didn't use a tripod then because I did use one.
If it's possible, I'll use a tripod.

I look at every photo wanting to use a tripod. There are times when a tripod won't work but a monopod will. I carry two tripods with me all the time, a Slik 700 with a Gitzo off center ball head and a Leica tabletop with a Slik standard ball head. What I don't haul around is my studio tripod, a Manfrotto 3046 with a Manfrotto gear head.

Lowner wrote in post #6065663
I am a tripod user. Sounds like an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting doesnt it?

Or GA of which I am a member. Hi! I'm jr_s and I have used a tripod since the late 50's.

nontetheredbrain wrote in post #6065461
To play a bit of the advocate here, that was a time of film. When the one shot had to be done correctly, with digital you get as many chances as the amount of your memory card can handle.

Let me just say THERE IS NO WAY I'M BATTLING WHAT ADAMS SAID, NO WAY. Just trying to bring up some debate. I use a tripod when I know I have to slow down to get the shot, but I can't see carrying a tripod on every shot excursion I take. Though I see others doing it and many limit themshelfs from shooting it from instead of getting down in the dirt for shots I would take.

I've purchased the best lenses I can for low light shots (1.2, 1.4 etc) and have one or two of Canons better bodies to do so as well.

I would like to hear some banter to my thoughts?

I admit to not using a tripod for everything but do use one as much as feasible. The reason for using a tripod film or digital is to reduce grain/noise, which will increase as you enlarge a photo. In film everything was made up of round dots, digital uses square pixels, the sharper the edge of either the film dot or digital pixel the better the enlargement or crop area you will have to work with for a final product. True IS helps (I love IS) but it's not a cure all for every shot taken. I agree digital is easier with being able to sharpen and interpolate to reduce noise (sure wish I could have done that with film) in a picture. But the more you have to start with out of the camera the better the end results.

blonde wrote in post #6065793
you can have 20,000 tries and you still won't be able to do stuff that you can only do with a tripod like night scenes, smooth waters from slow shutter speeds, star trails, painting with light and many other things that you need super slow shutter speed for.

I did say that when you have to slow down a tripod is needed. But I can't see if being used at say 11am as I've seen many do.

Although I do use mine and love the Gitzo GT0350/Q3 but at the same I've been very successful in my technique when not using one to get good results.