Starting out and need some help

Hello all,

Over New Years was the first time in the park with the D90 50mm and 18-200mm lens. Had fun with it, still trying to figer out what ever thing is and what it does and how it all works. lol I've read on here about some of the tripods and mono pods. I'm still wondering what you guys think is the best out there right now for in the parks. I see using the tripod for group photos I'm in and fireworks. The mono pod I hope is small enough to carry with me all day to help stabilize some of the photos( I can see it would help me, the camera and lens are heavy for me at the moment)

I'm looking for a few items what all would you suggest? And why you like an item or don't like an item
Tripod
Monopod
Table tripod
Remote Shutter
A side hand grip to help my hand with the wait of a D90 and 18-200mm lens

 

here's my viewpoint
tripod, absolute necessity, esp for those large wall prints of something special in the parks, and for any kind of night/fireworks shots, a good lightweight will do, one that folds reasonably small, the velbon luxif models we are always talking about are a good starting point
monopod, waste of space in theme parks, just my opinion mind you, i don't care how good you are, you cannot stay steady enough on a monopod to get the same results as a tripod, and just extending the legs on a tripod without spreading them apart achieves the same support as a monopod for those occasional available space situations
table tripod, not bad, but not all tables and trash cans will give the same view as a tripod, and more prone to being blocked by people
remote shutter, aka cable release, absolutely, use mine all the time esp at night for long exposure shots, just to keep the vibration from pushing down on the shutter trigger out of the photo
the side hand grip i can't speak to as i have never had one

 

Tripod and Cable Release: Absolutely necessary for any nighttime shots.

Monopod: I don't have one, but I'm thinking about getting one for shooting wildlife and sports. The 70-200 VR on the D700 with battery pack can get heavy after a whole day of shooting.

Table Tripod: I used to have one in the bag for when I didn't bring my tripod just in case I needed it, but I never used it and have stopped carrying it.

Hand Strap: Never used one. I'm right handed and wouldn't like having my hand strapped to the camera all the time. I assume you're asking because you don't like a regular camera strap. If that's the case, take a look at the R Strap by Black Rapid. I like the concept, but don't like the way they mount it to the camera, so I'm working on making my own.

 

Don't have much experience with a tripod yet, but I just got one for Christmas and I have used it some and I am loving it. I can't wait to bring it to the parks and of course on some other landscape shots around home.

I tagged along (for hours!) with Tim and Gary during Mousefest and believe me, you will absolutely get a lot of use out of your tripod and Cable release. They took some great night shots all over the parks, including the Osborne lights and fireworks to name a few.

First thing I bought after I got my tripod was the cable release. Makes a a great deal of sense when you want the steadiest shot possible. I have been using it with the mirror lock up option with my Canon 40D.

I plan to get a wrist strap after seeing Tim use one. I tend to carry my camera out holding it with one hand and hate to hang it around my neck, but the strap that comes with the camera is awkward for hand holding. A wrist strapp would provide a better safety net if you are hand carrying your camera around the parks.

 

Thank you everyone for the great advice. I will plan on getting a tripod and cable release. Do you guys have trouble setting up your tripods in the park with other guest? Are there any do this not that ideas you can offer?

MSummers, I like the look of that wrist strap, but agree how it attaches to the camera could be better. I'm looking for one, because I tend to carry the camera out or in the back pack. I was afraid someone would bump into me and I would drop it.

Roger, I can see how the mono pod would be helpful for Fantasmic or other shows like it, where your standing a lot after a day of shooting. Need the hand relief. I can see where owning it could be a good thing and take it when you think you might use it. So it too is on my list after the tripod.

What are your guys thoughts on spare batteries? I'm not sure of the name, but its a housing that fits your camera but you can put like two AA battiers in them. Are they any good?

 

Like Roger, I use fences, tables, etc to keep people from running into the legs. If I'm by myself, sometimes I'll keep the legs pulled in so they don't stick out as far. If I have family with me, I'll put them on either side of me as extra protection.

Actually its a shoulder strap. Anyway, if you know someone with a sewing machine, you could make one really cheaply, especially if you don't want the shoulder pad or have an old one lying around that you could use. The polypropylene webbing and the other parts aren't that expensive. I'm going to use two 80lb test split rings to connect the D ring on my strap to the shoulder strap connection points on my camera which is more secure than the Rapid Strap connector.

I have the battery grip for the D700 and I love it. Having the vertical grip comes in handy.

 

Thanks Roger and mSummers. You have some great ideas and i figured you would.

Sorry mSummers, I should have looked at the strap more closely to know it was a neck strap. Thanks for the info on how to make your own. I may try that.

I'll have to look into this battery grip. Sounds like it is very useful.

Roger, I know what you mean about DL and their crowd control. I don't think they have any. Infact I gave up on this trip even being in DL at night. Its a mad house and its just not fun when your anywhere around Main Street or Rivers of America. Which I find sad, because I love being in DL at night. Oh well.

Thanks again for all your help.

 

That's so true Roger. I never thought about staying till they close and shoot then. I love the idea, thanks. What are some good setting for shooting Main Street at night?

I agree Rivers crowd control is better then Main St. Gosh one night we were tying to get out of the park from mid Main Street, there were two CM just chatting and not helping direct people. I said to them could use some help over here. We had an ECV in the group.

 

I don't have the battery grip for the Canon 40D (yet), but a spare battery is just about a must.

OpTech is another company I have heard that makes good straps, but I cannot personally vouch for them.

 

Paul I was leaning towards getting an OpTech strap. I saw one this weekend and liked it.

What do you guys use to clean your lens of filter while in the parks?

 

why you need the official t-mip microfiber, i don't know where they are sold in dl, but in wdw they are at that little photo booth in frontierland just before splash, it's the little pouch with a mickey on it, mine's red, the fiber cloth is attached and pops into the pouch for storage, and the whole thing attaches with a split ring onto my camera strap
which by the way is optech, i am a big fan of their straps, i don't mind their pro model neck strap at all, carried around an xsi with attached 17-55 2.8 is, not a little or light lens for 9-12 hours a day all over several european cities last year, and 4 straight 15+ hour days at mousefest with no discomfort

 

Gary, I think I have one of those your talking about. I use it for sunglasses. They are hard to find at DLR, Ive only seen it at DCA at the store Greetings.

Roger, I have the lenspen, used it over the holiday but it didn't come completely clean. So i left it at the time. Its just on the filter.

Glad to hear the OpTech straps are so well liked. I plan to pick one up this weekend.

This may sounds weird, but is there a better way to attach the strap to the camera? I see you just loop the strap (attachment's) then go through lets call it the buckle(I'm not sure what its called). To me it seems like at some point that could come loose and you could drop your camera. Or its just me new to all this.

 

Thanks Roger.