Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/07/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Well, kids. I appreciate all the 280 advice. But try this. Yesterday I was shooting a certain high profile wedding and had rented a N 600 f/4 with converter. And was rocking on the swells in a 50 foot boat just offshore of Malibu. Two things helped, though sometimes the conditions were beyond help. One was a monopod and a fishing pole belt with a place for a pole butt. Looked like I was wearing one of those old fashioned cod-pieces. This settles the weight of the lens onto the waist and makes it easier. The problem was that sometimes it was difficult to stand up even without holding anything. Second trick. Took a tripod and a horizontal arm, the kind for shooting off to the side. Brought along one of the weights I've made up of a 2-inch PVC pipe filled with lead shot and capped and with an Eye-bolt attached. Hang that from one end of the arm. Then get a couple 3-foot bungee cords. intertwine these and hook the hooks and tape them. Loop this over the opposite end of the side arm and slide the 600 into the loop. This takes much of the weight, isolates the lens from vibration (two big diesels under foot) and some from motion. Despite all of this, many muscles hurting. And I've been lifting weights at the gym!! Especially quadaceps from kneeling part way for minutes on end(less). Focus?? Often went to manual simply because even with all the help it was difficult to keep a focus point on a spot long enough, given the motion. A Kenyon Gyro did seem to damping the micro moves, but not big enough to really handle the 600. An 80-200, though, was no trouble. My last frame of the day was with the 80-200 at 1/6th second, but looked rock steady. And some of you thought weddings were supposed to be shot with Hassey and a flash on camera!! donal - -- __________ Donal Philby San Diego www.donalphilby.com